Full-Area Touch Pad Structure With Lightweight Resilient Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch pad modules are heavy and costly due to the use of metal materials for most components, leading to increased weight and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A full-area touch device comprising a bottom plate, touch unit, resilient unit, and supporting unit, where components like the resilient unit and supporting unit are made of lightweight materials such as plastic, glass fiber, or carbon fiber, and bonded together with adhesives, with adjustable force triggers through spacer sections and resilient arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal materials are used for most components (alloy supporting structure, metal resilient sheet, metal plate, metal limiting portion), then structural strength and reliability are improved, but weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a resilient sheet (first material) with a limiting portion (second material), where the two materials have different properties. The resilient sheet provides flexibility and return force, while the limiting portion provides structural support and positioning. This composite structure achieves the required strength and functionality while reducing weight compared to using metal for all components.
2Strength
If metal materials are used for most components (alloy supporting structure, metal resilient sheet, metal plate, metal limiting portion), then structural strength and reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a resilient sheet (first material) with a limiting portion (second material), where the two materials have different properties. The resilient sheet provides flexibility and return force, while the limiting portion provides structural support and positioning. This composite structure achieves the required strength and functionality while reducing weight compared to using metal for all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive metal components with cheaper alternative materials. The resilient sheet can be made from cost-effective polymers or elastomers, and the limiting portion from plastics or other non-metal materials. This substitution significantly reduces manufacturing cost while maintaining the necessary structural strength and functional performance through proper material selection and design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the slot region contour is greater than the bottom plate periphery contour, then the resilient unit can be properly positioned and supported, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient unit is segmented into distinct functional regions: a positioning region that interfaces with the bottom plate for stable positioning, a connecting frame subunit that provides structural connection, and a slot region with a larger contour that allows for proper installation and alignment. This segmentation enables each region to perform its specific function effectively while maintaining overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient unit acts as an intermediary component between the bottom plate and the circuit board. Its slot region, which has a contour greater than the bottom plate periphery, serves as a mediator that facilitates proper positioning and connection while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, thereby simplifying the overall device structure.
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 device achieves a significant reduction in weight, manufacturing cost, and structural strength while allowing adjustable force triggers, resulting in a lightweight and cost-effective touch device.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient unit is resiliently deformed and that the connecting frame subunit is bent relative to the positioning region
Data Source
AI summary
A full-area touch device includes a bottom plate including a bottom plate periphery, a touch unit, a resilient unit, and a supporting unit. The touch unit is disposed above the bottom plate, and includes a touch pad, a circuit board, and a pushbutton switch disposed on the circuit board. The resilient unit includes a positioning region, a peripheral edge surrounding the positioning region, and a connecting frame subunit and a slot region disposed and located between the positioning region and the peripheral edge. The slot region has a contour greater than that of the bottom plate periphery. The slot region surrounds the positioning region. The connecting frame subunit is bent relative to the positioning region when the touch unit is pressed. The supporting unit includes a fixing frame subunit and supporting members connected to the fixing frame subunit and extending across the slot region.