Keyboard Base Plate Notch Design for Uniform Appearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboard devices with a silver base plate and black key tops and frame suffer from reduced appearance quality due to the visibility of the silver base plate through gaps between key tops and the frame, disrupting the uniform black color scheme.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a notch portion on the base plate that overlaps with gaps between key tops and the frame, with a projection portion and through-hole configuration that allows the membrane sheet to cover the notch, hiding the silver base plate and maintaining a uniform black appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the base plate is made of silver material (e.g., stainless steel), then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the appearance quality deteriorates because the silver base plate is visible through gaps between key tops and frame, disrupting the uniform black color scheme
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is segmented by providing notch portions at specific positions where gaps between key tops and frame are located. These notch portions remove or recess the silver base plate material at the visible areas, while maintaining the structural integrity of the overall base plate. This segmentation allows the silver base plate to retain its strength while preventing the discoloration effect caused by visibility through gaps.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gaps between key tops and frame are reduced to prevent dust entry, then the sealing performance is improved, but the appearance quality deteriorates because the silver base plate becomes more visible through the smaller gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed with different local qualities: areas under the key tops and frame maintain the silver material for structural support, while notch portions at the gap locations have recessed or removed silver material. This local differentiation ensures that even when gaps are minimized for dust prevention, the silver base plate does not become visible through the gaps, as the notch portions create a step structure that blocks the line of sight to the silver surface.
3Shape
If the frame is positioned close to key tops to maintain uniform appearance, then the aesthetic quality is improved, but the operability deteriorates because key tops cannot move vertically without interfering with the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The solution introduces a vertical dimension (height/depth) to resolve the horizontal proximity issue. By providing notch portions that create a stepped structure, the frame can be positioned close to key tops for aesthetic purposes while the notch portions provide vertical clearance space. This allows key tops to move vertically within the notch portions without interfering with the frame, maintaining both appearance quality and operability through dimensional separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device is provided with a base plate, a plurality of key tops, a membrane sheet, and a frame. The frame has a frame portion interposed between the key tops adjacent to each other and partitions each key top in a vertically movable state by the formation of a gap between the side surface of the frame portion and the side surface of the key top. The base plate has a notch portion at a position at least overlapping with a portion under the gap.