Vehicle Armrest Touchscreen Water Discharge Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Armrest touch screen devices in vehicles are prone to water ingress, which can damage electronic components due to their embedded nature in the rear seat armrest, leading to potential malfunctions and increased hardware complexity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a water discharge path between the touch screen and screen body, along with bolting fastening, fitting coupling, and hook engaging parts, allows for the discharge of water outside the device, reducing component count, assembly errors, and material costs while enhancing robustness and assembly ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the touch screen device is embedded in the rear seat armrest, then convenience for occupant manipulation is improved, but water ingress risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water ingress by designing a water discharge path that allows water to flow into the device and be safely discharged through the lateral coupled part. The water discharge hole and discharge path transform the harmful water intrusion into a controlled discharge mechanism that protects electronic components from damage.
2Reliability
If multiple hardware components are assembled to protect the touch screen, then protection against heat and pressure is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple protective functions into a single integrated lateral coupled part that serves as both the structural housing and the water discharge mechanism. The lateral coupled part combines the screen body, touch sensor assembly, and water discharge path into one unified component, reducing the number of separate hardware parts while maintaining protection against heat, pressure, and water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral coupled part performs multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the electronic components, provides structural support, and serves as the water discharge path. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate protective components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a water discharge path is added to the device, then water damage prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharge path is integrated into the lateral coupled part during the molding process, combining the housing and discharge channel into a single molded component. This integration eliminates the need for separate water discharge components and reduces assembly steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing despite adding water discharge functionality.
4Weight of stationary object
If the number of components is reduced, then weight and material costs are decreased, but assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into the lateral coupled part, the patent reduces the total number of parts and assembly interfaces, thereby minimizing cumulative dimension errors. The integrated design ensures better dimensional control compared to assembling multiple separate components, as there are fewer mating surfaces and fastening points that could introduce alignment errors.
Data Source
AI summary
An armrest touch screen device with a water discharge function applied to a vehicle according to the present disclosure includes one or more of: a water discharge part defined by a touch screen panel and a screen body; a fitting coupling part defined by the touch screen panel and the screen body; a bolting fastening part defined by the touch screen panel, the screen body, a circuit board, and a screen casing; and a hook engaging part defined by the screen body and a screen casing. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent water permeation into the touch screen panel, reduce the weight and the material costs by reducing the number of screws, implement the robust touch screen design, and minimize the assembly dimension error.