Control membrane key for an explosive disposal robot

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of membrane key discloses a control membrane key for the bomb disposal robot, including multilayer composite key, the multilayer composite key includes surface protection layer, the lower surface of surface protection layer is provided with circuit layer, the lower surface of circuit layer is provided with tactile feedback layer, the lower surface of tactile feedback layer is provided with electromagnetic shield layer, the lower surface of electromagnetic shield layer is provided with back adhesive layer, surface protection layer is made of abrasion -resistant, chemical corrosion resistance's polyurethane material. In the utility model, through the mutual cooperation of surface protection layer, electromagnetic shield layer, circuit layer and other parts in the equipment, dust, liquid and electromagnetic interference are fundamentally isolated, the double redundancy circuit of circuit layer and gold -plated contact design ensure that signal can still be stably transmitted under the condition that key line fails or contact oxidizes and corrodes, greatly improve the long -term reliability and task success rate of equipment under extreme environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of membrane keypads, and in particular to a control membrane keypad for bomb disposal robots. Background Technology

[0002] As a specialized piece of equipment designed to replace manual handling of explosives or hazardous materials in high-risk environments, the reliability of the remote control terminal of a bomb disposal robot directly impacts the success of the mission and the safety of personnel. In actual missions, the control terminal often operates in complex environments filled with dust, moisture, chemical corrosion, and strong electromagnetic interference, placing extremely stringent requirements on its human-machine interface input devices, especially the function buttons.

[0003] The aforementioned devices have the following drawbacks. For traditional mechanical buttons, although individual switches may be sealed, holes need to be made for each button on the control panel. These multiple openings become weak points for dust, moisture, and corrosive liquids such as chemical reagents from explosive residues. After long-term use, dust and liquids accumulate inside the buttons and on the PCB board, leading to poor contact, short circuits, or even complete failure, seriously threatening operational safety. The physical structure of mechanical buttons, such as springs, has a metal fatigue life and is easily damaged after exceeding the number of clicks. After the equipment performs its tasks, it may become contaminated and require decontamination. The gaps in mechanical buttons easily trap dirt and are difficult to clean thoroughly. Capacitive touch buttons have the disadvantages of poor tactile feedback and operability. They have no physical tactile sensation during operation and rely on sound or light prompts. The feedback effect is poor in noisy outdoor environments, increasing the operator's psychological burden and the risk of accidental touches. Therefore, a control membrane button for bomb disposal robots is proposed to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above shortcomings, this utility model provides a control membrane button for bomb disposal robots, which aims to improve the problems of insufficient protection performance, weak anti-electromagnetic interference capability, and unclear operation feedback of the control buttons in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot, comprising a multi-layer composite button, wherein the multi-layer composite button includes a surface protective layer, a circuit layer is disposed on the lower surface of the surface protective layer, a tactile feedback layer is disposed on the lower surface of the circuit layer, an electromagnetic shielding layer is disposed on the lower surface of the tactile feedback layer, and an adhesive backing layer is disposed on the lower surface of the electromagnetic shielding layer.

[0006] As a further description of the above technical solution: the surface protective layer is made of wear-resistant and chemically resistant polyurethane material, is seamless, and is connected to the controller housing by a sealed bonding method to achieve an IP67 protection level.

[0007] As a further description of the above technical solution: the circuit layer uses flexible polyimide (PI) as the substrate, and the circuit is formed by etching copper foil.

[0008] As a further description of the above technical solution: the haptic feedback layer integrates a metal spring array, with each metal spring corresponding to a button area, used to provide clear physical tactile feedback and key travel.

[0009] As a further description of the above technical solution: the electromagnetic shielding layer is made of flexible conductive material and has a grounding point for grounding to shield electromagnetic interference (EMI).

[0010] As a further description of the above technical solution: the adhesive backing layer, as an integral modular component, is fixedly installed in a preset position on the controller housing and electrically connected to the main circuit board inside the controller via a flexible flat cable (FFC).

