Keyboard Key Structure for Mechanical-Like Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Membrane keyboards with rubber dome switches provide inferior tactile feedback compared to mechanical switches, necessitating an improvement in key pressing feel.
Innovation Solution
A key structure comprising a circuit board, keycap, elastic member, and metal member, where the metal member covers the outside of a contact pillar extending from the elastic member to the circuit board, providing additional tactile feedback and sound similar to mechanical switches when pressed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a rubber dome is used as the elastic member in a membrane keyboard, then the keyboard can be made thinner and more compact, but the tactile feedback and pressing feel become inferior compared to mechanical switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a rubber dome (elastic member) with a metal member to create a composite structure. The rubber dome provides the thin profile and elastic function, while the metal member adds tactile feedback and pressing feel similar to mechanical switches, resolving the contradiction between thinness and tactile quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the rubber dome structure with an additional metal member that has a trigger portion. This combination allows the keyboard to maintain the thin profile of membrane keyboards while incorporating the tactile feedback characteristics of mechanical switches through the metal member's impact against the circuit board
2Ease of operation
If a metal member is added to cover the contact pillar to improve tactile feedback, then the pressing feel improves to resemble mechanical switches, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal member serves multiple functions: it provides tactile feedback through its trigger portion impacting the circuit board, it structurally supports the contact pillar, and it can be integrated with the rubber dome through various manufacturing methods. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering mechanical-switch-like experience in a membrane keyboard context
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 key structure enhances tactile feedback and sound experience, improving upon the rubber dome switch by mimicking the feel of pressing a mechanical switch, offering successive tactile feedback and audible impact.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic member comprises a dome portion, a hollow portion, and a contact pillar. The dome portion touches the bottom of the keycap. When the keycap is pressed, the collapse and deformation of the elastic member can provide tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 2
the contact pillar and the metal member outside thereof move downward and touch the circuit board so as to provide tactile feedback and the sound of the metal member contacting the circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure includes a circuit board, a keycap, an elastic member and a metal member. The keycap has a bottom facing the circuit board. The elastic member is disposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The elastic member includes a dome portion, a hollow portion, and a contact pillar. The dome portion touches the bottom of the keycap. The hollow portion is located inside of the dome portion. The contact pillar is located in the hollow portion, and the contact pillar extends from the dome portion to the circuit board. The metal member covers the outside of the contact pillar. The metal member comprises a trigger portion, and the trigger portion is a convex portion extending toward the circuit board.