Coded data generation or conversion – Bodily actuated code generator – Including keyboard or keypad
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2004-06-22
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Coded data generation or conversion
Bodily actuated code generator
Including keyboard or keypad
C200S0050EA, C200S00600C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06753793
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key switch device having a guide member provided with two link members mutually movably connected, the guide member guiding a vertical movement of a key top to thereby effect a switching operation. In particular, the present invention relates to a key switch device having a circuit board with a circuit pattern for performing a switching operation by the circuit pattern, the circuit board being disposed below a key top, and a mounting member for movably supporting each lower end of two link members of a guide member, the mounting members being fixed on the circuit board by a predetermined fixing manner, thereby the key switch device can reduce manufacturing cost and increase design flexibility of a keyboard provided with a plurality of the key switch devices, and achieve weight reduction of the keyboard.
Further, the present invention relates to a keyboard and an electronic apparatus in which the above key switch devices are arranged.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, there have been proposed key switch devices each having a guide member constructed of a pair of link members mutually movably connected in an intersecting state, and the guide member serves to guide the vertical movement of a key top to effect a switching operation in association with the vertical movement of the key top. For example, such a key switch is disclosed in Japanese utility model application laid-open No. Hei 2-5236. This key switch is provided with a key top, an upper holder attached to an underside of the key top, a first lower holder and a second lower holder attached to a printed substrate, and two rectangular frames connected to each other in an X-shaped configuration as viewed in side elevation, which are disposed between the key top and the printed substrate.
In this key switch, an upper portion of one of the rectangular frames is slidably supported in the upper holder between the lower surface of the key top and the upper holder, while leg portions of the rectangular frame are rotatably supported in the first lower holder. On the other hand, an upper portion of the other rectangular frame is rotatably supported in a groove of the upper holder, while leg portions of the rectangular frame are slidably supported in the second lower holder. Furthermore, a rubber switch is disposed on, the printed substrate, and a convex portion of the key top, projecting downward, is engaged with the rubber switch. The rubber switch is provided with a movable contact disposed corresponding to a fixed contact disposed on the printed substrate.
The above key switch is configured such that the key top is vertically moved with its horizontal position being maintained, no matter which portion of the key top is depressed by an operator. Accordingly, the movable contact of the rubber switch engaged with the key top is made into contact with the fixed contact of the printed substrate whenever the rubber switch is pushed upon depression of the key top, thus effecting a switching operation.
However, in the above key switch disclosed in Japanese utility model application laid-open publication No. Hei 2-5236, the first and second lower holders attached to the printed substrate are all inserted in mounting holes formed in the printed substrate (see
FIGS. 2 and 4
in the publication) and fixed therein. Therefore, each lower end of the first and second lower holders is made projecting downward from a lower surface of the printed substrate.
Such projecting lower ends of the first and second lower holders may cause a difficulty in thickness reduction of the key switch and be against actual circumstances that the reduction of the thickness of a key switch is promoted.
To conform the need of reduction in size and thickness of a keyboard with a sufficient key stroke being ensured, applicant of the present invention proposed a key switch device which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,283, in which an electrical circuit pattern is formed on an insulating layer provided on a metal substrate, and four mounting portions are formed integrally with the substrate by pressing and disposed surrounding a fixed contact pattern in the circuit pattern. Two of the four mounting portions having arc shapes are used as rotatably supporting portions, and the other two having long-hole shapes are used as slidably supporting portions.
In the above switch device, a guide supporting member constructed of two link members which are mutually rotatably connected is disposed between the key top and the substrate. A support shaft formed between upper ends of the two link members is rotatably supported in the connecting portions formed on the underside of the key top and support pins formed at lower ends of the link member are slidably supported in the slidably supporting portions of the substrate support pins formed at upper ends of the other link member is slidably supported in the connecting portions formed on the underside of the key top and a support shaft formed between lower ends of the link member is rotatably supported in the rotatably supporting portions of the substrate.
In the key switch disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,283, the metal substrate is formed integrally with the mounting portions (supporting portions) by pressing, the mounting portions serving to slidably or rotatably support the support pins or Shafts disposed on the lower parts of the link members. Thus, this realizes a key switch device which can ensure a sufficient key stroke and reduce the size of the keyboard, especially the thickness thereof.
However, a predetermined pressing work to integrally form the mounting portions with the substrate needs a relatively large pressing die in order to form the mounting portions in the whole area of the substrate. Since the pressing die is expensive, the cost of the key switch device is increased in association therewith.
Furthermore, specifications such as the placement manner of key switches are generally determined in various countries where the key switches are used. If the key switch device is manufactured based on each of the specifications in the countries where the key switch device is to be used, plural types of a pressing die must be prepared to perform a suitable pressing work on a substrate in response to the respective specifications. Accordingly, the preparation of plural pressing dies, each being inherently expensive in cost, may cause the increase in cost of the key switch device.
Furthermore, the metal substrate itself used in the above key switch device is considerably heavy, so that the whole key switch device increases in weight. This obstructs weight reduction of the key switch device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to overcome the above problems and to provide a key switch device having mounting members for movably supporting lower ends of two link members of a guide member guiding vertical movement of a key top, the mounting members being fixed on a film sheet for performing a switching operation, by a predetermined one of various fixing manners, thus eliminating the need of a pressing die used in the prior art, so that the key switch device can reduce the manufacturing Cost, increase the design flexibility of a keyboard provided with a plurality of the key switch devices, and achieve weight reduction of the keyboard.
To achieve the purpose of the invention, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key switch device including
a key top;
a circuit board disposed below the key top, the circuit board having a switching circuit formed thereon;
a guide member provided with a first link and a second link which are mutually movably connected;
a switching member which performs a switching operation with the switching circuit on the circuit board in association with a vertical movement of the key top;
a first shaft formed at a lower end of the first link;
a second shaft formed at a lower end of the second link; and
a
Kako Mitsumasa
Mochizuki Isao
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
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