Screwless Keyboard Bonding for Thermal Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboard devices are soft due to rigidity shortages, requiring numerous screws for fixation, which increases cost, weight, and assembly complexity, and can lead to malfunctions from thermal expansion.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device configuration using sheet-like members with a membrane sheet supported between them, connected by a connection member, allowing for screw-less fixation and thermal expansion accommodation, reducing weight and assembly effort while maintaining rigidity and operation quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a large number of screws are used to fix the keyboard assembly to the frame member, then the rigidity and operation feeling of the key tops are improved, but the cost, weight, and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the screws from the keyboard assembly structure, replacing the screw-based fixation system with a screw-less bonding system. The keyboard assembly is bonded to the frame member using adhesive or other non-screw bonding methods, completely removing the need for multiple screws while maintaining structural integrity and rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical screw-based fixation system with a chemical bonding system (adhesive bonding). Instead of using mechanical fasteners (screws), the keyboard assembly is bonded to the frame member using adhesive materials, substituting a mechanical connection system with a chemical connection system that achieves the same structural support and rigidity.
2Strength
If a large number of screws are used to fix the keyboard assembly, then the rigidity is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the screws from the keyboard assembly, eliminating the weight contribution of multiple screw fasteners. By replacing the screw-based fixation with a bonding system, the overall weight of the keyboard device is reduced while maintaining the necessary structural rigidity through the bonded connection.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the membrane sheet is fixed rigidly between sheet-like members, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion causes malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the membrane sheet structure by allowing it to move relative to the sheet-like members. The membrane sheet is not rigidly fixed but can expand and contract in the planar direction in response to thermal expansion, while still maintaining its functional connection between the sheet-like members. This dynamic capability enables the structure to adapt to temperature changes without causing malfunctions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and movement parameters of the membrane sheet by enabling it to move in the planar direction. This parameter change allows the membrane sheet to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction, transforming from a static, rigidly fixed state to a dynamic state that can adapt to temperature variations while maintaining structural stability.
4Strength
If screws are used to fix the keyboard assembly, then structural integrity is improved, but assembly time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the screws from the keyboard assembly fixation system, removing the time-consuming steps of screw insertion, tightening, and hole alignment. The bonding system allows for faster assembly as it eliminates the need for precise hole positioning and mechanical fastening operations, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining structural integrity through adhesive bonding.
5Ease of manufacture
If screw holes are formed in the frame member, then screw fixation is enabled, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the requirement for screw holes in the frame member by eliminating the screw-based fixation system. The bonding system does not require any holes or openings in the frame member, simplifying the manufacturing process by removing the drilling and hole-forming operations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and associated costs.
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 eliminates the need for numerous screws, reduces weight and assembly time, and prevents malfunctions due to thermal expansion, while maintaining high operation feeling and rigidity, using resin materials for weight reduction and improved structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
even in a case where the membrane sheet thermally expands or the like under influence of environmental temperatures and the like
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device has a base sheet, a membrane sheet disposed on the upper surface of the base sheet, a cover sheet disposed on the upper surface of the membrane sheet and supporting the membrane sheet between the cover sheet and the base sheet in a state of being movable in the in-plane direction, connection members connecting the base sheet and the cover sheet, a plurality of key tops vertically movably supported by a guide mechanism provided on the upper surface side of the cover sheet and bringing a movable contact and a fixed contact which are contacts of the membrane sheet into contact with each other or separating the contacts from each other by being depressed, and a frame member partitioning the key tops adjacent to each other by being depressed and having a lower surface to which the upper surface of the cover sheet is bonded and fixed.