Keyboard Linkage With Inclined Sliding to Reduce Keycap Wobble
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards experience keycap wobbling due to insufficient reaction force from connection members, which affects the operation feel and stability during keypress.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard device incorporates a link member with a slide connection portion and a pivot connection portion, where the slide groove of the keycap's limiting member features a first guide bevel and a second guide bevel, allowing the slide connection portion to incline and increase the applied force, thereby enhancing the reaction force and reducing keycap wobbling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a horizontally sliding connection member is used, then the keycap can move smoothly during pressing, but the reaction force is insufficient to prevent wobbling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal sliding to inclined sliding by introducing guide bevels at angles (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the horizontal direction. This dimensional change in the sliding path enables the connection member to generate both horizontal movement capability and vertical reaction force, simultaneously achieving smooth operation and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the sliding angle parameter from 0 degrees (horizontal) to a specific inclined angle (e.g., 45 degrees) through the guide bevel design. This parameter change transforms the force vector, allowing the connection member to provide sufficient reaction force while maintaining operational smoothness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the connection member provides strong reaction force to prevent wobbling, then keycap stability improves, but the horizontal sliding smoothness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the sliding direction from horizontal to inclined through guide bevels, the system achieves a force vector that simultaneously provides vertical reaction force for stability and horizontal movement capability for smooth operation, resolving the trade-off between these two requirements.
3Device complexity
If a simple horizontal sliding structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the operation feeling is poor due to keycap wobbling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide bevels that create an inclined sliding path, transforming the simple horizontal sliding structure into a more sophisticated inclined mechanism. This moderate increase in structural complexity delivers significant improvement in operation feeling by eliminating keycap wobbling through enhanced reaction force.
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 design significantly reduces keycap wobbling and improves the operation feel by increasing the reaction force applied to the keycap, ensuring a more stable and responsive typing experience.
Implementation Method 1
the slide connection portion of the link member inclinedly slides along the first guide bevel and the second guide bevel. Hence, the force of the limiting member applied to the slide connection portion can be increased, thereby increasing the reaction force of the link member corresponding to the force applied to the keycap
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes a substrate, a keycap, and a link member. The keycap is disposed on the substrate and provided with a limiting member including a top wall, a bottom wall, and a slide groove. In the slide groove, the top wall has a first guide bevel and the bottom wall has a second guide bevel. The link member is disposed between the substrate and the keycap and includes a slide connection portion and a pivot connection portion. The slide connection portion is slidably disposed in the slide groove, and the pivot connection portion is pivotally connected to the substrate. When the keycap is pressed to move downwardly toward the substrate, the pivot connection portion of the link member is rotated with respect to the substrate, and the slide connection portion slides along the first guide bevel and the second guide bevel.