JP2000228131A - Switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a thin switch device capable of always giving an operator a clear and comfortable click feeling during a pressing operation. In a switch device, a switch ON operation is performed by a pressing operation of a key top 1 and a switching signal is output.
And a delay circuit 11 for inputting a drive signal for driving the actuator to the actuator after a predetermined delay time based on the output of the switching signal.
And provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a switch device, and more particularly to a switch device having a thin structure and mainly used for a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional switch device used for a keyboard, a switch element is built in a housing, and a stem is attached to the housing so as to be able to move up and down. When no pressing operation is performed, the stem is returned by a return spring. Are mounted on the housing with the operating end protruding from the housing.

[0003] When the operating end of the stem is pressed against the return spring, a click mechanism consisting of a reversing spring is actuated during the movement of the stem, giving a click feeling to the operator's finger and a switch element. Is in contact with the fixed contact, and the switch is turned ON.

When the application of the pressing force to the operating end of the stem is released, the stem is moved upward to the position before the pressing operation by the spring force of the return spring, and the movable contact of the switch element is separated from the fixed contact. , The switch is turned off.

In recent years, with the spread of portable terminal devices, the thickness of the switch device has been required to be reduced. However, in the above-described conventional switch device, the movement amount of the stem for operating the click mechanism is large. Even if the thickness of the components such as the stem and the housing is reduced, there is a limit to the overall thickness reduction.

Therefore, a switch device called a membrane switch, which uses a flexible film and is made thin, is used. However, in this type of membrane switch, the amount of fluctuation of the film at the time of pressing operation is small. In addition, the click feeling is weak, and the switching operation of the switch cannot be reliably and tactually transmitted to the operator.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-182559 discloses a switch device in which an actuator is provided in a membrane switch, and the operation of turning on the switch gives the operator a click feeling by the vibration of the actuator. Is disclosed.

However, in the switch device according to the present disclosure, when the operator presses the keytop, the click feeling is immediately given to the operator, so that the operator can feel the click feeling given by the conventional operation of the conventional switch device. However, there is a problem in that the user feels a different feeling and feels strangeness in the pressing operation of the switch device.

The present invention has been made in view of the current state of operation feeling received by an operator when a key top is pressed by a conventional membrane switch as described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a thinned switch device which can be provided to a switch.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a switch device comprising:
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an actuator that is disposed in contact with the key top and vibrates the key top in a driving state, and a predetermined delay set in advance based on an output of a switching signal output by a pressing operation of the key top. A delay circuit for inputting a drive signal for driving the actuator to the actuator after a lapse of time.

Therefore, at the time of pressing operation, a drive signal is input to the actuator after a predetermined delay time set in advance.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the switch device of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an electrode 2 is formed by aluminum printing on a lower surface of a key top 1 made of a synthetic resin film whose upper surface is a pressing operation surface of an operator. A piezoelectric element 3 made of ceramics is adhered to the upper surface of the phosphor bronze plate 4, this piezoelectric element 3 is disposed in contact with the electrode of the keytop 1, and the electrode 2 and the piezoelectric element 3 constitute an actuator 14.

An electrode 7 is formed at the center of the lower surface of the phosphor bronze plate 4 by sputtering, and an electrode 8 is formed at the center of the upper surface of the polyester film 6 by aluminum printing. The phosphor bronze plate 4 and the polyester film 6 are arranged to face each other in a state where the spacer film 5 is filled and arranged in the vicinity thereof, and the membrane switch section 13 is formed below the piezoelectric element 3. .

Further, lead wires 7a are connected to the electrodes 7 and 8,
8a are respectively connected, the lead wires 7a and 8a are connected to the input terminals of the switching signal output circuit 10, and the output terminal of the switching signal output circuit 10 is connected to the input terminal of the host computer 12 and the input terminal of the delay circuit 11. The output terminal of the delay circuit 11 is connected to the electrode 2.

The operation of the first embodiment having such a configuration will be described (see FIG. 2).

When the key top 1 is pressed by the operator, the phosphor bronze plate 4 is pressed through the electrodes 2 and the piezoelectric elements 3.
Is pushed down, the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 are brought into contact with each other, and the membrane switch section 13 performs a switch ON operation.

