Keyboard Link Member Nesting in Support Panel Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard devices face challenges in achieving thinness while maintaining operational efficiency, as reducing the thickness of components like gear links can compromise their rigidity and tooth formation, leading to poor key top support and operation.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard device design incorporates a support panel with specific holes to house edge portions of link members, allowing for a shorter distance between components without reducing the stroke length, thereby maintaining rigidity and operational efficiency while achieving thinness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the thickness of the keyboard device is reduced to achieve thinness, then the overall device becomes thinner, but the rigidity of link members deteriorates and key operation performance worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The link members are nested within holes formed in the support panel. This nesting arrangement allows the link members to be housed within the support panel structure, reducing the overall thickness of the keyboard device while maintaining the structural integrity and rigidity of the link members through proper housing and support.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a conventional arrangement where link members extend outward to a three-dimensional arrangement where link members are positioned within holes in the support panel. This dimensional change allows the keyboard device to achieve thinness in the vertical direction while maintaining operational efficiency through optimized spatial arrangement.
2Length of stationary object
If the distance between components is shortened to achieve thinness, then the device becomes more compact, but the stroke length may be reduced and operational efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting link members within holes in the support panel, the invention achieves compact component arrangement that shortens the distance between components vertically, while the horizontal arrangement within the holes preserves the necessary stroke length and operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different spatial arrangements to different parts of the mechanism: link members are positioned within holes in specific locations of the support panel, allowing local optimization of both compactness and operational stroke length. The holes are strategically positioned to maintain proper link member geometry and key operation characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes: a key top; a pair of link members coupled with the key top; and a support panel that is located below the key top, and includes first holes each housing a part of the link members.