Rubber Key Load Transmission for Consistent Click Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rubber key devices in electronic devices, such as cordless handsets, lack a consistent and satisfying 'click' feel when depressed, which can lead to uncertainty in user input recognition and reduced operability.
Innovation Solution
A rubber key device with a key top member and multiple depression areas, featuring a click feel generating mechanism and a load transmitting mechanism that ensures the load is applied to the central portion of the rubber key, allowing it to be depressed straightly without inclination, thereby providing a clear and satisfying 'click' feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional rubber key device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the click feel is inconsistent and unsatisfying
Solution Approach 1:
A load transmitting mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the key top member and the rubber key. This mechanism includes a load transmitting portion that contacts the rubber key at its central portion, mediating the force transmission to ensure the rubber key is depressed straightly without inclination, thereby generating consistent click feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The load transmitting mechanism is designed to concentrate the applied load specifically at the central portion of the rubber key's top face. By localizing the force application point, the rubber key is compelled to deform uniformly along its central axis, producing consistent tactile feedback regardless of the key's position or angle of depression.
2Ease of operation
If the rubber key is depressed without proper load transmission, then the operation is simple, but the key may be depressed with inclination causing poor click feel
Solution Approach 1:
The load transmitting mechanism acts as a mediator that guides the force application to the central portion of the rubber key. This intermediary structure ensures that even if the key top member is depressed at various angles, the force is redirected to act centrally on the rubber key, preventing inclined depression and ensuring reliable operation recognition.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing the key top member to directly determine the depression direction, the invention inverts the approach by using the load transmitting mechanism to dictate the force application point. The rubber key is constrained to move only in the vertical direction through central loading, making the system's response independent of the input angle.
3Ease of operation
If a load transmitting mechanism is added to ensure central load application, then the click feel is consistent, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load transmitting mechanism is constructed using flexible printed circuit board technology, allowing the rigid load transmitting portion to be integrated into a flexible substrate. This enables the mechanism to bend and conform to the device layout while maintaining its load transmission function, reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The load transmitting mechanism is integrated with the key top member assembly, combining multiple functions into a unified structure. The load transmitting portion is formed as part of the key top member or closely associated with it, eliminating the need for separate complex components and simplifying the overall device structure.
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
The solution enhances user recognition of key operations by providing a consistent and satisfying 'click' feel, improving the operability of the rubber key device and ensuring accurate function execution.
Implementation Method 1
a click feel generating mechanism provided to each rubber key and configured to generate a click feel in response to depression of each rubber key by a certain degree
Data Source
AI summary
A rubber key device is provide with a key top member, multiple rubber keys, a click feel generating mechanism and a load transmitting mechanism. When a depression area of the key top member is depressed by a user, the key top member is rotated to depress a top face of a rubber key via the load transmitting mechanism. The load transmitting mechanism transmits the load caused by the depression of the depression area to the top face of the corresponding rubber key such that the load is transmitted to only a substantially central portion of the top face of the corresponding one of the multiple rubber keys regardless of the depression amount of the depression area.