EP0616344A1 - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to be able to manufacture, as required, relatively small units using simple means from a keyboard consisting of an integral multiple key guide (3), a rubber-like mat having resetting domes for keys and a contact plane, design precautions are proposed which simplify, in particular splitting of the multiple guide. The precautions comprise the multiple guide being divided into segments, the segments being connected to one another by means of webs (17), and the webs having to be separated using tools. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a keyboard with a plurality of guide parts, in each of which a key is displaceably mounted and the guide parts are segments of a one-piece multi-key guide, with a rubber-like mat on the dome, e.g. for resetting actuated buttons and with a contact level carries the conductor tracks and contact arrangements switchable by one button each.

Keyboards of this type are known. They are characterized in that the functional elements required for a single key position are reproduced in levels and are available as one-piece parts for several or all key positions. Such levels are easy to use and ultimately lead to inexpensive keyboards. The design and arrangement of the individual keyboard levels can be different. For example, it is known to additionally equip the domes of the rubber-like mat with electrically conductive partial surfaces for switching purposes (EP-A-0 453 274). The contact plane can consist of a film coated with guide surfaces, which, if necessary, has a supporting plane under it for mechanical stabilization. Printed circuit boards with, for example, are also known as the contact level etched guide surfaces (EP-A-0 398 186). Document EP-A-0 305 931 shows a multi-key guide with a keyboard housing in one piece. Pure membrane keyboards consist of a contact level and a closed key level; Operating buttons and the necessary guide and reset elements are no longer required for membrane keyboards.

The number and distribution of the key positions in the case of keyboards of the type described at the outset are determined by the production tool; this applies in particular to the complicated design of a multiple key guide. Subsequent changes in the dimension of the key field resulting from all key positions are labor-intensive and can sometimes only be achieved economically using a new tool. Both options are unprofitable for smaller production quantities.

Solutions are known which allow any or limited design of a keypad. For example, it is proposed in EP-A-0 094 839 to set up any keypad by stringing together individual key guides or small key guide groups. The key guide strips known from EP-A-0 087 369 and the return spring tongues which are present in strips enable a key field to be expanded line by line. Such isolated or grouped functional elements of a keyboard are difficult to handle.

The object of the invention was to facilitate the design of a keypad in keyboards of the type described at the outset in such a way that even smaller production quantities of different keyboards can be produced economically. The task is solved. by constructively providing for the divisibility of the multiple key guide and / or the latter being created by such a provision, the provision being that adjacent segments are connected via a dividing line by one or more stable webs which can be severed with a tool .

In addition to the guided holding of keys, a multiple key guide also requires sufficient stability against kinking or twisting. For this reason, the individual segments of a multiple key guide are regularly seamlessly connected in the prior art. Such segments, among other things because of the arrangement of receptacles for mounting a parallel guide member with larger keys in the border area to the neighboring segment, cannot easily be subsequently separated even with a tool. On the one hand, the invention makes it easy to separate the segments, for example by punching with simple stamps, and on the other hand, the desired mechanical stability is maintained by appropriately dimensioning the webs. The subclaims contain advantageous developments of the invention.

Figur 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Tastatur in Seitenansicht,

Figur 2

die Tastatur aus Figur 1 mit teilweise abgezogenen Betätigungstasten, in Draufsicht,

Figur 3

die Mehrfach-Tastenführung der Tastatur aus Figur 1 bzw. Figur 2 in Seitenansicht,

Figur 4

die Mehrfach-Tastenführung aus Figur 3 in Draufsicht,

Figur 5

die gummmiartige Matte aus Figur 1 in Seitenansicht,

Figur 6

die gummiartige Matte aus Figur 5 in Draufsicht
und

Figur 7

einen Endabschnitt der Kontaktebene der Tastatur aus Figur 1 bzw. Figur 2 in Draufsicht.

The following is a description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

a keyboard according to the invention in side view,

Figure 2

1 the keyboard from FIG. 1 with the actuation keys partially removed, in a top view,

Figure 3

the multiple key guide of the keyboard of Figure 1 or Figure 2 in side view,

Figure 4

the multiple key guide from Figure 3 in plan view,

Figure 5

the rubber-like mat of Figure 1 in side view,

Figure 6

the rubber-like mat of Figure 5 in plan view
and

Figure 7

an end portion of the contact plane of the keyboard of Figure 1 or Figure 2 in plan view.

The invention relates to a keyboard which is composed of several levels, each level fulfilling a specific function and this function being available at every key position on the keyboard. Such a keyboard is shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Keys (1) arranged in a uniform grid form the keypad of the keyboard as a whole. Each key (1) is slidably mounted in a guide part (2). All guide parts (2) together form a one-piece multiple key guide (3) and each guide part (2) is a segment of the multiple key guide (3). The multiple key guide (3) rests on a rubber-like mat (4) . Domes (5) are formed on the mat (4) and each protrude into a guide part (2). The domes (5) hold a respective button (1) elastically in their starting position; a key (1) operated by pressing is reset to its initial position by the dome (5) assigned to it. Below the rubber-like mat (4), a support plate (6) additionally stiffens the keyboard against twisting. The keyboard can be found using holes (7) in the support plate (6) e.g. to attach to a housing. Between the rubber-like mat (4) and the support plate (6) an insulating film coated on its upper side with a conductor pattern is inserted as a contact plane (8). The conductor pattern of the contact plane (8) consists of contact surfaces (18) and connecting lines (10) (Figure 7). The position of the contact surfaces (18) is assigned to the keys (1). The connecting lines (10) are led to the outside via a tongue (11) of the contact plane (8).

