Keyboard Venting Structure for Quieter Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Keyboards for portable devices often provide unwanted audible tactile feedback, which can be bothersome in quiet settings such as meetings or libraries, as they typically lack a mechanism to control or reduce the volume of this feedback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating dampening components made of high-density foam within the keyboard's stiffener layer, which control the release of air through venting channels, thereby reducing the audible 'clicking' noise during key actuation by diffusing the air release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the keyboard provides tactile feedback through air release during key actuation, then the user receives confirmation of input recognition, but audible clicking noise is generated that can be bothersome in quiet settings
Solution Approach 1:
A dampening component is introduced as an intermediary element between the dome and the flexible printed circuit board. This component mediates the air release process during key actuation, allowing the tactile feedback function to continue while suppressing the harmful audible clicking noise through its dampening properties
Solution Approach 2:
The dampening component is configured with a porous structure that allows controlled air flow during key actuation. The porous material enables the air to pass through in a manner that reduces the generation of audible clicking noise while still providing tactile feedback confirmation to the user
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 dampening components effectively mute the tactile feedback, providing a quieter and more pleasant typing experience for the user while minimizing disturbance to others in quiet environments.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating dampening components made of high-density foam within the keyboard's venting system, which control the release of air between the domes and the flexible printed circuit board, thereby reducing the audible 'clicking' noise during key actuation
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard includes a stiffener having a plurality of recesses defined therein, a flexible printed circuit defining a plurality of venting holes, each venting hole in correspondence with one of the plurality of recesses, and a dome sheet provided on top of the flexible printed circuit and including a plurality of domes, each of the domes in correspondence with one of the plurality of venting holes.