Pivotable Support Tray for Tactile Feedback and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices with touch-sensitive displays face challenges in providing effective tactile feedback due to limited space, which can lead to user input errors and dissatisfaction, while also requiring improved sealing to prevent dust ingress.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable support tray with an actuator that constrains the touch-sensitive display within the housing, providing controlled movement and tactile feedback upon depression, enhancing user interaction and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a touch-sensitive display is used in a portable electronic device, then the device size can be reduced and portability improved, but tactile feedback is insufficient leading to user input errors
Solution Approach 1:
A support tray is introduced as an intermediary component between the touch-sensitive display and the housing. The support tray provides a physical pivot mechanism that mediates the interaction between the user's touch input and the display, enabling tactile feedback through controlled pivoting motion while maintaining the compact form factor of the portable device.
2Ease of operation
If the support tray is made movable to provide tactile feedback, then user interaction is enhanced, but sealing is compromised allowing dust ingress
Solution Approach 1:
A seal member in the form of a flexible strip is used to bridge the gap between the movable support tray and the stationary housing. This flexible seal maintains the protective sealing while accommodating the pivoting motion of the support tray, preventing dust ingress during user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The support tray is designed to pivot dynamically between a retracted position (when not in use) and an extended position (during user interaction). This dynamic positioning allows the tray to provide tactile feedback when needed while minimizing exposure gaps that could allow dust ingress when not actively being used.
3Ease of operation
If tactile feedback is added to the touch-sensitive display, then user satisfaction improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support tray combines multiple functions into a single structural element: it provides mechanical support for the touch-sensitive display, enables tactile feedback through pivoting motion, and works with the seal member to maintain environmental protection. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity compared to adding separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a housing, a touch-sensitive display exposed by the housing, a support tray disposed between the touch-sensitive display and a base within the housing and supporting the touch-sensitive display on a first side thereof, the support tray including at least one pivot projecting from a second side of support tray, on which the support tray is pivotable, and an actuator disposed between the base and the support tray and actuatable by pivoting the support tray.