Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5657860?dq=6,600,481
Timestamp: 2015-04-21 19:30:35
Document Index: 165069344

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 31', 'arts 25', 'art 32', 'arts 25', 'arts 31', 'arts 32', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'arts 25', 'arts 25', 'arts 25', 'arts 25', 'arts 25', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'arts 21', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'arts 21', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'arts 21', 'art 31', 'arts 21', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 21', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 21', 'art 31', 'arts 21', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'art 31', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'arts 21', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 323', 'arts 31', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 21', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'arts 31', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 31', 'art 313', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'arts 31', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 21', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 25', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 31', 'art 32', 'art 25', 'arts 31', 'arts 31', 'art 21', 'arts 31']

Patent US5657860 - Keyswitch having a reduced height and a keyboard using such a keyswitch - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA keyswitch includes a keytop, a base, an elastic actuator between the keytop and the base, a switch actuated by the actuator, and a link mechanism disposed between the base and the keytop, the link mechanism including first and second link members engaged with each other mechanically at respective first...http://www.google.com/patents/US5657860?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5657860 - Keyswitch having a reduced height and a keyboard using such a keyswitchAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5657860 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/579,800Publication dateAug 19, 1997Filing dateDec 28, 1995Priority dateAug 11, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asDE19601492A1, DE19601492C2Publication number08579800, 579800, US 5657860 A, US 5657860A, US-A-5657860, US5657860 A, US5657860AInventorsTamotsu Koike, Syuji Nakamura, Jun-ichi Maruyama, Norio EndoOriginal AssigneeFujitsu Takamisawa Component LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (4), Referenced by (13), Classifications (6), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetKeyswitch having a reduced height and a keyboard using such a keyswitch
US 5657860 AAbstract
1. A keyswitch, comprising:a keytop having a keytop surface adapted for being pressed down and a rear surface; a base disposed below said keytop; an actuator disposed between said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force pushing said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof; a switch disposed so as to be actuated by said actuator, said switch changing a state thereof upon a deformation of said actuator, between a first, opened state and a second, closed state; a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging said rear surface of said keytop and a second, opposite end pivoted movably to said base at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base; said first and second link members being engaged with each other mechanically at a transmission part such that a pivoting movement of one of said first and second link members is transmitted to the other of said first and second link members at said transmission part and such that said first and second link members swing in opposite directions about said first and second pivot axes; said transmission part including a first gear provided at said second end of said first link member so as to be rotatable about said first pivot axis and a second gear provided at said second end of said second link member so as to be rotatable about said second pivot axis, said first and second gears meshing with each other such that said first and second link members move in opposite directions; and said rear surface of said keytop forming a guide surface for guiding therealong said first end of said first and second link members. 2. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first gear is provided for a limited angle about said first pivot axis, and said second gear is provided for a limited angle about said second pivot axis.
3. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said limited angle of said first gear is 90 degrees or less, and wherein said limited angle of said second gear is 90 degrees or less, each of said first and second link members swinging for an angle of 45 degrees or less about respective first and second pivot axes.
4. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base is formed with a depression on a surface thereof so as to accommodate said first and second gears therein upon movement of said first and second link members in a direction to lift up said keytop.
5. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said keytop is formed with a depression on said rear surface so as to accommodate said first and second gears therein upon movement of said keytop to a fully pressed down state.
6. A keyswitch, comprising:a keytop having a keytop surface adapted for being pressed down and a rear surface; a base disposed below said keytop; an actuator disposed between said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force pushing said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof; a switch disposed so as to be actuated by said actuator, said switch changing a state thereof upon a deformation of said actuator, between a first, opened state and a second, closed state; a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging said rear surface of said keytop and a second, opposite end pivoted movably to said base at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base; said first and second link members being engaged with each other mechanically at a transmission part such that a pivoting movement of one of said first and second link members is transmitted to the other of said first and second link members at said transmission part and such that said first and second link members swing in opposite directions about said first and second pivot axes; each of said first and second link members having a U-shaped form, including a pair of arms extending parallel with each other, each of said arms carrying a gear at a first end thereof, and a bridging part connecting respective second ends of said arms with each other, said bridging part forming a slide engagement with said rear surface of said keytop; and said rear surface of said keytop forming a guide surface for guiding therealong said first end of said first and second link members. 7. A keyswitch, comprising:a keytop having a keytop surface adapted for being pressed down; a base disposed below said keytop; an actuator disposed between said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force that pushes said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof; a switch disposed so as to be actuated by said actuator, said switch changing a state thereof upon deformation of said actuator between a first, opened state and a second, closed state; a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging with a principal surface of said base and a second, opposite end pivoted to said keytop at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base; said first and second link members being engaged with each other mechanically at a transmission part such that a pivoting movement of one of said first and second link members is transmitted to the other of said first and second link members at said transmission part and such that said first and second link members swing in mutually opposite directions about said first and second pivot axes; said transmission part including a first gear provided at said second end of said first link member so as to be rotatable about said first pivot axis and a second gear provided at said second end of said second link member so as to be rotatable about said second pivot axis, said first and second gears meshing with each other such that said first and second link members move in opposite directions; and said principal surface of said base forming a guide surface for guiding there along said first end of said first and second link members. 8. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first gear is provided for a limited angle about said first pivot axis, and said second gear is provided for a limited angle about said second pivot axis.
9. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 8, wherein said limited angle of said first gear is 90 degrees or less, and wherein said limited angle of said second gear is 90 degrees or less, each of said first and second link members swinging for an angle of 45 degrees or less about respective first and second pivot axes.
10. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 7, wherein said base is formed with a depression on a surface thereof so as to accommodate said first and second gears therein upon movement of said first and second link members to a fully pressed down state.
11. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 10, wherein said base carries, on said principal surface, first and second guide rails for respectively holding first and second sliders provided on said first and second link members at respective first ends thereof, between said guide rail and said principal surface, such that said first slider slides along said first guide rail and such that said second slider slides along said second guide rail, said first and second sliders sliding in mutually opposite directions.
12. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first guide rail includes a first stopper part at a first end thereof for restricting a further movement of said first link member in a direction for lifting up said keytop, said second guide rail includes a second stopper part at a first end thereof for restricting a further movement of said second link member in a direction for lifting up said keytop.
13. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 12, wherein said base carries, on said principal surface, a first stopper member so as to face a second end of said first guide rail for restricting a further movement of said first link member in a direction for lowering said keytop, said keytop further carries, on said rear surface, a second stopper member so as to face a second end of said second guide rail for restricting a further movement of said second link member in a direction for lowering said keytop.
14. A keyswitch as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first stopper member is separated from said second end of said first guide rail by a first gap having a size smaller than a diameter of a first slider provided at said first end of said first link member for slide engagement with said principal surface of said base, and wherein said second stopper member is separated from said second end of said second guide rail by a second gap having a size smaller than a diameter of a second slider provided at said first end of said second link member for slide engagement with said principal surface of said base, each of said first and second sliders having a semi-circular cross section such that said first and second sliders pass through said first and second gaps respectively upon setting said first and second link members to respective predetermined angles.
15. A keyswitch, comprising:a keytop having a keytop surface adapted for being pressed down; a base disposed below said keytop; an actuator disposed between said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force that pushes said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof; a switch disposed so as to be actuated by said actuator, said switch changing a state thereof upon deformation of said actuator between a first, opened state and a second, closed state; a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging with a principal surface of said base and a second, opposite end pivoted to said keytop at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base; said first and second link members being engaged with each other mechanically at a transmission part such that a pivoting movement of one of said first and second link members is transmitted to the other of said first and second link members at said transmission part and such that said first and second link members swing in mutually opposite directions about said first and second pivot axes; said keytop carrying, on a rear surface thereof, a bearing mechanism for bearing said pivot axes of said first and second link members, said bearing mechanism including first and second cutouts each defined by a pair of resilient fingers for holding said first and second pivot axes respectively, said first and second cutouts having a circular shape for snap-fitting with respective pivot axes; and said principal surface of said base forming a guide surface for guiding there along said first end of said first and second link members. 16. A keyswitch, comprising:a keytop having a keytop surface adapted for being pressed down; a base disposed below said keytop; an actuator disposed between said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force that pushes said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof; a switch disposed so as to be actuated by said actuator, said switch changing a state thereof upon deformation of said actuator between a first, opened state and a second, closed state; a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging with a principal surface of said base and a second, opposite end pivoted to said keytop at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base; said first and second link members being engaged with each other mechanically at a transmission part such that a pivoting movement of one of said first and second link members is transmitted to the other of said first and second link members at said transmission part and such that said first and second link members swing in mutually opposite directions about said first and second pivot axes; each of said first and second link members having a U-shaped form, including a pair of arms extending parallel with each other, each of said arms carrying a gear at a first end thereof, and a bridging part connecting respective second ends of said arms with each other, aid bridging part forming a slide engagement with said rear surface of said keytop; and said principal surface of said base forming a guide surface for guiding there along said first end of said first and second link members. Description
Such a conventional keyswitch 10, while having an advantageous feature of simple construction, has a problem in that the overall height of the keyswitch 10, designated by H1 in FIG 1A, cannot be reduced satisfactorily. It should be noted that the height H1 is given as a sum of a height H2 of a top surface 15b of the key housing 15 as measured from a bottom surface of the support panel 14, a height H3 of the sleeve guide 15a as measured from the top surface 15b of the key housing 15, a height H4 corresponding to the stroke of the keyswitch, and a thickness t1 of a keytop face plate 11b.
