Flexible Keyboard Membrane for Sealing, Lighting, and Key Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices are vulnerable to contaminants such as dust and liquid ingress, which can damage electronics and interfere with key movement, and existing keyboards are costly and complex to assemble.

Innovation Solution

A flexible membrane with conductive structures and keycap supports is used to prevent contaminant ingress, integrate electrical switches, and distribute light, reducing the number of parts and enhancing keyboard functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional keyboards use separate components for electrical contacts, key support, and lighting, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall device complexity and assembly cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact reliabilityVSAvoidkeyboard assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single flexible membrane component: conductive structures for electrical contacts, keycap support structures, and light distribution features are all integrated into one membrane assembly, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible membrane serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it provides electrical connectivity through conductive traces, supports keycaps through raised portions, distributes light through integrated lighting features, and prevents contaminant ingress through fluid-tight sealing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If keyboards use multiple separate layers and components for fluid protection, then contaminant ingress is prevented, but the number of parts and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontaminant ingress protectionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates fluid-tight sealing functionality directly into the flexible membrane itself, eliminating the need for separate gaskets or sealing layers. The membrane's construction inherently prevents contaminant ingress while maintaining flexibility and electrical functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If light sources are positioned farther from keycaps in traditional keyboards, then assembly is simpler, but lighting efficiency and user experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidkeycap lighting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates light sources and light distribution features directly into the flexible membrane assembly, allowing precise positioning of LEDs close to keycaps while maintaining assembly simplicity through the membrane's inherent flexibility and pre-configured light pathways

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12578802B2Electrical key support membrane

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

Keyboards and other input devices are provided with membranes that extend under the keycaps or buttons. The membranes are flexible and can support conductive structures, traces, and electrical switch connections to enable effective key switches, lighting, and fluid-tightness for the keyboard. The flexible membrane is positioned near the keycaps to prevent ingress of fluids and debris into the lower portions of the key assemblies. In some cases, the flexible membrane also provides support for an interstitial layer that extends between keycaps.