Transparent Keypad Circuit Structure for Stable Contact Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keypad structures are prone to tilting and damage, leading to inconsistent contact with conduction points, which affects input accuracy and reliability, especially in applications like live streaming where quick switching between content is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A keypad structure featuring a circuit body with flexible light-transmittable sheet bodies, insulation protruding points, and conductive circuit layers that allow selective contact, enabling smooth and stable key presses while maintaining visibility through the keys.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional elastic elements and conduction points are used in keypad structure, then key pressing function is achieved, but key tilting and damage occur leading to unreliable contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical elastic element system with a flexible circuit board system. The flexible circuit board uses its inherent flexibility to achieve the pressing function without requiring separate elastic elements, thereby eliminating the tilting and damage issues associated with traditional mechanical structures while maintaining reliable contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures in the flexible circuit board, combining flexible substrates with conductive trace layers. This composite approach provides both the mechanical flexibility needed for key pressing and the electrical conductivity required for reliable signal transmission, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and contact reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple circuit layers are used for key functionality, then input capability is enhanced, but contact inconsistency occurs when keys tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible circuit board replaces the mechanical positioning system with a flexible substrate system that maintains precise electrical connections through its layered conductive traces. This substitution allows multiple circuit layers to function reliably without the contact inconsistency caused by key tilting in traditional mechanical structures.
3Illumination intensity
If transparent keys are used for visibility, then aesthetic and visibility are improved, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material structures where transparent key covers are combined with the flexible circuit board substrate. This composite approach maintains the transparency and visibility of the keys while the flexible circuit board provides the necessary structural stability and mechanical support, resolving the contradiction between transparency and structural strength.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a keypad structure and a visual programmable intelligent controller with a keypad structure, including at least one light-transmittable key, at least one key mounting shell for arranging each key, an elastic element arranged, at an edge of the key and configured to allow the key to move up and down in a reciprocating manner, at least one display device, wherein an image displayed by the display device is watched via the key and a circuit body arranged between the key and the display device to sense an action of the key.