Elastomeric Membrane Push Button Sealing and Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buttons used in harsh environmental conditions, such as agricultural vehicles, face reliability issues and require effective sealing and illumination to function reliably over long periods, especially in dark conditions.
Innovation Solution
A button design featuring a membrane integrally connected to the housing, made of elastomeric duromer materials like silicone, which acts as a seal and provides restoring force without additional springs, and incorporates a magnet receptacle for non-contact switches and separate LED lighting for visibility, produced using multi-component injection molding for ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a return spring is used in the pusher to restore the pusher to its original position, then the restoring force is provided, but the device complexity increases due to additional components that must be integrated during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and the restoring force function into a single membrane component. The membrane is integrally connected to the housing and replaces both the separate seal and the return spring, eliminating the need for additional components and simplifying assembly while maintaining both sealing and restoring functions
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a seal to protect the interior space from environmental influences, provides the restoring force to return the pusher to its original position, and maintains the structural integrity of the button assembly, thereby reducing the total number of components needed
2Illumination intensity
If the housing and switching membrane are made translucent, then the display of switching state by lighting is enabled, but the sealing effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible elastomeric membrane that is integrally connected to the housing. This membrane can be made translucent to allow LED light to pass through for visibility while maintaining its sealing function. The integral connection ensures that the membrane and housing form a unified sealed structure that protects the interior from environmental influences even when translucent
3Illumination intensity
If separate LED arrangements are provided for night lighting and functional lighting, then the visibility and functionality are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single LED arrangement on the circuit board that serves dual purposes: providing functional lighting to indicate the switching state and providing night lighting for visibility in dark conditions. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate LED arrangements, reducing component quantity and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining both visibility and functionality
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
The button achieves enhanced resistance to environmental influences, prolonged service life with over one million actuation cycles, and ensures reliable operation and visibility in harsh conditions, with a sealed and illuminated interface.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the fact that the switching membrane consists of an elastomeric duromer, in particular silicone, the restoring force of the switching membrane can be set with great advantage by selecting an appropriate Shore hardness
Implementation Method 2
In particular, if the push button and switching membrane are designed to be translucent, the display of a switching state of the button by means of lighting is possible with great advantage
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a push button (1) with a push button (2), a housing (3) and a circuit board (4) arranged therein, which, in order to provide the simplest and most robust construction possible, has a membrane (5) in the housing (2) between the circuit board (4) and the push button (2).