Magnetic Slide Switch Structure for Waterproof Oral Irrigators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral irrigators face issues with inadequate waterproofing, leading to water ingress and air leakage due to inadequate encapsulation or malfunctioning spring-type touch switches.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof oral irrigator design featuring a sliding recess with a push switch equipped with a magnetic element and Hall elements, allowing for precise control without gaps on the surface, enhancing waterproof performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If secondary encapsulation is performed to achieve higher waterproof level, then waterproofness is improved, but water ingress and air leakage occur due to inadequate encapsulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical spring-type touch switch with a magnetic field-based detection system using Hall elements. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical contact and encapsulation, achieving waterproofing without the reliability issues of inadequate sealing. The magnetic field sensing mechanism detects button presses through the housing wall without requiring physical penetration or sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the push button and the detection system. The magnetic field penetrates the housing material to transmit the pressing action to the Hall elements, serving as a mediator that enables control functionality while maintaining the integrity of the waterproof housing structure.
2Reliability
If spring-type touch switch is used to achieve waterproof structure, then waterproofness is improved, but the switch becomes invalid and commands cannot be judged when button has water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the spring-type mechanical touch switch with a magnetic field-based detection system. The Hall elements detect the position and pressing state of the push button through magnetic field changes, eliminating the need for mechanical contact. This substitution ensures the switch remains functional even when water is present on the button surface, as magnetic field detection is not affected by water contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field serves as an intermediary that transmits the button pressing action to the Hall elements through the housing material. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to detect button presses without direct mechanical or electrical contact, ensuring reliable operation even when water is present on the button surface.
3Device complexity
If point contact form switch is used, then device complexity is reduced, but waterproofness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple point contact switch with a magnetic field-based detection system using Hall elements. While this increases the technological complexity of the switching mechanism, it eliminates the need for complex encapsulation structures and ensures reliable waterproofing. The magnetic field detection system achieves waterproofing without requiring physical penetration or sealing of the housing.
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 significantly improves waterproofness and ensures reliable operation by preventing water ingress and maintaining functional control through magnetic and Hall element interactions.
Implementation Method 1
the control circuit board is provided with a plurality of Hall elements, the plurality of Hall elements being sequentially disposed at intervals along a sliding direction of the push switch
Data Source
AI summary
A waterproof oral irrigator including an oral irrigator housing which is provided with a sliding recess on an outer wall thereof; a push switch slidably fitted with the sliding recess and provided with a magnetic element; and a control circuit board arranged inside the oral irrigator housing and being provided with a plurality of Hall elements. A plurality of Hall elements are sequentially disposed at intervals along a sliding direction of a push switch. When the push switch slides along the sliding recess, the magnetic element can be driven to move to positions sensed by the plurality of Hall elements in sequence. Since the outer wall of the oral irrigator housing is provided with the sliding recess, and the sliding recess is not communicated with the interior of the oral irrigator, so that the waterproof performance of the oral irrigator can be greatly improved.