Segmented Wireless Keyboard for Mobile Touch-Typing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable keyboards for mobile devices are either too large when designed for laptops or unsuitable for touch-typing due to their shrunken form factor, failing to provide efficient typing experiences.
Innovation Solution
A compact, portable wireless keyboard with dissociable elements, including two key arrays and a spacebar, utilizing magnetic forces for assembly and disassembly, and equipped with capacitive sensors and a wireless signaling module for efficient data transmission and power management, allowing for ergonomic comfort and touch-typing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional keyboards are designed for laptops, then typing functionality is provided, but the keyboard size becomes too large for portable mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is divided into two separate key arrays (first key array and second key array) that can be used independently or together. This segmentation allows the keyboard to provide full typing functionality when both arrays are used, while enabling portable use with just one array attached to a mobile device, thus resolving the contradiction between comprehensive typing capability and compact size.
2Area of stationary object
If keyboards are shrunk to small form factors for mobile devices, then portability is improved, but touch-typing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the keyboard into two arrays with complementary key layouts, the invention enables touch-typing capability in a compact form. Each array contains keys suitable for specific fingers, and when used together they provide the full QWERTY layout needed for efficient touch-typing, while still maintaining small enough size for mobile device portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard arrays can be attached to different dimensions of the mobile device (e.g., top and bottom edges), utilizing the three-dimensional space around the device rather than requiring a large flat surface. This dimensional approach allows touch-typing functionality while maintaining a compact overall footprint suitable for mobile devices.
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 keyboard offers a compact, ergonomic design that enables efficient touch-typing while maintaining a small form factor, with reliable power and data transmission, enhancing the typing experience on mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnetic mass disposed within the first key array and a second magnetic mass disposed within the second key array, the first magnetic mass and the second magnetic mass generating a magnetic force that mechanically assemblies and disassembles the keyboard
Implementation Method 2
capacitive sensors and a wireless signaling module for efficient data transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-type keyboard with multiple functions associated with each key which functions are uniquely selected based on finger position. Each of a plurality of mechanical keys are associated with at least three functions. Each key has a surface area for actuation by a user's finger. The surface area is mapped to zones associated with each function. Function actuation is determined by detection of the finger position when the key is actuated. In the event of a finger overlapping multiple zones during actuation, unique function selection is determined at least in part from the pattern of finger overlap with the plural zones.