Low-Travel Key Structure for Stable Corner Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-travel key devices experience unsmooth pressing and poor stability due to slight shaking of the keycap along the horizontal direction when pressed, particularly when the corner is pressed.
Innovation Solution
The low-travel key device incorporates a base plate unit with stop sets and a frame unit with bight portions and engaging blocks, allowing the keycap to move straight down when pressed, thereby reducing horizontal movement and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the first and second horizontal rods are pivoted to the keycap with fixed insert blocks, then the key device achieves a compact structure, but the keycap shakes horizontally and produces displacement when pressed
Solution Approach 1:
The insert blocks are changed from fixed to movable, allowing them to slide within the insertion holes during keycap pressing. This dynamic adjustment enables the horizontal rods to maintain proper alignment while accommodating pressing forces, eliminating the horizontal shaking and displacement issues while preserving the compact structure
Solution Approach 2:
The insert blocks are designed with different dimensions in the left-right direction versus the front-rear direction, creating an asymmetric geometry that guides their sliding motion. This parameter change allows the blocks to move horizontally within the insertion holes to compensate for pressing variations, thereby stabilizing the keycap while maintaining structural compactness
2Ease of operation
If the keycap is pressed at the corner, then the pressing action is initiated, but the shaking caused by downward movement is larger resulting in unsmooth pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The movable insert blocks dynamically adjust their positions within the insertion holes during corner pressing, allowing the horizontal rods to realign and reducing the excessive shaking that occurs during downward movement, thereby ensuring smooth pressing action
Solution Approach 2:
The insert blocks act as intermediary elements between the horizontal rods and the mounting arms, absorbing and accommodating the uneven forces generated during corner pressing. This mediation reduces the transmission of shaking to the keycap, improving pressing smoothness while maintaining operational ease
Data Source
AI summary
A low-travel key device includes a plate body, first and second stop sets, and a frame unit located between the first and second stop sets and including first and second frame members. The first frame member includes two first support arms each having a first end portion, and a first bight portion. The second frame member includes two second support arms each having a second end portion pivotally connected to the first end portion of a respective first support arm, and a second bight portion. A keycap is connected to the first and second bight portions, and is movable relative to the plate body between a non-depressed position, in which the first and second bight portions are away from the plate body, and a depressed position, in which the first and second bight portions are adjacent to the plate body.