Input apparatus and electronic apparatus
AssigneeCasio Computer Co., Ltd.
InventorMotome OSAWA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A key structure includes a key, a key sheet and a supporting portion. The key displaces in a direction. The key sheet is disposed at a side of the key toward which the key displaces and comprises a sheet base portion and a contacting portion that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key. The supporting portion is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion and supports one end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the other end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key.
Claims14
A key structure, comprising:
- a key that displaces in a direction;
- a key sheet that is disposed at a side of the key toward which the key displaces and that comprises a sheet base portion and a contacting portion that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key;
- and
- a supporting portion that is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion and that supports one end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the other end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key.
A key structure, comprising:
- a circuit board;
- a key that displaces in a direction towards the circuit board;
- and
- a key sheet that is intervened between the circuit board and the key;
- wherein the key sheet comprises a sheet base portion that is disposed opposite to a first end portion of the key, a contacting portion that is disposed opposite to a second end portion of the key and that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key, the first end potion of the key opposing to the second end portion thereof, and a skirt portion that connects the sheet base portion with the contacting portion and that deforms in accordance with the displacement of the key;
- and
- wherein the key structure further comprises a supporting portion that is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion of the key sheet and that supports the first end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the second end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key. 12, An electronic apparatus, comprising:
- a circuit board;
- and
- a key structure disposed along the circuit board;
- wherein the key structure comprises:
- a key that displaces in a direction;
- a key sheet that is disposed at a side of the key toward which the key displaces and that comprises a sheet base portion and a contacting portion that displaces in the displacing direction of the key in accordance with a displacement of the key;
- and
- a supporting portion that is disposed between the key and the sheet base portion and that supports one end portion of the key by contacting a member disposed opposite to the supporting portion while the other end portion of the key displaces in the displacing direction of the key, and
- wherein the circuit board comprises an electrode that comes in contact with an opposite side of the contacting portion to the side with the key in accordance with the displacement of the key.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 12;
- further comprising:
- a first housing that comprises a display portion that displays a screen corresponding to an input on the key;
- a second housing that comprises the circuit board and the key structure;
- and
- a hinge portion that couples the first housing and the second housing to each other,
- wherein the contacting portion is disposed in an end portion of the key proximal to the hinge portion.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 12,
- wherein the key comprises a plurality of keys aligned in a direction, and
- wherein the electronic apparatus further comprises:
- a cover that is disposed on or over the key structure and that has at least one opening having an elongated shape through which surfaces of the plurality of keys are exposed to an outside.
The electronic apparatus according to claim 12,
- wherein an area of the electrode formed on the circuit board is larger than an area of a back face of the corresponding contacting portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.