Ridged Keypad Surface Profile for Thin Sliding Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with sliding mechanisms face challenges in designing thin keypads with adequate tactile feedback, as traditional key shapes can interfere with the sliding operation and flush keys lack distinguishability, making typing difficult due to insufficient finger support and tactile recognition.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of keys with varying surface profiles, featuring a ridge or spine that extends upwardly from the top surface, providing a tactile response and clear key identification, while maintaining a thin profile by offsetting the ridge to one side of each key and incorporating dips and rises to enhance user interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If traditional key shapes are used in thin keypads, then the device can maintain a thin profile, but tactile feedback and key distinguishability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The key surface incorporates localized ridges or raised portions that create distinct tactile features only where needed for finger interaction, while the rest of the keypad maintains a thin profile. This allows enhanced tactile feedback at specific key locations without increasing overall keypad thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The key surfaces utilize curved or rounded ridge profiles instead of sharp edges, creating smooth tactile contours that provide finger support and directional guidance. The curved surfaces enhance tactile recognition while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for thin keypads.
2Shape
If keys are made flush with the surface, then the device maintains a sleek appearance and thin profile, but finger support and tactile recognition are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making all keys completely flush, the design introduces localized surface variations in the form of ridges or raised portions on individual keys. These localized features provide tactile identification cues while maintaining an overall sleek and relatively thin key surface profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The design adds subtle vertical dimensionality through ridges on an otherwise relatively flat key surface. This creates tactile depth and finger support in the vertical dimension while maintaining horizontal sleekness, allowing key identification without compromising the overall thin profile aesthetic.
3Ease of operation
If keys have elevated surfaces for tactile feedback, then finger support improves, but the device thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Elevated tactile features are implemented only as surface-level ridges or minor protrusions on individual keys rather than full-height key elevations. This provides necessary finger support and tactile feedback while minimizing the increase in overall device thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of curved ridge profiles allows tactile features to be integrated into the key surface with minimal vertical protrusion. The curved geometry provides ergonomic finger contact and tactile recognition while maintaining a compact thickness profile suitable for portable devices.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a portable electronic device having a base portion having a keypad, and a sliding portion. The sliding portion is coupled to the base portion and slideable relative thereto between a closed position wherein the keypad is covered by the sliding portion, and an open position wherein the keypad is exposed. The keypad includes a plurality of keys, at least some of the plurality of keys having a ridge that extends upwardly from the top surface of the key. Each ridge extends between a lower edge of the key and an upper edge of the key and is curved therebetween. Each ridge is offset from a midline of each key.