[0011] As a further description of the above technical solution: the key functional lines in the circuit layer adopt a dual redundancy design, and the button contacts in the circuit layer are gold-plated.

[0012] As a further description of the above technical solution: the upper surface of the surface protective layer is printed with patterns, borders or dividing lines divided according to functional modules, and uses pictographic icons that conform to international standards.

[0013] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0014] 1. In this utility model, the surface protective layer, electromagnetic shielding layer, circuit layer and other components in the equipment work together to fundamentally isolate dust, liquid and electromagnetic interference. The dual redundant circuit and gold-plated contact design of the circuit layer ensures that the signal can still be transmitted stably in the event of failure of critical circuit or oxidation and corrosion of contacts, which greatly improves the long-term reliability and mission success rate of the equipment in extreme environments.

[0015] 2. In this utility model, through the cooperation of components such as the tactile feedback layer and the adhesive layer in the equipment, the operator can accurately judge whether the operation is successful even when wearing heavy gloves or in a noisy environment, effectively preventing misoperation. The entire button assembly achieves modular installation and connection through the adhesive layer and flexible flat cable, eliminating the need for complex fasteners, significantly simplifying the production assembly and subsequent maintenance and replacement process, and reducing the overall cost. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is an exploded schematic diagram of a partial area of ​​the main body of a control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot proposed in this utility model.

[0017] Legend:

[0018] 1. Multi-layer composite button; 11. Surface protective layer; 12. Circuit layer; 13. Tactile feedback layer; 14. Electromagnetic shielding layer; 15. Adhesive backing layer. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 This utility model provides an embodiment of a control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot, comprising a multi-layer composite button 1. As a unified, pre-designed modular core component, its function is to integrate and support all functional layers, realizing a complete function from physical button to electrical signal output. It integrates high protection, high reliability, clear tactile feedback, and anti-electromagnetic interference characteristics. Through an adhesive backing layer 15 and a flexible flat cable (FFC), it achieves rapid and standardized installation and connection with the controller, facilitating production, maintenance, and overall replacement. The multi-layer composite button 1 includes a surface protective layer 11. The upper surface of the surface protective layer 11 is printed with patterns, borders, or dividing lines according to functional modules and uses pictographic icons conforming to international standards. The lower surface of the surface protective layer 11 is provided with a circuit layer 12. The key functional circuits in the circuit layer 12 adopt a dual-redundancy design. The button contacts of the circuit layer 12 are gold-plated. The lower surface of the circuit layer 12 is provided with a tactile feedback layer 13, the lower surface of the tactile feedback layer 13 is provided with an electromagnetic shielding layer 14, and the lower surface of the electromagnetic shielding layer 14 is provided with an adhesive backing layer 15.

[0021] Reference Figure 1 The surface protective layer 11 is made of wear-resistant and chemically resistant polyurethane (PU) material, seamlessly integrated, and connected to the controller housing via a sealed adhesive method, achieving an IP67 protection rating. As the outermost layer, the core function of the surface protective layer 11 is to provide comprehensive physical and chemical protection, resisting the erosion of corrosive liquids such as explosive residues. Its upper surface is printed with patterns, borders, or dividing lines according to functional modules, and uses pictographic icons conforming to international standards as visual guides for the operating interface, achieving intuitive and efficient human-computer interaction and reducing the risk of misoperation.

[0022] Circuit layer 12 uses flexible polyimide (PI) as the substrate, and the circuit is formed by etching copper foil. Circuit layer 12 serves as the signal processing core of the buttons, accurately converting the physical pressing action of the buttons into stable electrical signals and transmitting them to the controller. Circuit layer 12 ensures reliability through two key design features: a dual-redundancy design employing a parallel dual-line layout for critical functional circuits, ensuring signal transmission even if one line fails, the other can still guarantee signal transmission, achieving fault redundancy; and gold-plated contacts, utilizing gold's high conductivity and strong oxidation and corrosion resistance to ensure long-term stable electrical contact and extend service life.

