Key unit and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a key unit and electronic equipment. In an electronic device provided with a key sheet (20), the key sheet (20) includes: a key portion (30) disposed in a left-right direction and a front-back direction; and a curved portion (50) that supports the front side so as to be capable of contacting and separating with the rear side of the key portion (30) as a fulcrum, and an end portion of the rear side of the key top portion (32) of the key portion (30) is provided with an inclined portion that is lower from the front side toward the rear side, an inclined portion that is lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the right side, and an inclined portion that is lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the left side.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the application with application number "202011424756.0", application date December 8, 2020, and invention name "Key unit and electronic device". Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates to a key unit and an electronic device having the key unit. Background Art

[0003] A key sheet having the following simple structure is known: as an input part to an electronic device such as an electronic dictionary, a plurality of keys are integrally formed into a sheet, one side of the key top is used as a fulcrum, and the other side is moved by stroke to contact the contact point. In such a key sheet, a structure for increasing the size of the key part to increase visibility and operability and prevent adverse situations such as double clicking is proposed (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2017-130370, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-121594).

[0004] When the key portion of a key unit (key sheet) on which a plurality of keys are arranged is enlarged, it becomes easier for the user to press the keys, but the intervals between the keys become narrower, and the user may touch an adjacent key.

[0005] In particular, in an electronic device having a key unit having a structure in which one side of the key is used as a fulcrum to allow the other side to move along a stroke as described above, it is preferred to press a portion slightly closer to the other side relative to the center of the key top to perform a key operation. However, when pressing the other side (end side) relative to the center of the key top, sometimes a key other than the intended key is mistakenly pressed, resulting in a problem in which the key operation cannot be performed correctly. Summary of the invention

[0006] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to enable accurate key operation in a key unit provided with a plurality of keys having a structure in which one side of the key is used as a fulcrum and the other side moves with a stroke.

[0008] Means for solving problems

[0009] As one embodiment of the present invention, a key unit comprises: a plurality of keys arranged in a left-right direction; and a key support portion, which uses any one of the front side and the rear side of the key as a fulcrum and supports the other side in a contacting and separating manner with respect to a contact point of the key,

[0010] A right side inclined portion is provided at the right part of the one side in the key top of the key, and the right side inclined portion has an inclined surface that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and becomes lower from the center side in the left-right direction toward the right side. A left side inclined portion is provided at the left part of the one side in the key top of the key, and the left side inclined portion has an inclined surface that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and becomes lower from the center side in the left-right direction toward the left side. A planar portion having a flat surface is provided between the right side inclined portion and the left side inclined portion in the key top, and the inclined surface of the right side inclined portion and the inclined surface of the left side inclined portion are set to be inclined relative to the plane of the planar portion, and the width of the other side of the planar portion in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the one side of the planar portion in the left-right direction.

[0011] As another embodiment of the present invention, a key unit comprises: a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction; and a key support portion, which takes any one of the front and rear sides of the key as a fulcrum and supports the other side in a contact and separation manner, and the key top of the key is formed so that the left and right ends of the one side are lower than the central portion of the one side in the left-right direction, and the left and right ends of the one side are lower than the central portion of the other side in the left-right direction.

[0012] Effects of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an adjacent key from being touched when a key serving as an input unit is operated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram showing an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 is Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electronic device observed along the arrow direction at line AA in FIG.

[0016] Figure 3 It is a plan view showing the main parts of the key sheet incorporated into the electronic device.

[0017] Figure 4 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the keys of the key sheet.

[0018] Figure 5 is Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the main part of the key sheet observed along the BB line in the direction of the arrow.

[0019] Figure 6 It is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device.

[0020] Figure 7 is Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of the main part of the first variant of the key sheet as viewed along the arrow direction along the CC line in FIG.

[0021] Figure 8 It is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device.

[0022] Fig. 9 is Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the main part of the second modified example of the key sheet as viewed along the DD line in the direction of the arrow.

[0023] Fig.10 It is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device.

[0024] Fig.11 is Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of the main part of the third variant of the key sheet observed along the EE line in the direction of the arrow.

