Modular Push Button Display Panel With Liquid Egress Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive display systems, such as those in the gaming and broadcasting industries, face challenges with assembly, servicing, and protection against liquid spills, which can damage vulnerable components and complicate maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A modular dynamic panel system with push button assemblies that include liquid ingress protection through strategically placed channels and conduits to direct liquids away from vulnerable components, and provide haptic feedback, allowing for easy assembly, replacement, and servicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If push buttons are integrated into the display system, then user interaction capability is improved, but assembly complexity and servicing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The push button assembly is divided into separate modular components including the button element, image conduit, liquid egress channel structure, and housing. These segmented components can be independently manufactured and then assembled together, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining full user interaction functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If push buttons are integrated into the display system, then user interaction capability is improved, but ease of repair and replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The push button assembly is designed as a separate modular unit that can be removed and replaced without dismantling the entire display system. This segmentation enables independent servicing of the button assembly, significantly improving ease of repair while maintaining full user interaction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The push button assembly is extracted as a distinct serviceable component from the main display system. This allows the button assembly to be removed, repaired, or replaced independently without affecting other system components, thereby improving servicing ease.
3Ease of operation
If traditional push button assemblies are used, then user input functionality is provided, but liquid spills can damage vulnerable components
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid egress channel converts the harmful effect of liquid spills into a beneficial drainage function. Instead of allowing liquid to damage vulnerable components, the channel actively directs liquid away from sensitive areas and toward designated egress points, transforming the potential harm into a protective mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid egress channel acts as an intermediary structure between the push button assembly and the internal components. This intermediate feature intercepts and redirects liquid before it can reach vulnerable components, providing protective mediation while maintaining normal user input functionality.
4Reliability
If liquid egress channels are added to push button assemblies, then protection against liquid damage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid egress channel is merged with the housing structure of the push button assembly rather than being added as a separate component. This integration combines the liquid protection function with the existing structural elements, improving reliability against liquid damage while minimizing increases in device complexity.
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 modular design facilitates easy assembly, servicing, and protection against liquid damage, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring system reliability by preventing liquid from entering the assembly and providing tactile feedback to users.
Implementation Method 1
liquid egress channel configured to direct liquid away from vulnerable components
Implementation Method 2
liquid egress channel configured to direct liquid away from vulnerable components and into a liquid retention cavity
Implementation Method 3
image conduit to transmit images from an image generation or display element to a visible area of the button
Data Source
AI summary
A dynamic panel system for user interaction through visual displays, touchscreens, and selectable buttons is provided. The dynamic panel system may be part of an interactive system that include push buttons having an image conduit to transmit images from an image generation or display element to a visible area of the button. The push button assemblies may contain liquid ingresses configured to direct liquids away from vulnerable components and into a liquid retention cavity, or may be configured such that liquid is returned to a top panel surface of the dynamic panel system. The push button assemblies may further be configured such that liquid is prevented from entering into the assembly at all. The components may be provided in a modular configuration, allowing for easy assembly, replacement, repair, and cleaning.