[0023] The haptic feedback layer 13 integrates a metal spring array, with each spring corresponding to a button area to provide a clear physical feel and key travel. As the key link between operation and perception, the haptic feedback layer 13 provides the operator with clear and perceptible physical feedback to confirm that the button has been successfully triggered. When pressed, the integrated metal spring array deforms, producing a clear "click" sound and a distinct key travel feel. This clear haptic feedback allows the operator to confirm the operation without relying on sight or hearing, making it particularly suitable for use in noisy, stressful environments or when the operator is wearing heavy protective gloves, effectively preventing accidental operation.

[0024] The electromagnetic shielding layer 14 is made of flexible conductive material and has a grounding point for grounding to shield electromagnetic interference (EMI). The function of the electromagnetic shielding layer 14 is to ensure the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and operational stability of the button in complex electromagnetic environments. The electromagnetic interference shielding is made of flexible conductive material and can absorb or reflect external electromagnetic interference (EMI) to prevent it from entering the circuit layer 12 and affecting the signal. It is connected to the controller housing or system ground through its grounding point to conduct the absorbed interference current to the ground, thereby achieving a highly efficient shielding effect and ensuring the purity and stability of the button signal. The adhesive layer 15, as an integral modular component, is fixedly installed in a preset position on the controller housing and electrically connected to the main circuit board inside the controller through a flexible flat cable (FFC). The function of the adhesive layer 15 is to achieve a firm and convenient modular installation between the entire multi-layer composite button 1 and the controller housing, providing strong and durable adhesion to the button assembly, so that it can be firmly fixed in the preset position on the controller housing. The "adhesive" installation is achieved through the adhesive, eliminating the need for complex mechanical fasteners, greatly simplifying the production assembly process, and providing convenience for subsequent maintenance and overall replacement.

[0025] Working principle:

[0026] When no operation is performed, the entire multi-layer composite button 1 is in a standby state. The surface protective layer 11, as the outermost barrier, achieves an IP67 protection level due to its seamless structure and sealed bonding with the housing. It effectively isolates external dust, moisture, and corrosive liquids, protecting the internal structure from damage. The electromagnetic shielding layer 14 is reliably connected to the controller housing or system through its grounding point, continuously providing stable electromagnetic shielding for the internal circuit layer 12, filtering out electromagnetic interference (EMI) in complex environments, and ensuring that the circuit is in a stable and clean electromagnetic environment. All lines on the circuit layer 12, especially the critical lines with dual redundancy design, are in a normal ready-to-trigger state. The metal spring array in the tactile feedback layer 13 maintains its natural arched state, keeping a small distance from the contacts on the circuit layer 12, and the circuit is not conductive. The adhesive layer 15 ensures that the entire multi-layer composite button 1 is installed as a solid whole and stably mounted in the preset position on the controller housing.

[0027] When an operator needs to issue a command, they will press the corresponding function button area on the surface protective layer 11 with their fingers or while wearing gloves. This area is printed with highly recognizable pictographic icons to help the operator quickly and accurately locate the button. The pressing pressure is transmitted through the surface protective layer 11 to the metal spring in the tactile feedback layer 13 below. When the pressure reaches a certain threshold, the metal spring undergoes an instantaneous deformation, i.e., "collapses," and its center point quickly contacts the corresponding gold-plated contact on the circuit layer 12. This contact action directly closes the circuit loop corresponding to the button, allowing current to be conducted through the etched copper foil circuit, thereby successfully generating an electrical signal on the circuit layer 12. At the moment the metal spring collapses, a clear "click" sound and a distinct key travel feel are produced. This tactile feedback is transmitted back to the operator's fingers, allowing them to confirm that the button has been successfully triggered without visual or auditory assistance, effectively avoiding accidental operation.

