Keyboard device having plurality of keyswitches

• US 6,152,627 A
• Filed: 07/01/1997
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hosono, Kunio, Watanabe, Kazutoshi, Narusawa, Tsuyoshi, Koutaka, Yoshirou
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Grohusky, Leslie J.
• Application Number:
  US08/896,505
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 400/472, 400/480, 400/481, 400/490, 400/491, 400/491.1, 400/491.2, 400/495, 400/495.1, 400/496, 200/5 A, 200/512, 200/513, 200/514, 200/515, 200/516, 200/517, 200/520, 200/341, 200/344, 200/345, 200/342, 200/343, 361/680
• US Class Current: 400/495
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

A keyboard device includes a plurality of keyswitches each having a keytop movable up and down, wherein the angle of the keytop varies depending on whether the keytop is in an initial position or in a pressed position. In this structure, the keytop moves in a direction corresponding to the motion of an operator'"'"'s finger and thus smooth operations can be achieved, as opposed to a conventional keyboard device in which a keytop moves vertically while maintaining itself horizontal and thus the motion of the keytop occurs in a direction different from the motion of an operator'"'"'s finger.

Claims

1. A keyboard device comprising a plurality of keyswitches each having a keytop movable up and down and including a first operating member one end of which is slidably held by a supporting member and another end of which is pivotably held by a keytop;

and a second operating member one end of which is pivotably held by the supporting member and another end of which is slidably held by the keytop, said first and second operating members being combined via a shaft into a crossing form,

wherein when the distance from said one end of said first operating member to said shaft is defined as a first distance, the distance from said another end of said first operating member to said shaft is defined as a second distance, the distance from said one end of said second operating member to said shaft is defined as a third distance, and the distance from said another end of said second operating member to said shaft is defined as a fourth distance, at least said first distance is different from said third distance, wherein the angle of said keytop varies depending on whether said keytop is in an initial position or in a pressed position,

the first distance and the third distance are different from each other, wherein the first distance is equal to the fourth distance, and wherein the second distance is equal to the third distance.

2. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said keyswitches are disposed along each of a plurality of lines, and the angle of the keytop of at least those keyswitches located along one of the lines varies depending on whether said keytop is in an initial position or in a pressed position by making at least the first distance and the third distance different from each other.

3. A keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the amount of change in the angle of the keytop varies from line to line by making at least the first distance and third distance different from each other.

4. A keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein in said keytops located farther from the operator, the first distance is larger than the third distance, whereby the amounts of change in the angle of the front sides of keytops as seen from the operator are greater than those of the back sides of keytops as seen from the operator, and wherein in said keytops located nearer to the operator, the third distance is larger than the first distance, whereby the amounts of change in the angle of the back sides of keytops as seen from the operator are greater than those of the front sides of keytops as seen from the operator.

5. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the amount of change in the angle of the keytop varies from line to line by making at least the first distance and third distance different from each other.

6. A keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein in said keytops located farther from the operator, the first distance is larger than the third distance, whereby the amounts of change in the angle of the front sides of keytops as seen from the operator are greater than those of the back sides of keytops as seen from the operator, and wherein in said keytops located nearer to the operator, the third distance is larger than the first distance, whereby the amounts of change in the angle of the back sides of keytops as seen from the operator are greater than those of the front sides of keytops as seen from the operator.

7. A keyboard device according to claim 6, wherein the amount of change in the angle of the keytop varies from line to line by making at least the first distance and third distance different from each other.