Transparent Reverse Keyboard Assembly with Tactile Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards provide inadequate tactile feedback and visibility issues with virtual keyboards, leading to discomfort and typing inefficiencies, especially during extensive data entry, as users lack confidence in key presses due to the absence of physical key interaction.
Innovation Solution
A reverse keyboard assembly featuring a display unit with a touch screen and transparent, depressible keys placed above it, allowing users to view displayed images while providing tactile feedback through key presses, which are not physically connected to a base structure, enabling wireless or wired connectivity to computers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual keyboard is used, then the display can be dynamically changed, but the user experience becomes uncomfortable and typing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the advantages of virtual keyboards (dynamic display capability) and conventional keyboards (physical tactile feedback) into a hybrid structure. The transparent keycaps allow users to see the dynamic display content underneath while maintaining physical key press feedback, thus merging the adaptability of virtual keyboards with the typing comfort of conventional keyboards to improve both display versatility and typing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent keycaps act as an intermediary element between the display unit and the user's fingers. They allow light to pass through so users can view the dynamic display content, while still providing physical resistance and tactile feedback when pressed. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling both dynamic display visibility and physical typing comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a virtual keyboard is used, then the display can be dynamically changed, but users lack confidence that the correct key was pressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements tactile feedback through physical transparent keycaps that provide resistance and confirmation when pressed. Users can feel the key press action and receive immediate physical feedback, confirming that the correct key was pressed. This feedback mechanism maintains reliability while preserving the dynamic display capability of virtual keyboards.
3Stability of the object's composition
If keys are connected to base structure, then structural stability is improved, but typing experience is significantly altered from traditional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the keyboard structure by making keycaps independent or loosely connected to the base structure, similar to traditional keyboards. This segmentation allows each key to move independently with natural tactile feedback while maintaining overall structural stability through the frame and support mechanisms. The segmentation preserves traditional typing experience while providing modern dynamic display capability.
4Area of stationary object
If keys are placed close to display, then space is saved, but clear view of displayed content is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin, transparent keycap films or shells that allow light to pass through to the display unit. These thin film structures minimize the distance between keys and display while maintaining transparency, enabling users to clearly view the displayed content through the transparent keycaps. The thin film design saves space while preserving display visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent keycaps utilize optical properties to allow light transmission. The transparency of the keycap material enables users to see the display content underneath clearly, while the keycaps remain visible as physical structures. This optical property resolves the contradiction by allowing close proximity of keys to display without blocking visibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A reversed keyboard assembly is provided. The keyboard assembly includes a display unit, a touch screen placed on top of the display unit; and a top cover placed on top the touch screen, wherein top cover covers the touch screen and the display unit, wherein the top cover includes a plurality of transparent keys located in a predetermined distance above the touch screen for enabling a viewing of images displayed on the display unit.