[0028] After the electrical signal is generated inside the circuit layer 12, it is transmitted along the carefully designed etched copper foil circuit path. For critical commands such as start-up and emergency stop, the signal is transmitted simultaneously through two independent dual-redundant lines. This design ensures that even if one line fails due to an accident such as corrosion or breakage, the other line can still deliver the signal accurately, thus forming extremely high system reliability and fault tolerance. Throughout the signal transmission process, the electromagnetic shielding layer 14 continuously plays a role. It absorbs or reflects electromagnetic interference from the external environment, preventing it from intruding into the circuit layer 12 and interfering with the weak electrical signal. At the same time, the absorbed interference current is safely conducted to the ground through the grounding point, ensuring the purity and stability of the signal during transmission. The gold-plated contacts of the circuit layer 12 ensure low resistance and high stability of the contact between the metal spring and the circuit, avoiding poor contact caused by contact oxidation or corrosion, and ensuring effective signal transmission.

[0029] Circuit layer 12 outputs the processed button electrical signal through the flexible flat cable (FFC) connected to its edge. The flexible flat cable (FFC) serves as a key signal bridge, transmitting the electrical signal to the main circuit board (PCB) inside the bomb disposal robot controller. After receiving the signal, the main circuit board decodes and processes it through its internal processor, generating corresponding control commands to drive the robot's actuators, such as motors and robotic arms, to complete preset actions, thereby realizing the operator's intentions.

[0030] When the operator releases their finger, the pressure disappears, and the metal spring in the tactile feedback layer 13 returns to its original shape due to its own elasticity, separating from the gold-plated contacts of the circuit layer 12. The circuit circuit is broken, and the circuit layer 12 stops outputting the electrical signal of the button. The system returns to standby mode, waiting for the next button operation. The elasticity of the surface protective layer 11 also restores its flatness. Due to its chemical corrosion resistance, even if the surface is contaminated with dirt, it can be easily cleaned without damaging the internal structure.

[0031] Through the coordinated operation of the multi-layer composite button 1, a simple physical press is accurately and reliably converted into an electrical signal that the robot can execute. From the physical protection of the surface protective layer 11, to the signal triggering of the tactile feedback layer 13, to the redundant transmission of the circuit layer 12 and the anti-interference guarantee of the electromagnetic shielding layer 14, and finally the output through the flexible flat cable FFC, each link is precisely executed by the corresponding numbered component. The entire process is based on the stable installation provided by the adhesive layer 15, which together constitutes an efficient, reliable, and extreme environment-adaptable human-machine interaction input system, which greatly improves the operational safety and success rate of the bomb disposal robot in high-risk missions.

[0032] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot, comprising a multi-layer composite button (1), characterized in that: The multi-layer composite button (1) includes a surface protective layer (11), a circuit layer (12) is provided on the lower surface of the surface protective layer (11), a tactile feedback layer (13) is provided on the lower surface of the circuit layer (12), an electromagnetic shielding layer (14) is provided on the lower surface of the tactile feedback layer (13), and an adhesive backing layer (15) is provided on the lower surface of the electromagnetic shielding layer (14).

2. The control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface protective layer (11) is made of wear-resistant and chemically resistant polyurethane material, is seamless, and is connected to the controller housing by a sealed bonding method to achieve an IP67 protection level.

3. The control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circuit layer (12) uses flexible polyimide as the substrate and forms the circuit by etching copper foil.

4. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tactile feedback layer (13) integrates a metal spring array, with each metal spring corresponding to a button area, to provide clear physical touch and key travel.

5. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electromagnetic shielding layer (14) is made of flexible conductive material and has a grounding point for grounding to shield electromagnetic interference.

6. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adhesive backing layer (15) is a modular component that is fixedly installed in a preset position on the controller housing and electrically connected to the main circuit board inside the controller via a flexible flat cable.

7. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The key functional circuits in the circuit layer (12) adopt a dual redundancy design, and the button contacts in the circuit layer (12) are gold-plated.

8. A control membrane button for a bomb disposal robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper surface of the surface protective layer (11) is printed with patterns, borders or dividing lines according to functional modules.

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