Alps Electric Co., Ltd.

Kunio Hosono

Tsuyoshi Narusawa

Kazutoshi Watanabe

Masahiro Takata

Takahiro Murakami

Yoshirou Koutaka

An oscillator-type switch includes a base, an elastic member mounted on the base and flexible in an up-down direction, an oscillation member having a base portion mounted on the elastic member and a driving section connected from the base portion in a first horizontal direction along an upper surface of the base, a key top set on the oscillation member, a reversal spring applying a reaction force to a downward movement of the driving section, and a pressure-sensitive switch sheet detecting the downward movement of the driving section. The elastic member is arranged for a center line in the first horizontal direction within a range in which the elastic member is mounted on the oscillation member to be positioned outside a projection area of the operation unit in the first horizontal direction.

Oscillator-type switch

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.

Keyboard device having plurality of keyswitches

A keyboard switch comprising a plurality of switch bodies arranged on an attachment plate, a key top, sufficiently larger than the switch body, attached to at least one switch body, a cut-away portion or opening formed in the attachment plate between the key top and a base plate, and circuit parts located in a space which is formed by the cut-away portion or opening, the underside of the key top and the base plate, so that switches and circuit parts can be arranged to efficiently use the space on the base plate.

Growing community of inventors

Miyagi-ken, Japan

Kunio Hosono