Optical Keyswitch Support Mechanism for Durable Tactile Triggering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional membrane and mechanical keyswitches face issues such as damage, poor tactile feedback, and reduced lifespan due to wear and rust, making them unsuitable for frequent use and portable electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
An optical keyswitch design utilizing a switch module with an emitter and receiver, integrated with a mechanical restoring mechanism, which provides accurate triggering and mechanical feedback, and is compact enough for portable devices, enhancing repairability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If membrane circuit is used to generate triggering signal, then the keyswitch can be triggered when keycap is pressed, but the membrane circuit is easily damaged and difficult to repair when frequently used or operated by improper forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional membrane circuit with an optical sensing system consisting of an emitter, receiver, and optical path. This substitution eliminates the need for physical contact between circuit layers, making the triggering mechanism resistant to damage from frequent use or improper operation, while the modular optical components remain easier to replace and repair than integrated membrane circuits.
2Ease of operation
If membrane circuit is pressed to generate triggering signal, then the keyswitch can be activated, but the tactile feedback is less significant, which causes the pressing feeling to be poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protrusion as an intermediary mechanical element that physically interacts with the optical path. When the keycap is pressed, the protrusion moves along the optical path and blocks the optical signal, providing both the triggering function and significant tactile feedback through the mechanical resistance and movement sensation, thereby improving the pressing feeling.
3Reliability
If mechanical keyswitch uses metal piece and metal contact for triggering, then the keyswitch can be activated, but the metal piece and metal contact are easily worn out due to operation impact, which reduces the life of the keyswitch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the metal piece and metal contact mechanical switching system with an optical sensing system. The emitter and receiver detect changes in optical signal intensity caused by the protrusion's movement, eliminating direct metal-to-metal contact. This substitution prevents wear and rust issues associated with metal contacts while maintaining operational stability, thereby extending the keyswitch lifespan.
4Reliability
If conventional mechanical keyswitch is designed with metal piece and metal contact, then the triggering function can be achieved, but the structure becomes more complicated and bigger in volume, which is not suitable for portable electronic devices having higher thinning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulky metal piece and metal contact structure with a compact optical sensing system. The emitter, receiver, and optical path can be arranged in a confined space, and the protrusion integrates with the existing keycap structure. This substitution significantly reduces the overall volume of the keyswitch while maintaining the triggering function, making it suitable for thin portable electronic devices.
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 optical keyswitch offers fast, accurate triggering, improved tactile feedback, and enhanced repairability, addressing the limitations of existing technologies while being suitable for portable electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The emitter emits an optical signal to the receiver. When the keycap is not pressed, the receiver receives the optical signal of a first intensity. When the keycap is pressed, the protrusion is driven by the keycap to move along with the keycap, and the protrusion changes the optical signal received by the receiver to have a second intensity different from the first intensity
Data Source
AI summary
An optical keyswitch includes a keycap, a supporting mechanism having a protrusion disposed under the keycap to support the keycap to move downward or upward, and a switch module including a circuit board, an emitter, and a receiver. The emitter and the receiver are electrically connected to the circuit board. The emitter emits an optical signal to the receiver. When the keycap is not pressed, the receiver receives the optical signal of a first intensity. When the keycap is pressed, the protrusion moves along with the keycap, and the protrusion changes the optical signal received by the receiver to have a second intensity different from the first intensity, so the switch module is triggered to generate a triggering signal.