Push Button Air Nozzle Control Mechanism with Haptic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air nozzle control mechanisms in vehicles are difficult to adjust, often requiring attention away from driving and are not aesthetically integrated, lacking haptic feedback and complexity in design.
Innovation Solution
A user-actuated air nozzle control mechanism using a push button with a mechanical actuating mechanism, comprising pinions and gear racks, providing haptic feedback and efficient control of air flow without the need for electric or electromechanical components, allowing for a minimalist and aesthetically appealing design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a control wheel is used to control the air flow control valve, then the valve can be adjusted to different positions, but the mechanism is difficult to adjust and lacks haptic feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional control wheel mechanism with a push-button actuating mechanism. This substitution simplifies the mechanical structure by eliminating the need for a rotary control wheel while providing tactile feedback through the push-button's actuation sequence. The push-button directly actuates the flow control valve through a mechanical linkage, reducing overall mechanism complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The push-button mechanism provides haptic feedback to the user through its actuating sequence. As the button is pressed and released, it generates tactile responses that inform the user of the valve's position changes without requiring visual attention. This feedback mechanism improves ease of operation by allowing drivers to control air flow intuitively while keeping their eyes on the road.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional control wheels are integrated in interior structures, then control function is provided, but aesthetic integration is compromised and surface footprint is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function from the traditional large control wheel into a compact push-button mechanism. This segmentation allows the control feature to be integrated into existing interior structures such as dashboard vents or door panels without requiring additional space. The push-button can be embedded within the interior surface, maintaining aesthetic integration while minimizing surface footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The push-button actuating mechanism is designed to be nested within the interior structure of the vehicle. The button can be recessed into the dashboard or door panel, with its actuation mechanism housed within the existing structural space. This nesting approach allows the control function to be incorporated without increasing the overall surface area or compromising the aesthetic design of the interior.
3Extent of automation
If electric or electromechanical components are used for control, then automation is improved, but energy consumption increases and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The push-button actuating mechanism operates purely mechanically without requiring electrical power. The button's physical actuation directly translates to valve position changes through mechanical linkages, eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or electronic control systems. This self-service mechanical system reduces energy consumption to zero while maintaining sufficient automation for the control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes electric or electromechanical control systems with a pure mechanical push-button actuating mechanism. By replacing motors and electronic components with direct mechanical linkages, the system eliminates energy consumption associated with electrical systems while reducing design complexity. The mechanical advantage provided by the linkage system ensures efficient force transmission from the push-button to the flow control valve.
Data Source
AI summary
A user-actuated control mechanism that controls airflow to an air nozzle device in a vehicle includes a push button, an actuating mechanism, and a flow control valve. The button, in a first actuating sequence, translates from an initial position to an end position and back to the initial position, so that the mechanical actuating mechanism displaces the control valve from an open position to a closed position. In a second actuating sequence, the button translates from the initial position to the end position and back to the initial position, so that the mechanical actuating mechanism displaces the flow control valve from the closed position to the open position. The valve is displaced in both sequences when the button is translated from the initial position to the end position, or is displaced in both sequences when the button is translated from the end position to the initial position.