Thin Keyboard Assembly Using Concave-Slope Lifting Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional keyboards with a flat appearance and continuous surface structure face challenges in maintaining a long key travel distance while being thin, which affects keystroke feeling and requires high friction materials and complex mechanisms, increasing weight and costs.

Innovation Solution

A keyboard assembly with a thin shape and long key travel distance is achieved through a simplified structure using a keyboard substrate, keycap array, and lifting support array, where each keycap is connected to the substrate via a lifting support that slides on a concave slope, allowing for ascending and descending motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a conventional keyboard with a flat appearance and continuous surface structure is used, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the key travel distance becomes insufficient when the keyboard is thin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidkey travel distance

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard is segmented into multiple functional layers: a support plate, a keyboard substrate, and individual lifting supports for each keycap. This segmentation allows the keyboard to maintain a thin overall profile while enabling sufficient key travel distance through the coordinated movement of discrete components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lifting support introduces a vertical dimension of movement independent of the keyboard's thin horizontal profile. By allowing the lifting support to extend and retract perpendicular to the keyboard substrate, the design achieves long key travel distance without increasing the keyboard's overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If a material and mechanism with a high friction coefficient are used to ensure long key travel distance, then the key travel distance is improved, but the device weight and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey travel distanceVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The design replaces complex mechanical mechanisms with a simplified lifting support structure that uses a connecting piece and limiting member system. This substitution eliminates the need for high-friction materials and complex linkages, reducing overall weight while maintaining sufficient key travel distance through the lifting support's vertical movement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Length of moving object

If a steel wire and hook mechanism is used for all keys, then the key travel distance is ensured, but the quantity of parts increases, increasing overall weight and costs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekey travel distanceVSAvoidquantity of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lifting support integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, enables vertical keycap movement, and incorporates the connecting piece and limiting member mechanisms. This merging eliminates the need for separate steel wires, hooks, and other individual components for each key, significantly reducing part quantity while ensuring adequate key travel distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Volume of moving object

If a thin keyboard shape is used, then the device portability is improved, but the key travel distance becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekeyboard thicknessVSAvoidkey travel distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The keyboard substrate and support plate are designed as thin, flexible structures that enable the overall keyboard to maintain a slim profile. These thin film-like components allow sufficient key travel distance through the lifting support's vertical movement without requiring a thick keyboard body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The design separates the keyboard's thickness dimension from the key travel distance dimension. The lifting support achieves vertical key movement in a direction perpendicular to the keyboard's thin profile, allowing long key travel distance without increasing the keyboard's overall thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12327699B2Keyboard assembly, device framework, and electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.06.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Provided herein is a keyboard assembly that includes a keyboard substrate, a plurality of keycaps, and a plurality of lifting supports. Each keycap is connected to the keyboard substrate by using a lifting support. The keyboard substrate is connected to a bottom plate and a top plate, with the bottom plate including a key accommodation groove that further includes a concave slope. The lifting support is located in the key accommodation groove, with one end abutting against the concave slope and being capable of sliding on the concave slope. In a process in which the top plate rotates to a first specified location, the keyboard substrate is driven to move, the lifting support descends, and the keycap descends. In a process in which the top plate rotates to a second specified location, the keyboard substrate is driven to move.