The various levels of the keyboard have continuously aligned holes (12) which engage in the pins (13) and hold the keyboards together. The buttons (1) have symbols on their actuating surface (14) to indicate the function that is triggered when the corresponding button (1) is depressed.

The multiple key guide (3) forms a level of the keyboard (Fig. 3, Fig. 4). Each segment of the multiple key guide lying in the grid of the keys (1) contains a guide part (2) with guide grooves (15) which engage in the guide elements of the keys, not shown, and which are displaceably supported between end positions. Adjacent segments of the multiple key guide (3) are each connected by a stable web (17). The webs (17) have flat surfaces, they can be cut with the help of a simple tool with a stamp gradually or in groups. With this option, smaller units can be generated with little effort from a more extensive multiple key guide (3). The multiple key guide (3) can be divided with little effort, in particular along predetermined dividing lines. The dividing lines in the extension of the arrows T favor the generation of preferred sizes with, for example, 4 x 4, 4 x 5, 6 x 5 or 8 x 4 keys. The segments have receptacles (16) on all sides in their border area for mounting a parallel guide element. Large buttons, the operating surface of which covers several guide parts, require a parallel guide link. For reasons of space, the receptacles (16) for a parallel guide element are located in the edge region of a segment, on the border to the neighboring segment. To improve the stability of the multiple key guide (3) obtained by means of webs (17), the tangent receptacles (16 ') of adjacent segments are formed together. The receptacles (16 ″) are divided accordingly only along the predetermined dividing lines (arrow T).

In some webs (17) holes (12) are made, these are used for assembly with other levels of the keyboards. Instead of the holes (12), pins for welding the keyboards could also be formed. The holes (12) are distributed over the surface of the multiple key guide (3) that they can also be used for smaller units.

The rubber-like mat (4) carries molded domes (5) (Fig. 5, Fig. 6). The domes (5) are also in the grid of the keys (1). The domes (5) represent spring elements for an elastic return of actuated buttons (1) to their rest position. The domes (5) are electrically conductive on their inner surface (9). When the assigned key (1) is pressed, the inner surface (9) is pressed against a contact surface (18) of the contact plane (8) and causes a switching operation by short-circuiting the contact surface electrodes. The level of the rubber-like mat (4) with the dome-like restoring elements can be easily divided by hand, if necessary, by indentations (19) and can therefore be adapted to smaller units of multiple key guides without any problems. The holes (12) of the rubber-like mat (4) correspond to the holes (12) of the multiple key guide (3), they also serve to assemble the keyboard.

FIG. 7 shows a section of the contact plane (8) with contact surfaces (18) and connecting leads (10) led to the tongue (11). The contact surfaces (18) are aligned with the keys (1). The contact level (1) itself consists of an insulating film which is provided on one side with a conductor pattern applied in several layers. Insulating layers separate connecting cables that cross. A contact level made of insulating film can be easily dimensioned mechanically using a knife or scissors. The connecting lines (10) and the contact surfaces (18) have to be adapted to the conditions of a new, smaller keyboard and therefore always have to be newly manufactured; a division of existing contact levels would separate connecting lines and electrically isolate the associated contact surfaces. The final support plate (6) as a support for the contact level is not shown in detail.

To assemble a keyboard, the level of the multiple key guide (3), the level of the mat (4) with the reset elements, the contact level (8) and the support plate (6) as a support level are placed one above the other in mutual alignment and on the holes (12 ) held together for example by means of welded pins (13). After inserting the keys (1) into the guide parts (2) of the multiple key guide (3), the keyboard is finished. If a smaller unit of the keyboard is desired, then separation tools may be required for appropriate dimensioning of the levels; new molds for multiple key guides are no longer required.

Reference number list 03/93 GM

1

button

2nd

Guide part

3rd

Multiple button guidance

4th

mat

5

Cathedral

6

Support plate

7

drilling

8th

Contact level

9

Inner surface

10th

Connecting cable

11

tongue

12th

Breakthrough, drilling

13

pen

14

Operating area

15

Guide groove

16.16 ', 16' '

admission

17th

web

18th

Contact area

19th

notch

Arrow T

parting line

Claims (6)

Keyboard with a plurality of guide parts (2) in each of which a key (1) is slidably mounted and the guide parts are segments of a one-piece multiple key guide (3), with a rubber-like mat (4) on the dome (5), for example for resetting actuated buttons and with a contact level (8) carries the conductor tracks (10) and contact arrangements (18) which can be switched by one button each,
characterized,
that constructive arrangements have been made for the divisibility of the multiple key guide and / or that the latter is created by such a provision, the provision being that adjacent segments are separated by a dividing line (arrow T) by one or more stable ones Tool separable webs (17) are connected. Keyboard according to claim 1,
characterized,
that all segments of the multiple key guide (3) are connected to all adjacent segments by separable webs (17) and the dividing line (arrow T) can thus be freely determined. Keyboard according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the course of at least one dividing line (arrow T) is predetermined and that only those segments which are adjacent over the at least one dividing line (arrow T) are connected to webs (17). Keyboard according to claim 1 or claim 3,
characterized,
that receptacles (16, 16 ', 16'') are formed on the segments for a parallel guide element and tangent receptacles (16') of adjacent segments are regularly standardized and are only divided accordingly along a predetermined dividing line (arrow T). Keyboard according to claim 1 to claim 4,
characterized,
that selected webs (17) are provided with openings (12) or pins or both, which serve to assemble the keyboard. Keyboard according to claim 1 to claim 5,
characterized,
that the rubber-like mat (4) is notched along the possible dividing lines (arrow T) to make it easier to separate.

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