Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Multiple switch
Reexamination Certificate
2001-04-27
2003-05-13
Enad, Elvin (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Multiple switch
C200S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06563061
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to an electrical switch arrangement and, more particularly, to a key switch used in a keyboard as an input device for electronic equipment and including a key top adapted to be pressed for operation. The present invention also relates to a keyboard provided with a plurality of key switches and capable of being detachably connected to a portable electronic information apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the technical field of portable electronic information apparatus, such as electronic notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc., it has been known that a keyboard as an input device is not incorporated in the apparatus but instead a data entry operation is performed by touching and/or handwriting on a display screen of the apparatus with a operator's finger and/or a pen. When an operator enters data including, in particular, a large quantity of information such as letters or sentences, into this pen-entry type portable information apparatus, an entering operation may take more time than that in a keyboard-entry type information apparatus if the operator lacks skill in pen-entry operation. To cope with such an inconvenience, a pen-entry type portable information apparatus capable of using an exclusive small-sized keyboard optionally and detachably connected to the apparatus has been developed.
As a small-sized keyboard usable for and connectable to a pen-entry type portable information apparatus, there is provided an independent keyboard having a structure similar to a typical keyboard incorporated in a portable electronic apparatus, such as a notebook-sized personal computer, in which the number and arrangement of keys (or key tops of key switches) are not substantially changed from those in the typical keyboard. In this type of small-sized keyboard, it is required that the dimension and pitch of the keys are reduced to such an extent that the operation property of a large number of keys can be maintained at a desired level. Therefore, the keyboard has in itself less portability, from the viewpoint of size and weight, than that of the portable information apparatus. Also, this small-sized keyboard is usually connected with the portable information apparatus through an electric cable having a connector, so that it is difficult for an operator to operate the keyboard in a hand-held manner under the condition that the keyboard is connected with the portable information apparatus through the cable. Accordingly, to ensure an accurate and smooth entering operation, it is preferred that the operator put the keyboard on a desk or his knees for operation.
On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 11-282608, there is proposed a small-sized keyboard which is further miniaturized by decreasing the number of keys to fewer than that of a typical keyboard incorporated in a portable electronic apparatus, such as a notebook-sized personal computer, and which can be connected with a portable information apparatus through a connecting section mechanically joined to a keyboard casing, without using the electric cable having a connector. Since the number of keys is decreased in this type of small-sized keyboard, it is possible to provide a miniaturized light-weight keyboard having a superior portability and capable of being easily put on a single hand of an operator, without excessively reducing the dimension and pitch of the keys. Also, in this small-sized keyboard, it is possible to support the portable information apparatus on the keyboard casing through the connecting section, which results in an advantage that the operator can perform an entry operation on the keyboard in a hand-held manner while holding the keyboard together with the portable information apparatus with a single hand.
The above conventional small-sized keyboard, capable of being operated in the hand-held manner, can exhibit a very superior performance in portability and operability thereof, especially when the keyboard is used as a peripheral device optionally connected with a pen-entry type portable information apparatus. However, since the number of keys is decreased in this keyboard, an operation procedure for entering letters or characters is inevitably different from an entry operation procedure in a typical keyboard incorporated in a portable electronic apparatus such as a notebook-sized personal computer. Accordingly, in the small-sized keyboard having a superior portability, which can be reduced in size and weight to such an extent as to enable a hand-held operation of the keyboard during a condition connected with a portable information apparatus, it has been required to provide the keyboard with keys or key tops having the number and arrangement for permitting the entry operation of letters or characters to be performed by substantially the same procedure as that of a typical keyboard. Also, it is desired to develop a miniaturized key switch having a good operability, which can be incorporated in the above-described keyboard having a superior portability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a key switch having a key top to be pressed for operation, which can effectively reduce a space for installing a key top therein without impairing the operation property of the key top.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a keyboard including a plurality of key switches, which can be provided with keys or key tops having the number and arrangement for permitting the entry operation of letters or characters to be performed by substantially the same procedure as that of a typical keyboard, and which allows reduction in the size and weight of the keyboard without impairing the operation of the key tops of the respective key switches.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a keyboard including a plurality of key switches, which can be provided with keys or key tops having the number and arrangement for permitting the entry operation of letters or characters to be performed by substantially the same procedure as that of a typical keyboard, and which can be operated in a hand-held manner under a condition that the keyboard is connected with a portable information apparatus.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a key switch comprising a plurality of key tops coupled with each other in an independently movable manner; and a switching mechanism arranged close to the plurality of key tops and including plural sets of electric contacts, the switching mechanism capable of opening and closing any one of the plural sets of electric contacts in connection with individual movements of the key tops.
In this arrangement, the plurality of key tops may be mutually coupled through an axle so as to be rotatable relative to each other.
It is preferred that the plurality of key tops is provided in a mutual coupling region thereof with a supporting section for supporting the mutual coupling region against an external force.
It is advantageous that the plurality of key tops is provided in a mutual coupling region thereof with a protrusion protruding outward from the key switch.
The switching mechanism may include a plurality of electrically conductive spring members for individually and elastically supporting the plurality of key tops, each of the electrically conductive spring members being elastically deformed in accordance with a pressing operation of each key top so as to close one of the plural sets of electric contacts.
The present invention also provides a keyboard comprising a plurality of key switches, each of the key switches being as defined above.
The keyboard may further comprise a casing for accommodating the plurality of key switches with the plurality of key tops being at least partially exposed, and a connecting section joined to the casing and capable of electrically connecting the plurality of key switches with a portable information apparatus, wherein the c
Enad Elvin
Fujitsu Takamisawa Component Limited
Klaus Lisa N
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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