Keycap Lifting Mechanism With Aligned Support Holes for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of keyswitch structures leads to reduced space for components, compromising structural strength and stability, particularly in the transmission between supports and affecting the stability of movement and assembly integrity.
Innovation Solution
A keycap lifting mechanism for long rectangular keyswitches, where vertical projections of sliding, holder, and base holes of supports overlap in the short side direction, facilitating shorter force transmission paths and reducing torque, thereby enhancing stability and structural strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the keyswitch structure is miniaturized to reduce size, then the compactness and space utilization are improved, but the structural strength and stability of the supports deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sliding hole, holder hole, and base hole into a vertically aligned configuration where their projections overlap in the short side direction. This consolidation creates a shared load-bearing region that strengthens the supports without increasing the overall keyswitch footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by aligning the projections of multiple holes vertically, creating a three-dimensional force transmission path. This dimensional arrangement allows force to be transmitted more efficiently through the supports without requiring additional horizontal space, thereby maintaining compactness while improving structural strength.
2Volume of moving object
If the keyswitch structure is miniaturized, then the space for components is reduced, but the stability of force transmission between supports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By vertically aligning the projections of the sliding hole, holder hole, and base hole, the patent creates a consolidated force transmission path. This merging of hole positions ensures that forces from keycap actuation are distributed more evenly and transmitted stably through the supports to the base plate, improving reliability without compromising compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the local quality of the support structure by concentrating the hole projections in a specific vertical alignment region. This localized optimization creates a reinforced zone that specifically improves force transmission stability in the critical area where the supports connect to the base plate, while the rest of the compact structure remains unchanged.
3Device complexity
If the support structure is simplified for miniaturization, then the device complexity is reduced, but the torque and torsional stress on supports increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the projections of multiple holes into a single vertical alignment, which consolidates the force transmission path and reduces the lever arm for torque generation. This merging approach maintains structural simplicity while effectively reducing the torsional stress on the supports during keycap actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
By arranging hole projections in the vertical dimension rather than spreading them horizontally, the patent reduces the moment arm perpendicular to the long side direction. This dimensional reconfiguration decreases the torque and torsional stress on the supports without adding structural complexity, as the same number of holes are used but positioned more efficiently in space.
Data Source
AI summary
A keycap lifting mechanism increases the stability of supporting a keycap through structure designs of supports. For example, vertical projections of a sliding hole, a holder hole, and a base hole of supports overlap in a short side direction. For another example, vertical projections of a sliding hole, a holder hole, and a pivot hole of supports overlap in the short side direction. For another example, within the coverage range of a dome hole formed by supports in a long side direction, the supports do not have a structure connecting with other components. For another example, within the coverage range of two arms on opposite sides of the dome hole, there are more than 8 connection portions on the supports for connecting with a keycap and a base plate. For another example, the width of the arm is 0.8 to 2 times the length of the arm.