IoT Accessory with Elastic Button for Precise Restoring Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Internet of Things (IoT) technology faces challenges in widespread adoption due to the high cost of replacing conventional electric home appliances with IoT-enabled ones and the lack of compatibility among products with different IoT standards, as well as difficulties in accurately designing and achieving a precise restoring force in push-type buttons.
Innovation Solution
An accessory with a main body featuring a case, a main switch, and an elastic operation portion that includes a middle part and radially extending bent parts to provide a controlled restoring force, along with a communication module and sensor/remote control modules for IoT functionality, allowing compatibility with various IoT standards and precise force adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional electric home appliances are replaced with IoT-enabled appliances, then IoT functions are achieved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements IoT functionality by nesting an accessory device inside existing home appliances rather than replacing the entire appliance. The accessory contains a communication module, sensor module, and controller that work together to provide IoT capabilities while the original appliance continues to function, thus avoiding the high cost of replacement while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory device is designed with multi-functionality to serve various IoT purposes including communication (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), sensing (temperature, humidity, motion), and control functions. This universal design allows a single accessory to provide comprehensive IoT capabilities across different appliance types, reducing overall system cost while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If products with different IoT standards are used, then product variety is increased, but compatibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The accessory incorporates multiple communication modules supporting different IoT standards (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee) within a single device. The controller can selectively activate appropriate communication protocols based on the target device, ensuring compatibility across diverse IoT ecosystems while maintaining product variety and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The accessory acts as an intermediary device between the original appliance and various IoT networks. It translates and adapts communication protocols, enabling seamless integration between appliances with different IoT standards and the broader IoT ecosystem, thus ensuring reliability and compatibility.
3Force
If a spring is used to generate restoring force in a push-type button, then restoring force is provided, but it is difficult to accurately control the restoring force magnitude
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional spring-based mechanical restoring force system with an electromagnetic actuator. The actuator uses electromagnetic fields to generate precise restoring force, allowing for accurate control of force magnitude through electrical parameters rather than mechanical spring constants, thereby achieving manufacturing precision in force control.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic actuator allows dynamic adjustment of restoring force magnitude by changing electrical parameters such as current voltage or pulse width modulation duty cycle. This enables precise control and customization of restoring force without requiring different physical components, achieving high manufacturing precision through parameter variation.
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
Enables the realization of IoT functions without replacing existing appliances, ensures compatibility across different IoT standards, and facilitates precise design of restoring force in push-type buttons, enhancing user experience and commercial success.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic operation portion that is located vertically above the main switch and extends radially outward toward an inner surface of the case, the elastic operation portion being configured to elastically deform downward to thereby push the main switch
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory has a main body that includes a case that defines an external appearance of the main body, a main switch located within the case and configured to be pushed downward, and an elastic operation portion that is located vertically above the main switch and extends radially outward toward an inner surface of the case, the elastic operation portion being configured to elastically deform downward to thereby push the main switch. The elastic operation portion includes a middle part located vertically above the main switch, a first bent part extending radially outward from a first end of the middle part, the first bent part having a first curvature that is convex downward, and a second bent part extending radially outward from a second end of the middle part opposite the first end, the second bent part having a second curvature that is convex downward.