Flexible Interkey Keyboard Surface for Spill and Debris Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards are prone to contaminant ingress, which can damage electronics and affect key movement, and they often have rough surfaces due to gaps between keys, leading to uncomfortable typing experiences.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flexible interkey bridge structure and keycap design that provides a continuous, smooth surface, preventing contaminants from entering and enhancing key definition without recessing rigid structures, using a flexible membrane or woven layer to support keycaps and actuate switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If gaps or grooves are made between keycaps to provide key definition, then key definition is improved, but the surface becomes rough and contaminant ingress is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane is positioned between the keycaps and the rigid web, extending across the interkey regions. This membrane provides a continuous, flexible barrier that prevents contaminants from entering through the gaps between keycaps while maintaining the necessary gaps for key definition. The membrane flexes to accommodate key movement while blocking contaminant pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane acts as an intermediary layer between the keycaps and the rigid web structure. It mediates between the need for gaps (for key definition) and the need for protection (against contaminants), allowing both requirements to coexist by providing a barrier that doesn't eliminate the gaps.
2Measurement precision
If gaps between keycaps are increased to improve key definition, then key definition is improved, but finger movement becomes uncomfortable due to rough surface
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane covers the interkey regions and has a smooth upper surface that contacts the user's finger during lateral movement. This smooth surface eliminates the roughness caused by exposed rigid web edges, while the membrane still allows the keycaps to be visually distinguished, maintaining key definition.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane provides different qualities in different regions: it has a smooth surface quality where it contacts the finger for comfortable lateral movement, while simultaneously maintaining the visual and tactile distinction between keys through its tension and positioning over the interkey gaps.
3Strength
If a rigid web structure is used to support keycaps, then structural support is improved, but contaminant ingress through gaps is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is positioned between the keycaps and the rigid web, creating a barrier that prevents contaminants from reaching the rigid web structure through the interkey gaps. The membrane maintains the structural integrity provided by the rigid web while blocking the contaminant pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the rigid web structure. It allows the rigid web to provide structural support while preventing contaminants from penetrating to the web through the gaps between keycaps.
4Ease of operation
If keycaps are spaced apart to allow key movement, then key functionality is improved, but liquid ingress around keys is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane extends across the interkey regions and provides a continuous barrier that prevents liquids from seeping around the keycaps and reaching the internal components. The membrane's flexibility allows it to accommodate key movement while maintaining the liquid barrier.
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 effectively prevents contaminant ingress, enhances key definition, and provides a comfortable typing experience by maintaining a smooth surface for finger movement while supporting keycap functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently compressible structure vertically positioned below the interkey bridge structure, wherein downward pressure on the interkey bridge structure compresses the resiliently compressible structure
Data Source
AI summary
Keyboards and other input devices are provided with at least one flexible layer that extends over or under the keycaps. The flexible layer spans interkey spaces and provides finger support and key definition as the user feels the top surface of the keycaps and flexible layer. The flexible layer therefore smooths the top surface of the keyboard, supports fingers during key travel, prevents ingress of contaminants, fluids, or debris into the keyboard, and provides a surface that can be used as a touch interface that coincides with the keyboard.