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EP0088365B1 - Keyboard - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0088365B1
EP0088365B1 EP83102067A EP83102067A EP0088365B1 EP 0088365 B1 EP0088365 B1 EP 0088365B1 EP 83102067 A EP83102067 A EP 83102067A EP 83102067 A EP83102067 A EP 83102067A EP 0088365 B1 EP0088365 B1 EP 0088365B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
key
carrier plate
keyboard according
contact
edges
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83102067A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0088365A1 (en
Inventor
Hans-Joachim Viebrantz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Preh GmbH
Original Assignee
Preh GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Preh GmbH filed Critical Preh GmbH
Publication of EP0088365A1 publication Critical patent/EP0088365A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0088365B1 publication Critical patent/EP0088365B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/12—Push-buttons
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H01H13/705—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by construction, mounting or arrangement of operating parts, e.g. push-buttons or keys
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/01—Off centre actuation

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a keyboard with keys arranged in recesses in a carrier plate and with electrical switching contacts arranged on a contact plate below the keys, wherein tilting axes are provided between the key and the carrier plate and the key rests at an obtuse angle on inner edges of the recess, which lies between the side surfaces of the key head and a stop surface of the key foot projecting under the carrier plate relative to the key head, the side surfaces of the key head opposite the tilt axes being retracted for the tilting movement and the key base being under the action of a resilient return element.
  • Such a keyboard is known from US-A-4029915.
  • the stop surfaces of the key base rest flat on the carrier plate when the key is not actuated. They are not at free acute angles to the level of the carrier plate.
  • the tilt axes are on the outside on the edge of the key foot, but not on the edge of the recess.
  • the button When the button is pressed, it tilts around the edge of its button head, i.e. not around the edge of the recess in the carrier plate. Since, in the known keyboard, the edge of the key base around which the key tilts when actuated, that is to say the tilt axis, does not find a stop in the plane of the carrier plate, there is a tendency for the tilt axis to move. This in turn entails the risk that the button is stuck. This risk of pinching can be eliminated by a correspondingly large return spring. However, this means an additional increase in the restoring force that must be overcome when actuated.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a keyboard with a symmetrical tilting behavior of the keys, in which the tilting axis does not move when the key is pressed and in which the key switches the switch contact assigned to it when the key is pressed as well as when it is pressed off-center.
  • the above object is achieved with a keyboard of the type mentioned in the introduction in that the stop surfaces are at free acute angles to the inner surface of the carrier plate when the key is not actuated, such that the tilting axes are formed by the edges of the recess.
  • the tilting behavior of the button and thus the switching behavior of the contact is the same whether it is pressed more on one side or more on the other side.
  • the key tilts around one tilt axis without the other tilt axis influencing this. Otherwise, the button tilts around the other tilt axis.
  • the design of the tilt axes does not involve any additional restoring forces which would have to be overcome when actuated and which could lead to different actuating forces of the individual keys on the keyboard.
  • the necessary actuation force depends solely on the design of the contact plate. It is ensured that the tilt axis does not move when the button is pressed and that the button is reset regardless of whether the button is pressed more on one side or the other side or in the middle by the restoring force of the contact.
  • the acute angles are preferably dimensioned such that the stop surface adjacent to the respective tilt axis bears on the carrier plate when the button is pressed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a keyboard in section.
  • the keyboard has a plurality of similar keys in a common carrier plate 2.
  • the carrier plate 2 is provided with a recess 3 in which the key 1 is seated.
  • the carrier plate 2 has 3 edges 4 and 5 in the recess.
  • a contact plate 6 is arranged below the carrier plate 2.
  • the contact plate 6 has a rubber mat 7 with knobs 8 and a printed circuit board 9 which is fastened below the rubber mat 7.
  • a conductor disk 10 is glued into the knob 8, which connects two electrical conductor tracks 11 and 12 of the printed circuit board 9 when the knob 8 is pressed down.
  • the key 1 sits in the recess 3 and lies on the knob 8 with a central contact attachment point 13 of its foot 14.
  • the foot 14 jumps under the support plate 2. From the attachment point 13, the foot 14 runs in slopes 15 and 16, which are at an angle W1 to the plane of the support plate 2.
  • the foot 14 merges with stop faces 17 and 18 into side faces 19 and 20 of a head 21 of the key 1.
  • the stop surface 17 and the side surface 19 and the stop surface 18 and the side surface 20 form an obtuse angle W2 in their transition region.
  • the transition areas are pressed against the edges 4 and 5 by the spring force of the knob 8.
  • the edges 4 and 5 run in a radius r around a point P.
  • the radius r is substantially larger than that of a fillet at the apex of the angle W2.
  • the key has a contact line Z or K with the edge 4 or 5 both in its stop surface 17 or 18 and in its side surface 19 or 20.
  • the line of contact K of the stop surface 17 or 18 is effective as a tilt axis when the key 1 is pressed.
  • the line of contact Z of the side surface 19 or 20 is effective when the key 1 is reset and improves the centering of the key 1 in its initial position.
  • the stop surfaces 17 and 18 form an acute angle W3 with the plane of the carrier plate 2.
  • the acute angles W1 and W3 are approximately the same size and are, for example, 12 °.
  • the side surfaces 19 and 20 are curved in a radius R around the point P. The radius R is dimensioned such that the side surfaces 19 and 20 do not strike the edge of the recess 3 before the conductor disk 10 connects the conductor tracks 11 and 12.
  • the vertices on both sides can detach from the edges 4 and 5 or the two contact lines Z.
  • the knob 8 is pressed together by the attachment point 13.
  • edges 4 and 5 can be formed with sharp edges in such a way that the lines of contact K and Z practically coincide.
  • the edge 4 or 5 lies directly in the apex of the obtuse angle W2 formed between the stop surface 17 or 18 and the side surface 19 or 20.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Tastatur mit in Ausnehmungen einer Trägerplatte angeordneten Tasten und mit auf einer Kontaktplatte unterhalb der Tasten angeordneten elektrischen Schaltkontakten, wobei zwischen der Taste und der Trägerplatte Kippachsen vorgesehen sind und die Taste mit einem stumpfen Winkel an inneren Kanten der Ausnehmung anliegt, der zwischen den Seitenflächen des Tastenkopfes und einer Anschlagfläche des gegenüber dem Tastenkopf unter die Trägerplatte vorspringenden Tastenfußes gebildet ist, wobei die den Kippachsen gegenüberliegenden Seitenflächen des Tastenkopfes für die Kippbewegung eingezogen sind und der Tastenfuß unter der Einwirkung eines federnden Rückstellelementes steht.The invention relates to a keyboard with keys arranged in recesses in a carrier plate and with electrical switching contacts arranged on a contact plate below the keys, wherein tilting axes are provided between the key and the carrier plate and the key rests at an obtuse angle on inner edges of the recess, which lies between the side surfaces of the key head and a stop surface of the key foot projecting under the carrier plate relative to the key head, the side surfaces of the key head opposite the tilt axes being retracted for the tilting movement and the key base being under the action of a resilient return element.