The switching ON operation of the membrane switch section 13 is detected by the switching signal output circuit 10, and the switching signal output circuit 10 outputs the operation shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the waveform-shaped switching signal Kou
t is output, and the host computer 12 and the delay circuit 11
Entered as

Then, from the delay circuit 11, FIG.
As shown in the figure, from the input of the switching signal Kout,
After a delay time τ of approximately 50 msec to 100 msec,
A drive signal Pout is output, and the drive signal Pout is output.
Is input to the electrode 2 of the actuator 14. Electrode 2
When the drive signal Pout is input to the piezoelectric element 3 as shown in FIG. 2C, the piezoelectric element 3 is deformed in accordance with the applied drive signal Pout.
Vibrates, and the vibration of the piezoelectric element 3 is transmitted to the key top 1 via the electrode 2.

For this purpose, the operator operates the key top 1
After a delay time of approximately 50 msec from the pressing operation of the key, the vibration corresponding to the pseudo stroke feeling on the finger via the key top 1 is felt as a click feeling, and the operation of the key top 1 without any strange feeling is always performed. It is possible to do. Then, when the operator releases the pressing operation of the key top 1, the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 are separated from each other, and the membrane switch unit 13 returns to the switch OFF state.

According to actual measurements by the inventors, if the delay time is set to approximately 50 msec or less, a sufficient click feeling cannot be obtained, and if the delay time is set to approximately 100 msec, the switching ON operation is not quickly detected. It was confirmed that the use of the switch device was not always performed smoothly.

Thus, according to the first embodiment,
When the operator presses the key top 1 to cause the membrane switch unit 13 to perform a switch ON operation, the switching signal output circuit 10 detects the switch ON operation of the membrane switch unit 13 and the switching signal output circuit 10 Switching signal Kout output
Is input to the delay circuit 11, the drive signal Pout is input from the delay circuit 11 to the actuator 14, and the piezoelectric element 3 vibrates. Therefore, the operator simulates the finger with the finger approximately 50 to 100 msec after the pressing operation of the key top 1. The vibration corresponding to the typical stroke feeling is felt as a click feeling, and the operation of the key top 1 without a sense of strangeness can always be performed comfortably with respect to the thin membrane type switch device.

Next, a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operation of the second embodiment. The second embodiment described below is different from the first embodiment only in that a waveform generating circuit and a selection switch for selecting a desired waveform are provided. Therefore, in the second embodiment, only different parts from the first embodiment will be described in detail, and other parts will be assigned to similar parts in the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the same reference numerals, and the description is omitted.

In the second embodiment, the output terminal of the delay circuit 11 is connected to the input terminal of the waveform generation circuit 15, and the output terminal of the waveform generation circuit 15 is connected to the electrode 2.
The waveform generation circuit 15 can generate a plurality of different voltage waveforms, and a desired voltage waveform can be selected by operating the selection switch 16.

The operation of the second embodiment having such a configuration will be described (see FIG. 2).

When the key top 1 is pressed by an operator, the phosphor bronze plate 4 is pressed through the electrodes 2 and the piezoelectric element 3.
Is pushed down, the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 are brought into contact with each other, and the membrane switch section 13 performs a switch ON operation.

The switching ON operation of the membrane switch section 13 is detected by the switching signal output circuit 10, and the switching signal output circuit 10 outputs the operation shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the waveform-shaped switching signal Kou
t is output, and the host computer 12 and the delay circuit 11
Entered as

Then, from the delay circuit 11, FIG.
As shown in the figure, from the input of the switching signal Kout,
After a delay time τ of approximately 50 msec to 100 msec,
A drive signal Pout is output, and the drive signal Pout is output.
Is input to the waveform generation circuit 15.

When the drive signal Pout is input to the waveform generation circuit 15, a pulse having a voltage waveform selected in advance by the selection switch 16 is generated, and this voltage is applied to the electrode 2. When a voltage is applied to the electrode 2 from the waveform generation circuit 15, the piezoelectric element 3 is deformed in accordance with the applied voltage, as shown in FIGS. 4 (S1) to 4 (S3). As a result, the piezoelectric element 3 vibrates, and the vibration of the piezoelectric element 3 is transmitted to the key top 1 via the electrode 2. The voltage waveform generated by the waveform generation circuit 15 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (S1) to (S3), for example, a sine wave,
They are a triangular wave and a rectangular wave.

