Pivoting Printed Circuit Board Hinge for Domestic Electrical Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional domestic electrical installations with push buttons require multiple parts, leading to increased complexity and production costs during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A printed circuit design featuring a main section with a push button that pivots around a flexible or mechanical hinge connection section, allowing the push button to be brought into operating contact with a housing projection, reducing the number of parts and simplifying assembly by forming the connection section with a thinner thickness through milling, and optionally incorporating a capacitive sensor for user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional push button design with multiple parts is used, then the device can be assembled with standard components, but the number of parts increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the push button, connection section, and hinge into a single integrated printed circuit board structure. The connection section is formed as an integral part of the PCB with reduced thickness to create a flexible hinge, eliminating the need for separate hinge components and reducing the total number of parts while maintaining push button functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The printed circuit board serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical connections, structural support, and the hinge mechanism for pivoting. The connection section acts both as an electrical conductor and as a mechanical hinge, reducing the need for dedicated hinge parts and simplifying the overall device structure.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are used for push button assembly, then each component can be optimized independently, but production costs increase due to multiple parts
Solution Approach 1:
The push button assembly is merged into a single PCB structure where the button, connection section, and hinge are formed as one integrated component. This reduces production costs by eliminating the need to manufacture and assemble multiple separate parts, while the localized thickness reduction maintains the necessary pivoting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the connection section is locally reduced compared to the main body of the PCB. This parameter change creates the flexible hinge region that allows pivoting motion, enabling push button operation without requiring separate mechanical hinge components, thus reducing production costs.
3Device complexity
If a flexible connection section with reduced thickness is used, then the number of parts is reduced and assembly is simplified, but the structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connection section has a different thickness (reduced) compared to the main body of the PCB, creating a localized flexible region. This local quality change allows the connection section to bend and pivot while the main body maintains its full structural strength. The reduced thickness is sufficient for hinge functionality while the broader PCB structure provides overall structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection section acts as a flexible element within the rigid PCB structure. By reducing the thickness of this specific region, it can bend and pivot to enable hinge functionality, while the overall PCB structure maintains its structural integrity. The flexible connection section is supported by the surrounding rigid PCB material.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board (10) for an electrical device (100) in a domestic electrical installation, said electrical device (100) comprising a housing (110) having a projection (112) and a connection area, said printed circuit board (10) comprising a first face, a main section (20) and a connecting section (30), said main section comprising a push button (22) arranged on the first face, said connecting section forming a hinge (32) adapted to be connected to the connection area of the housing (110) so as to allow the main section to pivot around the hinge to bring the push button into an operating position against the projection (112) of the housing (110). The present invention also relates to an electrical device (100) comprising such a printed circuit board (10) and a method for mounting such an electrical device (100).