Battery Latching Mechanism for Impact Securement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices face issues where battery modules can be dislodged from their compartments upon impact, leading to damage and power supply interruptions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device design featuring a latching mechanism with a sliding latching cover, lock member, and resilient member that engages and disengages battery retention tabs to securely lock the battery module in place, preventing separation during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the battery module is detachably installed in the battery compartment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates under impact conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism employs a resilient member that can dynamically adapt between locked and unlocked states. The resilient member flexes under impact forces to maintain engagement, then returns to its original position, providing dynamic retention rather than rigid fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery retention system is segmented into multiple independent retention tabs on both the battery module and latching cover. This segmentation distributes the retention force across multiple points, preventing single-point failure under impact while maintaining easy overall engagement.
2Reliability
If a latching mechanism is introduced to secure the battery module, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member automatically engages the latching cover with the battery retention tabs when the battery is inserted, and automatically maintains retention under impact forces without requiring user intervention. The mechanism serves itself by using the insertion motion to trigger locking and using elastic recovery to maintain lock.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the latching cover simultaneously provides structural support, engagement surfaces for retention tabs, and housing for the resilient member. The lock member combines lever arm, fulcrum, and locking surface functions in one component.
3Reliability
If the latching cover is fixed in the lock position, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lock member acts as a dynamic element that can pivot between locked and unlocked positions. The resilient member provides dynamic force to maintain the locked position during normal operation, but allows easy transition to unlocked position when force is applied to the button portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The button portion serves as an intermediary element that translates user pressure into rotational motion of the lock member. This intermediary mechanism provides mechanical advantage, allowing easy operation with minimal force while maintaining secure locked position during normal use.
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 mechanism effectively secures the battery module, preventing damage and power disruptions by maintaining the battery's position within the compartment during impacts, while allowing easy detachment when needed.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient member forces the second arm to rotate the lock member about the pivotal portion in a first rotating direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a battery module, a casing and a latching mechanism. The battery module has at least one battery retention tab. A battery compartment is formed on the casing. The battery module is detachably installed in the battery compartment, and the casing has a stopping structure. The latching mechanism is slidably installed on the casing and includes a latching cover, a lock member and a resilient member. The latching cover is installed on the casing in a slidable manner. The lock member is pivoted to the latching cover. The resilient member is installed on the latching cover. When the latching cover slides to the lock position, the resilient member forces the lock member to engage with the stopping structure, so as to fix the latching cover in the lock position.