Brother Kogyo Kabushiki-kaisha

Isao Mochizuki

Takeyuki Takagi

Mitsumasa Kako

Makoto Watanabe

Hirofumi Sato

Yoshitsugu Sato

Hiroaki Okada

Yoshihisa Masuda

A joint () includes semicircular plates () each integrally formed with a link part () having a screw hole (). The joint () couples cover members () of a flexible display () by means of screws () passing through the screw holes () and grooves () of the cover members (). The link parts () of the semicircular plates () are caused to operate in sync with each other to stably perform an opening and closing operation of the cover members ().

Foldable display, input device provided with the display and foldable keyboard, and personal computer provided with the input device

An input deviceis structured such that a flexible displayis connected with a keyboardthrough a control part disposed in a housing unitonly during use of the input device, in which a contact terminalin the flexible displayis connected with a contact terminalin a connectorwhich is electrically connected with a first and second keyboard unitsandwhen the flexible displayis drawn upward from the housing unitthrough a slotwhen required for use of the input device

Input device provided with windable display and foldable keyboard, and personal computer provided with the input device

In a foldable keyboard, a cover member () includes a cover part () provided with a cover plate () and a pair of supporting elements () formed on both ends of the cover plat. The supporting elements are each formed with a first slot () and a second slot (). A support screw () passes with play through the first slot and is fixedly received in a baring hole (A) of a bearing member () formed in a corner (B) of a first keyboard unit () and a support screw () passes with play through the first slot and is fixedly received in a support hole () of a first base plate () formed in a corner (A). A support screw () passes with play through the second slot and is fixedly received in a bearing hole (A) of a bearing member () formed in a corner (B) of a second keyboard unit () and a support screw () passes with play through the second slot and is fixedly received in a support hole () of a second base plate () formed in a corner (A).

Foldable keyboard

A foldable keyboard includes first, second, and third keyboard units U, U, and Uwhich are rotatably connected with one another by means of main links () and () disposed on side end surfaces of each unit. The first and second units Uand Uare rotatably connected by means of an auxiliary link () parallel to the main link (), and the second and third units Uand Uare rotatably connected by means of an auxiliary link () parallel to the main link (). The first unit Uis formed with recesses () at four corners of a peripheral wall member () and the second unit Uis formed with projections () at four corners of an undersurface of the second unit Uso that the projections () are received in the recesses () when the first, second, and third units U, U, and Uare disposed (stacked) one upon another into a folded state.

A key switch device, wherein the second cam part ( B) of a second link member ( ) is supported on a cantilever member ( ) extended from the second link member ( ) in the form of a cantilever and the cantilever member ( ) is energized by a torsion spring ( ) in the direction to allow the first cam part ( A) of a first link member ( ) to abut mutually on the second cam part ( B), a cam face ( A) is formed on the second cam part ( B), a cam face ( A) abutting on the linear and punctate contact parts of the cam face ( A) of the second cam part ( B) at an acute angle in plan view and having a slanted surface ( ) is formed on the first cam part ( A), and a clearance ( ) formed from the contact part to the fixed point ( ) of the torsion spring ( ) is provided between the cam face ( A) of the second cam part ( B) and the slanted surface ( ).

Key switch device, keyboard with the key switch device, and electronic device with the keyboard

In a key switch device, a guide member constructed of a first and a second links, which guides a vertical movement of a key top, is movably mounted on a support plate with a mounting member provided with a rotatable shaft formed at a lower end of the first link and a slidably supporting position which sidably supports a slidable shaft formed at a lower end of the second link. The mounting member is fixed on the support plate with a first, second, and third adhesive layers.

Key switch operating mechanism assembly for electronic portable device

In a key switch device , a guide member constructed of a first and a second links and , which guides a vertical movement of a key top , is movably mounted on a rigid circuit board with a metal supporting member provided with a slidably supporting portion A which slidably supports a slidable shaft formed at a lower end of the second link and a metal supporting member provided with a rotatably supporting portion A which rotatably supports a rotatable shaft formed at a lower end of the first link . The supporting members are fixed on copper foil land patterns , respectively, by soldering.

