Long-Key Scissor Structure With Metal Reinforcement for Quiet Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scissor-type supporting structures in keyboards lack sufficient structural strength, leading to unsatisfactory pressing feel and increased vibration noise, especially in long-type key structures, and the addition of metal brackets to enhance strength increases manufacturing and assembly costs while generating noise.
Innovation Solution
A long-type key structure incorporating an outer scissor frame, inner scissor frames, and a metallic reinforcement plate, with metallic reinforcement bars and raised platform structures on the keycap, enhancing structural strength and reducing vibration noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional metal brackets are used to increase structural strength, then the structural strength of the supporting element is improved, but the manufacturing cost and assembling cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reinforcing function and the scissor mechanism function into a single integrated component. The U-shaped metal bar is formed as one piece that provides structural reinforcement while simultaneously serving as the scissor mechanism, eliminating the need for separate metal brackets and reducing assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining metal and plastic materials. The U-shaped metal bar is embedded within the plastic scissor-type supporting structure, creating a composite component that leverages the strength of metal and the molding advantages of plastic to achieve both high strength and cost-effectiveness.
2Strength
If additional metal brackets are used to increase structural strength, then the structural strength of the supporting element is improved, but the vibration noise increases when metal moving parts are rotated or swung
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reinforcing function and the scissor mechanism function into a single integrated component. The U-shaped metal bar is formed as one piece that provides structural reinforcement while simultaneously serving as the scissor mechanism, eliminating the need for separate metal brackets and reducing assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful vibration noise-generating elements (separate metal brackets and moving parts) from the design. By using an integrated U-shaped metal bar structure, the design eliminates the relative motion between separate metal components that causes vibration and noise, while still maintaining the necessary structural strength.
3Ease of manufacture
If a plastic scissor-type supporting structure is used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the structural strength is insufficient for transmitting pressing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining metal and plastic materials. The U-shaped metal bar is embedded within the plastic scissor-type supporting structure, creating a composite component that leverages the strength of metal and the molding advantages of plastic to achieve both high strength and cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local reinforcement by embedding the U-shaped metal bar specifically in the plastic scissor-type supporting structure where additional strength is needed. This localized approach provides enhanced structural strength at the critical pressing force transmission points while maintaining the overall cost-effectiveness of the plastic construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A long-type key structure is provided. The structure of the long-type key structure is specially designed. Consequently, the vibration noise of the metal moving parts and the key pressing stroke delay can be effectively reduced, and the pressing feel can be enhanced. The long-type key structure includes a keycap, a base plate and a supporting element. The supporting element includes an outer scissor frame, at least two inner scissor frame and a metallic reinforcement plate. The metallic reinforcement plate is combined on the surface of the outer scissor frame.