JPH08212868A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Structure] The frame 5 and the top case 6 are integrally formed as an upper housing 10, and slits are formed on the left and right and lower three circumferences of the key receiving portion group (A to D) in a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows. 11-
14 is formed. [Effect] It is possible to adapt to curved type that needs to be curved, and manufacturing and assembling can be performed easily, and the number of parts and assembly can be achieved by integrally forming the frame and the top case and sharing the key top. It is possible to reduce man-hours, mold cost, etc., and further reduce product cost.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard used as an input device for a personal computer or the like, and more specifically, it is possible to provide a curved type keyboard in which all the key tops have the same shape by being curved at a low price. It was done like this.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a keyboard used as an input device such as a personal computer, in consideration of its operability (DIN standard), (1) as shown in FIG. (7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7
(2) As shown in FIG. 4, a sculpture step type (S) in which the shape of e) is changed, and (2) a curved type (C) in which all the key tops 7 have the same shape and the entire keyboard is curved. Is known.

In these keyboards, basically, a bottom case 2, a base plate 3, a wiring board 4 and a frame 5 are sequentially arranged from the bottom side, and a key top 7 is supported on the frame 5 so as to be vertically movable. Are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows in a plurality of stages, and cover the outer peripheral edges of the key receiving portions 8, 8, 8, ... As described above, the top case 6 is generally arranged.

[0004]

The sculpture step type keyboard S described above is easy to make because the frame 5 and the top case 6 may be flat, but on the other hand, many key tops are required and therefore the number of parts is large. Therefore, there is a problem that parts management and assembly work are troublesome.

On the other hand, the curved type can reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps because the key top can be shared, but the frame 5 and the top case 6 have curved surfaces, which require advanced manufacturing technology, which increases the cost. I was invited.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems relating to the conventional keyboard as described above. The number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the manufacturing and assembling can be easily performed to further reduce the product cost. The purpose is to provide a keyboard that has been made.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a keyboard according to the present invention basically comprises a bottom case, a base plate, a wiring board, and a frame, which are arranged in this order from the lower side. Has key receiving portions for supporting the key tops vertically movable in a plurality of rows and columns, and a top case is arranged so as to cover an outer peripheral edge of the key receiving portion group of the plurality of rows and columns in the frame. It becomes. The top case and the frame are integrally formed, and slits are formed on the left and right sides and the lower three sides of the plurality of stages and rows of the key receiving portions in the frame.

[0008]

In the keyboard according to the present invention configured as described above, since the top case and the frame are integrally formed, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced, and the die cost is also reduced. Further, since the slits are formed on the left and right sides and the lower three sides of the key receiving portion group of a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows in the frame, it is possible to correspond to the curved type that needs to be curved. As a result, it is easy to manufacture and assemble, and
Since the key tops can be shared, the number of parts,
The number of assembly steps can be reduced, and the product cost can be further reduced.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a keyboard according to the present invention. The keyboard 1 in the illustrated example is
Similar to the above-mentioned conventional one, the bottom case 2, the base plate 3, the wiring board 4, and the frame 5 are sequentially arranged from the bottom side.
.. for supporting the key tops 7 so as to be movable up and down are arranged side by side in a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows in the frame 5, and the key receiving portions of the plurality of rows and a plurality of rows in the frame 5 are arranged. The top case 6 is arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral edges of 8, 8, 8, ..., The frame 5 and the top case 6 are integrally formed as an upper housing 10.

The upper housing 10 (frame 5)
Is a group A in which character keys are arranged, as shown in FIG.
Group B in which various setting keys are arranged, C in which moving keys are arranged
Group, a key receiving section group (A, B, C, D) consisting of four rows and columns of a plurality of groups of D group on which the numeric keys are arranged, and a key receiving section group of one row on the top row on which the option keys are arranged ( E), and the slits 11, 12, 13, on the left, right, and lower three circumferences of the key receiving portion group (A, B, C, D) consisting of four multiple stages and multiple rows located on the curved surface portion. 14 are formed respectively.

In the keyboard 1 of this embodiment having such a structure, since the top case 6 and the frame 5 (upper housing 10) are integrally formed, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced. At the same time, it is possible to reduce the mold cost, and further, the slits 11 to 14 are formed on the left and right and the lower three turns of the key receiving portion group (A, B, C, D) in a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows in the frame 5. Therefore, it is possible to correspond to the curved type that needs to be curved, and as a result, manufacturing and assembling can be performed easily, and the key top 7 can be shared, which also reduces the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. Therefore, the product cost can be further reduced.

[0012]

As can be understood from the above description, according to the present invention, since the top case and the frame are integrally formed, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and
It is possible to reduce the mold cost, etc. Furthermore, since the slits are formed on the left and right and the lower three sides of the key receiving part group of multiple stages and multiple rows in the frame, it is possible to correspond to the curved type that needs to be curved. As a result, manufacturing and assembling can be performed easily, and since the key tops can be shared, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the product cost can be further reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a keyboard according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a top case and a frame (upper housing) of the keyboard shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional sculpture step type keyboard.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional curved type keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Keyboard 2 Bottom Case 3 Base Plate 4 Wiring Board 5 Frame 6 Top Case 7 Key Top 8 Wiring Board 10 Upper Housing AE Key Receiving Group 11-14 Slit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A bottom case, a base plate, a wiring board, and a frame are sequentially arranged from the lower side, and key receiving portions for vertically moving the key tops are arranged side by side in a plurality of stages and a plurality of rows on the frame. In a keyboard in which a top case is arranged so as to cover an outer peripheral edge of the key receiving portion group in the plurality of rows and columns in the frame, the top case and the frame are integrally formed, and A keyboard characterized in that slits are formed on the left, right, and lower three sides of a row of key receiving portions.