Key switch device, keyboard and electronic apparatus with key switch

In a key switch device, an outer wall of an engagement member of a key top is interposed between a pinch shaft and an upper shaft of a first link member, while an outer wall of an engagement member of the key top is interposed between a pinch shaft and an upper shaft of a second link member. When the key top is pulled up, the pinch shaft and the upper shaft of the first link member cooperate with each other to pinch the outer wall of the engagement member, and the pinch shaft and the upper shaft of the second link member cooperate with each other to pinch the outer wall of the engagement member. Thus, when the key top is pulled up, the key top is removed together with the first and second link members, thereby facilitating reassembly and maintenance of the key switch device.

Electronic apparatus including keyboard with key switch device

In a key switch device, the depressing load applied to a key top when depressed is defined by a function (equation 26) expressed by: a distance L between the rotation point o of a support shaft of a first link member at a first engagement portion in the key top and the slide starting point s of a support shaft of the first link member at a third engagement portion ; a distance L1 between the rotation point o and the acting point m at which the urging force of the coil spring acts on the first link member ; an angle &thgr;4 between a line segment extending from the rotation point o to the slide starting point s and the direction along which the support shaft of the first link member at the third engagement portion is allowed to slide; and various characteristic values of the coil spring . In relation to the depressing load curve P defined by the function, based on the difference in loads between the maximum point P1 in an upward projecting curve and the minimum point P2 from which the depressing load is increased after the switching operation, the key clicking function is performed.

Key switch device, keyboard with the key switch device, and electronic apparatus with the keyboard

In a key switch device, a gear portion of a first link member is provided with an upper tooth portion and a lower tooth portion disposed in adjacent relation in a width direction of the first link member and in upper-and-lower relation in a thickness direction of the same. Similarly, a gear portion of a second link member is provided with an upper tooth portion and a lower tooth portion disposed in adjacent relation in a width direction of the second link member and in upper-and-lower relation in a thickness direction of the same. The upper and lower tooth portions and in the first link member , and, those in the second link member , are not provided in aligned and spaced relation in the thickness direction of the respective link members and

In a key switch device , a guide member constructed of a first and a second links and , which guides a vertical movement of a key top , is movably mounted on a support plate with a mounting member provided with a rotatably supporting portion which rotatably supports a rotatable shaft formed at a lower end of the first link and a slidably supporting portion which slidably supports a slidable shaft formed at a lower end of the second link . The mounting member is fixed on the support plate with a first, second, and third adhesive layers , and

Key top guided by scissors linkage located in mounting member with chipped configuration disposed on support plate

A key switch is configured such that each of a first cam portion of a first link member and a second cam portion of a second link member is provided with first and second cam surfaces and a cam apex Plate springs are integrally provided in the first and second cam portions respectively. When a key top is depressed, the urging force of the plate springs causes the first cam surfaces of both the first and second cam portions to come into contact with each other. Thus the key top is securely held in the depressed position. When key top is pressed the second cam surfaces of the first and second cam portions come into contact with each other while the upward movement of the first and second link members is retained based on the urging force of the plate springs causing the elastic resinous pieces A, A to perform a switching operation.

In a key switch device,a guide member,constructed of a first and a second links,and,which guides a vertical movement of a key top,is movably mounted on a support plate,with a mounting member 6 provided with a rotatably supporting portion,which rotatably supports a rotatable shaft,formed at a lower end of the first link,and a slidably supporting portion,which slidably supports a slidable shaft,formed at a lower end of the second link,The mounting member,is fixed on the support plate,with a first, second, and third adhesive layers,and

Key switch device and portable key electronic device provided with the key switch device

An elongated key switch 1 includes a key top 2 and a guide support member 5 supporting the key top 2. The guide support member 5 includes connection members 3c, 4c formed in a thick plate or rod shape to provide them which high rigidity. The connection member 3c is provided with a press-down portion that directly presses down on a rubber spring to perform a switching operation. To insure that the connection member 3c is sufficiently rigid so that the switching operation can be performed, metal wire 3g having rigidity is press fitted in a lengthwise direction of the connection member 3c. Accordingly, even when a lengthwise end portion of the key top 2 is pressed down, the connection members 3c, 4c, particularly the connection member 3c that presses directly on the rubber spring, will not bend. As a result, switching operations can be accurately performed.

Elongated key support mechanism

A keyboard including a cursor control for commanding movement of a cursor displayed on a display screen and including at least a post portion and a base plate supporting the post portion; and a base portion supporting a plurality of key switches and including at least two layers sandwiching the base plate.

Growing community of inventors

Kaizu-gun, Japan

Isao Mochizuki