Keyboard Key Switches With Rocker-Actuator Force Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing membrane switch-based keyboards fail to replicate the feel and reliability of mechanical keyboards while being cost-effective, as they suffer from inconsistent force application and increased wear and tear due to direct pressure transfer.
Innovation Solution
A key switch design featuring a plunger with a sloped surface, a rocker with pivot points, and springs that isolate the force of key press from directly impacting the membrane, ensuring consistent pressure application and reduced wear through controlled force transfer via a rocker-actuator mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a membrane switch is used to reduce keyboard cost and profile, then manufacturing cost and keyboard thickness are reduced, but the key feel, sound, and reliability are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a membrane switch as an intermediary component between the key actuator and the switching mechanism. The membrane switch serves as a mediator that transmits key press force while providing cost and thickness advantages, resolving the contradiction between using inexpensive membrane switches and maintaining reliable mechanical switching performance.
2Force
If force from key press is directly transferred to membrane switch, then actuation force is reduced, but wear and tear on membrane increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a membrane switch as an intermediary that decouples the direct force transfer path. The membrane switch absorbs and distributes the key press force, reducing peak stresses on individual components while maintaining effective actuation force, thus extending membrane durability without sacrificing actuation performance.
3Reliability
If mechanical key switch is used to maintain feel and sound, then reliability and user experience are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of mechanical key switches (reliability, feel, sound) with the advantages of membrane switches (cost-effectiveness, thin profile) into a hybrid construction. This combination allows the keyboard to achieve mechanical-quality performance at membrane-level manufacturing costs.
4Manufacturing precision
If inconsistent force is applied to membrane switch, then key actuation becomes less precise, but membrane wear and tear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane switch acts as a force-distributing intermediary that equalizes inconsistent key press forces. By spreading the load across its flexible surface, the membrane switch converts variable input forces into consistent switching actions, improving actuation precision while reducing peak stresses that cause wear.
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 solution provides a cost-effective key switch that mimics the feel of mechanical keyboards by controlling force application and reducing membrane wear, resulting in improved keyboard longevity and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a spring disposed between the lower casing and the rocker, where the spring is configured to press the hammer against the sloped surface
Implementation Method 2
a plunger comprising a sloped surface, wherein the plunger movably couples with the lower casing
Implementation Method 3
the rocker and the plunger are configured such that, upon depressing the plunger at least partially into the interior space, the rocker is configured to rotate about the first and second pivot points based on the hammer sliding along the sloped surface
Data Source
AI summary
Key switches of the inventive subject matter are designed to give users the tactile feel of key switches from expensive mechanical keyboards without drawback typically associated with alternative key switches. In some embodiments, key switches described in this application are designed to function with a sheet of membrane switches. These embodiments feature a plunger and rocker combination that prevents the pressure from a user's key press from being directly transferred to a membrane switch, thereby reducing wear and tear.