Another and more specific object of the present invention is t provide a keyswitch having a reduced height, as well as to provide a keyboard using such a keyswitch of reduced height.
an actuator disposed said keytop and said base, said actuator deforming elastically upon pressing down of said keytop, said actuator thereby exerting a force pushing said keytop upward upon an elastic deformation thereof;
a link mechanism disposed between said base and said keytop, said link mechanism including first and second link members each having a first end slidably engaging said rear surface of said keytop and a second, opposite end pivoted movably to said base at respective, first and second pivot axes, said link mechanism thereby holding said keytop on said base in a state movable to and from said base, said link mechanism further restricting a movement of said keytop to and from said base;
By replacing the guide sleeves with the link mechanism, the problem of dust particles entering the gap between the outer and inner sleeve guides of conventional key switches is successfully eliminated. In the case of the present invention, the area where the link members form a slidable engagement with the keytop rear surface or the principal surface of the base, is substantially reduced. Further, even when the dust particles may enter the gap, the dust particles may escape immediately, as the slide engagement of the,link members is formed in an open environment.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing the construction of the keyswitch of the first embodiment in an elevational cross sectional view taken along a line IV--IV of FIG. 3 for various states thereof;
FIG. 13A-13C are diagrams showing the keyswitch of the third embodiment in an exploded view;
FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the process of assembling the keyswitch of the present embodiment;
FIGS. 19A-19D are diagrams showing the process of assembling the keyswitch of the present embodiment;
FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams showing a process of assembling link members of the keyswitch of the present invention;
FIGS. 21A and 21B are diagrams showing the engagement of the link members when assembling the keyswitch of the present invention;
FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a deformation of the part of the keytop of the keyswitch of the present embodiment when assembling the keyswitch; and
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a keyboard that uses the keyswitch of the present invention.
FIGS. 2A-2C show a keyswitch 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention in an exploded view, while FIG. 3 shows the same keyswitch 20 in a plan view. Further, FIGS. 4A-4C show the keyswitch 20 in a cross sectional view taken along a line III--III of FIG. 3 for various states of the keyswitch, and FIGS.5A and 5B show the keyswitch 20 in a cross sectional view taken along a line IV--IV of FIG. 3 for two different operational states.
More specifically, the first link member 31 includes first and second arms 31-1 and 31-2 connected with each other by a bridging part 31-3 that act also as a slider as will be explained later, wherein each of the first and second arms 31-1 and 31-2 carries a pivoting pins 31-4 or 31-5 at a free end thereof for engagement with a corresponding bearing hole 25-5-1 or 25-6-1, the bearing holes 25-5-1 and 25-6-1 being provided respectively in flange parts 25-5 and 25-6 formed on a top surface of the key housing 25. See FIG. 2C.
Similarly, the second link member 32 include first and second arms 32-1 and 32-2 connected with each other by a bridging part 32-3 that act also as a slider as will be explained later, wherein each of the first and second arms 32-1 and 32-2 carries a pivoting pin 32-4 or 32-5 at a free end thereof for engagement with a corresponding bearing hole 25-5-2 or 25-6-2, the bearing holes 25-5-2 and 25-6-2 being provided respectively in flange parts 25-5 and 25-6 formed on a top surface of the key housing 25 adjacent to the bearing holes 25-5-1 and 25-6-1 respectively. See FIG. 2C.
It should be noted that the arms 31-1 and 31-2 carry toothed parts 31-6 and 31-7 at respective free ends thereof. Similarly, the arms 32-1 and 32-2 carry toothed parts 32-6 and 32-7 at respective free ends thereof. Thereby, the toothed part 31-6 of the arm 31-1 and the toothed part 32-6 of the arm 32-1 mesh with each other in the state that the pin 31-4 is held in the bearing hole 25-5-1 and the pin 32-4 is held in the bearing hole 25-5-2. Similarly, the toothed part 31-7 of, the arm 31-2 and the toothed part 32-7 of the arm 32-2 mesh with each other in the state that the pin 31-5 is held in the bearing hole 25-6-1 and the pin 32-5 is held in the bearing hole 25-6-2. As a result of the engagement of the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6 as well as the engagement of the toothed parts 31-7 and 32-7, the first and second link members 31 and 32 are held in such a state that the arms 31-1 and 32-1 form a V-shaped form and the arms 31-2 and 32-2 form another V-shaped form. Thereby, it will be noted that, when one of the link members 31 and 32 is tilted in a first direction, the other link member is tilted in a second opposite direction.