For this purpose, the operator operates the key top 1
After a delay time of approximately 50 msec from the pressing operation of the key, the vibration corresponding to the pseudo stroke feeling on the finger via the key top 1 is felt as a click feeling, and the operation of the key top 1 without any strange feeling is always performed. It is possible to do. And the click feeling given to the operator is
The voltage is different for each voltage waveform selected by the selection switch 16 and generated by the waveform generation circuit 15. The operator operates the selection switch 16 to change the waveform generated by the waveform generation circuit 15, thereby feeling a desired click feeling. be able to.

When the operator releases the pressing operation of the key top 1, the electrode 7 and the electrode 8 are separated from each other, and the membrane switch section 13 returns to the switch OFF state.

As described above, according to the second embodiment,
The operator is about 50 m from the key top 1 pressing operation.
After 100 sec to 100 msec, the finger feels the vibration corresponding to the simulated stroke feeling as a click feeling, so that it is possible to always comfortably operate the key top 1 without a sense of discomfort for the thin membrane type switch device. By changing the waveform generated by the waveform generation circuit 15, a desired click feeling can be felt.

When the environment in which the switch device is used is different, for example, when the device using the switch device is placed on a desk and used, or when the device using the switch device is placed on the operator's lap. In the case where the same device is used, for example, the click feeling felt by the operator may be different, but since the click feeling can be changed according to such a change in the use environment, A stable and suitable click feeling can be obtained irrespective of changes in the use environment.

Further, for example, in a keyboard device or the like,
If the same click feeling is received, fatigue may be increased by prolonged use, but fatigue can be reduced by changing the click feeling even during such long use. It is.

In each of the embodiments described above, a switch device having a single switch unit has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and is not limited to a keyboard. It is also possible to provide a switch device in which a plurality of switch units are incorporated.

Further, the voltage waveform shown in the second embodiment is not limited to the sine wave, the triangular wave or the rectangular wave shown in FIG. 4, but may be another kind of waveform.

The specific shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention. The scope should not be construed as limiting.

[0041]

As is apparent from the above description, the switch device of the present invention is a switch device that performs a switch-on operation by pressing a keytop and outputs a switching signal. An actuator which is arranged in contact with and vibrates the key top in a driving state, and a delay circuit which inputs a driving signal for driving the actuator to the actuator after a predetermined delay time set in advance based on the output of the switching signal. It is characterized by having.

Therefore, after a predetermined delay time set in advance via the delay circuit, a drive signal for driving the actuator is input to the actuator, so that the operator can operate the thin switch device while pressing the keytop. Later, from the actuator driven with an appropriate delay time, vibration is given to the fingertip via the key top as a click feeling, and when the key top is pressed, an accurate click that always corresponds to the pseudo key stroke feeling It is possible to get a feel.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the predetermined delay time is approximately 50 msec to 100 msec, it is possible to always reliably obtain an accurate click feeling corresponding to a pseudo key stroke feel. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waveform generating circuit for generating a plurality of different voltage waveforms and inputting a desired voltage waveform selected from the different voltage waveforms to the actuator. Since it is provided, a desired click feeling can be felt by changing the waveform generated by the waveform generating circuit.

In addition, even when the environment in which the switch device is used is different, the click feeling can be changed according to the change in the use environment, so that a stable and suitable click feel can be obtained regardless of the change in the use environment. be able to.

Furthermore, fatigue can be reduced by changing the click feeling even during long-time use.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart illustrating the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key top, 11 ... Delay circuit, 14 ... Actuator, 15 ... Waveform generation circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A switch device for performing a switch ON operation by a key top pressing operation to output a switching signal, wherein the actuator is disposed in contact with the key top and vibrates the key top in a driving state; A delay circuit for inputting a drive signal for driving the actuator to the actuator after a preset delay time based on an output of the switching signal. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined delay time is approximately 50 msec.
2. The switch device according to claim 1, wherein the switching time is 100 msec. 3. The switch according to claim 1, further comprising a waveform generating circuit for generating a plurality of different voltage waveforms and inputting a desired voltage waveform selected from the different voltage waveforms to the actuator. apparatus. 4. The switch according to claim 2, further comprising a waveform generating circuit for generating a plurality of different voltage waveforms and inputting a desired voltage waveform selected from the different voltage waveforms to the actuator. apparatus.