Metal Bracket for Electronic Device Stability and Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices, such as smart speakers and docking stations, used in kitchens for cooking tasks, often lack stability and robustness, leading to potential damage from being bumped into while in use.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cylindrical main body with elevated speaker drivers oriented towards the ground for improved audio quality and protection, along with a metal bracket providing structural integrity, electromagnetic shielding, and a detachable back support for user devices, enhancing stability and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electronic device is placed on the worktop for easy access and use, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability and robustness deteriorate, making it susceptible to damage from being bumped into
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into a main body and a separate back support that can be detached. The back support can be removed when not needed, reducing the overall footprint and allowing the main body to be more stable on the worktop. This segmentation allows the device to adapt between different usage scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The back support is designed to be detachable and reattachable, transforming the device from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the device to change its configuration based on usage needs - with the back support attached for stability during cooking, and detached for easier placement and reduced profile.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the main body is elevated from the ground to protect from liquids and improve audio quality, then the protection from liquids and audio quality are improved, but the stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A metal bracket is introduced as an intermediary structural element between the main body and the worktop. This bracket provides a stable connection that allows the main body to be elevated for liquid protection and audio quality while maintaining overall device stability through the bracket's rigid connection to the worktop surface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a back support is added to hold user devices, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The back support is designed to be universal and detachable, serving multiple functions: providing support for user devices during cooking, creating an adjustable viewing angle, and reducing the overall profile when detached. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing versatile capabilities that can be activated or deactivated based on needs.
4Reliability
If the speaker drivers are oriented towards the ground to improve audio quality, then the audio quality is improved, but the protection from liquids deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The speaker drivers are oriented in a different spatial dimension - towards the ground rather than forward or upward. This dimensional reorientation allows the audio output to be directed downward for improved quality while the main body remains elevated for liquid protection, resolving the conflict between audio orientation and liquid protection.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1c
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
An electronic device (100), in particular a docking station (100) and/or a smart speaker, is described, wherein the electronic device (100) comprises a main body (106) which comprises an acoustic chamber with one or more speaker drivers (108, 107) for rendering an audio signal. The electronic device (100) further comprises a panel-shaped front foot (105) which extends downwards from the main body (106) at a front side of the electronic device (100), and a panel-shaped rear foot (111) which extends downwards from the main body (106) at a rear side of the electronic device (100). Furthermore, the electronic device (100) comprises an electronics housing (121) which is located below the panel-shaped front foot (105) and the panel-shaped rear foot (111), such that the panel-shaped front foot (105) and the panel-shaped rear foot (111) form a roof for the electronics housing (121). In addition, the electronic device (100) comprises a metal bracket (200) which is located within the electronics housing (121), and an electronics board which is attached to the metal bracket (200).