Storable Keyboard With Variable Angular Orientation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional keyboards in portable communication devices often require a large footprint or complex mechanisms to accommodate different application settings, failing to provide an efficient and user-friendly solution for varying usage needs.
Innovation Solution
A keyboard apparatus with a housing that allows the keyboard to move between a stored and deployed position, featuring a tray that slides and locks, enabling the keyboard to pivot from a parallel to an angled orientation, facilitating easier viewing and use while maintaining a small device footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the keyboard is disposed on a lower plane and slides parallel to the display, then the device footprint is minimized, but the keyboard cannot be easily viewed or manipulated by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to transition between a stored parallel position (minimizing footprint) and a deployed angled position (improving usability). The keyboard can be manually rotated about a hinge axis to change its angular orientation relative to the display, enabling users to access different angular positions that optimize viewing and manipulation comfort.
2Area of stationary object
If the keyboard comprises multi-row segments that pivot in a planar fashion, then the keyboard can be stored compactly, but the keyboard lacks angular orientation capability for different application settings
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard pivoting mechanism extends beyond simple planar motion by incorporating rotation about a hinge axis that enables angular orientation changes in three-dimensional space. This allows the keyboard to achieve angular positions relative to the display plane, providing adaptability for different application settings while maintaining compact storage capability when returned to the parallel position.
Data Source
AI summary
A keyboard moves between a stored position in a housing and a deployed position. The keyboard automatically has a first angular orientation with respect to the housing when in the stored position and a second, different angular orientation with respect to the housing when in the deployed position. The first angular orientation can comprise a substantially parallel orientation between the stored keyboard and the housing. The second angular orientation can be an angle from about five degrees to about forty-five degrees between the deployed keyboard and the housing's longitudinal axis. The apparatus can further include a tray. This tray slides in and out of the housing in order to move the keyboard between the stored position and the deployed position. One end of the keyboard can hingeably couple to the tray. The housing can include at least one slot to receive a keyboard post and guide movement of the tray.