Mouse Switch Tolerance Compensation via Slidable Element
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mouse devices often experience issues with empty stroke or excessive pre-pressing problems due to production and assembly tolerances, leading to noise and adverse tactile feedback during button press operations.
Innovation Solution
A mouse device design incorporating a middle frame with a hook, a switch, a button plate with a pressing rod, a slidable element, and an elastic element, where the slidable element is made of high lubricity and wear-resistant materials, and a buffering pad is used to absorb tolerances and reduce friction, ensuring proper contact and preventing premature switch activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the button plate is continuously contacted with the switch, then the switch is excessively pushed causing adverse tactile feedback or unexpected pressing signals, but if the button plate is not continuously contacted with the switch, then empty stroke occurs causing noise and collision
Solution Approach 1:
A slidable element is introduced as an intermediary component between the button plate and the switch. This slidable element can move relative to both components, absorbing the discrepancy in contact positioning caused by tolerances. It ensures continuous contact between the button plate and switch while preventing excessive pushing, thereby eliminating noise and collision without causing empty stroke.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable element changes the relative positioning parameters between the button plate and switch. By allowing controlled movement along the pressing direction, it adjusts the contact state to maintain optimal pressure transmission while preventing both empty stroke and excessive pre-pressing, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
2Ease of manufacture
If production and assembly tolerances are present, then manufacturing is easier and cost is lower, but empty stroke or excessive pre-pressing problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable element introduces dynamic adjustment capability to the otherwise static assembly. It can move freely within certain limits to compensate for tolerance variations, allowing the system to adapt to different manufacturing precision levels without requiring tight tolerances, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving precise contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable element automatically compensates for tolerance accumulation through its own movement, without requiring external adjustment mechanisms or complex calibration processes. This self-compensating feature maintains contact precision while keeping the manufacturing process simple and cost-effective.
3Ease of operation
If the switch is excessively pushed by the button plate, then the tactile feel is adversely affected, but if the button plate is not continuously contacted with the switch, then empty stroke occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable element serves as a mediator that transmits pressure from the button plate to the switch while maintaining continuous contact. It ensures that the button plate remains continuously contacted with the switch, preventing empty stroke, while simultaneously preventing excessive pushing that would adversely affect tactile feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable element provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing excess pressure before it reaches the switch. This cushioning effect prevents excessive pre-pressing that would degrade tactile feedback, while still maintaining continuous contact to prevent empty stroke, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
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 effectively reduces empty stroke and excessive pre-pressing issues, enhancing user experience by minimizing noise and improving tactile feedback while maintaining low production costs and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic element is disposed within the second sleeve. Consequently, the receiving groove is upwardly pushed against the first hook and the second sleeve is downwardly pushed against the triggering part of the switch.
Implementation Method 2
The slidable element is made of a material with high lubricity and high wear resistance.
Data Source
AI summary
A mouse device includes a middle frame, a switch, a button plate, a slidable element and an elastic element. The middle frame includes an opening part and a first hook. The first hook is located beside the opening part. The switch is fixed at a position under the middle frame. The switch includes a triggering part. The button plate is located over the middle frame. The button plate includes a pressing rod. The pressing rod is penetrated downwardly through the opening part. The pressing rod includes a receiving groove and a first sleeve. The receiving groove is located over the first sleeve. The first sleeve includes a perforation. The slidable element includes a second sleeve and a second hook. The second sleeve is installed within the first sleeve. The second hook is engaged with the perforation. The elastic element is disposed within the second sleeve.