Common Hammer Keyboard with Distinct Sliding Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing keyboard device technology requires separate hammers for black and white keys, leading to increased part varieties and a complex manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device design that uses a common hammer member with distinct sliding surfaces for white and black keys, allowing for adjustable stroke and key touch feeling by positioning and shaping these surfaces differently, thereby reducing part types and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate hammers are used for white keys and black keys, then the key touch feeling and stroke can be optimized for each key type, but the number of part types increases and the manufacturing process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single hammer body that serves both white keys and black keys. The hammer is equipped with multiple sliding surfaces (first sliding surface for white keys, second sliding surface for black keys) that can be selectively engaged depending on the key type, allowing one component to fulfill multiple functions while maintaining optimized performance for each key category.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the hammer into distinct functional zones with separate sliding surfaces. Each sliding surface is independently configured with specific positions and shapes to provide optimized key touch feeling and stroke characteristics for either white keys or black keys, allowing the single hammer to deliver differentiated performance through segmented functional areas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate hammers are used for white keys and black keys, then the stroke and key touch feeling can be customized for each key type, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing complexity by producing a single type of hammer body that can be used for both white and black keys. The customizable stroke and key touch feeling are achieved through selective engagement of different sliding surfaces on the same hammer, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing lines for different hammer types while maintaining adaptability for each key category.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves customizable stroke and key touch feeling through parameter changes in the configuration of sliding surfaces rather than through different hammer designs. By varying the position, shape, and orientation of sliding surfaces on a standard hammer body, the system provides adaptability for different key types while maintaining a uniform manufacturing process for the hammer itself.
3Device complexity
If a common hammer member is used for both white and black keys, then the number of parts is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the key touch feeling and stroke may not be optimized for each key type
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different sliding surface characteristics at different locations on the hammer body. The first sliding surface is configured with specific positional and shape parameters optimized for white keys, while the second sliding surface is configured with different parameters optimized for black keys. This allows a single hammer to deliver location-specific optimization for different key types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamics by enabling selective engagement of different sliding surfaces based on the key type being pressed. The system dynamically adapts the hammer's interaction characteristics through the actuator's engagement with the appropriate sliding surface, allowing the same physical component to provide different functional characteristics as needed for white or black keys.
4Ease of manufacture
If a common hammer member is used for both white and black keys, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the stroke customization for each key type may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves stroke customization through parameter changes in the sliding surface configurations rather than through different hammer designs. By varying parameters such as the position, inclination angle, and shape of the first and second sliding surfaces, the system provides adaptable stroke characteristics for different key types while maintaining a single, simplified manufacturing process for the hammer body itself.
Data Source
AI summary
In a keyboard device, a white-key actuator and a black-key actuator are arranged so as not to coincide in position with each other in a front-rear direction. A common hammer member is employed for a white-key hammer and for a black-key hammer. The common hammer member is provided with a white-key sliding surface to be pressed by the white-key actuator and a black-key sliding surface to be pressed by the black-key actuator. The white-key sliding surface and the black-key sliding surface differ in position and/or shape from each other. The white-key sliding surface of the common hammer member is pressed by the white-key actuator at key-pressing of a white key, and the black-key sliding surface of the common hammer member is pressed by the black-key actuator at key-pressing of a black key.