[0025] Description of Reference Numerals

[0026] 2: The first basket;

[0027] 3: opening;

[0028] 4: The second basket;

[0029] 6: hinge part;

[0030] 8: Display unit;

[0031] 10: Substrate;

[0032] 20, 20A, 20B, 20C: keypad;

[0033] 30, 30A, 30B, 30C: button portion;

[0034] 32, 33, 34, 35: top of the button;

[0035] 32H, 33H, 34H, 35H: central plane part;

[0036] 32L, 33L, 34L, 35L: left inclined portion;

[0037] 32R, 33R, 34R, 35R: right side inclined portion;

[0038] 33K: rear end inclined portion;

[0039] 35F: front end inclined portion;

[0040] 39: Contact part;

[0041] 40: basement plate;

[0042] 42: opening;

[0043] 50: flexure;

[0044] 60: base of the piece;

[0045] 100: Electronic equipment;

[0046] P1: 1st position;

[0047] P2: 2nd position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] An electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0049] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the electronic device 100 is observed along the arrow direction at the AA line in FIG. Figure 3 1 is a top view showing the main part of the key sheet 20 assembled into the electronic device 100, Figure 4 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the key top 32 of the key sheet 20. Figure 5 is Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the main part of the key sheet 20 assembled in the electronic device 100 as viewed along the BB line in the direction of the arrow.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the electronic device 100 includes at least one processor (control circuit), a first housing 2, a second housing 4, and a hinge portion 6. The first housing 2 and the second housing 4 rotate around the hinge portion 6, and the electronic device 100 can be folded in a state where the first housing 2 and the second housing 4 overlap. The electronic device 100 is, for example, an electronic dictionary. The first housing 2 and the second housing 4 include, for example, an insulating resin such as ABS resin, acrylic resin, or polycarbonate.

[0051] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, the first housing 2 is provided with a substrate 10 and a key sheet 20 disposed on the substrate 10. Figure 1 As shown, the second housing 4 is provided with a display unit 8. The display unit 8 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays input from a user, search results, and the like.

[0052] The substrate 10 is a circuit substrate having wiring, contacts, electrodes, etc. The wiring of the substrate 10 is electrically connected when a key portion 30 of a key sheet 20 described later contacts the contacts of the substrate 10. Thus, input to the electronic device 100 is performed.

[0053] The key sheet 20 is an input unit that receives input from a user of the electronic device 100. Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the key sheet 20 has a plurality of key portions 30 , a base plate 40 , a flexure portion (key supporting portion) 50 , and a sheet base portion 60 .

[0054] The button portion 30 is pressed by the user, so that the rear end side is used as a fulcrum and the front end side is displaced downward. Figure 1 , 2 As shown, a plurality of button portions 30 arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction protrude from an opening portion 3 of the first housing 2. In addition, when the electronic device 100 is folded and the first housing 2 and the second housing 4 are overlapped, the button portion 30 protruding from the opening portion 3 of the first housing 2 is opposed to the second housing 4.

[0055] The base plate 40 is covered by the sheet base 60 . The bending portion 50 elastically supports the button portion 30 , and bends when the button portion 30 is pressed. The sheet base 60 covers the base plate 40 , and supports the button portion 30 via the bending portion 50 .

[0056] like Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the key portion 30 has a key top 32 on the upper surface side and a contact portion 39 on the bottom surface side. The key portion 30, the base plate 40, the flexure portion 50 and the sheet base 60 are integrally formed. The key portion 30, the flexure portion 50 and the sheet base 60 are made of an insulating elastic material such as silicone rubber and elastomer, and the base plate 40 is made of a material with relatively large bending rigidity, such as metal such as stainless steel aluminum alloy, and resin such as polycarbonate.

[0057] like Figure 2 As shown, the key sheet 20 includes a key group composed of a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction, and has key portions 30 arranged in three rows (P1 to P3) in the front-back direction. The plurality of key portions 30 (key group P1) arranged in the left-right direction at the first position P1 in the front-back direction and the plurality of key portions 30 (key group P2) arranged in the left-right direction at the second position P2 adjacent to the first position P1 in the front-back direction are arranged in a staggered manner such that the positions in the left-right direction are staggered by half the key pitch. The same is true for the plurality of key portions 30 (key group P2) arranged in the left-right direction at the second position P2 in the front-back direction and the plurality of key portions 30 (key group P3) arranged in the left-right direction at the third position P3 adjacent to the second position P2 in the front-back direction.

