Clickpad Preloaded Force Elastic Coupling Stacks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clickpads in information handling systems often experience instability issues such as surface floating, rattling, and trigger force unbalance due to poor assembly and attachment, leading to inconsistent user input experiences.

Innovation Solution

The use of elastic material stacks with different thicknesses and adhesives attached to the clickpad surface and the underlying surface, which preload a force to reduce the gap between the clickpad switch and contact point, ensuring a stable and consistent user input experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional clickpad attachment methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the clickpad surface experiences instability and rattling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclickpad surface stabilityVSAvoidattachment structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment structure is divided into multiple coupling stacks distributed at different locations on the clickpad surface. Each coupling stack independently provides localized preloaded force, collectively achieving overall surface stability without requiring a complex unified attachment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic materials in the coupling stacks are pre-compressed during assembly to generate preloaded force before the clickpad is activated. This preliminary action ensures the clickpad surface maintains stable contact with the underlying surface from the beginning, preventing instability and rattling during use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If elastic material stacks with different thicknesses are used, then contact consistency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different thicknesses of elastic materials are applied at different locations (coupling stacks) on the clickpad surface based on local requirements. This allows each region to have optimized contact properties, achieving consistent contact across the entire surface while accommodating variations in the underlying structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness parameter of the elastic material is varied across different coupling stacks to adjust the preloaded force distribution. By changing this physical parameter locally, the system achieves consistent contact pressure and eliminates gaps between the switch and contact point throughout the clickpad surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If preloaded force is applied to reduce gap, then switch contact reliability is improved, but attachment structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveswitch contact reliabilityVSAvoidattachment structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic materials in the coupling stacks provide dynamic preloaded force that automatically adjusts to maintain contact between the switch and contact point. This dynamic mechanism ensures reliable switch activation while using simple elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical spring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic materials serve as intermediary elements between the clickpad surface and the underlying structure. These intermediaries transmit and distribute preloaded force to eliminate gaps and ensure reliable switch contact, replacing direct rigid attachment with a compliant mediation layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution reduces instability and rattling issues, providing improved user experience by maintaining consistent contact between the clickpad and the underlying surface, enhancing the reliability of user input operations.

Implementation Method 1

a first coupling stack comprising a first elastic material with a first thickness; and a second coupling stack comprising a second elastic material with a second thickness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11592912B1Clickpad with preloaded contact force for an information handling system

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Clickpad structures may be attached to surfaces of an information handling system using material stacks comprising an elastic material, such as a sponge, which can preload a force on the clickpad surface. The preloaded force reduces a gap between the clickpad switch and contact point, which reduces instability, rattling, and other negative experiences with the clickpad surface experienced by a user. According to an embodiment, an input device for an information handling system includes a clickpad surface having a first side configured to receive user input and a second side opposite the first side; a first coupling stack comprising a first elastic material with a first thickness; and a second coupling stack comprising a second elastic material with a second thickness, wherein each of the coupling stacks is attached to the clickpad surface and a surface of the information handling system by adhesives.