Composite Electric Component Partition Wall Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing composite operation type electric components face challenges in reducing dimension in plan view while maintaining precise switching and detection precision, particularly when a rotary switch is arranged above a push switch, leading to variations in switching timing and deterioration in rotation detection precision due to heat and current flow.

Innovation Solution

A composite operation type electric component design featuring a housing with a partition wall that separates the rotation detection means and push switch, allowing vertical arrangement and reducing the component's plan view dimension, with a pressing operation member guided through holes to maintain precise switching and prevent heat-induced detection precision deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the rotary switch is arranged above the push switch in an overlapping manner to reduce plan view dimension, then the component dimension in plan view is reduced, but the detection precision of rotation detection means deteriorates due to heat and current flow affecting the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent dimension in plan viewVSAvoiddetection precision of rotation detection means
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing that are separable from each other. The rotation detection means is disposed in the upper housing, while the push switch is disposed in the lower housing. This segmentation allows the rotation detection means to be positioned away from the heat-generating push switch, maintaining detection precision while achieving compact plan view dimensions through vertical stacking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If the rotary switch is arranged above the push switch to reduce plan view dimension, then the component dimension in plan view is reduced, but the switching timing varies due to increased stroke and improper movement of the pressing operation member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent dimension in plan viewVSAvoidswitching timing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A pressing operation member is provided that extends from the rotation operation member downward into the lower housing to directly operate the push switch. This intermediary member ensures proper mechanical coupling and controlled movement, maintaining precise switching timing while enabling the vertical arrangement that reduces plan view dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Length of stationary object

If the rotary switch is arranged on the outer circumference of the push switch, then the height of the entire component is reduced, but the dimension in plan view cannot be reduced due to large contact structure size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent heightVSAvoidcomponent dimension in plan view
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a horizontal arrangement (rotary switch on outer circumference of push switch) to a vertical arrangement (rotation operation member above push switch with pressing operation member extending downward). This dimensional change allows both components to be compact in plan view while maintaining operational independence, solving the contradiction between height reduction and plan view dimension reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2500922B1Composite operation type electric component
Publication Date: 2016.05.04 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
  • EP2500922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2500922B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2500922B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A composite operation type electric component (1) includes a rotation operation member (7) which protrudes from a housing having a storage portion and has a rotatable cylindrical portion (71), a pressing operation member (6) which is movably inserted into a through hole (73) in the cylindrical portion (71) of the rotation operation member (7) in an axis direction, rotation detection means for detecting a rotation operation of the rotation operation member (7), and a push switch which is operated in response to vertical movement of the pressing operation member (6). A partition wall (301) is provided to partition the storage portion in the housing into a storage portion (304) and a storage portion (203). The rotation detection means is arranged in the storage portion (304), and the push switch is arranged in the storage portion (203). An engagement shaft portion (62) of the pressing operation member (6) is movably inserted into a through hole (306) of a cylindrical portion (305) provided in the partition wall (301) in the axial direction.