As already noted, the key housing 25 includes the flange parts 25-5 and 25-6, wherein the flange parts 25-5 and 25-6 are formed on a rectangular base member 25-1 of the key housing 25 with a separation in a direction Y1 -Y2, and a circular cutout 25-2 is formed on the base member 251 between the flange parts 25-5 and 25-6 for accepting the actuator 26 therein. It will be noted that the flange parts 25-5 and 25-6 extend parallel with each other in a direction X1 -X2, and the base member 251 is formed with elongated grooves 25-3 and 25-4 at the inner side of the flange parts 25-5 and 25-6, such that the groove 25-4 accepts the toothed parts 31-7 and 32-7 therein. Similarly, the elongated groove 25-3 accepts therein the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6. By forming the grooves 25-3 and 25-4 as such, it is possible to form the bearing holes 25-5-1, 25-5-2, 25-6-1 and 25-6-2 at a level flush to the top surface of the base member 25-1, and the height of the keyswitch 20 is reduced substantially.
FIG.7 shows the keytop 21 of FIG. 2A in a turned over state.
Referring to FIG.2A and further to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the keytop 21 has a flat rectangular shape defined by a wide keytop surface 21-1 adapted for being pressed down by the finger of the operator. At the bottom side or rear side of the keytop 21, it will be noted that a space 21-1a of a depth b is formed, and a columnar pillar 21-2 of a circular cross section extends in the space 21-1a from a bottom surface of the keytop 21 in the downward direction. Thereby, that the columnar pillar 21-2 presses the rubber actuator 26 accommodated in the circular cutout 25-2 of the base member 25-1 of the key housing 25 as will be explained later.
Further, it will be noted that the keytop 21 carries, on the bottom surface thereof, guide members 21-3 and 21-6, wherein the guide member 21-3 includes a guide rail part 21-3b and a stopper part 21-3a continuing from the guide rail part 21-3b, wherein the stopper part 21-3a connects the guide rail 21-3b to the bottom surface of the keytop 21 at an end of the guide rail part 21-3b. Thereby, the guide rail part 21-3b extends in the X1 -direction from the stopper part 21-3a. Other guide members 21-4 -21-6 have a similar construction, except that the guide rail part 21-5b and 21-6b extend from the respective stopper parts 21-5a and 21-6a in the X2 -direction.
It should be noted that the guide members 21-3 and 21-4 guide together the bridging part 31-3 of the first link member 31 along the bottom surface of the keytop 21. Similarly, the guide members 21-5 and 21-6 guide together the bridging part 32-3 of the second link member 32. More specifically, the bridging part 31-3 of the link member 31 is accepted in a space formed between the guide rail 21-3b and the bottom surface of the keytop 21 as well as in the space formed between the guide rail 21-4b and the bottom surface of the keytop 21, wherein the bridging part 31-3 moves freely in the X1 -X2 directions except for restraint caused by the stopper parts 21-3a and 21-4a. Similarly,the bridging part 32-3 of the link member 32 is accepted in a space formed between the guide rail 21-5b and the bottom surface of the keytop 21 as well as in the space formed between the guide rail 21-6b and the bottom surface of the keytop 21, wherein the bridging part 32-3 moves freely in the X1 -X2 directions except for the restraint caused by the stopper parts 21-5a and 21-6a.
As a result, the keytop 21 is held movably in a direction Z1 -Z2 on the key housing 25 by the link mechanism 27. Thereby, as will be explained in detail below, the bridging part 31-3 engages the stopper parts 21-3a and 214-4a when the keytop 21 is in the free, unactuated state where the bridging part 31-3 is urged in the X1 -direction. In the unactuated state, it should be noted that the bridging part 32-3 is urged also in the X2 -direction and engages the stopper parts 21-5a and 21-6a. As a result of the foregoing engagement of the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3, further movement of the keytop 21 in the upward direction is effectively prevented, and the height of the keytop 21 in the unactuated state is determined thereby.
Further, in order to restrain the excessive movement of the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 respectively in the X1 - and X2 -directions in the state that the keytop 21 is pressed down by the operator, the keytop 21 carries on the bottom surface thereof stoppers 21-7 and 21-8 respectively for engagement with the bridging part 31' and the bridging part 32-3. Thereby, the stopper 27-7 is provided at a location offset by a distance e from the stopper parts 21-3a and 214-4a in the X1 -direction, wherein the distance e is set slightly smaller than a diameter d of the bridging part 31-3, as indicated in the plan view of FIG. 3, in order to facilitate assembling of the keyswitch 20. Similarly, the stopper 21-8 is provided with the offset e from the stopper parts 21-5a and 21-6a in the X2 -direction.
In such a construction of the keyswitch 20, it will be noted that the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 slide laterally along the bottom surface of the keytop 21 in the X1 - and X2 - directions, upon actuation of the keytop 21 vertically in the Z1 - and Z2 -directions. Because of the lateral movement of the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3, the keyswitch 20 has a preferable feature of reduced overall height. As already noted, the cylindrical pillar 21-2 at the central part of the keytop 21 actuates the membrane switch 22 in the membrane sheet 23 via the rubber actuator 26 by causing an elastic deformation in the rubber actuator 26.