[0058] Therefore, if Figure 3As shown, regarding a specific button portion 30 located at a first position P1, and two button portions 30 located at a second position P2 which is in front of the button portion 30, the left end or the right end of each of the two button portions 30 located at the second position P2 is opposite to the center portion of the specific button portion 30 located at the first position P1.

[0059] The key portion 30 of the key sheet 20 protrudes from the opening 3 of the first housing 2 when not pressed, and is pressed to move toward the Figure 2 The key portion 30 is displaced downward in the middle (from the key sheet 20 side toward the substrate 10 side along the normal direction of the surface of the substrate 10 facing the key sheet 20). When the button portion 30 is released from being pressed, it is displaced to a position protruding from the opening 3 of the first housing 2.

[0060] The key top 32 of the key portion 30 is a portion pressed by the user and is provided above the contact portion 39 of the key portion 30. The key top 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. On the pressing surface of the key top 32, characters indicating inputs to the electronic device 100, reference numerals, characters of functions, etc. are printed. The key top 32 includes ABS resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate, etc.

[0061] In the button portion 30 arranged in three rows in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the first housing 2, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 is inclined so as to be close to the substrate 10 toward the hinge portion 6. In addition, the key top 32 is formed to be slightly inclined from the front side to the rear side. In addition, in the other key portions 30 other than these three rows, the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 is parallel to the substrate 10.

[0062] When the button 30 is pressed by the user, the rear end side of the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 first contacts the sheet base 60. If the button 30 is pressed further in this state, the contacting portion becomes a fulcrum and the front end side of the button 30 is displaced downward. In order to displace the front end side downward with the rear end side of the button 30 as a fulcrum, that is, to support the front end side of the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 in a contactable and detachable manner with respect to the sheet base 60, the structure is not limited to this. For example, a protrusion serving as a stopper may be provided at the rear end lower portion of the key top 32 to make the rigidity of the bending portion 50 on the front end side sufficiently smaller than the rigidity of the bending portion 50 on the rear end side, so that when the button 30 is pressed by the user, the bending portion 50 on the front end side bends before the bending portion 50 on the rear end side.

[0063] like Figure 4As shown, the key top 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped base 32a. The base 32a has a trapezoidal central plane portion 32H (plane portion) on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base 32a has a left inclined portion 32L and a right inclined portion 32R formed from the central plane portion 32H, which is inclined from the central portion 32b in the left-right direction toward the left and right ends 32c and 32d on the rear side.

[0064] The contact portion 39 of the button portion 30 is supported by the flexure portion 50 and the sheet base portion 60. The contact portion 39 is provided on a surface 39a that faces the substrate 10 when the button portion 30 is displaced. The conductive film provided on the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 contacts the contact point of the substrate 10 when the button portion 30 is displaced. In addition, instead of the conductive film, the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 may be subjected to a surface treatment that imparts conductivity.

[0065] like Figure 2 As shown, the base plate 40 of the key sheet 20 is a flat plate having openings 42 at positions corresponding to the positions of the arranged key portions 30 .

[0066] like Figure 2 , 5 As shown in FIG. 1 , the bending portion 50 of the key sheet 20 extends from the contact portion 39 of the key portion 30 in a plate shape and connects the contact portion 39 and the sheet base portion 60. In addition, the bending portion 50 elastically supports the contact portion 39 in a direction protruding from the opening portion 3 of the first housing 2 relative to the sheet base portion 60. The bending portion 50 bends when the key portion 30 is pressed, and returns to its original position when the pressing is released from the key portion 30.

[0067] The sheet base portion 60 of the key sheet 20 is disposed on the substrate 10 , and supports the key portion 30 via the bending portion 50 .

