Long Rectangular Keyswitch Support Layout for Stable Compact Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in designing a keyswitch structure with reduced size is maintaining mechanical movement stability while accommodating a circuit board, as the configuration of supports and base plate structures becomes increasingly complex, affecting the layout flexibility and structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A keycap lifting mechanism with a specially designed connection structure between supports, utilizing a first and second support with staggered arms and reduced pivotal connections, maintains mechanical stability and reduces structural impact on the base plate, allowing for flexible component layout and circuit board design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the keyswitch structure size is reduced, then the compactness is improved, but the mechanical movement stability of the keycap and supports deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple support arms (first support arms and second support arms) that are staggered along the pivot axis. Each support arm provides localized support and stability, allowing the overall structure to be compact while maintaining mechanical stability through distributed support points rather than requiring a single large support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are arranged in a staggered configuration along the pivot axis, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to distribute support points. This dimensional arrangement allows multiple support arms to provide stability without increasing the lateral footprint of the keyswitch structure, thus maintaining compactness while improving mechanical stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the supports and base plate structures are configured to accommodate circuit board placement, then the adaptability is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed with openings that serve multiple functions: they allow support arms to pass through for mechanical support, provide pathways for circuit board routing, and enable flexible component placement. This multi-functional design allows the same structural features to accommodate both mechanical stability requirements and circuit board layout flexibility without requiring separate dedicated structures for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The support arms are configured with asymmetric arrangements where first support arms and second support arms are staggered along the pivot axis rather than being symmetrically positioned. This asymmetric configuration allows optimized positioning for both mechanical stability and circuit board routing, providing layout flexibility while avoiding the complexity of symmetric multi-point connections.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple pivotal connection structures are used between supports, then the mechanical stability is improved, but the number of base plate connections and openings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between first and second supports is segmented into multiple staggered support arms rather than using multiple pivotal connections at the same location. This segmentation distributes the connection points along the pivot axis, providing mechanical stability through distributed support while reducing the concentration of connections at any single point on the base plate.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing multiple pivotal connections at the same lateral position, the connection points are distributed along the longitudinal dimension (pivot axis). This dimensional distribution allows mechanical stability to be achieved through extended support along the pivot axis rather than through multiple concentrated connections, thereby reducing the number of base plate openings required.
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 solution ensures stable keycap movement and enhances layout flexibility by minimizing the number of connections and openings on the base plate, preserving structural strength and circuit routing space.
Implementation Method 1
The first support and the second support are pivotally connected to each other around a pivot axis through the first support arms and the second support arms
Data Source
AI summary
A keycap lifting mechanism includes a first support and a second support. Each of the first support and the second support includes a long arm and a plurality of support arms protruding from the long arm. The first support and the second support are pivotally connected with each other around a pivot axis through the support arms of the first support and the second support that are staggered along the pivot axis, and jointly form two support structures and an intermediate support structure between them. Two of the support arms on two opposite sides of the intermediate support structure are not pivotally connected to the adjacent support arms outside the intermediate support structure. A long rectangular keyswitch structure includes a base plate, a keycap, and the above keycap lifting mechanism. In a keycap lifting mechanism, its keycap vertically covers part of an electrical connection structure of its switch circuit board.