Push Button Stroke Limiting With Integrated Housing Stop

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electronic devices with buttons face challenges in preventing overpressing due to the difficulty and high cost of assembling a stopping structure, which requires precise assembly and has limited size and tolerance, potentially damaging the internal switch.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device design where the stopping portion is integrally formed on the housing, with a button featuring extending portions that pass through notches to limit the pressing stroke, eliminating the need for separate assembly and enhancing assembly efficiency and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate stopping structure is assembled to the housing to limit the button pressing stroke, then the button overpressing protection function is achieved, but the assembly complexity increases and assembly costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebutton overpressing protectionVSAvoidassembly procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping structure is merged with the housing to form an integrated component. The stopping portion is directly formed on the housing wall surface, eliminating the need for separate assembly of the stopping structure. This integration reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the button overpressing protection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the housing during housing manufacturing, before the button assembly process. This preliminary formation of the stopping structure eliminates the need for separate assembly operations and reduces assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If a separate stopping structure is assembled to the housing, then the button pressing stroke is limited, but the assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing stroke limitationVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping structure and housing are combined into a single integrated component. The stopping portion is directly formed on the housing wall surface, eliminating the need for separate assembly operations and reducing assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping structure is pre-formed during housing manufacturing, before button assembly. This preliminary formation eliminates the need for separate assembly steps and reduces overall assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the stopping structure size is reduced to match the small button size, then the device compactness is improved, but the assembly tolerance requirement becomes stricter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping structure sizeVSAvoidassembly tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping structure is integrated with the housing, forming a unified component. This integration allows the stopping portion to be precisely positioned relative to the button opening during housing manufacturing, reducing assembly tolerance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping structure is pre-formed with precise dimensions and positioning during housing manufacturing. This preliminary precision formation eliminates the need for tight assembly tolerances during subsequent button assembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If a separate stopping structure is assembled, then the button pressing stroke is controlled, but the assembly cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing stroke controlVSAvoidassembly cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stopping structure is merged with the housing to form an integrated component. This integration eliminates the need for separate stopping structure parts and assembly operations, reducing manufacturing complexity and assembly costs while maintaining pressing stroke control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stopping structure is pre-formed during housing manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate stopping structure components and assembly operations. This reduces part count and assembly complexity, thereby reducing assembly costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3828911B1Push button
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 PEGATRON
  • EP3828911B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3828911B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3828911B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an electronic device, including a housing (10), a button (20), and a switch (30). An opening (12) is formed through a wall surface (11) of the housing (10). The housing (10) has a stopping portion (13) integrally disposed on the wall surface (11) and adjacent to the opening (12), a notch (14) being defined between a part of the stopping portion (13) and the wall surface (11), the notch (14) having a notch height (H). The button (20) is configured to be mounted at the opening (12) and includes a pressing portion (21) and an extending portion (22). The pressing portion (21) is movably accommodated in the opening (12). An end of the extending portion (22) is connected to the pressing portion (21), and the other end is fixed to the wall surface (11). The extending portion (22) movably passes through the notch (14). A thickness (D) of the extending portion (22) passing through the notch (14) is smaller than the notch height (H). A switch (30) is disposed at a position corresponding to the pressing portion (21) in the housing (10).