Integrated Push Button Illumination for Consistent Brightness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The vehicle operation switch's light source configuration on the escutcheon side causes a change in brightness of the illuminated switch knob design portion during push operations, affecting the consistency of illumination.
Innovation Solution
A switch device with a push button that integrates a light source and substrate, ensuring the light source remains fixed relative to the illuminated object, preventing changes in brightness during push operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the light source is mounted on the escutcheon side, then the structure is simplified and easy to manufacture, but the brightness of the illuminated object changes during push operations
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is integrated with the push button assembly rather than being separately mounted on the escutcheon. The light source, light guide, and diffuser are combined into a unit that moves with the push button, ensuring the illumination system remains synchronized with the button position throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system is made dynamic by coupling it to the push button's movement. The light source and light guide are positioned within the push button assembly, allowing them to move together during push operations, thereby maintaining constant distance and consistent brightness.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the light source is fixed on the escutcheon, then the structure is stable, but the distance to the illuminated object changes during push operations causing brightness variation
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is merged with the push button assembly, creating a stable relative position between the light source and the illuminated object. This integration ensures that as the push button moves, the illumination system moves with it, maintaining stable illumination conditions throughout the operation cycle.
3Illumination intensity
If the light source is integrated with the push button, then the brightness remains consistent during push operations, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components (light source, light guide, diffuser) are merged into a single integrated illumination assembly that is incorporated into the push button. This consolidation achieves consistent brightness while minimizing the number of separate parts and assembly steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The push button assembly serves multiple functions: mechanical operation (pushing), positioning (guiding movement along the rail), and illumination (housing the light source and light guide). This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate structures for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution maintains consistent brightness of the illuminated object by keeping the light source distance constant, enhancing the reliability and accuracy of biometric verification and vehicle start/stop operations.
Implementation Method 1
a light source to emit an illumination light from an internal portion of the push button toward the operation surface
Data Source
AI summary
A switch device includes a push button to be displaced in a direction toward a main body by a push operation performed on an operation surface thereof, a light source to emit an illumination light from an internal portion of the push button toward the operation surface, and a first substrate that is arranged in the push button in a state of mounting the light source so as to be displaced integrally with the push button upon the push operation.