Electrode Input Mechanism With Braking to Prevent Contact Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of electrode drive-type input devices is compromised due to potential damage from impact during contact, welding of electrodes leading to sharp projections, and degradation of insulation performance, which affects the withstand voltage performance.
Innovation Solution
The input device incorporates a contact part with coaxially aligned driving and fixed electrodes, a drive mechanism part with a braking system, and a closed circuit-side braking part to control the movement of the driving electrode, decelerating it during contact and separation to prevent damage and welding, ensuring reliable insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the driving electrode moves at high speed to achieve fast switching, then the switching speed is improved, but impact damage occurs at contact time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a braking part that applies braking force to the driving electrode before contact with the fixed electrode. This decelerates the driving electrode in advance, reducing impact damage while maintaining fast switching capability. The braking part includes a braking surface that contacts the driving electrode during its movement toward the fixed electrode.
2Power
If arc discharge is used to energize the circuit, then energization is achieved, but electrode welding occurs and sharp projections form
Solution Approach 1:
The braking part decelerates the driving electrode before it contacts the fixed electrode, reducing the kinetic energy available for welding during arc discharge. This preliminary braking action prevents excessive melting and sharp projection formation, thereby preventing reliability degradation from electrode welding.
3Reliability
If the driving electrode is decelerated during movement, then impact damage is reduced, but the switching speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The braking part applies braking force only during a portion of the driving electrode's movement trajectory, specifically when it is close to the fixed electrode. This partial braking action is sufficient to reduce impact damage while minimizing the effect on overall switching speed, as the electrode maintains high speed during the majority of its travel distance.
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 solution enhances the reliability of the input device by minimizing electrode damage and maintaining insulation performance, thereby improving the withstand voltage capability.
Implementation Method 1
an arc discharge is generated between the driving electrode and the fixed electrode, and energization is started
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is an input device capable of easily realizing an improvement in reliability. In an input device according to one embodiment of the present invention, at a contact part, the input device is capable of moving in a first direction in which a drive electrode approaches a fixed electrode, and a second direction in which the drive electrode separates from the fixed electrode. A drive mechanism is located more toward the second direction side than the contact part, and moves the drive electrode by means of movement of a drive shaft. The drive mechanism has a drive part and a closing-side braking part. The closing-side braking part includes a collision part, a braking mass, a closing-side braking part spring, and a closing-side braking part stopper. The closing-side braking part brakes the drive electrode moving in the first direction when the drive part has moved the drive electrode in the first direction during execution of an input operation. During execution of the input operation, the collision part moves in the first direction together with the drive electrode and contacts the braking mass, and thereby the drive electrode is braked. The closing-side braking part spring biases the braking mass so as to impart a returning force toward the second direction, and the closing-side braking part stopper restricts the braking mass from moving in the second direction during a steady state.