Viscoelastic Keyboard Keys for Thin Form Factors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing keyboard designs for information handling systems face challenges in optimizing Z-Height, noise, and surface rigidity, which limit form factors and user experience due to mechanical structures that can buckle and cause finger fatigue.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of viscoelastic keyboard keys incorporating an elastic and viscous component, where the elastic component provides immediate force and the viscous component provides a force that grows over time, allowing for a tuned deformation response, using materials like ALPHA GEL silicone gel and deformable particles to achieve responsive feedback and flexible design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical key structures are used to provide user feedback, then responsive feedback is achieved, but Z-Height increases limiting thin form factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical spring-based key structures with a viscoelastic material system. The viscoelastic material provides tactile feedback through its unique combination of elastic (instantaneous) and viscous (time-dependent) properties, eliminating the need for complex mechanical mechanisms while achieving thinner key profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from rigid mechanical components to viscoelastic material properties. By tuning the elastic and viscous components of the material, the key can provide responsive feedback with reduced Z-Height, as the material's time-dependent deformation characteristics replace traditional mechanical spring behavior.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical key structures collapse and contact the system base, then key actuation is achieved, but noise is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical collapse-and-contact actuation mechanism with viscoelastic material deformation. The viscoelastic material gradually deforms under applied stress and returns to its original shape through viscous flow, eliminating the sudden contact noise produced by traditional mechanical keys while maintaining functional actuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The viscoelastic material inherently provides cushioning through its viscous component, which dissipates energy through time-dependent deformation. This cushioning effect prevents the hard contact noise that occurs in mechanical keys when the key structure collapses and contacts the base, as the viscous material absorbs and dampens the impact energy.
3Strength
If rigid molded surfaces are used for keys, then structural integrity is maintained, but finger fatigue occurs with repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface material parameters from rigid to viscoelastic. The viscoelastic material's unique property of providing instantaneous elastic resistance (maintaining structural integrity) while allowing gradual viscous deformation (reducing finger fatigue) directly addresses this contradiction. The material feels firm initially but becomes more compliant with sustained pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material behavior through the viscoelastic substance, which combines elastic (rigid) and viscous (compliant) characteristics in a single material system. This composite nature allows the key surface to maintain structural integrity while providing a softer, more comfortable interaction that reduces finger fatigue during repeated use.
4Length of moving object
If viscoelastic material is used to reduce Z-Height, then thin form factors are enabled, but key responsiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the viscoelastic material parameters, specifically tuning the elastic component to dominate at short time scales. This parameter adjustment ensures that the material responds instantaneously to key presses (maintaining responsiveness) while the viscous component manages the overall deformation to achieve reduced Z-Height.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent leverages the dynamic, time-dependent nature of viscoelastic materials. The material's response characteristics change with the rate of applied stress, providing rapid, responsive feedback for quick key presses while allowing controlled deformation for overall thinness. This dynamic behavior enables both responsiveness and reduced Z-Height to coexist.
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 solution enables the creation of thin, light, and soft keys that provide improved user feedback, reduce noise, and enable new form factors by optimizing key deformation and stress response, enhancing user experience and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic component provides a component force which occurs substantially immediately upon application of a stress to the key and relaxes substantially immediately upon release of the stress from the key. In this way the elastic component functions similarly to a spring in a mechanical dashpot model key.
Implementation Method 2
The viscous component provides a component force which grows with time as long as a stress is applied to the key. In this way, the viscous component functions similarly to a dash in a mechanical dashpot model key.
Implementation Method 3
the keys include an elastic component and a viscous component... Stress applied upon a top rigid layer (which functions as the elastic component) is transferred onto the viscous material as an induced strain.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method which provide a keyboard with keys which are configured using a viscoelasticity model. More specifically, with the viscoelasticity model at least certain keys within the keyboard include an elastic component and a viscous component. The elastic component provides a component force which occurs substantially immediately upon application of a stress to the key and relaxes substantially immediately upon release of the stress from the key. In this way the elastic component functions similarly to a spring in a mechanical dashpot model key. The viscous component provides a component force which grows with time as long as a stress is applied to the key. In this way, the viscous component functions similarly to a dash in a mechanical dashpot model key.