Retractable Key-Cup Keyboard for Low Profile and Long Keystroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards face a challenge in minimizing their profile while maintaining good typing experience, as long keystrokes often increase the device's thickness, complexity, and cost.
Innovation Solution
The keyboard design incorporates a base board with pitfalls and a mode control mechanism that allows keys to be received into pitfalls when not in use, reducing the profile, and raised for use to provide long keystrokes and good typing feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If long keystroke is implemented to provide good typing experience, then typing quality is improved, but keyboard thickness and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard implements dynamic key cups that can change position between two states: a raised position during typing that provides long keystroke for good typing experience, and a retracted position when not in use that reduces keyboard thickness. The mode control mechanism enables the keyboard to dynamically adjust its profile based on usage state.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension by implementing pitfalls in the base board that receive the key cups. This allows the keys to be stored in a recessed state within the keyboard thickness, effectively using vertical space to reduce the overall profile when typing is not required.
2Ease of operation
If long keystroke is implemented to provide good typing experience, then typing quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard implements dynamic key cups that can change position between two states: a raised position during typing that provides long keystroke for good typing experience, and a retracted position when not in use that reduces keyboard thickness. The mode control mechanism enables the keyboard to dynamically adjust its profile based on usage state.
Solution Approach 2:
The key cups are designed to be automatically received in the pitfalls through gravity when the keyboard is in low-profile mode, and automatically returned to typing position when mode control mechanism activates. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex actuation systems.
3Length of stationary object
If keys are retracted into pitfalls to reduce profile, then keyboard thickness is reduced, but typing functionality is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard implements dynamic key cups that can change position between two states: a raised position during typing that provides long keystroke for good typing experience, and a retracted position when not in use that reduces keyboard thickness. The mode control mechanism enables the keyboard to dynamically adjust its profile based on usage state.
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7A~7B
AI summary
A keyboard (110) comprises a base board (116), keys (112), pitfalls (120) and a mode control mechanism (118). The keys (112) include cups (1124), and the mode control mechanism (118) may switch the keyboard (110) especially the key cups (1124) between different modes. In case that the keyboard (110) is not in use, these cups (1124) can be received in the pitfalls (120) to reduce the profile of the keyboard (110). In case that the keyboard (110) is to be used, the keys (112) may be raised up and arranged on the base board (116) in order to enable long keystroke and provide good typing experience.