Rockable Switch Device Driving Body Speed Amplification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing switch devices for power windows and parking brakes with rockable operating bodies operate at a low speed, leading to potential time differences in switching contacts, which can result in erroneous abnormality detection, even when there is no actual issue.

Innovation Solution

A switch device design where the driving body is made rockable relative to the operating body, with specific rotating portions and holding structures allowing for a higher pressing speed of the switch element by optimizing the distances between operational and rotational positions, enabling faster switching operations within dimensional limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the driving body operates at high speed to press the switch element, then the switching operation reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for multiple rotating portions and optimized distance ratios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching operation reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The operating body is divided into multiple functional sections: a first rotating portion for input operation, a rocking portion for motion transformation, and a second rotating portion for output delivery. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently for its specific function, enabling high-speed switching while maintaining overall system manageability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the simple rotational motion into a complex rocking motion that incorporates both rotational and translational components. By introducing this intermediate rocking motion dimension, the system achieves speed amplification from the first rotating portion to the second rotating portion, improving switching reliability without direct high-speed rotation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the distances between rotating portions and operational positions are optimized to increase driving body speed, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to specific structural requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching operation speedVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific geometric parameters including the distance between the first rotating portion and the rocking portion, the distance between the second rotating portion and the pressing position, and the angle of the rocking portion. These parameter changes enable speed amplification while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The rocking portion serves as an intermediary mechanism between the first rotating portion and the second rotating portion. It transforms and amplifies the motion from the input side to the output side, enabling high-speed switching without requiring the entire device to be complex

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This design ensures reliable and rapid switching of contacts, reducing the likelihood of erroneous abnormality detection by allowing the driving body to operate at a higher speed than the operating body, thus improving operational efficiency and accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a rockable operating body (2) held in a case (1) and made rockable about a first rotating portion (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRocking motion: Pendulum

Implementation Method 2

a rockable driving body (3) held with respect to the case (1) by a second rotating portion (30) apart by predetermined distance from a position where the pressing portion (32) presses the switch element (4)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRocking motion: Pendulum

Data Source

PatentEP2492940B1Switch Device
Publication Date: 2016.07.20 ALPS ALPINE CO LTD
  • EP2492940B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2492940B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The switch device includes a rockable operating body (2) rockably held in a case (1), a driving body (3) held within the case (1) and made rockable by the operating body (20), and a switch element (4) pressed by the driving body (3). The rockable operating body (2) is held with respect to the case (1) by a first rotating portion (2) apart by a predetermined distance from a position (22a) where the operating body (2) is operated. The rockable driving body (3) is held with respect to the case (1) by a second rotating portion (30) apart by predetermined distance from a position where the driving body presses the switch element (4). A rocking portion (16) that makes the operating body (2) and the driving body (3) rockable relative to each other between the first rotating portion (20) and the second rotating portion (30) is constituted by the operating body (2) and the driving body (3).