See-through Button Support Frame Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing button designs with luminous features face issues with light spreading due to contact points like rubber pads and scissors-like supports under the button cap, obstructing the view of displayed images, and suffer from deformation and damage during customization, making customization and individual modularization challenging.
Innovation Solution
A support frame structure with elastic elements at the button cap's sidewall allows direct viewing through to a display screen at the bottom, featuring a hollowed bottom board with joint sections for reduced manufacturing costs and simplified assembly, enabling individual button modularization and leveraging support for vertical movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contact points (rubber pads and scissors-like supports) are arranged under the button cap, then structural support is provided, but the display screen is obstructed and light spreading performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented from the central button area and relocated to the peripheral sidewall. The support frame members are positioned at the sidewall of the button cap body, separating the support structure from the display area, thereby eliminating obstruction of the display screen while maintaining structural support functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement under the button cap to a three-dimensional configuration at the sidewall. The support frame members extend vertically along the sidewall and connect to the hollowed bottom board, utilizing the vertical dimension to provide support without interfering with the horizontal display area.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are customized with different configurations, then versatility is improved, but manufacturing complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, enables modular assembly, and facilitates customization. The standardized hollowed bottom board with mounting sections can be universally applied across different button configurations, while the peripheral support structure remains consistent, reducing overall system complexity despite varied button designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The button structure is divided into independent modular components: the button cap body, the hollowed bottom board with display element, and the support frame members. This segmentation allows individual buttons to be manufactured separately and assembled independently, simplifying customization and reducing fabrication complexity for multi-configuration keyboards.
3Loss of information
If support frame members are arranged at the sidewall instead of under the button, then display visibility is improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support frame members utilize the vertical dimension by extending along the sidewall of the button cap body and connecting to the hollowed bottom board. This vertical arrangement provides structural stability through leverage while keeping the central horizontal display area clear and unobstructed.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure is asymmetrically positioned at the sidewall rather than centrally under the button. This asymmetric placement optimizes the distribution of structural support while maximizing the clear display area, achieving both visibility and stability requirements.
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
This design enables clear observation of the display screen through the button cap, reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, and simplifies assembly by avoiding obstructions and supporting vertical movement, thus facilitating customization and modularization.
Implementation Method 1
At least one elastic element is provided on the hollowed bottom board for selectively contacting the contacting section to drive the display element
Implementation Method 2
The support frame members are arranged to support, through leverage, a vertical movement of a button cap body above the display element
Data Source
AI summary
A button includes a display element including a mounting section, a hollowed bottom board having a joint section, support frame members having an interconnection driving section, a button cap body having a light-transmitting section and a contacting section, and an elastic element. The support frame members and the elastic element are arranged on the contacting section located outside the button cap body to that a user is allowed to see, by way of the light-transmitting section of the button cap body, through the hollowed bottom board to the display element at the bottom so as to completely observe a text/pattern section of the display element. In a pressing-down operation, the interconnection driving section makes the support frame members to operate with leverage for causing the elastic element to drive the display element. Further, individual button modularization can be achieved with the arrangement of the mounting section and the joint section.