Keyboard Key Guide Side Plates Reduce Force Arm Length
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards experience keycap deflection and noise issues when pressed at the edge or corner due to excessive force arm length, leading to poor operation feelings and increased noise generation.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard device features key guide grooves with first and second side plates extending from the brim of the keycap, allowing for closer alignment with the groove walls, reducing the force arm length and enabling smooth keycap movement, thus improving operation feel and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the keycap is pressed at the edge or corner, then the keycap can be actuated, but the excessive force arm length causes deflection and prevents smooth movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into a body portion and side plate portions, where the side plates extend laterally to provide additional support points near the edges of the keycap, preventing deflection while allowing actuation
Solution Approach 2:
The side plates extend in the lateral dimension (width direction) rather than only in the vertical dimension, providing support closer to the edge press points and reducing the effective force arm length for lateral stability
2Ease of operation
If the keycap cannot be moved smoothly, then the operation feeling deteriorates, but noise is generated during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is divided into a body portion that provides vertical guidance and side plate portions that provide lateral support, allowing smooth vertical movement while preventing lateral deflection that causes noise
Solution Approach 2:
The side plates act as intermediary support elements between the keycap edges and the key guide groove walls, ensuring stable alignment and smooth movement that prevents noise generation
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 design enhances keycap movement smoothness and reduces noise during operation by minimizing force arm length, resulting in improved user experience and quieter keyboard performance.
Implementation Method 1
a post member is at center portion of the bottom of the keycap to abut against an elastic member, so that the keycap is moved resiliently through the elastic force of the elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes a frame and keys. The frame includes key guide grooves each including a first groove wall and a second groove wall. The keys are slidably assembled in the key guide grooves. The key includes a keycap and a guide member. A brim of the keycap includes a first side edge and a second side edge. The guide member includes a first side plate and a second side plate. The first side plate is in the key guide groove, integrally extends from the first side edge, and is arranged close to the first groove wall. The second side plate is in the key guide groove, integrally extends from the second side edge, and is arranged close to the second groove wall.