Referring to FIG. 4A showing the keyswitch 20 in an unactuated state, the keytop 21 is pushed upward in the Z1 -direction by the rubber actuator 26 and is held at a height H11 by the link members 31 and 32 that form together the link mechanism 27, wherein the arms of the link members 31 and 32 form an angle r of about 70 degrees therebetween in the state of FIG. 5A where the bridging part 31-3 engages the stopper part 21-3a and the bridging pat 32-3 engages the stopper part 21-5a. In FIG. 4A, it will be noted that the keytop 21 has an overall height as a sum of a thickness t2 of the keytop 21 and a height H13 of the stopper members 21-7 and 21-8. On the other hand, the key housing 25 has a height H12 at the top surface of the base member 25-1 thereof,and the keytop 21 is lifted above the key housing 25 by the link mechanism 27 with a distance H14.
Upon pressing down of the keytop 21 by applying a force F in the direction Z2 at a point P1 as indicated in FIG. 4A, the keytop 21 subsides in the direction Z2 as indicated in FIG. 4B as a result of tilting of the link members 31 and 32. Thereby, it should be noted that, because of the engagement of the link members 31 and 32 at the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6, the link members 31 and 32 tilt in respective, opposite directions, with the same angle of tilting. Thus, the link member 31 tilts in the counter-clockwise direction while the link member 32 tilts in the clockwise direction in the illustration of FIG. 4B. As a result, the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 slide respectively in the X1 - and X2 -directions, and the keytop 21 sinks in the Z1 -direction while maintaining a parallel relationship with respect to the keytop 21 in the state of FIG. 4A.
With further pressing of the keytop 21, the link members 31 and 32 tilt further in the counter-clockwise direction and in the clockwise direction respectively as indicated in FIG. 4C, until the link member 31 engages the stopper 21-7 and the link member 32 engages the stopper 21-8. In this state, further lowering of the keytop 21 does not occur even when pressed further due to the foregoing engagement of the link members 31 and 32 with the respective stoppers 21-7 and 21-8.
In the state of FIG.4C, it will be noted that the link member 31 is tilted in the counter-clockwise direction with an angle Θ while the link member 32 is tilted in the clockwise direction with the same angle e, and the keytop 21 has been lowered for a stroke S from an initial level Q1 corresponding to the state of FIG. 4A, to a final level Q2, while maintaining a parallel relationship with the state of FIG. 4A.
In the state of FIG. 4C, the angle Θ is about 50 degrees, and thus, the link members 31 and 32 form an increased angle r of about 170 degrees therebetween. Thereby, it should be noted that the link members 31 and 32 are accommodated in the space 21-1a formed under the keytop 21. Further, the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6 are accommodated in a depression 21-1b formed on the bottom surface of the keytop 21. See the cross sectional view of FIG. 6 as well as FIG. 7 that shows the bottom side of the keytop 21. As a result, the link mechanism 27 is entirely hidden under the keytop 21. In other words, the link mechanism 27 does not cause any increase in the height of the keyswitch 20.
Referring to FIG. 5A showing the state corresponding to the state of FIG. 4A, the keytop 21 is urged in the upward direction by the rubber actuator 26 that pushes the columnar pillar 21-2 at the bottom side of the keytop 21.
Upon pressing down of the keytop 21, the rubber actuator 26 collapses as indicated in FIG. 5B, wherein the rubber actuator 26 actuates the membrane switch 22 printed on the membrane sheet 23. As further lowering of the keytop 21 is prevented by the engagement of the link members 31 and 32 with the stopper parts 21-7 and 21-8 as already noted, the problem of the membrane switch 22 being pressed excessively is successfully eliminated in the state of FIG. 5A.
In the operation of FIGS. 4A-4C as well as of FIGS.5A and 5B, it will be noted that the movement of the keytop 21 in the Z1 - and Z2 -directions occurs while maintaining a parallel relationship with the state of FIG. 4A, irrespective of whether the force F is applied to the point P1 at the center of the keytop 21 or to other points P2 or P3 offset from the center P1, due to the engagement of the link members 31 and 32 at the toothed arts 31-6 and 32-6 or 31-7 and 32-7. Due to the formation of,the toothed parts in the link members 31 and 32, a reliable engagement of the link members is guaranteed during the actuation of the keytop 21.
Typically, the height H14 of the link mechanism 27 is set to be about 3 mm. Thereby, a stroke of about 3 mm is secured for the stroke S of the keytop 21 and the keyswitch 20 provides a positive feeling of actuation to the operator, while simultaneously reducing the overall height H11. In the keyswitch 20 of the present invention wherein the sleeve guides used in the conventional keyswitch 10 are eliminated, the overall keyswitch height H11 can be reduced by the amount corresponding to the height H3 shown in FIG. 1A. The amount of reduction of the keyswitch height thus achieved reaches as much as 2.5 mm as compared with the keyswitch 10, assuming that t2 =t1 and H12 =H2. Typically, the height H11 of the keyswitch 20 is about 8.5 mm.
