Decoupled Keyboard Key With Optical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electromechanical actuators in keyboards tightly couple mechanical, tactile, and electrical functionalities, making it difficult to customize the typing experience for users, as modifications to one aspect often affect others, increasing development and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling the electrical functionality of depressible keys from mechanical and tactile functionalities by using non-contact proximity sensors, such as optical sensors with light emitters and detectors, to detect key presses without mechanical closure, allowing for independent customization of mechanical and tactile responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electromechanical actuators with tightly coupled mechanical, tactile, and electrical functionalities are used, then reliable electrical connection upon key depression is achieved, but customization of typing experience becomes difficult and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electromechanical actuator into three independent functional modules: (1) mechanical travel mechanism providing key movement, (2) tactile feedback structure providing force feedback, and (3) electrical sensing system using capacitive or optical sensors. This segmentation allows each module to be independently designed and customized without affecting the others, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical electrical contact system with non-contact sensing methods including capacitive sensors that detect key press through electrical field changes, or optical sensors that detect key position through light interruption. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical closure to complete electrical circuits, allowing independent optimization of mechanical and electrical functionalities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components of electromechanical actuator are modified to customize typing experience, then user preference can be accommodated, but development and manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the actuator into independent functional modules (mechanical travel, tactile feedback, electrical sensing), the patent enables selective customization of only the necessary components for each user preference, rather than requiring modification of multiple interdependent components. This reduces development iterations and manufacturing re-tooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs universal sensing interfaces (capacitive or optical sensors) that can work with various mechanical travel mechanisms and tactile feedback structures. This universality allows a single sensing system to support multiple key configurations and typing experiences, reducing the need for separate development cycles for different customization scenarios.
3Manufacturing precision
If dimensions of electromechanical actuator components are fixed by keycap geometry, then consistent alignment and reliable electrical connection are achieved, but independent optimization of electrical sensitivity becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based electrical sensing with field-based sensing (capacitive or optical) that does not require precise mechanical alignment between moving and stationary contacts. This substitution maintains manufacturing precision requirements while enabling independent optimization of electrical sensitivity through sensor parameters rather than mechanical dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensing field (electrical field for capacitive sensors or light field for optical sensors) that mediates between the mechanical key movement and the electrical detection system. This intermediary allows the sensing system to detect key press events without requiring direct mechanical contact or precise alignment, enabling independent optimization of sensitivity parameters.
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 approach reduces the complexity and cost of customizing keyboard experiences by allowing separate development of tactile and electrical functionalities, reducing interdependencies between components and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter oriented to emit light toward the reflective bottom surface, and a light detector oriented to receive light reflected from the reflective bottom surface
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for decoupling the electrical and mechanical functionality of a depressible key are disclosed. The depressible key can include a non-contact proximity sensor, such as an optical sensor, to detect motion of the keycap. The output from the optical sensor is used to determine a distance, velocity, acceleration, and a force applied during a keypress.