Detachable Keyboard Keys With Embedded Chips For Flexible Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards have fixed keycap locations, limiting their application and flexibility, as each keycap is connected to a specific connecting portion on the base, restricting the keyboard's use.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard design featuring detachable keys with embedded key chips and a controller that outputs inquiring codes to determine corresponding key codes, allowing each key to be freely connected and monitored for press states, enabling extensive application and reducing ghost key issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If keycaps are fixed to specific connecting portions on the base, then the keyboard structure is simple and stable, but the application flexibility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into independent functional modules: keycaps, key chips, and a controller. Each keycap can be independently detached and reconnected to different connecting portions, allowing flexible reconfiguration without affecting the overall structure. This segmentation enables the keyboard to adapt to different applications while maintaining structural simplicity through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The base is designed with multiple identical connecting portions that can accept any keycap, creating a universal interface system. The controller universally communicates with any key chip through standardized protocols, enabling the same hardware platform to serve multiple functions and applications. This universality allows users to customize keyboard layouts for different purposes without requiring different hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If keycaps are detachable and can be moved between connecting portions, then the keyboard adaptability is improved, but the complexity of identifying and managing key positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical position-based key identification system with an electronic identification system using key chips. Instead of relying on the physical position of keycaps to determine key codes, each keycap contains a key chip with stored identification information. This substitution eliminates the complexity of tracking key positions mechanically and allows free reconfiguration without management overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller actively inquires each key chip for its identification code and automatically maps it to the appropriate key position. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system always knows which key code corresponds to which physical position, regardless of keycap arrangement. The automatic mapping process eliminates the need for manual configuration and prevents ghost key issues.
3Reliability
If traditional fixed keycap design is used, then the keyboard structure is simple, but ghost key problems occur and application scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the passive mechanical key switch system with an active electronic identification system. Instead of relying solely on mechanical contact to identify keys, each keycap contains a key chip that actively provides its identification code to the controller. This electronic substitution eliminates ghost key problems caused by mechanical interference or incorrect contact detection, as the key code is explicitly provided by the key chip itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard and a method of controlling the same are provided. The keyboard includes a base, a plurality of keys, a plurality of key chips and a controller. The base has a plurality of connecting portions. Each key is detachably connected to one of the connecting portions. Each key chip is correspondingly disposed on one of the keys and has a corresponding key code. The controller is disposed on the base. The controller outputs an inquiring code to each key chip, and each key chip determines whether the key code thereof corresponds to the inquiring code. The key chip which has the corresponded key code feedbacks a press state of the corresponding key to the controller.