Hinged Keycap Rows for Compact Keyboard Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard designs for portable communication devices often fail to efficiently manage space, as they either protrude or require complex mechanisms to adjust the keypad's size and position, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard comprising physically-discrete keycap rows that are hingeably coupled to each other, allowing them to be stored in a rolled-up state within a sliding tray, which can be extended for use and collapsed when not needed, utilizing guide pins and tracks for smooth movement and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the keyboard is made collapsible with hinged rows to reduce footprint, then the device size is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into multiple discrete rows that can be independently hinged and collapsed. Each row contains individual keycaps that can be separated from the row structure, allowing the keyboard to be folded into a compact configuration while maintaining structural integrity through the segmented design.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard rows are designed to nest within each other when collapsed, with each row fitting into the space created by the folded structure. The guide pins and tracks enable the rows to be stored in a nested configuration, significantly reducing the overall footprint while keeping the mechanism relatively simple.
2Ease of operation
If guide pins and tracks are added for smooth movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Guide pins and tracks are introduced as intermediary elements that facilitate smooth movement between the collapsed and deployed states. The guide pins fit into corresponding tracks to ensure aligned movement, preventing misalignment while adding minimal structural complexity compared to more complex mechanical guidance systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the keyboard rows are hingeably coupled for compact storage, then the volume is reduced, but the reliability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the keyboard into discrete rows with individual hinge points, the structure distributes mechanical stress across multiple independent connection points rather than relying on a single complex folding mechanism. This segmentation enhances reliability by isolating potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The hingeable rows are designed to self-align and self-support during deployment and storage through the interaction of guide pins with tracks and the inherent structural geometry. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for additional complex locking or support structures, maintaining reliability while keeping the design simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
A keyboard comprises a plurality of physically-discrete keycap rows, wherein each of these rows is hingeably coupled to at least one adjacent row. These physically-discrete keycap rows can be stored in a manner somewhat akin to a rolled-up state (such that, for example, at least two of the physically-discrete keycap rows are disposed substantially back-to-back when in a collapsed and stored state). Such a keyboard can be disposed, at least in part, within a sliding tray that moves these rows between a collapsed state and a deployed state.