Keyboard Cover Gap Control for Input Device Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices face challenges in maintaining consistent and aesthetically pleasing gaps between keycaps, which affects the stiffness and accuracy of key movement, especially as keysets become smaller and more complex.
Innovation Solution
The input device features a keyboard cover with carefully measured and cut gaps between keycaps, ranging from 0.075 mm to 0.525 mm, to ensure uniform spacing and improved aesthetics, using a method that involves measuring keycap positions and cutting a substrate to fit between keycaps to maintain optimal gap sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the keyset becomes smaller and more complex, then the device size is reduced, but the consistency and aesthetics of gaps between keycaps deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the gap dimensions (0.075 mm to 0.525 mm) in the keyboard cover design before manufacturing the keyset. This allows the gaps to be established in advance, ensuring consistency even as the keyset becomes smaller and more complex, thereby resolving the contradiction between reduced device size and maintained gap consistency.
2Shape
If the gaps between keycaps are reduced, then the aesthetics and stiffness are improved, but the manufacturing precision required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by specifying a precise gap range (0.075 mm to 0.525 mm) that optimizes both aesthetics and stiffness. By controlling the gap parameters within this specific range, the invention achieves improved appearance and structural rigidity while managing the manufacturing precision requirements through defined tolerances.
3Measurement precision
If the key movement accuracy is improved, then the input precision is enhanced, but the gap variations must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing uniform gap dimensions in the keyboard cover before keycap installation. This preliminary definition of gap parameters (0.075 mm to 0.525 mm) ensures consistent key movement accuracy across all keys, reducing variations that would otherwise affect input precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An input device is described. The input device may include at least four key caps of a keyset and a keyboard cover surrounding the at least four key caps. Each key cap of the at least four key caps may be separated by at least one gap. The at least one gap may be between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm. A method of manufacturing an input device is described. The method may include measuring at least four keycaps in a keyset. Each key cap of the at least four key caps may be separated on a side from a keyboard cover by a gap. The method may include cutting a substrate to fit between the at least four keycaps in the keyset such that the gap of each of the at least four keys is between 0.075 mm and 0.525 mm.