Long-Key Linkage Structure for Thin Keyboard Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The development trend of thinner products has reduced the space under the keycap of long keys in keyboards, making it difficult to properly configure the linkage rod, which affects the operation reliability of long keys.
Innovation Solution
A key structure that includes a bottom plate with a groove, a switch element, a keycap, a positioning element, and a linkage rod. The linkage rod passes through the bottom plate, reducing the gap between the keycap and the bottom plate, and ensuring a sufficient movement stroke.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the space under the keycap is reduced to conform to thinner product trends, then the product thickness is reduced, but the linkage rod cannot be properly configured and operation reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage rod is made to pass through the bottom plate from the lower side to the upper side, changing its spatial arrangement from being entirely contained under the keycap to extending through the bottom plate. This dimensional change allows the linkage rod to maintain sufficient length and movement stroke while reducing the overall product thickness, as the rod utilizes the vertical space through the bottom plate rather than requiring horizontal space under the keycap.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom plate is segmented by adding a groove that accommodates the linkage rod passing through it. This segmentation allows the bottom plate to be divided into regions, with the groove providing a dedicated pathway for the linkage rod. This enables the linkage rod to be properly configured through the bottom plate structure, maintaining operation reliability while conforming to thinner product requirements.
2Reliability
If the linkage rod length is increased to ensure sufficient movement stroke, then operation reliability is improved, but the space under the keycap increases violating thinner product trends
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the linkage rod length horizontally under the keycap, the rod is configured to pass vertically through the bottom plate. This dimensional change allows the rod to achieve sufficient movement stroke through the vertical dimension (passing through the bottom plate thickness) rather than requiring increased horizontal space, thus maintaining operation reliability without violating thinner product trends.
Solution Approach 2:
The conventional approach places the linkage rod entirely under the keycap, but this invention inverts the arrangement by having the rod pass through the bottom plate from below to above. This inversion allows the rod to utilize the bottom plate's vertical space rather than competing for horizontal space under the keycap, resolving the contradiction between rod length requirements and product thickness constraints.
3Reliability
If a groove is added to the bottom plate to accommodate the linkage rod, then the linkage rod can pass through and operation reliability is improved, but the bottom plate structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom plate is segmented by adding a groove that divides the plate structure into distinct regions. This groove segments the bottom plate to create a dedicated pathway for the linkage rod, allowing the rod to pass through while maintaining structural integrity. The segmentation approach enables proper linkage rod configuration without requiring completely redesigning the bottom plate, thus improving operation reliability with minimal increase in structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary structure that mediates between the linkage rod and the bottom plate. It provides a dedicated pathway that accommodates the rod's passage while maintaining the bottom plate's overall structural integrity. This intermediary groove enables the linkage rod to pass through the bottom plate with minimal structural modification, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and structure complexity.
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 configuration conforms to the development trend of thinner products while improving the operation reliability of long keys by maintaining a sufficient movement stroke for the linkage rod.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic restoring body is a spring, and two ends of the spring are each connected to upper parts of the two brackets.
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure including a bottom plate, a switch element, a keycap, a positioning element, and a linkage rod is provided. The switch element is disposed on the bottom plate. The keycap is disposed on the switch element, and the switch element is located between the bottom plate and the keycap. The positioning element is connected to the bottom plate and located between the bottom plate and the keycap. The linkage rod is disposed between the keycap and the positioning element. The linkage rod has a portion disposed at a position corresponding to a groove, and two opposite sides of the linkage rod are each in contact with the keycap and the positioning element.