Press Button Stopper Mechanism for Electronic Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic apparatuses face issues with press buttons sinking excessively, causing operational hindrances and user finger catching due to tolerance-related misalignment of housing edges, leading to aesthetic and functional problems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a stopper mechanism between the press button and circuit board to limit sinking depth and using a pressing portion to align the front board within the housing, preventing finger catching and maintaining a seamless appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the press button is arranged such that the button surface is positioned on substantially the same plane as the panel surface and the panel is formed thinner, then the appearance is improved and expensive material can be used, but the press button sinks more than the depth defined by the thickness of the panel and may be caught by the edge of the hole on the panel, hindering smooth operation
Solution Approach 1:
A stopper member is introduced as an intermediary component between the press button and the circuit board. This stopper member includes a stopper projection that contacts the press button to prevent excessive sinking, while the stopper projection is received by a stopper groove in the circuit board, creating a controlled mechanical interface that resolves the contradiction between thin panel design and button operation smoothness
2Device complexity
If the front edge of the front board is placed on the upper edge of the lower housing, then the structure is simplified, but precise matching in position is difficult to attain due to tolerance, causing user finger to be caught by the front edge of the front board and applying undesirable load to the fixed position
Solution Approach 1:
A pressing portion is designed to preliminarily press the front board in the assembling direction before final fixation. This preliminary action compensates for tolerance variations, ensuring the front edge of the front board is properly positioned within the lower housing to prevent finger catching and reduce undesirable loads on fixed positions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the front board is arranged such that the front edge is located inside the upper edge of the lower housing, then finger catching is prevented, but a gap is caused between the front edge of the front board and the lower housing, deteriorating external appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing portion performs a preliminary action by pressing the front board forward in the assembling direction during assembly. This ensures the front edge of the front board is positioned as far forward as possible within the lower housing, preventing finger catching while minimizing any gap to maintain good external appearance
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide an electronic apparatus capable of smooth operation of a press button, an electronic apparatus includes: an outer panel having a hole in which a press button is fitted and a circuit board placed on a back side of the outer panel; a stopper restricted from moving in the thickness direction of the outer panel is formed between the press button and the circuit board; the stopper is brought into contact with the flange portion formed on an edge of the press button when the press button has moved in the thickness direction of the outer panel.