Dynamic Keyboard Keycaps with Electromagnets for Adaptive Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays and keyboards face challenges in optimizing keycap functionality and display flexibility within limited space, particularly in adapting to different applications without compromising portability and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
The integration of movable keycaps with magnets and electromagnets allows for dynamic keycap positioning, enabling the display of characters or symbols under transparent keycaps, which can change based on the active application, and the use of a flexible display and capacitive touch sensors for gesture detection, allowing the keyboard to function as both an input device and a scrolling pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fixed keyboards are used in portable devices, then the device structure is simple, but the adaptability to different applications is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic keycaps that can move between a first position (flush with the surface) and a second position (depressed). The keycaps are actuated by electromagnets that can be controlled to provide tactile feedback selectively. This dynamic configuration allows the keyboard to adapt between different input modes (tactile feedback on vs. off) depending on the active application, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If tactile feedback is provided for all keycaps, then user input accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies tactile feedback selectively rather than uniformly across all keycaps. The controller is configured to provide tactile feedback for keycaps corresponding to active application input areas, while disabling feedback for inactive areas. This local quality approach ensures accurate input detection where needed while minimizing energy consumption by not activating all electromagnets continuously.
3Ease of operation
If the keyboard surface is made flush for scrolling, then gesture detection is improved, but tactile feedback for character entry is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamically configurable keycap positions to support different input modes. When gesture input is needed, all keycaps are positioned flush with the surface to enable smooth scrolling. When character entry is needed, specific keycaps are depressed to provide tactile feedback. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical structure to support both gesture detection and tactile input modes, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and input mode versatility.
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 solution enhances user interaction by providing a versatile input method that adapts to various applications, maintains portability, and offers tactile feedback while optimizing keycap usage, allowing for efficient character entry and gesture recognition.
Implementation Method 1
controlling each electromagnet to maintain a magnetic field to repel the first magnet and to reverse the polarity in response to detecting an external applied force on the keycap that meets a threshold value
Implementation Method 2
electromagnets disposed between the back of the keyboard and the first magnets
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An electronic device includes a plurality of keycaps, first magnets disposed on an underside of the keycaps, each first magnet of the plurality of first magnets being associated with a respective one of the keycaps and moveable therewith relative to the back of the device, and electromagnets disposed between the back of the keyboard and the first magnets, each electromagnet being associated with a respective one of the first magnets and a respective one of the keycaps. The electronic device also includes a controller coupled to the electromagnets to control each electromagnet to maintain a magnetic field to repel the first magnet and to reverse the polarity in response to detecting an external applied force on the keycap that meets a threshold value to facilitate movement of the respective keycap from a first position, toward the back of the keyboard, to a second position.