In the keyswitch 20 of the present embodiment, any dust particles penetrated to the bottom surface of the keytop 21 is scraped off therefrom by the scraping action of the bridging parts 31-3 or 32-3 that slide along the bottom surface of the keytop 21. As the bottom surface of the keytop 21 is-exposed, the dust particles thus scraped off escape freely. Thereby, the keyswitch 20 of the present invention is substantially immune to penetration of dusts.
FIGS. 8A-8C show the construction of the link member 31 (or 32) used in the keyswitch 20 in detail, wherein FIG. 8A shows the arm 31-2 and the pivot pin 31-5 together with the toothed part 31-7 surrounding the pivot pin 31-5, while FIG. 8B shows the generally U-shaped construction of the link member 31-3. Further, FIG. 8C shows the arm 31-1 and the pivot pin 31-4 together with the toothed part 31-6 surrounding the pivot pin 31-4.
Referring to FIG. 8A, it will be noted that the toothed part 31-7 is formed for a limited angle β around the pivot pin 31-5 and includes teeth 50-52 formed with a pith P1, with intervening grooves 54 and 55 formed therebetween. Similarly, the toothed part 31-6 is formed for the same limited angle β around the pivot pin 31-4 as indicated in FIG. 8C an includes teeth 40-42 formed with the same pith P1, with intervening grooves 43 an 44 formed therebetween. It should be noted that similar teeth 40-42 and 50-52 are formed respectively on the toothed part 32-7 and 32-6, wherein the tooth 40 of the toothed part 32-7 engages the tooth 50 of the toothed part 31-7 as indicated in FIG. 8A.
It should be noted that the teeth 50-52 of the toothed part 31-7 are formed primarily on the right hand side of the arm 31-2 when viewed in the direction of the arm 31-2 from the side of the bridging part 31-3 as indicated in FIG. 8A, while the teeth 40-42 of the toothed part 31-6 are formed primarily on the left hand side of the arm 31-1 when viewed in the direction of the arm 31-1 from the side of the bridging part 31-3. Similarly, the teeth 50-52 of the toothed part 32-7 are formed primarily on the right hand side of the arm 32-2 when viewed in the direction of the arm 32-2 from the side of the bridging part 32-3, while the teeth 40-42 of the toothed part 32-6 are formed primarily on the left hand side of the arm 32-1 when viewed in the direction of the arm 32-1 from the side of the bridging part 323. By providing the teeth for only a limited angular range β in the toothed parts 31-6 and 31-7 or 32-6 and 32-7, it is possible to reduce the height H12 of the key housing 25 and hence the overall height H11 of the keyswitch 20.
Referring to FIG. 10A, the link members 31 and 32 are mounted upon the key housing 25 by engaging the pivot pin 31-4 to the bearing hole 25-5-1 and the pivot pin 32-4 to the bearing hole 25-5-2, by causing a deformation in the link members 31 and 32 as indicated in FIG. 8B.
Next, in the step of FIG. 10B, the link members 31 and 32 are tilted as indicated by arrows, so that the toothed part 31-6 and the toothed part 32-6 are engaged with each other.
Further, in the step of FIG. 10C, the link members 31 and 32 are fully tilted, and the keytop 21 is pressed firmly thereon in this state, as indicated in FIG. 10C. Thereby, the link members 31 and 32 as well as the stopper parts 21-7 and 21-8 cause a resilient deformation, and the bridging part 31-3 as well as the bridging part 32-3 are accepted into the space formed by the guide member 21-3 as well as into the space formed by the guide member 21-5, respectively. As the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 have the diameter d that is slightly larger than the size e of the gap formed between the stopper part 21-3a or 21-4a and the stopper part 21-7 or between the stepper part 21-5a or 21-6a and the stopper part 21-8, the bridging parts thus engaged with the guide member do not come off easily.
In the keyswitch 21A, it should be noted that the bridging part 31-3 or 32-3 slide along a guide region 25A-11 or 25A-12 upon actuation of the keytop 21A in the vertical direction, wherein the guide region is provided on the top surface of a key housing 25A, rather than on the bottom surface of the keytop 21. In the fully pressed down state of FIG. 11B, it will be noted that the link members 31 and 32 are accommodated in the space 21-1a formed below the keytop 21A.
Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the keyswitch 20B includes a keytop 21B supported on a key housing 25B via a link mechanism 2B that includes a first link member 31B and a second link member 32B that engage with each other, similarly to the previous embodiment. In the state of FIG. 12A where the keytop 21B is released, the rubber actuator 26 pushes the keytop 21B in the upward direction and the link members 31B and 32B form an inverted V-shaped form.
