Swing Key Structure Layout for Stable Contact Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key structures suffer from reduced contact sensitivity due to smaller key pad sizes and potential erroneous inputs caused by key top displacement during rotation, leading to smaller contact areas and increased sensitivity issues.
Innovation Solution
The controller design includes an elastic member with a pressing member positioned on the outer side of the prescribed region, a rib structure with varying heights and radii to secure attachment and prevent displacement, and a contact layout where the contact is closer to the swing center than the pressing member, ensuring a larger contact area and reduced sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the key pad size is reduced, then the device size is reduced, but the contact area between the pressing member and contact becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is positioned asymmetrically within the prescribed region, specifically on the outer side rather than at the center. This asymmetric positioning allows the pressing member to maintain a larger contact area with the contact even when the overall key pad size is reduced, as it leverages the outer region of the elastic member where more space is available for effective contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional dimension of the pressing member within the prescribed region. By moving the pressing member from a central position to an outer position in the prescribed region, and by making the top surface extend further in one direction than the other, the design utilizes dimensional optimization to maintain adequate contact area despite reduced key pad size.
2Device complexity
If the pressing member is positioned on the inner side of the prescribed region, then the structure is compact, but the pressing member rotates more and reduces contact sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is positioned asymmetrically on the outer side of the prescribed region, with its top surface extending further in one direction than the other. This asymmetric positioning increases the radius of rotation, allowing the pressing member to rotate more linearly with less angular deviation, thereby maintaining contact sensitivity even in compact structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The top surface of the pressing member has non-uniform extension in different directions, with the extension length varying by direction. This local quality variation optimizes the rotation characteristics and contact area distribution, ensuring that the pressing member maintains reliable contact sensitivity while accommodating compact structural requirements.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the key top rotates inward, then the key top returns to its original position, but the pressing member becomes inclined and reduces contact area
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is positioned on the outer side of the prescribed region with asymmetric extension of its top surface. This asymmetric configuration increases the radius of rotation, allowing the pressing member to rotate more linearly during the key top's inward rotation, thereby maintaining a larger contact area with the contact even as the key top returns to its original position.
4Volume of moving object
If the pressing member is positioned closer to the swing center, then the key structure is more compact, but the radius of rotation is smaller and contact sensitivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing member is positioned on the outer side of the prescribed region rather than closer to the swing center, with asymmetric extension of its top surface. This asymmetric positioning maximizes the radius of rotation within the available space, enabling the pressing member to rotate more linearly and maintain higher contact sensitivity while keeping the overall key structure compact.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the positional dimension of the pressing member by placing it on the outer side of the prescribed region and varying the extension length of the top surface in different directions. This dimensional optimization increases the radius of rotation and improves contact sensitivity without significantly increasing the overall key structure size.
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 configuration enhances contact sensitivity by maintaining a larger contact area and preventing erroneous inputs, even with reduced key pad sizes, by allowing the pressing member to rotate more linearly and securely attaching the rib to the pressed portion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member, and a pressing member... The skirt portion connects the pressed portion and the base to each other and is elastically deformed as the pressed portion is pressed
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller (100) includes a key top (10), a substrate (30), and an elastic member (20). The elastic member is provided between the key top and the substrate. The elastic member includes a pressed portion (23), a base (29), a skirt portion (24), and a pressing member (70). The substrate includes a contact (50). A direction in which the key top and the elastic member are layered is defined as a first direction (101). A direction perpendicular to the first direction is defined as a second direction (102). When viewed in the first direction, the pressing member is surrounded by an outer peripheral edge of a prescribed region (63). In the second direction, a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region on a side of a swing center of the key top and an end of a top surface (71) on the side of the swing center is longer than a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region opposite to the swing center and an end of the top surface opposite to the swing center. In the second direction, the contact is located closer to the swing center than the top surface.