Eine derartige Tastatur ist aus der US-A-4029915 bekannt. Bei der bekannten Tastatur liegen die Anschlagflächen des Tastenfußes bei nichtbetätigter Taste an der Trägerplatte flächig an. Sie stehen nicht in freien spitzen Winkeln zur Ebene der Trägerplatte. Die Kippachsen liegen also außen am Rand des Tastenfußes, jedoch nicht an der Kante der Ausnehmung. Wird die Taste betätigt, dann kippt sie um den Rand ihres Tastenkopfes, also nicht um die Kante der Ausnehmung der Trägerplatte. Da bei der bekannten Tastatur der Rand des Tastenfußes, um den die Taste bei Betätigung kippt, also die Kippachse, in der Ebene der Trägerplatte keinen Anschlag findet, besteht die Tendenz, daß die Kippachse wandert. Dies wiederum bringt die Gefahr mit sich, daß die Taste klemmt. Durch eine entsprechend stark dimensionierte Rückstellfeder läßt sich diese Klemmgefahr beseitigen. Dies bedeutet jedoch eine zusätzliche Erhöhung der Rückstellkraft, die bei der Betätigung überwunden werden muß.Such a keyboard is known from US-A-4029915. In the known keyboard, the stop surfaces of the key base rest flat on the carrier plate when the key is not actuated. They are not at free acute angles to the level of the carrier plate. The tilt axes are on the outside on the edge of the key foot, but not on the edge of the recess. When the button is pressed, it tilts around the edge of its button head, i.e. not around the edge of the recess in the carrier plate. Since, in the known keyboard, the edge of the key base around which the key tilts when actuated, that is to say the tilt axis, does not find a stop in the plane of the carrier plate, there is a tendency for the tilt axis to move. This in turn entails the risk that the button is stuck. This risk of pinching can be eliminated by a correspondingly large return spring. However, this means an additional increase in the restoring force that must be overcome when actuated.

