Laptop Elevation Mechanism Reduces Closing Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mechanisms for moving keycaps in laptop computers require a significant force, making it difficult to close the device efficiently, especially when multiple keycaps need to be depressed simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An elevation mechanism is introduced that includes a support tray, a gear, and a slider, which is operatively coupled to a hinge, allowing the support tray to be raised and lowered as the display subassembly rotates, reducing the force required to move keycaps into the main chassis by utilizing torque and rotational orientation changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hidden wire frame mechanism is used to press keycaps into the main chassis, then the keycaps are protected and the laptop is easier to close, but a relatively large force is required (about 5 kilogram-force to push 80 keycaps down)
Solution Approach 1:
The support tray is raised in advance before the display chassis closes, so that the keycaps are already positioned and ready to be pressed into the main chassis. This preliminary action reduces the force needed during the actual closing operation because the keycaps are pre-positioned rather than being pressed down from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The support tray is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. The tray is raised when the display chassis opens and lowered when it closes, enabling the mechanism to adapt to different operational states and reduce the force required during closing by utilizing the rotational motion of the display chassis.
2Force
If the support tray is raised and lowered using a gear and slider mechanism, then the force required to move keycaps is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A gear mechanism serves as an intermediary between the rotational motion of the display chassis and the linear motion required to raise and lower the support tray. The gear converts the rotational torque from the display chassis movement into the appropriate linear force to move the tray, reducing the direct force requirement while adding a controlled complexity that is manageable within the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevation mechanism is designed to be automatically actuated by the natural rotational motion of the display chassis. As the display chassis opens or closes, the gear and slider mechanism automatically raises or lowers the support tray without requiring separate actuators or additional power sources, thereby reducing overall device complexity while still achieving force reduction.
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
This mechanism reduces the force needed to close the laptop by leveraging rotational orientation changes, allowing for easier operation and potentially extending the lifespan of the device by minimizing mechanical stress.
Implementation Method 1
The elevation mechanism is responsive to torque that changes the rotational orientation of the display subassembly
Implementation Method 2
A hinge is rotatably coupled to the base subassembly and the display subassembly. The hinge allows the base subassembly and the display subassembly to rotate about an operating axis
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus includes a base subassembly and a display subassembly. A hinge is rotatably coupled to the base subassembly and the display subassembly. The hinge allows the base subassembly and the display subassembly to rotate about an operating axis to change a rotational orientation of the display subassembly relative to the base subassembly. An elevation mechanism is operatively coupled to the hinge. The elevation mechanism includes a support tray disposed in the base subassembly that holds the mechanical elements. The elevation mechanism is responsive to torque that changes the rotational orientation of the display subassembly such that the elevation mechanism lifts the support tray when the display subassembly is moved to an upright position and lowers the support tray when the display subassembly is moved to a closed position.