FR2531789A1 - UNIVERSAL KEYBOARD IN 19.05 MM PIT FOR DATA INPUT - Google Patents

Abstract

Keyboards with 19.05 mm pitch for data input in informatics, office automation, etc..., enabling to achieve any positioning of the pistons, from a universal body cut out to the desired outer dimensions, without requiring a special tooling for each new model. It comprises a universal body (13) wherein pistons (11) provided with the contact system and the spring are set in place. The position of the pistons may vary as desired every quarter of a pitch on a same line. The keyboard may be fitted with any known contact system. This invention allows to respond immediately owing to its universal character to any need of a user, whatever the importance of the series may be. It associates a monolithic type manufacture, therefore of a high yield-capacity, to an infinity of possibilities.

Description

UNIVERSAL KEYBOARD IN 19.05 mm PIT
FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF DATA
The present invention relates to a keyboard with an international pitch of 19.05 mm used for the input of data in office automation, data processing, microcomputing, telematics.

There are three types of keyboards for entering data in 19105 mm steps
A) or consist of individual push buttons soldered on a printed circuit with a prepositioning on a metal grid punched on demand and this for medium series.

B) or one-piece molded plastic assemblies, produced at the request of the user and this by large series.

C) or modular elements assembled together and this for small series.

The role of a keyboard is to allow the passage of a dying person or of information when a key is pressed. To realize this function, several solutions exist (mechanical contacts, capacitive effect, hall effect, etc ...)
Manufacturers of finished assemblies consider the keyboard as a component of their product. They can have it made at their request with more or less keys depending on the functions they want, while respecting the pitch of 19.05 mm.

The user market being constantly expanding, we are seeing both an increase in the number of different keyboards and an increase in the quantities per series of the same keyboard. Therefore, regardless of the contact technology, keyboards relating to small and medium series are becoming less and less efficient. However, the process linked to large series
(molded sets rnonoblocs) has the disadvantage of being usable for only one type of keyboard. The diversity of keyboard also increasing, it will therefore be necessary to create a new tool (mold) strong coutejx for each new model.

Two major drawbacks emerge from this observation: - very long lead time for obtaining the prototype (3 to 6 months), - cost price of the tools, which may reach the value of the first 1,000 keyboards to which it will give birth.

The universal keyboard according to the invention makes it possible to avoid these 2 drawbacks, namely - completion time for a new keyboard practically immediate, - Tools usable for all types of keyboards with a pitch of 19.05 mm.

 There is therefore no amortization of tools to be borne by the customer with each new model, which considerably increases the price. A single initial investment allows you to do everything.

 Any keyboard is made up of rows and columns.

The interval between the axis of the lines is generally 1 step, or 19.05 mm, or sometimes an integer multiple of steps. The interval between the column axis can take values varying from 1/4 step to 1/4 step.

 According to the invention, the universal body of the keyboard performs a function of guiding and positioning the piston. The piston constitutes the mobile element making it possible to transmit information when the key is pressed, its dimensions are always constant, it enters a square with a side equal to the pitch of 19.05 mm, it has a stroke of 3 at 4 mm.

 The universal body according to the invention is made of molded material, plastic or the like. It makes it possible to receive, owing to its multiple male guides in the form of crenals, the center distance of each of which is 1/4 step, the piston provided with the same female guides in a position which can vary as desired every 1/4 of not. Therefore, it is possible to achieve any desired positioning of the pistons.

 It goes without saying that modifications can be made to the mode of guiding the piston in the universal body by substitution of an equivalent means without departing from the scope of the present invention. The main thing is to be able to position and guide a piston every 1/4 of a step.

 Depending on the desired keyboard configuration, the body is cut to its external dimensions by a digitally controlled laser or any other suitable process.

 It is obvious that for reasons of productivity the basic universal body from which the keyboard bodies to be formed will be cut will be as large as possible.

 If there are places on the keyboard that are unoccupied by pistons, the latter are blocked by plug-in lids.

