Silent Keyboard Key Structure With Elastic Buffering Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards generate noise and vibration due to collisions between components made of harder materials, which can be distracting in quiet environments and lead to component wear and malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A silent keyboard design incorporating an elastic buffering layer with a flat part, raised part, and coupling parts between the keycap and supporting plate, which deforms to absorb collision forces and reduce noise and vibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional harder materials are used for key structure components, then structural strength and durability are improved, but noise and vibration are generated during key pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffering layer as an intermediary component between the keycap and the supporting plate. This buffering layer is made of elastic material that deforms during key pressing, serving as a mediator that absorbs collision forces and prevents direct contact between harder components, thereby reducing noise and vibration while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful collision forces and impact energy into beneficial elastic deformation of the buffering layer. The elastic material absorbs the impact energy during compression and releases it during recovery, transforming the harmful noise-generating collisions into useful mechanical energy dissipation that reduces sound and vibration
2Area of moving object
If larger-area keycaps are used, then user comfort and coverage are improved, but uniform pressing force distribution becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering layer is designed with different local structures including a flat part, a raised part, and plural coupling parts. The raised part is positioned at the center of the keycap bottom surface, creating local quality variations that help distribute pressing force more uniformly across the larger keycap area, ensuring even force transmission to the supporting plate
3Object-generated harmful factors
If elastic buffering layer is added to reduce noise, then noise and vibration are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffering layer is integrated with the keycap as a single assembly, where the keycap and buffering layer work together as a unified structure. The buffering layer's flat part, raised part, and coupling parts are designed to cooperate with corresponding features on the supporting plate, merging multiple functions into a compact integrated design that minimizes overall device complexity
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 elastic buffering layer effectively reduces sound and vibration, enhances durability by preventing component damage, and allows for uniform pressing force distribution, suitable for larger keycaps without tilting.
Implementation Method 1
the buffering layer is subjected to deformation. Consequently, the purpose of reducing sound and the purpose of reducing vibration are achieved
Data Source
AI summary
A silent keyboard and a key structure are provided. The key structure includes a keycap, a buffering layer, a stabilizing element and a supporting plate. The keycap includes a bottom surface and a protrusion edge. The protrusion edge is disposed on a periphery of the bottom surface. The buffering layer is disposed on the bottom surface and the protrusion edge. The buffering layer includes a flat part, a raised part and plural coupling parts. The stabilizing element is located under the keycap and pivotally coupled to the coupling parts. The supporting plate is located under the keycap. The supporting plate includes a key seat, a supporting surface and plural recesses. The plural recesses are aligned with the corresponding coupling parts. While the keycap is moved toward the supporting plate, the flat part, the raised part or the plural coupling parts are subjected to deformation.