In the state of FIG. 12B where the keytop 21B is pressed down, on the other hand, the link members 31B and 32B are flattened. Thereby, the link members 31B and 32B slide along guide mechanisms 25B-11 and 25B-12 that are formed on the key housing 25B.
FIGS.13A-13C show the keyswitch 20B in an exploded view. In FIGS. 13A-13C, those parts corresponding to the parts described previously are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 13A-13C, the keytop 21B carries on the bottom surface thereof a rib 21B-10 that is formed with cutouts 21B-11 and 21B-12 respectively acting as bearing parts for accepting the pivot pins 31-4 and 32-4 of the link members 31B, 32B. A similar rib 21B-11 in the Y1 -Y2 directions as indicated in the bottom view of the keytop 21B of FIG. 14, and the link members 31B and 32B are mounted upon the bottom side of the keytop 21B in a manner to swing freely about the pivot pins 31-4 and 32-4, respectively.
Further, the link member 31B includes projections 31B-3a and 31B-3b respectively on the arms 31-1 and 31-2 as an extension of the bridging part 313, wherein the projection 31B-3a and 31B-3b engage the guide mechanisms 25B-11 and 25B-13 respectively formed on the top surface of the rectangular base member 25-1 forming the key housing 25B, as indicated in FIG. 13C. Thereby, the bridging part 31-3 of the link member 31B is guided along the top surface of the base member 25-1 of the key housing 25. Similarly, the link member 32B includes projections 32B-3a and 32B-3b respectively on the arms 32-1 and 32-2 as an extension of the bridging part 32-3, wherein the projection 32B-3a and 32B-3b (32B-3a not shown in FIG. 13B) engage the guide mechanisms 25B-14 and 25B-12 respectively formed on the top surface of the base member 25-1. Thereby the bridging part 32-3 of the link member 32B is guided along the top surface of the base member 25-1 similarly to the bridging part 31-3 of the link member 31B. Thus, it will be noted that the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 are caused to slide freely along the top surface of the base member 25-1 in the X1 - and X2 -directions, while being pivoted at the cutouts 21B-11 and 21B-12 formed on the bottom side of the keytop 21B.
FIG. 15 shows the construction of the rib 21B-10 in detail.
Referring to FIG. 15, the rib 21B-10 is divided into a first part and a second part by a central slit 21B-17, wherein the first part is formed with a cutout 21B-15 defined laterally by a first finger part 21B-18 and a second finger part 21B-19, wherein the cutout 21B-15 includes a mouth part 21B-15b 15b that reduces a width W1 thereof toward the interior of the cutout 21B-15 and a circular inner part 21B-15a continuing from the mouth part 21B-15b. The circular inner part 21B-15a has a diameter D1 larger than the width W1 at the part where the inner part 21B-15a continues to the mouth part 21B-15b. Further, a cut 21B-15c of a reduced width penetrates further toward the interior of the cutout 21B-15, and the fingers 21B-18 and 21B-19 cause a resilient deformation when being engaged with the pin 31-4 at the time of assembling of the keyswitch as will be explained in detail later. Thereby, the circular part 21B-15a acts as a bearing of the pin 31-4. The second part of the rib 21B-10 has a similar structure and includes a circular cut 21B-16 acting as a bearing of the pin 32-4.
As the rib 21B-11 has a similar structure, the description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, it will be noted that the pin 31-4, as well as the pin 31-5, has a diameter D10 set slightly smaller than the foregoing diameter D1 of the cutout 21B-15 but larger than the minimum width W1 of the mouth part 21B-15b. As a result, the pin 31-4 is held stably in the cutout 21B-15a and rotates freely therein. Further, it will be noted that the projection 31B-3a, as well as the projection 31B-3b, has a semi-circular shape having a diameter D2 as defined by a surface 31B-3a-1. By forming the projections 31B-3a and 31B-3b as such, the projections 31B-3a and 31B-3b have a reduced thickness W2, and the engagement with a corresponding guide such as the guide 25B-11 or 25B-12, is substantially facilitated as will be explained below.
FIG. 17 shows the construction or,the guides 25B-11 and 25B-12 in detail, wherein the description of the guide 25B-12 will be omitted as the construction of the guide 25B-12 is substantially identical with that of the guide 25B-11.
Referring to FIG. 17, the guide 25B-11 includes an L-shaped hook that in turn is formed of a base part 25B-15 extending in the upward direction from the base member 25-1 with a height W3 set equal to the diameter D2 of the projection 31B-3a-1, and a guide rail part 25B-16 continuing from the base member 25-1 and extending parallel to the base member 25-1 in the X1 -direction. Further, a pillar member 25B-17 is provided so as to extend in the upward direction from the base member 25-1, wherein the pillar member 25B-17 is provided such that a gap 25B-19 is formed between the pillar member 25B-17 and the guide rail part 25B-16 with a size of W4 set smaller than the diameter D2 but larger than the thickness W2 of the projection 31B-3a. Thereby, the projection 31B-3a is easily accommodated into the gap formed between the guide rail 25B-16 and the top surface of the base member 25-1 by properly setting the angle of the arm 31-1 of the link member 31B as explained below.
