Keyboard Keyswitch Gear Link Structure for Stable Off-Center Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyswitch devices for industrial machinery face issues with stable electrical connection when a keytop is pushed off-center, as mechanisms using disc springs or rubber cups often result in tilting, leading to unstable connection of multiple contact pairs.
Innovation Solution
A keyswitch device employing a gear link mechanism to support the keytop, combined with an elastic rubber cup that biases the keytop away from the base and a membrane sheet with multiple contact pairs, allowing for simultaneous and stable connection of multiple contact pairs with a single key operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a rubber cup mechanism is used to support the keytop, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the keytop tilts when pushed off-center, causing unstable electrical connection
Solution Approach 1:
The support mechanism is divided into multiple link members (first link member and second link member) that work together to support the keytop. Each link member provides guidance in a specific direction, and their combination ensures the keytop moves vertically without tilting, resolving the instability issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link members act as intermediary elements between the keytop and the base. These intermediaries guide the keytop's movement and prevent tilting by providing directional constraints, thereby ensuring stable electrical connection without requiring a complex single-component solution.
2Device complexity
If a disc spring mechanism is used to support the keytop, then the keytop can be supported with a single elastic member, but the mechanism is complex and the keytop may tilt when pushed off-center
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into multiple link members that collectively provide the necessary support and guidance. This segmentation allows each member to have a simpler, more straightforward structure while the combination achieves the desired functionality without tilting and with reduced overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The link members are designed to dynamically adapt to the direction of pushing force. Whether the keytop is pushed off-center or not, the link members adjust their configuration to maintain vertical movement guidance, ensuring reliable electrical connection while keeping the mechanism simple.
3Ease of operation
If the keytop is allowed to move freely without guidance, then the ease of operation is improved, but foreign matter causes the keytop to move non-smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The link members provide localized guidance only in the vertical direction, allowing the keytop to move freely in other directions. This selective guidance ensures smooth operation by preventing horizontal displacement caused by foreign matter, while maintaining ease of operation for the intended vertical pressing action.
Solution Approach 2:
The support mechanism changes the degree of constraint applied to the keytop. It provides full constraint in horizontal directions to prevent foreign matter interference, while allowing free movement in the vertical direction for ease of operation. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction between freedom of movement and protection from harmful factors.
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 gear link mechanism ensures the keytop moves vertically, preventing tilting and allowing for stable connection and disconnection of multiple contact pairs, even when pushed off-center, enhancing reliability and operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member pushes the plurality of the contact pairs which are arranged for the single moving member
Data Source
AI summary
A keyswitch device which is provided with a support mechanism which supports a keytop in a movable manner, and a membrane sheet which has a plurality of upper electrodes and a plurality of lower electrodes which respectively correspond to the plurality of the upper electrodes and which form contact pairs with the corresponding upper electrodes. A plurality of contact pairs are arranged for a single keytop. The rubber cup pushes the plurality of contact pairs which are arranged for the single keytop.