Hinged Input Device Leaf Spring Decoupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clickable input pads suffer from hinge and spring fatigue due to repeated cycles of tilt and flexure, requiring supplemental stiffening layers that increase cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hinged clickable input pad design where a leaf spring provides the restoring force, decoupled from the hinge, reducing fatigue and eliminating the need for supplemental stiffening layers by spacing the spring apart from the hinge, with the option of the hinge, stiffener plate, and spring being made from a single piece of material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinged clickable pad design is used, then button click functionality is achieved, but hinge fatigue and possible failure occur over large number of cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The input device is segmented into distinct functional components: a hinge assembly for pivoting motion, a leaf spring assembly for restoring force, and a clickable pad. This segmentation allows the hinge to专注于提供旋转支撑而无需承担恢复力功能, significantly reducing cyclic loading and fatigue on the hinge, thereby improving reliability while maintaining button click functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The restoring force function is extracted from the hinge and assigned to a separate leaf spring mechanism. The leaf spring is positioned at the opposite end of the pad from the hinge, creating a balanced lever system where the hinge only provides rotational support and the spring provides the restoring force, eliminating hinge fatigue from repeated click cycles
2Stability of the object's composition
If supplemental stiffening layers are added to support cyclic bending, then structural stability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge assembly, stiffening structure, and spring mechanism are merged into a single integrated component made from one piece of planar material. This unified structure provides both the rotational support function and the structural stability needed to resist cyclic bending, eliminating the need for separate supplemental stiffening layers and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single piece of planar material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the hinge providing rotational support, serves as the stiffening structure to resist bending and fatigue, and provides the mounting surface for the leaf spring. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional stiffening layers while maintaining structural stability
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 design enhances usability and reduces hinge fatigue, allowing for a wide range of user interface functionalities while minimizing the need for additional support structures, thus reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the input pad pivots about the hinge, biasing the leaf spring and storing a return force in the leaf spring
Data Source
AI summary
An input device for use with an electronic system includes a deflectable component having an input surface configured to be touched by input objects and a capacitive sensor layer configured to sense positional information of the input objects. A hinge pivotably mounts a first edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and facilitates deflection of the deflectable component in response to force applied by an input object to the input surface. A spring mechanism is spaced apart from the hinge and configured to resiliently couple a second edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and to provide a restoring force responsive to the applied force.