Retractable Keyboard Controller Using Muscle Wires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laptop keyboards face challenges in miniaturization due to physical constraints, leading to reduced tactile feedback and increased typing errors, as the travel distance of keys is difficult to shrink without compromising laptop thickness.
Innovation Solution
A retractable keyboard mechanism using muscle wires that extend and retract based on lid position, controlled by a single pin for both monitoring and control, allowing for efficient use of pins and reducing controller complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the keyboard travel distance is increased to improve tactile feedback, then user satisfaction and typing accuracy improve, but the laptop thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is designed to be retractable, changing its position dynamically between extended and retracted states. When extended, the keyboard provides full travel distance for tactile feedback; when retracted, it reduces the laptop's overall thickness. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining typing accuracy and reducing laptop thickness.
2Measurement precision
If separate pins are used to control and monitor each muscle wire, then control precision is improved, but the number of pins and controller complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control and monitoring functions for each muscle wire are merged into a single pin. The pin serves dual purposes: controlling the muscle wire activation and monitoring the limit switch status. This consolidation reduces the number of pins required while maintaining precise control through the open-drain signaling mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pin is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the muscle wire activation and simultaneously monitors the limit switch that detects keyboard position. This multi-functionality reduces the overall pin count and simplifies the controller design while maintaining precise control and monitoring capabilities.
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
Maintains key travel distance while allowing for a thinner laptop design, enhancing user satisfaction by reducing typing errors and improving tactile feedback, while minimizing the number of pins required for control and monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The retraction and extension of the keyboard may be effected by muscle wires. The retractable keyboard may be extended by muscle wires to protrude from the laptop chassis
Data Source
AI summary
A controller and methods for controlling a retractable keyboard are disclosed. The controller may control and monitor an extend operation of the retractable keyboard using a first pin, and control and monitor a retract operation of the retractable keyboard using a second pin. Open drain signaling may be used on the pins to allow control and monitoring through the same pin. To control and monitor the extend (or retract) operation using a single pin, the controller releases the voltage at the pin to a floating high state to activate the muscle wire to extend (or retract) the keyboard. During the operation, the controller checks the voltage state at the pin. If the voltage at the pin has been pulled to low by the closing of a limit switch, the controller determines that the extend (or retract) operation has completed and in response drives the pin to a low voltage state to deactivate the muscle wire.