Key switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10096437-B2
Application number	US-201715622380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 19, 2016
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A key switch includes a base plate, a key top, a pair of link members, and a switch mechanism. The key top is above the base plate. The link members support the key top and operate in an interlocked manner to allow the key top to be lifted and lowered with respect to the base plate. One of the link members includes a projecting portion at a distal end of an arm of the link member. The other one of the link members includes a concave receiving portion at a distal end of an arm of the link member. The projecting portion is rotationally fitted to the concave receiving portion. The switch mechanism is disposed between the base plate and the key top and is configured to open and close a contact portion of an electric circuit in accordance with lifting and lowering operation of the key top.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A key switch comprising:
a base plate;
a key top above the base plate;
a pair of link members supporting the key top and configured to operate in an interlocked manner to allow the key top to be lifted and lowered with respect to the base plate; and
a switch mechanism disposed between the base plate and the key top and configured to open and close a contact portion of an electric circuit in accordance with lifting and lowering operation of the key top, the switch mechanism comprising:
a sheet-shaped switch member disposed on an upper surface of the base plate and comprising a contact portion of an electric circuit;
a plate-shaped spring member above the contact portion of the electric circuit; and
a housing secured to the base plate and accommodating the plate-shaped spring member.

2. The key switch according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the pair of link members comprises an arm comprising a distal end section rotationally supported by the housing,
wherein each link member comprises a rear end section supported by the key top, and
wherein, when the key top is at an upper limit position of lifting and lowering operation, the pair of link members are configured to form a V-shape.

3. The key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped spring member comprises a depression portion comprising a hole and configured to be elastically deformed.

4. The key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the base plate comprises a stopper configured to control an upper limit position during lifting and lowering operation of the key top, and when the pair of link members are rotated, a distal end of at least one of the link members is configured to abut against the stopper.

5. The key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises
a frame comprising a recess accommodating the plate-shaped spring member, and
a sheet-shaped member comprising an upper surface comprising a projection at a position corresponding to a depression portion of the plate-shaped spring member, the sheet-shaped member covering the recess of the frame.

6. The key switch according to claim 1 , wherein one of the pair of link members comprises a projecting portion at a distal end of an arm of the link member, the other one of the pair of link members comprises a concave receiving portion at a distal end of an arm of the link member, and the projecting portion is rotationally fitted to the concave receiving portion.

7. The key switch according to claim 6 ,
wherein the projecting portion on one of the link members comprises a columnar portion at a distal end, and
wherein the concave receiving portion on the other one of the link members comprises a curved inner circumferential portion corresponding to an arc shape of the columnar portion.

8. The key switch according to claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped spring member comprises
a depression portion configured to be elastically deformed, and
a depression piece disposed at a part of the depression portion and configured to press the contact portion of the electric circuit.

9. The key switch according to claim 8 , wherein the depression piece comprises a punched and bent piece at a central portion of the depression portion.

Assignees

• Citizen Electronics
• Citizen Watch Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Masashi

Classifications

• H01H13/7073

  characterised by springs, e.g. Euler springs · CPC title

• H01H2215/006

  Only mechanical function · CPC title

• H01H13/50

  having a single operating member · CPC title

• H01H13/7065 Primary

  characterised by the mechanism between keys and layered keyboards · CPC title

• H01H13/14 Primary

  Operating parts, e.g. push-button · CPC title