Household appliance with a user interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance user interfaces with varying button sizes face challenges in ensuring consistent actuation of mechanically actuated switches, leading to potential inconsistencies in user input and increased complexity or cost in design and manufacture.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a stabilizing element that movably couples the button to the circuit board, ensuring uniform depression and actuation across the entire width of the button, even when pressed at different points, thereby ensuring consistent actuation of the switch without increasing complexity or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If buttons of varying sizes are used in the input interface, then user experience and interaction are improved, but actuation consistency of mechanically actuated switches deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A stabilizing element is introduced as an intermediary component between the button and the circuit board. This stabilizing element has a first end coupled to the button and a second end coupled to the circuit board, creating a stable mechanical linkage that ensures consistent actuation force transmission regardless of button size variations.
2Ease of operation
If buttons of varying sizes are used in the input interface, then user experience and interaction are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical stability to buttons of varying sizes, ensures consistent actuation force transmission to the switch, and couples the button assembly to the circuit board. This multi-functionality avoids the need for separate components for each function, thereby minimizing increases in device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If buttons of varying sizes are used in the input interface, then user experience and interaction are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizing element is designed with adjustable or variable parameters (such as length, stiffness, or mounting position) that can be optimized during manufacturing to accommodate different button sizes while maintaining consistent actuation performance. This parameter adjustability allows for cost-effective manufacturing across varying button configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A user interface for a home appliance comprises a circuit board having at least one mechanically actuated switch having a first area. The user interface further comprises an input interface having at least one button defining a second area, greater than the first area, and having an actuator corresponding to the switch. The button is coupled to at least one of the circuit board or the input interface for relative movement between an actuation position, where the actuator actuates the switch, and a non-actuation position, where the actuator does not actuate the switch.