Bei der bekannten Tastatur sind jeder Taste vier Schaltkontakte zugeordnet. Die Taste soll nur außermittig betätigt werden. Mittig greift an ihr die Rückstellfeder an, die entsprechend stark sein muß, um zu gewährleisten, daß mit der Taste immer nur einer der vier Kontakte geschlossen wird.In the known keyboard, four switch contacts are assigned to each key. The button should only be pressed off-center. In the middle, the return spring engages, which must be sufficiently strong to ensure that only one of the four contacts is closed with the button.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, eine Tastatur mit symmetrischem Kippverhalten der Tasten anzugeben, bei der die Kippachse bei der Betätigung der Taste nicht wandert und bei der die Taste sowohl bei mittigem Drücken als auch bei außermittigem Drücken den ihr zugeordneten Schaltkontakt schaltet.The object of the invention is to provide a keyboard with a symmetrical tilting behavior of the keys, in which the tilting axis does not move when the key is pressed and in which the key switches the switch contact assigned to it when the key is pressed as well as when it is pressed off-center.

Erfindungsgemäß ist obige Aufgabe bei einer Tastatur der eingangs genannten Art dadurch gelöst, daß die Anschlagflächen bei nichtbetätigter Taste in freien spitzen Winkeln zur Innenfläche der Trägerplatte stehen, derart, daß die Kippachsen von den Kanten der Ausnehmung gebildet sind.According to the invention, the above object is achieved with a keyboard of the type mentioned in the introduction in that the stop surfaces are at free acute angles to the inner surface of the carrier plate when the key is not actuated, such that the tilting axes are formed by the edges of the recess.

Das Kippverhalten der Taste und damit das Schaltverhalten des Kontakts ist gleich, ob diese mehr an der einen oder mehr an der anderen Seite betätigt wird. Im einen Fall kippt die Taste um die eine Kippachse, ohne daß die andere Kippachse dies beeinflußt. Im andern Fall kippt die Taste um die andere Kippachse. Zugleich ist dabei eine Hebelwirkung gegeben. Die Gestaltung der Kippachsen bringt keinerlei zusätzliche Rückstellkräfte mit sich, die bei der Betätigung überwunden werden müßten und die zu unterschiedlichen Betätigungskräften der einzelnen Tasten der Tastatur führen könnten. Die notwendige Betätigungskraft ist allein von der Gestaltung der Kontaktplatte abhängig. Es ist sichergestellt, daß die Kippachse bei der Betätigung der Taste nicht wandert und daß die Rückstellung der Taste unabhängig davon, ob die Betätigung mehr an der einen Seite oder der anderen Seite oder in der Mitte erfolgt, klemmfrei durch die Rückstellkraft des Kontakts geschieht.The tilting behavior of the button and thus the switching behavior of the contact is the same whether it is pressed more on one side or more on the other side. In one case, the key tilts around one tilt axis without the other tilt axis influencing this. Otherwise, the button tilts around the other tilt axis. At the same time there is leverage. The design of the tilt axes does not involve any additional restoring forces which would have to be overcome when actuated and which could lead to different actuating forces of the individual keys on the keyboard. The necessary actuation force depends solely on the design of the contact plate. It is ensured that the tilt axis does not move when the button is pressed and that the button is reset regardless of whether the button is pressed more on one side or the other side or in the middle by the restoring force of the contact.

Vorzugsweise sind die spitzen Winkel so bemessen, daß die der jeweiligen Kippachse benachbarte Anschlagfläche bei betätigter Taste an der Trägerplatte anliegt.The acute angles are preferably dimensioned such that the stop surface adjacent to the respective tilt axis bears on the carrier plate when the button is pressed.

Weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der folgenden Beschreibung und den Unteransprüchen. Die Figur zeigt eine Teilansicht einer Tastatur im Schnitt.Further advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the following description and the subclaims. The figure shows a partial view of a keyboard in section.

In der Figur ist lediglich eine einzige Taste 1 der Tastatur dargestellt. Je nach dem Einsatzbereich weist die Tastatur eine Mehrzahl gleichartiger Tasten in einer gemeinsamen Trägerplatte 2 auf.In the figure, only a single key 1 of the keyboard is shown. Depending on the area of use, the keyboard has a plurality of similar keys in a common carrier plate 2.

Die Trägerplatte 2 ist mit einer Ausnehmung 3 versehen, in der die Taste 1 sitzt. Die Trägerplatte 2 weist in der Ausnehmung 3 Kanten 4 und 5 auf. Unterhalb der Trägerplatte 2 ist eine Kontaktplatte 6 angeordnet.The carrier plate 2 is provided with a recess 3 in which the key 1 is seated. The carrier plate 2 has 3 edges 4 and 5 in the recess. A contact plate 6 is arranged below the carrier plate 2.

Die Kontaktplatte 6 weist eine Gummimatte 7 mit Noppen 8 und eine Leiterplatte 9 auf, die unterhalb der Gummimatte 7 befestigt ist. In die Noppe 8 ist eine Leiterscheibe 10 eingeklebt, welche beim Niederdrücken der Noppe 8 zwei elektrische Leiterbahnen 11 und 12 der Leiterplatte 9 verbindet.The contact plate 6 has a rubber mat 7 with knobs 8 and a printed circuit board 9 which is fastened below the rubber mat 7. A conductor disk 10 is glued into the knob 8, which connects two electrical conductor tracks 11 and 12 of the printed circuit board 9 when the knob 8 is pressed down.

Die Taste 1 sitzt in der Ausnehmung 3 und Liegt mit einem mittigen Kontaktanschlagspunkt 13 ihres Fußes 14 auf der Noppe 8 auf.The key 1 sits in the recess 3 and lies on the knob 8 with a central contact attachment point 13 of its foot 14.

Der Fuß 14 springt unter die Trägerplatte 2 vor. Vom Anschlagpunkt 13 aus verläuft der Fuß 14 in Schrägen 15 und 16, die zur Ebene der Trägerplatte 2 in einem Winkel W1 stehen.The foot 14 jumps under the support plate 2. From the attachment point 13, the foot 14 runs in slopes 15 and 16, which are at an angle W1 to the plane of the support plate 2.

Der Fuß 14 geht mit Anschlagflächen 17 und 18 in Seitenflächen 19 und 20 eines Kopfes 21 der Taste 1 über. Die Anschlagfläche 17 und die Seitenfläche 19 sowie die Anschlagfläche 18 und die Seitenfläche 20 bilden in ihrem Übergangsbereich einen stumpfen Winkel W2. Die Übergangsbereiche sind durch die Federkraft der Noppe 8 gegen die Kanten 4 bzw. 5 gedrückt.The foot 14 merges with stop faces 17 and 18 into side faces 19 and 20 of a head 21 of the key 1. The stop surface 17 and the side surface 19 and the stop surface 18 and the side surface 20 form an obtuse angle W2 in their transition region. The transition areas are pressed against the edges 4 and 5 by the spring force of the knob 8.

Die Kanten 4 und 5 verlaufen beim Ausführungsbeispiel in einem Radius r um einen Punkt P. Der Radius r ist im Ausführungsbeispiel wesentlich größer als der einer Ausrundung im Scheitel des Winkels W2. Dadurch ist erreicht, daß die Taste sowohl in ihrer Anschlagfläche 17 bzw. 18 als auch in ihrer Seitenfläche 19 bzw. 20 eine Berührungslinie Z bzw. K mit der Kante 4 bzw. 5 aufweist. Die Berührungslinie K der Anschlagfläche 17 bzw. 18 wird beim Drücken der Taste 1 als Kippachse wirksam. Die Berührungslinie Z der Seitenfläche 19 bzw. 20 wird bei der Rückstellung der Taste 1 wirksam und verbessert die Zentrierung der Taste 1 in ihrer Ausgangslage.In the exemplary embodiment, the edges 4 and 5 run in a radius r around a point P. In the exemplary embodiment, the radius r is substantially larger than that of a fillet at the apex of the angle W2. This means that the key has a contact line Z or K with the edge 4 or 5 both in its stop surface 17 or 18 and in its side surface 19 or 20. The line of contact K of the stop surface 17 or 18 is effective as a tilt axis when the key 1 is pressed. The line of contact Z of the side surface 19 or 20 is effective when the key 1 is reset and improves the centering of the key 1 in its initial position.