 According to a first variant, the keyboard is equipped with mechanical contacts; two fixed contacts and a mobile contact or simply two mobile contacts. Pairs of holes made every quarter of a step ensure the passage of the 2 contacts through the body, the pairs of contacts are placed only when necessary, that is to say when a piston is located ~ in vio screw.

According to a second variant, the contact is capacitive, it is fixed either to the body or to the piston and a hole of appropriate dimensions (from the molding) is made every 1/4 of a step so as to preserve the universality of the body.

 The accompanying drawing given by way of non-limiting example-mple when the contact system, guidance and possible positioning of the pistons allows one to understand the invention.

 Figure 1 shows a top view of the universal body, the vertical axis lines 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 5 5 materialize a series of notches used for positioning and guiding the piston. Bls are separated by 1/4 of a step and indicate the successive positions that a piston can take. It is obvious that this square piston whose side is sensiblemene lower than the step will be able to support a key whose length will be greater than 1 step (example: 1,5 steps or 2 steps or 3 steps, etc ...). The pins 6, 7 and following are centered every 1/4 of a step and are used for positioning the spring. The pairs of holes 8, 9 and following are centered every 1/4 of a pitch and allow the passage of the contacts 10 (FIG. 2).

Figure 2 shows a side view in partial section of the keyboard
The traditional cabochon 12, which is used in all keyboards, is only here to give an image of the product. The piston is guided in the body13 using crenellations. I is kept at rest in the high position by a return spring 14 and remains in this position thanks to a system of clips with a single slope and of the same direction practiced both on the male crenals of the body and on the female of the piston.

 FIG. 3 shows by way of example a keyboard of 12 keys distributed arbitrarily over 3 lines. The squares and rectangles materialize the keys, the hatching materialize the pistons supporting the keys.

For example, keys 15 and 16 are decaved by 1/4 step, keys 10 and 17 by 1/2 step. The key 18 has a length of 1.5 steps. The key 19 has a length of 2 steps and it is supported by the piston 20 which is inserted relative to the key 19.

 Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the devices which have just been described solely by way of nonlimiting example.

 This invention is applicable to all types of keyboards with a pitch of 19.05 mm and to all series from the largest to the smallest, by proposing a time for completion of the prototype practically immediate and without incurring any costs of tools, makes it possible to think of a most profitable industrial exploitation.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS i - Universal GispositiT, for the construction of data entry keyboards - with a pitch of 19.05 mm and a stroke of 3 to 4 mm, by association of a universal body (13) with the shape and dimensions external variable a .. pistons identical to each other (11) returned to the high position by springs (14), characterized in that it comprises a means for positioning and guiding the pistons every 1/4 d on a same line, which when pressed, cause the establishment of contact. 2 - Universal keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that the means for positioning and guiding the pistons every 1/4 of a step on the same line is an alternating combination of male teeth (i) (2) (3) (4 ) etc ... and females with a center distance of 1/4 of a pitch and placed on both the universal body and the pistons. 3 - Universal keyboard according to claim 2 characterized in that the male crenals of the body and female of the piston are provided with a system of clips which allows the establishment of the pistons and their translational movement in the body but prohibits their removal. "4 - Universal keyboard according to all of claims t to 3 characterized in that it constitutes a homogeneous monobloc assembly produced with the desired dimensions and external shapes which responds to all the possible implantations of the pistons. 5 - Universal keyboard according to claim 4 characterized in that the one-piece molded plastic body comes from a larger base body which is cut to the desired shape and dimensions using a digitally controlled laser, and that, in order to maintain homogeneity in the absence of certain pistons, shutters of color and material identical to the piston make it possible to obstruct the unoccupied space. 6 - Universal keyboard according to claim 2 characterized in that the means -d'establishment of contact is of the mechanical type by association of 2 fixed contacts (10) integral with the body and a movable contact integral with the piston. 7 - Universal keyboard according to claim 1 characterized in that the contact establishment means is of the capacitive type or any other known system. 8 - Universal keyboard according to all of claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized in that, whatever the contact system chosen, the position of the contacts integral with the body may vary as desired every 1/4 of a step so that these are in phase with the corresponding piston.