[0068] As described above, in the key portion 30 in which the front end is displaced with the rear end as a fulcrum, the left and right ends of the rear side of the key top 32 are lower than other parts, so that the user is likely to press the front central plane portion 32H, which is the correct pressing position, rather than the rear left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R. In addition, regarding the plurality of key portions 30 arranged in the left-right direction at the first position P1 and the plurality of key portions 30 arranged in the left-right direction at the second position P2 adjacent to the first position P1 in the front-back direction, the central plane portion 32H of the key at the first position P1 is arranged at a position corresponding to the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R of the key at the second position P2, and the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R of the key at the second position P2 are located at a position lower than the central portion 32b of the key at the first position P1, so when the central plane portion 32H of the key at the first position P1 is pressed, the possibility of touching the key at the second position P2 is low. Alternatively, even when the central plane portion 32H of the key at the second position P2 is touched, the stroke movement of the key at the second position P2 is small and does not touch the contact point.

[0069] Alternatively, even when the contact point of the key at the second position P2 is in contact, the timing of the contact point of the key at the first position P1 is also faster, which can prevent the input of the wrong key. Therefore, in the key portion 30 with the front end displaced, when the user presses the central plane portion 32H on the front side as the correct pressing position, even if the user does not pay attention not to press other keys by mistake, the correct key can be input. In this way, in the key portion 30 with the rear end as a fulcrum and the front end displaced, the user operates at the correct pressing position of the key top 32, and becomes able to perform correct key operations with less erroneous input, thereby improving operability and improving the convenience of the electronic device 100 for the user. In addition, since the shape of the key top 32 is maintained in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, visibility is maintained.

[0070] In addition, the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R of the key at the second position P2 are gently downwardly inclined surfaces relative to the central plane portion 32H of the key top 32, so when the key top 32 is pressed, the central plane portion 32H of the key top 32 can be touched naturally without discomfort, thereby naturally preventing erroneous input.

[0071] In addition, regarding the left and right ends 32c and 32d of the key at the second position P2, there are provided a left inclined portion 32L and a right inclined portion 32R having an inclined surface with an angle different from that of the central plane portion 32H of the key top 32. The boundaries between the central plane portion 32H and the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R are inclined, so the design is excellent.

[0072] Figure 62 is an explanatory diagram showing a key portion 30A of a key sheet 20A. Figure 7 is Figure 6 The cross-sectional view of the main part of the first modified example of the key sheet 20A assembled into the electronic device 100 is observed along the arrow direction at the CC line in FIG. Figure 4 , 5 The same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0073] The button portion 30A includes a button top portion 33. The button top portion 33 has a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 33a. The base portion 33a has a rectangular central plane portion 33H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base portion 33a is formed with an inclination that becomes lower from the central portion 32b in the left-right direction toward the left and right ends 33c and 33d on the left and right sides from the central plane portion 33H, and is provided with a left inclined portion 33L and a right inclined portion 33R. Furthermore, an inclination that becomes lower from the central portion 33b toward the rear end 33e is formed, and a rear end inclined portion 33K is provided.

[0074] The key sheet 20A according to this modification can also achieve the same effects as those of the key sheet 20 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0075] Figure 8 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a key portion 30B of a key sheet 20B. Fig. 9 is Figure 8 DD line in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the second variant of the key sheet 20B assembled into the electronic device 100, viewed along the arrow direction. Figure 4 , 5 The same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0076] The key portion 30B includes a key top portion 34. The key top portion 34 has a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 34a. The base portion 34a has a pentagonal central plane portion 34H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base portion 34a has a slope that decreases from the central portion 34b in the left-right direction of the central plane portion 34H toward the left and right ends 34c and 34d on the rear side, and is provided with a left inclined portion 34L and a right inclined portion 34R. The difference from the key top portion 32 is that the boundary position between the central plane portion 34H and the left inclined portion 34L and the right inclined portion 34R, that is, the position where the lowering begins, is closer to the rear end side.

[0077] The key sheet 20B according to this modification can also achieve the same effects as those of the key sheet 20 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0078] Fig.10 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a key portion 30C of a key sheet 20C. Fig.11 is Fig.10 EE line in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the third variant of the key sheet 20C assembled into the electronic device 100, viewed along the arrow direction. Figure 4 , 5 The same functional parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0079] The button portion 30C includes a button top portion 35. The button top portion 35 has a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 35a. The base portion 35a has a rectangular central plane portion 35H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base portion 35a has an inclination that decreases from the central portion 35b in the left-right direction of the central plane portion 35H toward the left and right ends 35c and 35d on the rear side, and a left side inclination portion 35L and a right side inclination portion 35R are provided. Furthermore, the base portion 35a has an inclination that decreases from the central portion 35b toward the front end 35e from the central plane portion 35H, and a front end inclination portion (other side inclination portion) 35F is provided. The width of the front end inclination portion 35F in the front-to-back direction is shorter than the length of the right side inclination portion 35R in the front-to-back direction, and is shorter than the length of the left side inclination portion 35L in the front-to-back direction.

