Biasing Component for Dynamic Keyboard Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hinged clamshell and slide type handheld communication devices have keyboards that are lower than typical keyboards, making them awkward to use and prone to interference from the device's sides, as they are designed to be flush with the housing to allow for proper closure, which hampers user experience during typing.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of biasing components with linkage systems that raise the keyboard as the device opens and lower it as it closes, allowing the keyboard to be positioned above the housing surface in the open configuration for improved usability and preventing damage during closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the keyboard is positioned flush with the housing surface to allow for proper closure, then the device can be properly closed, but the keyboard becomes lower and more awkward to use with interference from the device sides
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is made dynamically adjustable in height through a biasing component and linkage system. The keyboard can automatically raise to a higher position above the housing surface when the device is opened, improving usability, and lower to a flush position when the device is closed, preventing interference. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between keyboard height for usability and keyboard height for proper closure.
2Ease of operation
If the keyboard is raised above the housing surface for better ergonomics, then typing comfort improves, but the device cannot be properly closed
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard height is dynamically adjusted based on device state. When the device is opened, the biasing component raises the keyboard above the housing surface for ergonomic typing. When the device is closed, the keyboard automatically lowers to a flush position that allows proper closure. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between typing comfort and closure functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing component is pre-configured to automatically raise the keyboard to an ergonomic position before the device is fully opened, and to lower the keyboard before the device is closed. This preliminary positioning action ensures that the keyboard is at the appropriate height for each device state, resolving the contradiction between ergonomic typing position and proper device closure.
3Ease of operation
If a biasing component with linkage system is added to raise and lower the keyboard, then keyboard ergonomics improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing component and linkage system serve multiple functions: they raise the keyboard for ergonomic typing when the device is open, lowers the keyboard for proper closure when the device is closed, and provide structural support for the keyboard. By combining multiple functions into a single mechanism, the increase in complexity is justified by the multiple benefits gained, resolving the contradiction between ergonomics and device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances user interaction by raising the keyboard to a more comfortable typing position when the device is open and ensures the keyboard is safely lowered during closure, addressing the ergonomic and operational issues of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing component positioned within the first housing and configured to raise the keyboard as the first housing moves from the closed configuration to the open configuration
Implementation Method 2
a linkage system intercoupling the biasing component and the keyboard
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A clamshell or slide type of handheld wireless communication device can include a biasing component to raise or lower a keyboard relative to a first housing of the device. The biasing component can raise the keyboard when the communication device is opened and can lower the keyboard when the communication device is closed. When the keyboard is raised, the keyboard can be flush with or above the first housing or sides of the first housing of the communication device. When the keyboard is lowered, the keyboard can be below the first housing of the communication device.