Retracting Keyboard Keys via Movable Base Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ultrathin keyboards face challenges in minimizing thickness and weight while maintaining usability and stability, especially when integrated with slate-like computing devices, where they often become unstable due to uneven weight distribution and lack options for adjusting viewing angles.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a base frame that can move to collapse the keys into a storage position using magnetic or arch-shaped spring mechanisms, reducing travel distance and thickness, and allows for adjustable display angles by integrating a movable base frame with the keyboard, ensuring stability and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the keyboard is made thinner to improve portability, then the thickness is reduced, but the keyboard becomes unstable and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard employs dynamically adjustable support legs that can extend and retract based on usage conditions. When the keyboard is in use, the support legs extend to provide stability; when not in use, they retract to minimize thickness. This dynamic adjustment allows the keyboard to achieve both thinness and stability at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the thickness-stability contradiction by utilizing a different dimension (vertical support extension) rather than increasing horizontal thickness. The support legs extend perpendicular to the keyboard plane, providing stability without increasing the keyboard's main body thickness.
2Length of stationary object
If the keyboard is made thinner and lighter for portability, then thickness and weight are reduced, but weight distribution becomes uneven causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The support legs act as counterbalancing elements that compensate for the uneven weight distribution inherent in thin, lightweight keyboards. By extending the support legs to appropriate lengths, the keyboard achieves balanced weight distribution and stability during use, effectively counteracting the instability caused by its thin profile.
3Length of stationary object
If the key travel distance is reduced to minimize thickness, then the keyboard thickness is reduced, but the tactile sensation and usability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard employs dynamically adjustable support legs that can extend and retract based on usage conditions. When the keyboard is in use, the support legs extend to provide stability; when not in use, they retract to minimize thickness. This dynamic adjustment allows the keyboard to achieve both thinness and stability at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the thickness-stability contradiction by utilizing a different dimension (vertical support extension) rather than increasing horizontal thickness. The support legs extend perpendicular to the keyboard plane, providing stability without increasing the keyboard's main body thickness.
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 design achieves a thinner and more stable keyboard profile, reducing thickness by up to 2 mm and enabling multiple display tilt angles, enhancing portability and usability of ultrathin keyboards with slate computers.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic mechanism may be provided for moving the base frame from a first position to a second position
Implementation Method 2
an arch-shaped spring mechanism to bias the keycap into an operating position
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and apparatuses are disclosed that enable ultrathin keyboards and the storing keys of an associated physical keyboard to a storage position. The systems comprise a keycap, a keyswitch mechanism coupled to the keycap, a translatable base frame and a spring mechanism to bias the keycap into an operating position. The biasing mechanism may be an arch-shaped spring mechanism or a magnetic biasing mechanism. A portion of the biasing mechanism may be coupled to the base frame. The base frame is translatable between a first position in which the biasing mechanism imparts a force to bias the keycap into the operating position and a second position in which the portion of the biasing mechanism is repositioned such that the force to bias the keycap is at least partially eliminated. A control member may be provided to translate natural user movement into movement of the base frame for collapsing the keyboard.