Die Anschlagflächen 17 und 18 bilden mit der Ebene der Trägerplatte 2 einen spitzen Winkel W3. Die spitzen Winkel W1 und W3 sind etwa gleich groß und betragen beispielsweise 12°. Die Seitenflächen 19 und 20 sind in einem Radius R um den Punkt P gekrümmt. Der Radius R ist so bemessen, daß die Seitenflächen 19 bzw. 20 nicht am Rand der Ausnehmung 3 anschlagen, bevor die Leiterscheibe 10 die Leiterbahnen 11 und 12 verbindet.The stop surfaces 17 and 18 form an acute angle W3 with the plane of the carrier plate 2. The acute angles W1 and W3 are approximately the same size and are, for example, 12 °. The side surfaces 19 and 20 are curved in a radius R around the point P. The radius R is dimensioned such that the side surfaces 19 and 20 do not strike the edge of the recess 3 before the conductor disk 10 connects the conductor tracks 11 and 12.

Die Funktionsweise der beschriebenen Einrichtung ist etwa folgende :

  • Wird im in der Figur rechten Bereich auf den Tastenkopf 21 gedrückt, dann kippt dieser um die von der Berührungslinie K der Anschlagfläche 17 gebildete Kippachse. Dabei wird vom Anschlagpunkt 13 die Noppe 8 zusammengedrückt bis die Leiterscheibe 10 die elektrischen Leiterbahnen 11 und 12 verbindet. Erst wenn die Kippbewegung um den Winkel W3 durchgeführt ist, trifft die Anschlagfläche 17 von unten auf die Trägerplatte 2. Die Schräge 16 erlaubt den erforderlichen Tastenhub, ohne daß die Taste vor dem Ende des Hubes auf die Gummimatte 7 aufstößt. Nach dem Loslassen des Kopfes 21 wird die Taste 1 durch die Rückstellkraft der Noppe 8 in die gezeigte Stellung zurückbewegt und an den Berührungslinien Z der Seitenflächen 19 und 20 zentriert.
The functioning of the described device is approximately as follows:
  • If the button head 21 is pressed in the area on the right in the figure, it tilts about the tilt axis formed by the contact line K of the stop surface 17. The knob 8 is pressed together from the attachment point 13 until the conductor disk 10 connects the electrical conductor tracks 11 and 12. Only when the tilting movement is carried out by the angle W3 does the abutment surface 17 hit the support plate 2 from below. The bevel 16 permits the required key stroke without the key hitting the rubber mat 7 before the end of the stroke. After releasing the head 21, the button 1 is moved back into the position shown by the restoring force of the knob 8 and centered on the contact lines Z of the side surfaces 19 and 20.

Wird der Tastenkopf 21 in seinem in der Figur linken Bereich beaufschlagt, dann erfolgt die Verschwenkung um die Berührungslinie K der Anschlagfläche 18 in der vorbeschriebenen Weise. Das Schaltverhalten und die notwendige Betätigungskraft ist in beiden Fällen gleich.If the key head 21 is acted upon in the area on the left in the figure, then the pivoting about the line of contact K of the stop surface 18 takes place in the manner described above. The switching behavior and the necessary actuation force are the same in both cases.

Wird der Tastenkopf 21 in der Mitte beaufschlagt, dann können sich die beiderseitigen Scheitel von den Kanten 4 und 5 bzw. den beiden Berührungslinien Z lösen. Durch den Anschlagpunkt 13 wird die Noppe 8 zusammengedrückt.If the key top 21 is acted upon in the middle, the vertices on both sides can detach from the edges 4 and 5 or the two contact lines Z. The knob 8 is pressed together by the attachment point 13.

