Open Button Structure With Tactile Spring Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open buttons in electronic devices lack touch feedback, resulting in a poor user experience due to the inability to provide tactile sensation during pressing.
Innovation Solution
An open button design incorporating a cap, an elastic member, and a touch-sensitive spring, where the cap forms a detachable connection with a cover, allowing the touch-sensitive spring to provide elastic deformation and feedback when pressed, enabling latching and unlatching of the device while offering a tactile experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional open button is used, then the latching and unlatching function is achieved, but no touch feedback is provided to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive spring is nested within the cap structure, with the spring positioned inside the cap's hollow body. This allows the feedback mechanism to be integrated within the existing button components rather than adding separate external elements, providing touch feedback while maintaining compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The touch-sensitive spring acts as an intermediary element between the user's finger and the cap. When the user presses the cap, the spring deforms and provides tactile feedback through its elastic resistance, mediating the interaction and creating the sensation of touch feedback without requiring complex electronic components.
2Reliability
If a touch-sensitive spring is added to provide feedback, then user experience is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is configured to automatically press against the cap and provide rebound force without requiring external power sources or control systems. The touch-sensitive spring self-generates the feedback mechanism through its elastic deformation when compressed, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in the physical parameters of the elastic member, specifically its elastic deformation characteristics. By selecting appropriate material properties and geometric dimensions for the spring, the system achieves reliable touch feedback through passive mechanical parameter changes rather than active control systems.
3Ease of operation
If the cap moves towards the touch-sensitive spring when pressed, then detachable connection is released, but the structure requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static connection to a dynamic interaction when the cap is pressed. The elastic member dynamically adjusts its compression state as the cap moves, allowing the bump to contact the spring and trigger the release mechanism. This dynamic behavior accommodates reasonable variations in manufacturing precision while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-compressed to exert continuous pressure on the cap, creating a force reserve that ensures reliable contact between the bump and touch-sensitive spring during operation. This excessive pre-compression compensates for positioning tolerances and ensures that the latching mechanism activates reliably even with variations in assembly precision.
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 user experience by providing tactile feedback during operation, ensuring a reliable and user-friendly latching and unlatching mechanism with improved performance and ease of mass production.
Implementation Method 1
the touch-sensitive spring can generate elastic deformation when being squeezed
Implementation Method 2
The elastic member presses against the cap, and is configured to provide a rebound force for the cap when the cap moves towards the touch-sensitive spring
Data Source
AI summary
An open button of an electronic device. The open button is configured to be mounted to a second part of the electronic device, and the open button includes a cap, an elastic member, and a touch-sensitive spring. The cap is configured to form a detachable connection with a first part of the electronic device, and the cap has a bump. The touch-sensitive spring and the bump are disposed at a spacing, and the touch-sensitive spring is able to generate elastic deformation when being squeezed. The cap is able to move towards the touch-sensitive spring when being pressed, so that the detachable connection is released, and the bump of the cap squeezes the touch-sensitive spring. The elastic member presses against the cap, and is configured to provide a rebound force for the cap when the cap moves towards the touch-sensitive spring. The first part and the second part that are able to be opened and closed.