AR/VR Button-Switch Assembly for Sealed Stable Tactile Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing button-switch assemblies in electronic eyewear devices are vulnerable to water and dust ingress, which can harm the electronics, and lack stability and consistent tactile feedback.
Innovation Solution
A button-switch assembly with a preloaded force design featuring a soft rubber layer and hard PET film shim layer, angled deflection web, button flanges, and double-sided adhesive seals to provide stability, tactile feel, and protection against water and dust ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a button opening is provided in the device housing for user input, then ease of operation is improved, but water and dust can enter the housing and harm electronics
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible membrane with a button opening is integrated into the device housing. The membrane acts as a flexible barrier that allows the button to be depressed for input while preventing water and dust from penetrating through the opening to the electronics below.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane serves as an intermediary element between the external environment and the internal electronics. It transmits the mechanical force of button depression while blocking harmful substances, thus mediating between operational access and protection needs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If adhesive is applied to seal the button opening, then water and dust protection is improved, but the button assembly may become unstable or wobble
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement elements are strategically placed at specific locations around the button opening and membrane attachment areas. This localized reinforcement provides structural support and stability without affecting the overall flexibility of the membrane or adding excessive complexity to the entire assembly.
3Device complexity
If the button is directly mounted without reinforcement, then device complexity is reduced, but the button may rotate or wobble during use
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement elements are strategically placed at specific locations around the button opening and membrane attachment areas. This localized reinforcement provides structural support and stability without affecting the overall flexibility of the membrane or adding excessive complexity to the entire assembly.
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 assembly ensures reliable operation by preventing water and dust entry while maintaining consistent tactile feedback and stability, enhancing the longevity and reliability of electronic eyewear devices.
Implementation Method 1
double sided sealing adhesive layers that seal off the opening in the device housing for accepting the button to prevent water/dust from entering the opening
Implementation Method 2
excellent tactile feel through a stack up of a soft rubber layer of a deflection web and a hard polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic film shim layer
Implementation Method 3
a preloaded force design with enhanced tactile feel
Implementation Method 4
a consistent pre-loaded push force through use of an angled deflection web
Data Source
AI summary
A button-switch assembly provides a preloaded force design with an enhanced tactile feel while also providing a non-wobbly (stabilized) configuration and water/dust protection functions. Features of the button-switch assembly include excellent tactile feel through a stack up of a soft rubber layer of a deflection web and a hard PET film shim layer, a consistent pre-loaded push force through use of an angled deflection web, a button flange that minimizes rotation of the button while providing a consistent tactile feel even when the edge of the button is depressed, double sided sealing adhesive layers that seal off the opening in the housing for accepting the button to prevent water/dust from entering the opening, and gluing the button to the rubber deflection web in variable thicknesses to provide a stable tension force to minimize wobble of the button when depressed.