Clickpad Linkage Structure for Corner Press Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clickpads have poor rigidity, leading to deformation when pressed at the ends or corners, which prevents the triggering of tactile switches and affects the user's input experience.
Innovation Solution
The input apparatus features a top cover with trenches and a base with slots, connected by a connecting rod system that includes a main rod and side rods, allowing the top cover to move down and trigger the tactile switch when pressed, enhancing strength and reducing weight while improving the user's hand feeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional clickpad structure is used, then the device structure is simple, but the top cover has poor rigidity and deforms when pressed at ends or corners
Solution Approach 1:
The top cover is segmented into a first area (pressing area) and a second area (non-pressing area), with trenches dividing the structure. This segmentation allows the first area to be pressed while the second area maintains structural support, preventing deformation at ends and corners while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Connecting rods are introduced as intermediary elements between the first area and the base. These rods transmit the pressing force from the first area to the base through rotation and sliding mechanisms, providing structural support and preventing deformation without requiring a completely complex rigid structure.
2Strength
If the top cover is made more rigid to prevent deformation, then the hand feeling and input experience improve, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting rods are designed to rotate and slide dynamically rather than being fixed rigid connections. The main rod rotates in the trench while side rods slide in slots, providing structural support only when needed during pressing operations, thus maintaining rigidity without adding excessive weight from completely rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure transitions between different states: when not pressed, the first area is flexible and responsive; when pressed, the connecting rods engage to provide rigidity. This dynamic parameter change allows the structure to be lightweight in normal state while providing necessary strength during input operations.
3Ease of operation
If the entire first area moves down uniformly to trigger the tactile switch, then the input experience improves, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple connecting rods (main rod and side rods) are merged into a single integrated mechanism that works together through rotation and sliding. This unified mechanism ensures uniform downward movement of the entire first area while maintaining relatively simple individual components, balancing complexity with operational effectiveness.
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 the rigidity of the top cover, ensuring the tactile switch is effectively triggered, providing a better input experience without significantly increasing the device's weight, and improving the user's hand feeling during tapping or pressing.
Implementation Method 1
the main rod of the connecting rod rotates in the trench
Implementation Method 2
each side rod of the connecting rod slides in a corresponding slot
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an input apparatus and an electronic device including the input apparatus. The input apparatus includes a top cover, where at least one trench is disposed in a first area of the top cover; a base, where at least one slot group is disposed in a second area of the base, and projections of the second area and the first area in a pressing or tapping direction overlap; a tactile switch, including a force-bearing surface and disposed on the top cover or the base; and at least one connecting rod, disposed between the top cover and the base, where the connecting rod includes a main rod and a side rod group, the main rod is rotatably nested in a corresponding trench, and each side rod in the side rod group is slidably nested in a corresponding slot in the slot group.