Keyboard Cover Layer Uniformity via Floating Frame Adhesion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard devices with cover layers suffer from poor appearance due to the central region of the cover layer being depressed and the peripheral region floating up when keycaps are pressed, resulting in an uneven aesthetic.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device design featuring a base plate, key structures with keycaps, a floating frame with openings, and a cover layer that adheres to both the keycaps and the floating frame, where the floating frame is pulled downward by the cover layer when a keycap is pressed, ensuring the cover layer moves uniformly and maintaining a good appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cover layer is only attached to the central region of the keycap, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the appearance quality deteriorates due to uneven movement when pressed
Solution Approach 1:
The floating frame serves as an intermediary component between the keycap and the cover layer. It provides additional attachment points for the cover layer at the peripheral region, ensuring uniform movement when the keycap is pressed. The floating frame is attached to the keycap and the cover layer is attached to both the keycap and the floating frame, preventing the cover layer from detaching or deforming during key pressing.
2Shape
If the cover layer is attached to the peripheral region of the keycap, then the appearance quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is segmented into two parts: the keycap and the floating frame. The floating frame is a separate component that can be independently attached to the keycap. This segmentation allows the cover layer to be attached to both the keycap and the floating frame, achieving uniform appearance without requiring direct attachment to the entire keycap perimeter, thus managing complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the floating frame is made of rigid material, then the dimensional stability improves, but the key pressing feel deteriorates due to lack of flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The material parameter of the floating frame is changed from rigid to elastic. The floating frame is made of elastic material that can deform when the keycap is pressed, providing a better pressing feel. The elastic material allows the floating frame to flex and return to its original position, maintaining dimensional stability while improving operational comfort.
4Ease of operation
If the cover layer is made of elastic material, then the pressing feel improves, but the stiffness deteriorates causing poor appearance maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a composite structure where the elastic cover layer is combined with the elastic floating frame. The floating frame, being elastic, provides the necessary flexibility for good pressing feel, while the cover layer maintains its aesthetic appearance. The combination of elastic materials in the composite structure allows both the cover layer and floating frame to deform harmoniously during key pressing, maintaining appearance quality while providing tactile feedback.
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 ensures a uniform and aesthetically pleasing movement of the cover layer with the keycap, enhancing the pressing feel and maintaining dimensional stability and stiffness, thereby addressing the issue of poor appearance in existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
The cover layer is adhered to the upper surface of the keycap and the upper surface of the floating frame through an adhesive layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes a base plate, a plurality of key structures, a floating frame and a cover layer. The key structures are disposed over the base plate, and each of the key structures has a keycap. The floating frame is disposed over and separated from the base plate. The floating frame has a plurality of openings, and the key structures are disposed in the openings, respectively. The cover layer covers the keycaps of the key structures and the floating frame and is in direct or indirect contact with an upper surface of the keycap of each of the key structures and an upper surface of the floating frame. When the keycap of one of the key structures and the cover layer thereover are pressed to bottom, the floating frame surrounding the one of the key structures is pulled by the cover layer and shifted.