[0080] The key sheet 20C according to this modification can also achieve the same effects as those of the key sheet 20 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0081] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described example, the example in which the front and rear rows are arranged in a staggered manner is described, but the present invention is also applicable to an example in which the rows are arranged in a matrix rather than in a staggered manner.

[0082] In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the embodiment in which the front end side of the key top 32 of the key part 30 is provided with an inclination which becomes lower from the front end side toward the rear end side, an inclination which becomes lower from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction, and an inclination which becomes lower from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the left and right ends of the rear end side may be lower than the center part of the rear end in the left-right direction, and the left and right ends of the rear end side may be lower than the center part of the front end side in the left-right direction.

[0083] In the above example, the present invention is applied to a key sheet in which a plurality of keys are integrally formed into a sheet, but the present invention is not limited to a sheet or integrally formed, and can also be applied to a general key unit in which a plurality of keys are arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction.

[0084] Furthermore, the above example is applied to a key in which the front stroke moves with the rear side of the key as a fulcrum when viewed from the user's side, but it can also be applied to a key in which the rear stroke moves with the front side of the key as a fulcrum.

[0085] The electronic device 100 having such a key unit is not limited to an electronic dictionary, but may also be a keyboard of an electronic calculator, a portable phone, a PC, etc. In addition, the combination of inclinations also includes combinations other than those described above, and the inclinations may also be combined. In addition, various modifications may be implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention, which is a matter of course.

[0086] Several embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention includes the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. Hereinafter, the invention described in the first claim of this application will be noted.

[0087] [Note 1] A key unit, comprising: a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction; a key support portion, which uses any one of the front and rear sides of the key as a fulcrum and supports the other side in a contact and detachable manner, and an inclination which becomes lower from the other side toward the one side, an inclination which becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the right side, and an inclination which becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the left side are provided at the end of the one side in the key top.

[0088] [Note 2] According to the key unit described in [Note 1], a right side inclined portion is provided at the right end portion of the one side in the key top of the key, and the right side inclined portion has an inclined surface that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the right side, and a left side inclined portion is provided at the left end portion of the one side in the key top of the key, and the left side inclined portion has an inclined surface that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the left side.

[0089] [Note 3] According to the key unit described in [Note 2], a central plane portion having a plane with an angle different from the inclined surface of the right inclined portion and the inclined surface of the left inclined portion is provided in the central portion of the top of the key, and the boundary between the right inclined portion and the central plane portion is inclined from the one side toward the other side and from the left side toward the right side, and the boundary between the left inclined portion and the central plane portion is inclined from the one side toward the other side and from the right side toward the left side.

[0090] [Note 4] According to the key unit described in [Note 2], a central plane portion having a plane is provided in the central portion of the top of the key, the inclined surface of the right inclined portion and the inclined surface of the left inclined portion are provided to be inclined relative to the plane of the central plane portion, and the left and right widths of the other side of the central plane portion are wider than the left and right widths of the one side of the central plane portion.

[0091] [Note 5] In the key unit described in [Note 3] or [Note 4], the plane of the central planar portion is inclined so as to become lower from the other side toward the one side, and is provided with an inclination that is gentler than the inclination surface of the right inclined portion and the inclination surface of the left inclined portion.

[0092] [Note 6] In the key unit according to any one of [Note 1] to [Note 5], an inclination that becomes lower from the one side toward the other side is not provided at the end of the other side of the key top.

[0093] [Note 7] In the key unit according to any one of [Note 2] to [Note 6], an other side inclined portion having an inclination that becomes lower from the one side toward the other side is provided at the end of the other side in the top of the key, and the front-to-back width of the other side inclined portion is narrower than the front-to-back width of the right side inclined portion and the front-to-back width of the left side inclined portion.

