Retractable Keytop Mechanism for Thin Laptop Chassis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In electronic apparatuses like laptops, operation members such as keytops and pointing sticks often protrude from the top surface when not in use, leading to potential damage and hindering chassis thickness reduction due to space constraints for drive members and antennas.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism comprising a base plate with movable keytops, drive members, and a link member that coordinates their operation, allowing keytops and pointing sticks to be moved between use and storage positions using a drive mechanism, ensuring they do not protrude from the top surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If keytops are elastically supported to be movable up and down for high operability, then keystroke is ensured, but chassis thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the keytops movable between a protruding position (for operation) and a retracted position (for thickness reduction). The elastic member enables the keytops to dynamically adjust their position based on operational needs, resolving the contradiction between maintaining operability and reducing chassis thickness.
2Ease of operation
If a pointing stick protrudes upward for high operability, then pointing operation is achieved, but it interferes with the closed display
Solution Approach 1:
The pointing stick is designed to be movable between a protruding position (for operation) and a retracted position (to avoid interference with the closed display). This dynamic positioning capability allows the system to adapt to different usage states, eliminating the harmful interference while preserving operational functionality.
3Ease of operation
If slide members are provided at the left and right ends of the keyboard device for driving, then keytop operation is enabled, but installation space is insufficient when chassis is reduced in thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the driving function from the traditional slide member mechanism located at the left and right ends of the keyboard device. By removing these protruding slide members and integrating the driving mechanism differently, the design eliminates the space conflict while maintaining the keytop driving functionality.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the display chassis is connected to be flippable over the 180° position, then versatility is improved, but keytops may come into direct contact with the desk causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by providing a protective structure that prevents the keytops from coming into direct contact with the desk surface when the display chassis is flipped. This protective measure is built into the design to counteract the potential damage before it can occur, allowing the versatile flipped configuration to be used safely.
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
This solution effectively prevents keytops and pointing sticks from protruding, reducing the electronic apparatus's thickness and preventing damage, while maintaining high operability and usability across different usage modes.
Implementation Method 1
a set of keytops that are supported on a top surface side of the base plate, are each movable up and down between a first position to which the keytop ascends by a biasing force of an elastic member and a second position to which the keytop descends against the biasing force of the elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus capable of preventing keytops or a pointing stick from protruding from a chassis top surface when not being in use is disclosed. The electronic apparatus includes a set of keytops each movable up and down between a first position to which the keytop ascends by a biasing force of a rubber dome and a second position to which the keytop descends against the biasing force; a set of drive members each extend along the left-right direction, each movable in the left-right direction relative to the keytops; a link member connecting adjacent drive members to enable coordinated operation; and a drive mechanism that moves one of the drive members connected by the link member.