Optical Pushbutton Panel Layout for Close-Spaced Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pushbuttons that require force actuation, such as capacitive, inductive, and piezoelectric types, face challenges in manufacturing and assembly due to high accuracy requirements and tolerance constraints, making it difficult to position them closely and simplify design and logistics.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a cover plate, a carrier plate, and a partition plate, where sensors detect changes in distance between the cover plate's operating sections, and a detachable structural unit simplifies assembly and allows closer positioning of pushbuttons while maintaining reliable actuation detection, using a combination of elastic deformability and electromagnetic radiation for detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If capacitive, inductive, or piezoelectric pushbuttons are used for force actuation, then reliable actuation detection is achieved, but manufacturing and assembly accuracy requirements become excessively high with small tolerance ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pushbutton structures (capacitive, inductive, or piezoelectric elements) with a simple elastic cover plate and optical sensor system. The cover plate's elastic deformation under force actuation changes the optical path distance, which is detected by sensors without requiring high manufacturing precision. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable detection while dramatically reducing tolerance requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from electrical properties (capacitance, inductance, piezoelectric effect) to optical distance measurement. By measuring the change in distance between the cover plate and sensor through optical means, the system achieves reliable actuation detection with much more relaxed manufacturing tolerances compared to electrical sensing methods.
2Area of stationary object
If pushbuttons are positioned closely together, then space efficiency is improved, but separation and independent actuation detection become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflector plate as an intermediary element between the cover plate and sensors. This reflector plate, with its reflective surface, enables each sensor to detect only the optical path from its corresponding cover plate section, preventing cross-interference even when pushbuttons are closely positioned. This intermediary allows close spacing while maintaining independent detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the optical dimension (light reflection paths) as a new layer of separation. By using optical paths at different angles and the reflector plate to guide these paths, the system creates virtual separation between closely positioned pushbuttons, allowing them to be physically close while maintaining independent detection through spatially resolved optical measurement.
3Device complexity
If design components and technical components are integrated, then structural simplicity is achieved, but manufacturing, assembly, and logistics complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the operating device into separate functional modules: a design component (cover plate with operating sections) and a technical component (support plate with sensors and reflector plate). This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured, tested, and assembled independently, reducing overall manufacturing and assembly complexity despite the device's functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the technical sensing components (sensors, reflector plate, support plate) from the design component (cover plate). This extraction allows the technical subsystem to be pre-assembled and tested separately, then integrated with the design component, thereby reducing manufacturing and assembly complexity while maintaining functional integration in the final product.
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
This design simplifies manufacturing and assembly, allows for closer positioning of pushbuttons, reduces crosstalk, and tolerates larger component tolerances, enabling easier logistics and independent design of the control panel from technical components.
Implementation Method 1
the cover plate defines a number of separate operating sections and is designed to be elastically deformable and/or movable in these operating sections
Implementation Method 2
a number of sensors which are arranged on the support plate and are designed and arranged such that they can each detect a change in distance to the cover plate
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An operating device for electronic household appliances includes a cover plate (10) with a user side (10a) facing a user, wherein the cover plate (10) defines a number of operating sections (12) separated from one another and is configured to be elastically deformable and/or moveable in said operating sections (12); a support plate (14) which is arranged on the side of the cover plate (10) facing away from the user side (10a) and spaced apart from same; a number of sensors (16, 18) which are arranged on the support plate (14) and are arranged and configured in such a way that they can each detect a change of distance to the cover plate (10) in the area of one of the number of operating sections (12) of the cover plate (10); and a separating plate (26) which is arranged on the side of the cover plate (10) facing away from the user side (10a) and has support walls (28) contacting the cover plate in the areas between the number of operating sections (12) of the cover plate (10).