[0094] [Note 8] A key unit comprising: a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction; a key support portion, which uses any one of the front and rear sides of the key as a fulcrum and supports the other side in a contact and detachable manner, wherein the key top of the key is formed so that the left and right ends of the one side are lower than the center of the one side in the left-right direction, and the left and right ends of the one side are lower than the center of the other side in the left-right direction.

[0095] [Note 9] According to the key unit described in any one of [Note 1] to [Note 8], the key groups of the multiple keys including the multiple keys arranged in the left-right direction are arranged in plurality in the front-to-back direction, and the multiple keys included in each of the multiple key groups arranged in the front-to-back direction are arranged in a staggered manner in which the positions in the left-to-right direction are staggered with each other according to each key group.

[0096] [Note 10] An electronic device is provided with a key sheet, wherein the key sheet has: a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction; a key support portion, which uses any one of the front and rear sides of the key as a fulcrum and supports the other side in a contact and detachable manner, and an inclination that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side, an inclination that becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the right side, and an inclination that becomes lower from the center in the left-right direction toward the left side is provided at the end of the one side in the key top.

Claims

1. A key unit, comprising: A plurality of buttons arranged in a left-right direction and a front-back direction as viewed from a user; and a key support portion that supports the front side of the key in a contactable and detachable manner by using the rear side of the key, which is farther from the user than the front side of the key, as a fulcrum, A first inclined portion gradually decreasing from the front side toward the rear side and a second inclined portion gradually decreasing from the front side toward the rear side are provided at the rear end of the key top formed on the upper surface side of the key. A contact portion is formed on the bottom surface of the key to contact the substrate when the key is displaced. The contact portion of at least a part of the keys among the plurality of keys is provided with a third inclined portion which gradually becomes lower from the front side toward the rear side.

2. The key unit according to claim 1, wherein: The third inclined portion is provided at the contact point portion of the key top corresponding to the keys arranged in a plurality of rows on the center side in the front-rear direction among the plurality of keys.

3. The key unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The contact point portion at the key top of the key other than the key provided with the third inclined portion among the plurality of keys is flat.

4. The key unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The angles of the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion provided on the upper surface side of the key top of the key are different from the angle of the third inclined portion provided on the contact portion of the key top of at least a portion of the key.

5. The key unit according to claim 1, wherein: The first inclined portion has an inclined surface which becomes lower from the front side toward the rear side and becomes lower from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction at the right end portion of the rear side of the key top of the key, The second inclined portion has an inclined surface which becomes lower from the front side toward the rear side and becomes lower from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction at the left end portion of the key top portion of the key on the rear side.

6. The key unit according to claim 5, wherein: The key also has a top surface, The boundary between the first inclined portion and the top surface is inclined from the rear side toward the front side and from the left side toward the right side, and the boundary between the second inclined portion and the top surface is inclined from the rear side toward the front side and from the right side toward the left side.

7. The key unit according to claim 5, wherein: The key also has a top surface, The inclined surface of the first inclined portion and the inclined surface of the second inclined portion are provided to be inclined with respect to the top surface, and the left-right width of the front side of the top surface is wider than the left-right width of the rear side of the top surface.

8. The key unit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: The plane of the top surface is provided with a gentler inclination than the inclination surface of the first inclination portion and the inclination surface of the second inclination portion.

9. The key unit according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of keys are arranged in a horizontal direction such that center lines of the keys are in a row, and are arranged in a front-rear direction such that center lines of the keys are offset by an amount corresponding to half of the length of the keys in the horizontal direction.

10. An electronic device, provided with a key sheet, wherein: The key sheet has: A plurality of buttons are arranged in the left-right direction and the front-back direction as viewed from the user; and a key support portion that supports the front side of the key in a contactable and detachable manner by using the rear side of the key, which is farther from the user than the front side of the key, as a fulcrum, A first inclined portion gradually decreasing from the front side toward the rear side and a second inclined portion gradually decreasing from the front side toward the rear side are provided at the rear end of the key top formed on the upper surface side of the key. A contact portion is formed on the bottom surface of the key to contact the substrate when the key is displaced. The contact portion of at least a part of the keys among the plurality of keys is provided with a third inclined portion which gradually becomes lower from the front side toward the rear side.

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