Referring to FIG. 18, a step 70B is carried out first wherein the first link member 31B is mounted upon the base member 25-1 of the key housing 25B by engaging the projections 31B-3a and 31B-3b to the guide mechanisms 25B-11 and 25B-13 respectively. Next, in a step 71B, the second link member 32B is mounted upon the same base member 25-1 of the key housing 25B by engaging the projections 32B-3a and 32B-3b (not shown) respectively to the guide mechanisms 25B-12 and 25B-14. Further, in a step 72B, the link members 31B and 32B are tilted such that the toothed part 31-6 of the link member 31B and the toothed part 32-6 of the link member 32B engage with each other. Simultaneously, the toothed part 31-7 of the link member 31B and the toothed part 32-7 of the link member 32B engage with each other. Finally, in a step 73B, the keytop 21B is mounted upon the link members 31B and 32B thus engaged. Thereby, the link members 31B and 32B form together the link mechanism 27B as indicated in FIG. 13C.
Referring to FIG. 19A, the link members 31B and 32B are engaged with the guide mechanisms 25B-11 and 25B-12 by inserting the projection 31B-3a into the guide mechanism 25B-11 through the gap 25B-19. Similarly, the projection 31B-3b engages with the guide mechanism 25B-13. Thereby, the link member 31B is held vertically to the base member 25-1 of the key housing 25B, and semi-circular projection 31B-3a, having the thickness W2, easily passes the gap 25B-19 of which size is set to W4. Similarly, the link member 31B is engaged with the guide mechanism 25B-12 in the step 71B in the vertical state as indicated in FIG. 19A. See the enlarged diagram of FIG. 20A.
Next, in the step 72B, the link members 31B and 32B are tilted with each other respectively in the clockwise direction and in the counter-clockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 19B. As a result of the tilting of the arm 31B in the clockwise direction, it will be noted that the semi-circular projection 31B-3a is positively caught by the guide rail part 25B-16 and the pillar member 25B-17 forming the guide mechanism 25B-11 as indicated in FIG. 20B. By tilting the link members 31B and 32B further, the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6 mesh with each other as indicated in FIG. 19C.
In the state of FIGS. 19C and 19D, it should be noted that the toothed parts 31-6 and 32-6 are accommodated in the elongated groove 25-3 formed on the top surface of the base member 25-1. Thereby, the height of the keyswitch 21B is minimized.
Referring to FIGS. 21A and 21B, it will be noted that the pin 31-4 urges the mouth part 21B-15a of the cutout 21B-15 and causes an elastic deformation in the fingers 21B-18 and 21B-19 as indicated in FIG. 21A. Although not illustrated, a similar elastic deformation is induced in the fingers defining the cutout 21B-12. Thereby, the deformation of the fingers is facilitated by forming the intervening cutout 21B-17.
By further urging the keytop 21B in the Z2 -direction, the pin 31-4, as well as the pin 31-5, cause a snap-fitting into the circular cutout 21B-15a of the cutout 21B-15 or into the corresponding circular cutout of the cutout 21B-16, and the link members 31B and 32B are thus mounted upon the keytop 21B. Thereby, it will be noted that the link members 31B and 32B form together a link mechanism 27.
As already noted with reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B as well as with reference to FIGS. 13A-13C, the bridging parts 31-3 and 32-3 slide in the X1 - and X2 -directions upon actuation of the keytop 21B. Thereby, the keyswitch 20B has a preferable feature of reduced height similarly to the case of the keyswitch 20 described previously. Further, the keyswitch 20B has a preferable feature of immune to dusts. Furthermore, it will be noted that the assembling of the keyswitch 20B can be achieved by merely snap-fitting the link members 31B and 32B on the key housing 25 and further by snap-fitting the keytop 21B thereon, without using a tool.
It will be noted that in the construction of the keytop 21B, one may eliminate the intervening cutout 21B-17 as indicated in FIG. 22.
FIG. 23 shows the construction of a keyboard 60 that uses the keyswitch described previously.
Referring to FIG. 23, it will be noted that the keyboard 60 includes a number of keyswitches arranged two-dimensionally, wherein each of the keyswitches may have a construction of the keyswitch 20, 20A or 20B. As explained before, each keytop moves vertically while maintaining a horizontal state as it is actuated, and a reliable typing operation is guaranteed. As the keyswitches have a reduced overall height, the keyboard 60 is suitable for use in compact computers such as laptops and palm-tops. Further, the keyboard 60 has an advantageous feature of immunity against dusts.
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