Removable Pistol Grip Module for Data Capture Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld data-capture devices often suffer from user discomfort and fatigue due to the rotated-wrist orientation, and existing solutions with integral or add-on pistol grips face challenges in providing a robust mechanical and electrical connection, as well as high replacement costs for depleted battery units.
Innovation Solution
A removable pistol-grip module with a battery-powered active frame that couples to hand-held data-capture devices, offering a mechanical and electrical interface for power and signal transmission, allowing for easy reconfiguration between grip and non-grip implementations, and enabling cost-effective battery replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an add-on pistol grip is provided, then user comfort and ergonomics are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to additional mechanical and electrical connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pistol grip is separated from the main device body into an independent module that can be attached or detached. This segmentation allows the grip to be designed and manufactured separately, reducing the complexity of the main device while still providing ergonomic benefits when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The pistol grip module is designed to be compatible with multiple different devices through a standardized coupling mechanism. This universal design allows the same grip module to serve multiple functions across different device types, reducing overall system complexity and manufacturing costs.
2Ease of operation
If an add-on pistol grip is provided, then user comfort and ergonomics are improved, but the mechanical connection robustness deteriorates due to the removable nature of the grip
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism incorporates dynamic elements such as spring-loaded connectors and resilient latches that automatically engage and lock when the grip is attached. These dynamic features ensure a robust mechanical connection that maintains strength during use while still allowing easy removal when needed.
3Ease of operation
If an add-on pistol grip is provided, then user comfort and ergonomics are improved, but the electrical connection reliability deteriorates due to the removable nature of the grip
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system uses spring-loaded contacts that maintain constant pressure between mating surfaces, ensuring reliable electrical connection during use. The spring mechanism compensates for manufacturing tolerances and wear over time, maintaining connection reliability throughout the product lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
A connector assembly serves as an intermediary between the grip and device body, providing dedicated electrical contact points. This intermediary structure protects the electrical contacts and ensures stable connection through precise mechanical alignment and resilient contact pressure.
4Ease of operation
If dedicated data-capture devices with integral pistol grips are used, then user comfort is improved, but the cost increases significantly when battery replacement is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The pistol grip module is designed as a separable unit with its own battery, allowing the battery to be replaced independently of the main device. This segmentation enables cost-effective battery replacement by allowing users to swap only the grip module rather than the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows the pistol grip module with depleted battery to be discarded or sent for battery recovery, while the main device is retained. This approach recovers the value of the expensive device body while replacing only the inexpensive grip module, significantly reducing replacement costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A pistol-grip module includes a handle and a coupling member that is configured to couple, mechanically and electrically, to a battery compartment of an active frame. The active frame, which includes at least one electrically powered device, is intended to receive a data-capture device, such as a smart phone. In versions of the pistol-grip module that include a trigger, the trigger can be used to actuate the electrically powered device of the active frame.