Scissor Key Structure With Acoustic Feedback in Thin Keyboards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical keyboards are limited by their thickness due to the operating stroke of their shaft bodies, making them unsuitable for design requirements of lightness and thinness, while also lacking in enhancing user experience through sound feedback.
Innovation Solution
A key structure integrating a scissor structure with an acoustic mechanism, comprising a base plate, thin film circuit, dome switch, and elastic piece, where the scissor structure's movement triggers sound emission, enhancing auditory experience and meeting lightness and thinness design requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical shaft with elastic piece is used to provide sound feedback, then user operating experience is improved, but keyboard thickness increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the scissor structure support function with sound feedback function into a single integrated mechanism. The elastic piece is positioned within the scissor structure's moving components, so that the same structural movement that enables key actuation also triggers the sound feedback, eliminating the need for separate mechanical shaft components
Solution Approach 2:
The scissor structure is designed to serve multiple functions: providing structural support for the keycap, enabling the pressing motion, and simultaneously triggering the sound feedback mechanism through its moving parts. This multi-functionality reduces overall component count and thickness
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical shaft structure is adopted to enhance operating experience, then sound feedback is provided, but the keyboard cannot meet lightness and thinness design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sound-generating elastic piece into the scissor structure assembly, where the elastic piece is positioned to be engaged by the scissor structure's moving components. This integration allows the same structural elements to provide both mechanical support and acoustic feedback, reducing overall weight
Solution Approach 2:
The scissor structure's own moving parts serve to trigger the sound feedback mechanism. The interfering part of the elastic piece is positioned on the moving path of the scissor structure, so that the normal operation of the scissor structure automatically activates the sound feedback without requiring additional actuating components
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 key structure provides improved user experience through sound feedback and meets design requirements of lightness and thinness by utilizing a scissor structure instead of a mechanical shaft, allowing for a thinner and lighter keyboard design.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic piece is engaged inside the chamber. The elastic piece has an interfering part located outside the chamber, and the interfering part is located on a moving path of the trigger part.
Data Source
AI summary
A key structure, including a base plate, a thin film circuit, a dome switch, a scissor structure, an elastic piece, and a keycap, is provided. The thin film circuit is disposed on the base plate. The dome switch is disposed on the thin film circuit. The scissor structure is disposed on the base plate, wherein the scissor structure includes a first support and a second support pivotally connected to the first support, and the second support surrounds the first support. The first support has a trigger part, and the second support has a chamber disposed corresponding to the trigger part. The elastic piece is engaged inside the chamber, wherein the elastic piece has an interfering part located outside the chamber, and the interfering part is located on a moving path of the trigger part. The keycap is disposed on the scissor structure and the dome switch.