Rocker Switch Protrusion for Safe Window Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window lift switches in motor vehicles pose a risk of accidental closure and injury due to faulty operation, leading to unclear and unsafe operability.
Innovation Solution
A rocker switch design with a switch housing allowing the rocker lever to be adjusted from an initial position against a restoring force into a switch-on position, where the lever's surface is flush in the initial position and protrudes in the switch-on position, providing a clear 'pulling-out' impression and facilitating safe operation by aligning the operating surface horizontally or diagonally, and allowing a dipping-in motion for controlling window lifter movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the rocker lever surface remains flush with the surrounding areas in all positions, then a uniform appearance is achieved, but the user cannot clearly perceive the switch movement and its correlation with window lifter movements
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker lever surface is designed to protrude locally from the operating surface only in the switch-on position, while remaining flush in the initial position. This localized change in geometry provides visual feedback about the switch state without compromising the overall uniform appearance of the switch bank when all switches are in their initial positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses changes in the spatial position (protrusion) of the rocker lever surface as a visual indicator, analogous to color changes. The protruding surface creates a visible distinction between switched and unswitched states, allowing users to perceive the correlation between switch movement and window lifter movements.
2Loss of information
If the rocker lever surface protrudes in the switch-on position, then user perception of switch movement is enhanced, but the appearance uniformity of the switch bank is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion is limited to the rocker lever surface itself, while the surrounding switch housing and other switch components maintain their original positions. This localized modification ensures that only the active switch displays the protrusion, preserving the overall uniform appearance of the switch bank when viewed as a complete assembly.
3Ease of operation
If the operating surface is oriented horizontally, then the pulling-out impression is enhanced for intuitive control, but the switch design becomes less adaptable to different mounting configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows the operating surface to be oriented in different directions (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) depending on the mounting configuration requirements. The rocker lever's protruding surface maintains its functional relationship with the operating surface regardless of orientation, enabling the same design to provide intuitive pulling-out impressions in various mounting scenarios.
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
Ensures clear and safe operability of window lift switches by enhancing user perception of the switch movement's correlation with window lifter movements, preventing collisions and allowing intuitive control of window opening and closing functions.
Implementation Method 1
a rocker lever can be adjusted from an initial position against a restoring force into a switch-on position
Data Source
AI summary
A rocker switch, particularly a window lift switch in a motor vehicle, has a switch housing in which a rocker lever can be adjusted from an initial position, against a restoring force, into a switch-on position. The rocker lever is disposed in the switch housing on one side. In the initial position, its surface forming the free end of the rocker lever is approximately flush with the surrounding areas of the switch housing, and, in the switch-on position, this surface protrudes out from the surrounding areas.