Keyboard Key Depressing Mechanism for Thin Portable Computers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboards in portable information equipment face challenges in reducing thickness while maintaining operability and avoiding interference between the display and keyboard, leading to issues with appearance quality, impact noise, and potential damage due to high loads required for keycap depression mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device with a key depressing mechanism featuring a rotating shaft member and a pressing piece that projects from the outer surface to push down keycaps, allowing for depression and retention in a lower position, linked to a hinge mechanism that adjusts based on the display's angle, distributing the load and reducing part size and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a protrusion is provided on the inner face of the display chassis to push down keycaps, then interference between display and keyboard is avoided, but appearance quality is spoiled
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing protrusion is extracted from the display chassis and relocated to the keyboard device. The pressing piece that performs the keycap depression function is now integrated into the keyboard device's key depressing mechanism, separating the aesthetic display surface from the functional pressing mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A pressing piece acts as an intermediary element within the keyboard device that transfers the depression force from the rotating shaft member to the keycaps. This intermediary mechanism achieves the same functional result as the protrusion but without compromising appearance.
2Ease of operation
If a protrusion directly pushes keycaps down from the display chassis, then keycap depression is achieved, but large load is required causing impact noise
Solution Approach 1:
The key depressing mechanism uses a rotating shaft member that rotates to gradually push down keycaps through a pressing piece, converting rotational motion into linear depression motion. This dynamic mechanism distributes the depression force over time and reduces impact compared to direct pushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing piece is elastically supported by a resilient member (such as a spring or rubber element) that cushions the depression force. This elastic support absorbs impact and reduces the sudden load that causes impact noise while still achieving effective keycap depression.
3Length of moving object
If keycaps are pushed down only when display chassis is closed, then thickness is reduced, but keycaps cannot be stored at other positions
Solution Approach 1:
The key depressing mechanism is dynamically linked to the display chassis angle through the rotating shaft member. As the display chassis opens or closes, the rotating shaft member rotates accordingly, automatically adjusting the keycap position. This allows keycaps to be depressed at multiple angles (0°, 90°, 180°, 360° positions) rather than only when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The key depressing mechanism serves multiple functions: it reduces thickness at closed position, maintains operability at various angles, and automatically adapts to different display chassis positions. The same mechanism handles both thickness reduction and multi-position adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If leaf spring sheet is slid to push down keycaps, then keycap depression is achieved, but large load is required causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating shaft member converts rotational motion into controlled linear motion of the pressing piece. This dynamic conversion allows gradual keycap depression with distributed force, reducing the peak load on individual parts compared to sliding mechanisms that require simultaneous force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member providing elastic support to the pressing piece cushions the depression force before it reaches the keycaps and other components. This prior cushioning protects parts from damage by reducing the peak load and distributing stress over time.
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
This solution enables a thinner portable information equipment design without compromising operability, maintaining appearance quality, and reducing the risk of damage by efficiently managing keycap depression across various usage angles, from 0 to 360 degrees.
Implementation Method 1
The rotating shaft member rotates about the axis to cause the pressing piece to push down the receiving part
Implementation Method 2
the pressing piece to push down the receiving part, and, in turn, pushing down and keeping the keycap in a depressed position
Implementation Method 3
multiple keycaps elastically supported to be movable up and down
Implementation Method 4
a display chassis coupled to the main body chassis via a hinge
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device for a portable computer is disclosed. The portable computer includes a main body chassis and a display chassis. The main body chassis contains the keyboard device having multiple keycaps elastically supported to be moved up and down. Coupled to the main body chassis via a hinge, the display chassis contains a display. The main body chassis also includes a key depressing mechanism having a rotating shaft member provided along each of the keycaps and a pressing piece projecting from the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft member to the side of the keycap to allow a receiving part provided in the keycap to be depressed downward. The rotating shaft member rotates about the axis to cause the pressing piece to push down the receiving part and, in turn, pushing down and keeping the keycap in a depressed position.