Die Kanten 4 und 5 können and in der Weise scharfkantig ausgebildet sein, daß die Berührungslinien K und Z praktisch zusammenfallen. In diesem Falle liegt die Kante 4 bzw. 5 direkt im Scheitel des zwischen der Anschlagfläche 17 bzw. 18 und der Seitenfläche 19 bzw. 20 gebildeten stumpfen Winkels W2.The edges 4 and 5 can be formed with sharp edges in such a way that the lines of contact K and Z practically coincide. In this case, the edge 4 or 5 lies directly in the apex of the obtuse angle W2 formed between the stop surface 17 or 18 and the side surface 19 or 20.

Claims (8)

1. Keyboard with keys (1) arranged in recesses (3) of a carrier plate (2), and having electrical switch contacts (10, 11, 12) arranged on a contact plate (6) below the keys (1), wherein between the key (1) and the carrier plate (2) there are provided axes of tilt (K), and the key (1) abuts inner edges (4, 5) of the recess (3) at an obtuse angle (W2) which is formed between the side faces (19 or 20) of the key head (21) and a stop face (17 or 18) of the key base (14) projecting under the carrier plate (2) with respect to the key head (21), whereby the side faces (19 or 20) of the key head (21) opposite the axes of tilt (K) are retracted for the tilting movement, and the key base (14) is acted upon by a resilient return element (8), characterised in that the stop faces (17, 18) are at open acute angles (W3) to the inner surface of the carrier plate (2) when the key (1) is not actuated, so that the axes of tilt (K) are formed from the edges (4, 5) of the recess (3).
2. Keyboard according to claim 1, characterised in that the inner edges (4, 5) are rounded with a radius (r) which is greater than the radius of a rounding of the apex of the obtuse angle (W2), and in that the stop face (17, 18) and the side faces (19, 20) abut the edges (4, 5) in a line of contact (K) and in a further line of contact (Z), respectively.
3. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the acute angles (W3) are so dimensioned that the stop face (17, 18) adjacent to the respective axis of tilt abuts the carrier plate (2) when the key is actuated.
4. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side faces (19 or 20) only strike against the recess edge (3) when the stop faces (17 or 18) are turned by the acute angle (W3).
5. Keyboard according to claim 4, characterised in that the retraction of the side faces (19, 20) opposite the edges (4, 5) is effected along the line of an arcuate section.
6. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the key base (14) has slopes (15, 16) extending from a central contact- stop point (13) at a further acute angle (W1) to the plane of the carrier plate (2).
7. Keyboard according to claim 6, characterised in that the first and further acute angles (W1, W3) are the same size.
8. Keyboard according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact plate (6) has a rubber mat (7) with a resilient knub (8), on the outer side of which the key base (14) lies centrally, and on the inner wall of which a conductive plate (10) forming the movable contact member is secured.
EP83102067A 1982-03-10 1983-03-03 Keyboard Expired EP0088365B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3208559A DE3208559C2 (en) 1982-03-10 1982-03-10 keyboard
DE3208559 1982-03-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0088365A1 EP0088365A1 (en) 1983-09-14
EP0088365B1 true EP0088365B1 (en) 1986-10-22

Family

ID=6157786

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83102067A Expired EP0088365B1 (en) 1982-03-10 1983-03-03 Keyboard

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4493959A (en)
EP (1) EP0088365B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS58169723A (en)
DE (1) DE3208559C2 (en)

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US4618744A (en) * 1985-04-29 1986-10-21 Advanced Input Devices, Inc. Rocker key elastomer dome keyboard
US4786766A (en) * 1985-08-26 1988-11-22 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Keyboard apparatus
DE3719793A1 (en) * 1987-06-13 1988-12-22 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Electrical apparatus having a rocker key (tumbler key)
US5247143A (en) * 1990-03-09 1993-09-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Key switch
US5144103A (en) * 1990-03-09 1992-09-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Key switch
JP2878464B2 (en) * 1991-02-22 1999-04-05 アルプス電気株式会社 Push button switch
JP2638395B2 (en) * 1992-06-30 1997-08-06 株式会社セガ・エンタープライゼス Control key device
US5498843A (en) * 1992-06-30 1996-03-12 Sega Enterprises, Ltd. Control key multiple electrical contact switching device
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3208559C2 (en) 1985-12-05
EP0088365A1 (en) 1983-09-14
JPS58169723A (en) 1983-10-06
DE3208559A1 (en) 1983-09-22
US4493959A (en) 1985-01-15

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