Key switch device and keyboard
A key switch device including a key top; a pair of link members connected to the key top and interlocked with each other to guide a vertical motion of the key top; a switch mechanism including a membrane sheet switch capable of opening and closing a contact section of an electrical circuit in accordance with the vertical motion of the key top; a flexible thin film sheet attached to the membrane sheet switch; and a housing attached to the thin film sheet, the housing adapted to connect the link members to the thin film sheet.
1. A key switch device comprising:
a key top;
a pair of link members connected to said key top, said pair of link members interlocked with each other to guide a vertical motion of said key top;
a switch mechanism including a membrane sheet switch capable of opening and closing a contact section of an electrical circuit in accordance with the vertical motion of said key top, the membrane sheet switch having a hole formed therein;
a flexible thin film sheet attached to and disposed beneath said membrane sheet switch, the flexible thin film sheet being deformable; and
a housing attached to said thin film sheet through the hole, said housing adapted to connect said link members to said thin film sheet.
2. The key switch device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a through hole formed in said thin film sheet so as to pass through said thin film sheet; and
a projection formed on said housing so as to project from said housing, said projection adapted to be received in said through hole.
3. The key switch device of claim 1 , wherein said housing is attached to said thin film sheet by any of an adhesive, ultrasonic vibration, thermal caulking, and outsert molding.
4. The key switch device of claim 1 , wherein said thin film sheet comprises an organic EL sheet.
5. The key switch device of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-static layer made of an anti-static agent and formed on a surface of said membrane sheet switch.
6. The key switch device of claim 1 , further comprising a conductive layer made of a conductive material and formed on at least one of a surface of said membrane sheet switch and a surface of said thin film sheet.
7. A keyboard comprising a plurality of key switch devices, each key switch device being defined in claim 1 .
8. A key switch device comprising:
a key top;
a pair of link members connected to said key top, said pair of link members interlocked with each other to guide a vertical motion of said key top;
a switch mechanism including a membrane sheet switch capable of opening and closing a contact section of an electrical circuit in accordance with the vertical motion of said key top; and
a housing attached to said membrane sheet switch, said housing adapted to connect said link members to said membrane sheet switch, wherein said membrane sheet switch comprises:
a lower sheet provided with a front surface;
an upper sheet provided with a back surface facing said front surface of said lower sheet;
a spacer sheet interposed between said front surface of said lower sheet and said back surface of said upper sheet; and
a relief hole formed in said upper sheet and said spacer sheet so as to pass through said upper sheet and said spacer sheet, said housing being attached to a portion of said lower sheet exposed at an inside of said relief hole.
9. The key switch device of claim 8 , wherein said housing is attached to said membrane sheet switch by any of an adhesive, ultrasonic vibration, thermal caulking, and outsert molding.
10. The key switch device of claim 8 , further comprising an anti-static layer made of an anti-static agent and formed on a surface of said membrane sheet switch.
11. The key switch device of claim 8 , further comprising a conductive layer made of a conductive material and formed on a surface of said membrane sheet switch.
12. A keyboard comprising a plurality of key switch devices, each key switch device being defined in claim 8 .
13. The key switch device of claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a pair of separate frame parts, each frame part being attached to said flexible thin film sheet through said hole.