Variable Force Key Using Electromagnet and Magnetic Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical keyboards lack the ability to customize tactile feel and force to individual user preferences, leading to unsuitable purchases and wasted costs, as existing solutions like magnetic keys provide insufficient tactile feedback due to weak magnetic fields and inconvenient current adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A variable force key design featuring a housing, central shaft, magnetic ring, and an electromagnet or hollow coil, where the magnetic ring is sleeved on a limit member, and the electromagnet or hollow coil is arranged to penetrate the limit member, allowing for adjustable current and magnetic field control to enhance tactile feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a magnetic key with a coil and permanent magnet is used to provide tactile feedback, then the key can generate magnetic force, but the magnetic field is weak and requires several or tens of times more current to increase tactile feel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic configuration from a coil-based system to a permanent magnet-based system with electromagnetic control. By using a permanent magnet as the movable magnetic element and an electromagnetic as the fixed element, the system achieves stronger magnetic force with lower current consumption. The electromagnetic can be positioned closer to the permanent magnet, increasing magnetic interaction efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional coil-based magnetic field generation with a permanent magnet and electromagnetic combination. This substitution eliminates the need for high current through the coil, as the permanent magnet provides a strong static magnetic field that requires minimal current modulation for control, thereby reducing energy consumption.
2Force
If the second magnetic element is attracted and attached to the first magnetic element, then magnetic force is generated, but the distance between them is very far, reducing repulsive force effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional magnetic element arrangement by placing the electromagnetic (controllable element) at the fixed position and the permanent magnet (movable element) at the movable position. This inversion allows the electromagnetic to be positioned optimally close to the permanent magnet's initial position, minimizing the distance for effective magnetic interaction while maintaining control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a non-magnetic guide structure that mediates the positioning and movement of the permanent magnet. This guide structure ensures the permanent magnet moves along a precise path while maintaining optimal distance from the electromagnetic, maximizing magnetic force effectiveness without requiring the elements to be in direct contact.
3Force
If the coil is used to generate magnetic field, then magnetic force can be produced, but the coil cannot increase the iron core to enhance efficiency due to magnet and spring passing through the center
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the iron core from the coil structure and replaces it with a permanent magnet. By removing the coil's iron core (which was obstructed by the magnet and spring), the system eliminates the limitation on core enhancement. The permanent magnet provides the necessary magnetic field without requiring an iron core, simplifying the structure while maintaining or improving magnetic force efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different color shafts are used to change tactile feel, then users can experience different hand feelings, but users must purchase multiple keyboards which causes repeat purchases and waste costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the tactile feedback dynamic and adjustable by using an electromagnetic to control the magnetic interaction. Users can adjust the current to the electromagnetic to change the strength and characteristics of the tactile feedback, allowing a single keyboard to provide multiple tactile experiences that would otherwise require multiple specialized keyboards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal key switch design that can provide multiple tactile feedback modes through electromagnetic control. Instead of requiring separate switches for different tactile feels (as in traditional mechanical keyboards with different colored shafts), this design allows a single switch to adapt to different user preferences by adjusting electromagnetic current parameters.
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 generates a strong magnetic force with minimal current, providing intense and responsive tactile feedback, allowing for various force control methods and significantly improving user experience by enhancing tactile feel intensity and speed of response.
Implementation Method 1
The magnetic ring is a permanent magnet magnetized along the axial direction of the limit member
Implementation Method 2
the electromagnet or the hollow coil is arranged at the bottom in the housing, and when the central shaft moves downward, the electromagnet or the hollow coil can penetrate inside the limit member
Implementation Method 3
a return spring is arranged between the bottom end of the central shaft and an inner bottom surface of the housing
Data Source
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AI summary
A variable force key, which comprises a housing, a central shaft, and a magnetic ring, wherein the central shaft extends into the housing, the top end of the center shaft is fixedly provided with a key cap seat, the central shaft can move back and forth in the housing in the vertical direction, the bottom end of the central shaft is fixedly provided with a limit member, the outer wall or inner wall of the bottom end of the limit member is provided with a flange, the magnetic ring is sleeved on the outer wall of the limit member or is arranged inside the limit member and located at the upper end of the flange. The variable force key further comprises an electromagnet or a hollow coil, the electromagnet or the hollow coil is arranged at the bottom in the housing, and when the central shaft moves downward, the electromagnet or the hollow coil can penetrate inside the limit member, and the current magnitude and direction of the electromagnet can both be adjusted. After the electromagnet or the hollow coil is positively electrified, the electromagnet or the hollow coil generates a repulse force to the magnetic ring, so as to enable the magnetic ring to move upwards to impact the central shaft; after the electromagnet or the hollow coil is reversely electrified, the electromagnet or the hollow coil generates a magnetic force to the magnetic ring, so as to enable the magnetic ring to move downwards to impact the flange of the limiting piece to generate a tactile feel, the electromagnet or the hollow coil can penetrate inside the limit member, so that the spacing between the magnetic ring and the electromagnet or the spacing between the magnetic ring and the hollow coil becomes very small, and a slight change in the current of the electromagnet can significantly change the tactile feel intensity of the key.