Capacitive Input Assembly for Thin Devices Under Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with thin designs face challenges in maintaining electrical contact between input device elements, leading to input malfunctions, especially when subjected to impacts, due to insufficient space and potential disconnection.
Innovation Solution
The electronic device incorporates a housing with a window and a circuit board, featuring a spacer and conductive plates that maintain electrical contact through a series of through-holes and button plates, allowing for capacitance-based input detection and ensuring contact integrity even under impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the electronic device is designed to be thinner, then the device becomes more compact and portable, but the space for mounting input device elements is insufficient, leading to input malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The input device elements are nested within the limited space between the window and circuit board. The spacer creates a compact arrangement where conductive plates and contacts are positioned in the available gap, allowing the input device to function within the thin profile of the electronic device without requiring additional external space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a planar arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Multiple input device elements (spacer, conductive plates, contacts) are arranged in the thickness dimension between the window and circuit board, effectively utilizing the Z-axis space to accommodate all necessary components without increasing the device's footprint or overall thickness.
2Force
If the electronic device is subjected to impact, then the device experiences mechanical stress, but electrical contact between input device elements is disrupted, causing input malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer acts as a cushioning element positioned between the window and circuit board. This pre-positioned component absorbs and distributes mechanical stress from impacts, preventing direct transmission of force that would disrupt electrical contacts. The spacer's elastic or compliant material properties enable it to deform under impact and return to its original position, maintaining contact integrity throughout the冲击 event.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive plates and contacts are designed with specific mechanical properties (elasticity, compliance) that allow them to change their physical parameters in response to impact forces. These components can deform, shift position, or change their contact pressure dynamically during impact, enabling them to maintain electrical connectivity despite external mechanical stress.
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
This configuration reduces impact-related input malfunctions by maintaining contact between the input circuit and conductive plates, enhancing the reliability of input operations in compact device designs.
Implementation Method 1
an input circuit configured to detect an input based on a change in a capacitance
Implementation Method 2
a pair of contacts configured electrically connected to the pair of conductive plates, respectively, in an elastically transformed state through the at least one 3rd through-hole
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a window, configured to form a 1st side of the electronic device, and a 2nd side of the electronic device directed in an opposite direction of the 1st side of the electronic device, a circuit board between the 1st side and the 2nd side of the electronic device, and including an input circuit configured to detect an input based on a change in a capacitance, a spacer between the window and the circuit board, and having at least one space formed on one side facing the circuit board, a contact electrically connected to the input circuit by being mounted to one side of the circuit board, and contained in the at least one space, and a conductive plate coupled to the spacer, and electrically connected to the contact through the at least one space.