Key Dome Assembly Elevating Members Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturized keyboards in handheld electronic devices often lack noticeable tactile feedback due to the direct contact of dome-shaped elements with the mounting surface, which hinders user input registration and feedback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating elevating members, such as embossments or dimple-like structures, around the periphery of the dome-shaped resilient element to elevate it from the mounting surface, enhancing tactile feedback, travel distance, and reducing friction, while allowing for a smaller footprint and improved air venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the dome-shaped element is directly contacted with the mounting surface to minimize size, then the footprint is reduced, but the tactile feedback becomes unnoticeable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces elevating members that lift the dome-shaped element's periphery from the mounting surface, creating vertical separation. This dimensional change allows the dome to collapse more noticeably during actuation, providing tactile feedback while maintaining a compact footprint. The elevating members effectively add a vertical dimension to the otherwise two-dimensional mounting arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevating members act as intermediary structures between the dome-shaped element and the mounting surface. These members provide a controlled interface that allows the dome to move and collapse while maintaining electrical connection, thereby mediating between the conflicting requirements of compact size and noticeable tactile feedback.
2Area of stationary object
If the dome-shaped element is directly contacted with the mounting surface to minimize size, then the footprint is reduced, but the friction increases hindering dome collapse
Solution Approach 1:
By elevating the dome periphery vertically above the mounting surface using elevating members, the patent reduces the contact area between the dome and mounting surface. This dimensional separation minimizes friction forces while maintaining a compact overall footprint, allowing smoother dome collapse during key actuation.
3Device complexity
If the dome-shaped element is directly contacted with the mounting surface, then the structure is simplified, but the air venting is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting interface by introducing separate elevating members between the dome-shaped element and the mounting surface. This segmentation creates dedicated air venting pathways through and around the elevating members, improving air evacuation during dome collapse while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
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
The solution provides enhanced tactile feedback, improved input registration, and reduced friction, making the dome assembly more adaptable to miniaturized keypad applications by increasing the area of force application and reducing the constraints on the dome collapse, thus ensuring smoother and more reliable user interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a key dome assembly 50 including a dome shaped resilient element 52... When an actuation force is applied to the apex of the dome assembly, the dome assembly collapses, completing an electrical circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A dome assembly for use in a keyboard assembly of an electronic device is provided. The dome assembly includes a deflectable dome shaped element having a concave surface terminating at a periphery and a number of elevating members disposed on the element adjacent the periphery and protruding away from the concave surface. The elevating members serve to space the periphery from a mounting surface. The element is movable between an undeflected position and a deflected position.