Digital Caliper Control Circuit Eliminates Mechanical Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital measurement instruments face challenges in environmental durability due to water and oil exposure, particularly with mechanical push button switches that require additional parts and processing time for sealing, affecting usability.
Innovation Solution
A digital measurement instrument with a control circuit unit that allows mode changes without mechanical push button switches, using a mode change control unit to switch between operation modes based on the slider's position outside the measurement range, enabling auto-on and auto-off functions and origin setting without mechanical switches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical push button switches are used for operation, then usability and ease of operation are improved, but environmental durability deteriorates due to water and oil ingress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical push button switches with a non-contact operation system using light reception. The light receiver detects light signals to operate functions without mechanical contact, eliminating the need for seals and improving environmental durability while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium for operation. Instead of direct mechanical contact with buttons, users operate the device by sending light signals that are received and processed, providing indirect control that eliminates mechanical wear and sealing requirements.
2Reliability
If seal structure is added around mechanical push button switches for water resistance, then environmental durability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical push button switches entirely from the device structure. By extracting these problematic components and replacing them with a light-based operation system, the need for seal structures and additional protective parts is eliminated, reducing device complexity while maintaining water resistance.
3Reliability
If seal structure is added around mechanical push button switches, then environmental durability is improved, but processing time and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes mechanical push button switches from the device. This elimination of mechanical components directly reduces assembly steps and processing time, as there are no seals to install and no mechanical parts to assemble, thereby improving productivity while maintaining environmental durability through the light-based operation system.
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
Enhances environmental durability by eliminating water and oil ingress, reduces part count and assembly time, and maintains usability with convenient operation modes.
Implementation Method 1
an encoder (displacement detector) 17 configured to detect the amount of displacement of the slider 13 in relation to the main scale 11
Data Source
AI summary
A digital measurement instrument with excellent environmental durability and at least a conventional level of usability including a main scale, a slider movable relative to the main scale, a displacement sensor configured to detect displacement or position of the slider in relation to the main scale, and a control circuit. The control circuit controls change between a normal measuring mode and an origin setting mode. The control circuit also sets and stores a first area, the first area being a preset predetermined range outside of a measurement range. The control circuit also changes operation mode from the normal measuring mode to the origin setting mode when the slider is detected to have stopped within the first area for a consecutive predetermined period of time. Additionally, the digital calipers are provided with no mechanical push button switches.