Actuating Element Guiding Ribs Centering Shoulders

Solution Overview

Problem

Actuating elements comprising multiple pieces often experience play, leading to unreliable transmission of actuating force to the contact surface, which is undesirable for controlling electronic devices, especially in limited spaces like vehicle dashboards.

Innovation Solution

A two-piece actuating element design featuring a support structure with guiding ribs and centering shoulders that securely couple to a front cover, minimizing play and ensuring precise movement and force transmission, similar to a one-piece element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the actuating element is designed as multiple pieces, then the ease of manufacture and design flexibility are improved, but the reliability of force transmission deteriorates due to play between elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability of force transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element is divided into multiple pieces (front cover and support structure) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and design flexibility while maintaining functional integrity through precise coupling features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding ribs act as intermediary elements between the front cover and support structure. These ribs provide a mechanical interface that eliminates play between the segmented components, ensuring reliable force transmission while allowing the element to be constructed from multiple pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the actuating element consists of several pieces, then the design flexibility and manufacturing process are improved, but the precision of force transmission deteriorates due to existing play

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign flexibilityVSAvoidprecision of force transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element is divided into multiple pieces (front cover and support structure) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and design flexibility while maintaining functional integrity through precise coupling features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding ribs act as intermediary elements between the front cover and support structure. These ribs provide a mechanical interface that eliminates play between the segmented components, ensuring reliable force transmission while allowing the element to be constructed from multiple pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the actuating element is designed as one piece, then the reliability of force transmission is improved, but the ease of manufacture and design flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of force transmissionVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating element is divided into multiple pieces (front cover and support structure) that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. The segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and design flexibility while maintaining functional integrity through precise coupling features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guiding ribs act as intermediary elements between the front cover and support structure. These ribs provide a mechanical interface that eliminates play between the segmented components, ensuring reliable force transmission while allowing the element to be constructed from multiple pieces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8143543B2Actuating element

Publication Date: 2012.03.27 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH

AI summary

An actuating element for controlling an electronic device is providing. The actuating element including a front cover having an actuating surface to be actuated by a user and a support structure adapted to be coupled to the front cover. The support structure having guiding rips that guide the movement of the actuating element in a housing upon actuation of the actuating element. The front cover having centering shoulders that contact the guiding rips for positioning the support structure relative to the front cover when the front cover is coupled to the support structure.