Handheld Measuring Instrument Configurable Circuit Reducing Housing Breakthroughs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld measuring instruments require multiple buttons for selecting functionalities, leading to increased housing breakthroughs that expose the electronic equipment to humidity and dust, compromising precision and durability in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
A handheld measuring instrument with a configurable circuit unit and input means, allowing users to select functionalities via an external configurator, reducing the number of buttons and housing breakthroughs, and using capacitive or sealed buttons to prevent dust and liquid ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple buttons are provided for selecting functionalities, then the versatility and adaptability of the measuring instrument is improved, but the number of housing breakthroughs increases exposing electronic equipment to humidity and dust
Solution Approach 1:
A single button is designed to perform multiple functions through different press patterns (short press, long press, repeated presses) to select different functionalities and functions, eliminating the need for multiple separate buttons while maintaining full operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The button's functional behavior changes based on pressing parameters (duration, frequency, pattern), allowing a single physical component to control multiple measurement functions and settings without requiring additional buttons or housing openings
2Ease of operation
If multiple buttons are provided for selecting functionalities, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple button functions are merged into a single button component, reducing the total number of physical buttons and housing breakthroughs while maintaining the ability to access all required functionalities through varied pressing patterns
3Reliability
If sealed buttons are used to prevent dust and liquid ingress, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A capacitive touch button with a flexible sealed membrane allows contactless operation, preventing dust and liquid ingress while maintaining full tactile feedback and operational responsiveness through the sealed surface
Data Source
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Figure 3~4a
Figure 4b~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a handheld measurement instrument (10) and a configurator (80) forming a measurement kit. The measuring instrument (10) and the configurator (80) are provided each with an interface (30, 35, 36, 84, 86, 87), enabling communication between the measuring instrument (10) and the configurator (80). The handheld measurement instrument (10) further comprises a measuring unit (21, 21a, 21b) for measuring distances or angles of an object by contacting physically distinct points of said object; and a circuit unit (50) applying a function of a functionality on electronic signals/electronic measurement results delivered from the measuring unit (21, 21a, 21b) in order to deliver the measuring results in a desired form to the user by output means (28). The form the results should be presented can be selected by the user using input means (26) of the measuring instrument (10). The circuit unit (50) is configurable by the user using the configurator (80) in order to determine, with which functionality the circuit unit (50) and the input means (26), respectively should be equipped.