Silent Keyboard With Elastic Element And Bottom Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards produce unwanted clicking sounds due to key interactions at sites A, B, and C, which can be distracting, especially in quiet environments.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard device design featuring a soft elastic element, such as a silicone rubber dome, with an engaging part that prevents the key top from rebounding and colliding with the upper or lower housing, and a bottom pad that absorbs pressure to prevent side portion collisions, thereby eliminating the clicking sounds at these sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional keyboard structure is used, then the keyboard can be manufactured with standard components, but clicking sounds are produced at sites A, B, and C during key pressing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by introducing a soft elastic element (silicone rubber dome) that engages with the key top before rebound occurs. The engaging part of the soft elastic element prevents the key top from separating and colliding with the upper housing during rebound, thereby eliminating the clicking sound at site C before it can occur. This cushioning approach modifies the rebound mechanism to be silent while maintaining manufacturability.
2Device complexity
If the key top is allowed to rebound freely, then the keyboard structure remains simple, but the key top collides with the upper housing producing clicking sounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the soft elastic element with an engaging part - that mediates between the key top and the upper housing during rebound. This engaging part acts as a mediator that prevents direct contact and collision between the key top and upper housing, thereby eliminating clicking sounds while adding minimal structural complexity. The intermediary approach allows the keyboard to maintain relative simplicity while solving the noise problem.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the soft elastic element engages with the key top to prevent rebound collision, then clicking sounds are eliminated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a soft elastic element made of silicone rubber, which is a flexible material that can be formed into a dome shape with an engaging part. This flexible shell approach allows the element to deform during key pressing and rebound, engaging with the key top to prevent collision sounds. The use of flexible materials enables the solution to achieve noise elimination with relatively simple construction, as the soft elastic element can be molded as a single piece rather than requiring multiple rigid 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 design results in a silent typing experience by preventing key collisions and reducing noise, making typing more fluent and less disruptive.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body disposed on the lower housing, bearing the actuating pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard device includes an upper housing, a conductive membrane, a key top including a bottom surface and an actuator disposed on the bottom surface, a lower housing and a soft elastic element located on the conductive membrane, wherein the actuator penetrates the upper housing, and the soft elastic element has an engaging part to engage with the key top such that the key top is prevented from being separated from the soft elastic element when the key top rebounds.