Optical Input Actuator with Internal Reflection to Reduce Dirt Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices for electronic devices, such as cooking appliances, face challenges in being simple, easy to clean, and tolerant of contamination while providing user feedback for input operations.
Innovation Solution
An input device with a base and a movable actuator featuring a light source and sensor system with reflection bodies that guide the measurement beam within the material, reducing dirt's influence on reflection quality, combined with magnetic feedback for haptic input detection and a design that minimizes protrusions for easy cleaning and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional optical encoders with external reflection surfaces are used, then the device structure is simple, but dirt on the reflection surface significantly degrades reflection quality and measurement reliability
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the light beam reflect off an external surface, the patent inverts the approach by guiding the light beam to reflect internally within the actuator material itself. The actuator serves as both the moving component and the reflection medium, eliminating the separate reflection surface that accumulates dirt.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator material itself acts as an intermediary medium that guides and reflects the light beam internally. This intermediary function is built into the actuator's material properties and structure, providing stable reflection without requiring external reflective surfaces that are susceptible to contamination.
2Ease of operation
If multiple protruding components are used for input detection, then the detection functionality is comprehensive, but the device is difficult to clean and aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the actuator: it serves as the input interface for rotation detection, contains the internal reflection structures for optical encoding, and provides the outer aesthetic surface. This merging eliminates the need for separate protruding components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it is the user interface for input, the structural element containing optical reflection paths, and the aesthetic outer surface. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components and simplifies cleaning.
3Ease of manufacture
If external reflection surfaces are used in the optical path, then the manufacturing is simple, but contamination easily accumulates on exposed surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional external reflection surfaces to three-dimensional internal light guidance within the actuator volume. The light path is embedded within the actuator's thickness, moving the reflection function from an exposed surface to an internal volume, which is not accessible to contaminants.
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 solution provides reliable input detection with reduced dirt impact and haptic feedback, enhancing user experience and device cleanliness, while maintaining a sleek design.
Implementation Method 1
The base comprises at least one light source for generating a measurement beam and at least one sensor for detecting the reflected measurement beam, and the input actuator comprises a large number of reflection bodies for reflecting the measurement beam onto the sensor
Implementation Method 2
the base has at least one magnet and the input actuator has a plurality of metal sections. In this case, for an input with the input device, a movement path of the metallic sections is defined relative to the magnet and a haptic feedback similar to latching is effected
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to an input device (10) for an electrical device (1) having at least one light source (55) on a base for producing a measurement beam and at least one sensor (58) for detecting the reflected measurement beam. An input actuator (20) comprises a plurality of reflection bodies (42) each having at least one reflection surface (45, 45) for reflecting the measurement beam onto the sensor (58). The measurement beam is reflected within the reflection body.