Retractable Keyboard Mechanism for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards and user interface devices face challenges in reducing thickness to enhance portability and efficiency, as they often require a fixed size and structure to provide desired deflection and tactile feedback, leading to increased device thickness.
Innovation Solution
A retractable keyboard mechanism using a stabilizer and magnetic structure that moves between raised and lowered configurations, allowing keys to be retracted or extended relative to the base layer, reducing overall thickness and enabling efficient use of space within the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the keyboard is designed with a fixed size and structure to provide desired deflection and tactile feedback, then user experience is improved, but device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic reconfigurable structure. The stabilizer mechanism allows the keycaps to move between a raised operational position (providing tactile feedback) and a lowered retracted position (reducing thickness). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the keyboard structure adaptable to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The keycaps and stabilizer mechanism are designed to nest within the device housing when retracted. The stabilizer arms fold or collapse into a compact configuration, allowing the keyboard to be stored in a reduced thickness state while maintaining full functionality when extended, similar to a nested doll structure.
2Length of stationary object
If the keyboard is made thinner to enhance portability, then device portability is improved, but the ability to provide adequate deflection and tactile feedback is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard provides full tactile feedback when in the raised operational position, then dynamically transitions to a compact retracted position for portability. The stabilizer mechanism ensures that during normal use, the keycaps have sufficient travel distance to provide tactile feedback, while during storage, the entire assembly compresses to a thin profile.
3Volume of moving object
If the keyboard structure is made complex to enable retraction, then space efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex multi-component mechanical retraction mechanisms with a magnetic field-based system. The magnetic structure provides the retraction force without requiring complex linkages, springs, or actuators. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the desired space efficiency through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces.
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 mechanism allows for a reduced thickness of the keyboard when not in use, improving portability and space efficiency while maintaining tactile feedback and user experience through magnetic attraction and retraction of keycaps.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic structure movable between a first position relative to the base layer and a second position relative to the base layer. The magnetic structure can draw the stabilizer from the raised configuration to the lowered configuration upon movement of the magnetic structure from the first position to the second position.
Implementation Method 2
The stabilizer can comprise a ferrous portion attracted to the magnetic structure, or the keycap can comprise a ferrous portion attracted to the magnetic structure.
Data Source
AI summary
Keyboards are disclosed that are retractable. Movable magnetic or mechanical linkage elements are configured to reposition keycaps and stabilizers between different relative positions. Structures in a movable layer can act on the keycaps or stabilizers to move the keycaps and stabilizers into a retracted position for storage and for saving space in an electronic device. The stabilizers can be scissor mechanisms, butterfly mechanisms, and similar devices. The movable layer can be moved in response to rotation of a hinge or other mechanical element in the electronic device.