Vehicle Rocker Switch Torque Balancing for Zero-Drift Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle switches face issues with zero drift and shaking due to dimensional deviations during manufacturing, which affect product texture and require either high production costs for accuracy or compromised design for low-end products.

Innovation Solution

A toggle switch design incorporating a pressing rocking bar, push rods, elastic members, and limiting bodies with asymmetric torque distribution and a moving gap to dynamically compensate for dimensional tolerances, ensuring stable positioning and reduced tolerance chains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If strict dimensional control is implemented to ensure switch position accuracy, then product texture and stability are improved, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitch position accuracyVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by creating unequal torque on the pressing rocking bar through different prepressures on the first and second elastic members. The second elastic member exerts greater prepressure than the first, generating asymmetric torque that compensates for dimensional deviations. This asymmetric force distribution ensures the toggle keys remain flush without requiring strict dimensional control of all components, thereby maintaining position accuracy while reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the prepressure parameter of the elastic members to compensate for dimensional deviations. By adjusting the prepressure values of the first and second elastic members (with the second having higher prepressure), the system dynamically compensates for tolerance variations in the toggle switch components. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the switch to maintain accurate positioning without requiring tight dimensional tolerances on all parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If dimensional tolerance is relaxed to reduce production cost, then manufacturing becomes easier, but switch zero drift and shaking occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidswitch position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the elastic members as counterbalancing elements that generate compensatory forces. The first and second elastic members act as counterweights that offset the harmful effects of dimensional deviations. By pre-compressing these elastic members with different forces, the system creates balancing torques that counteract the zero drift and shaking caused by tolerance variations, allowing relaxed dimensional control without sacrificing position accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of dimensional deviations into a beneficial self-compensating mechanism. Instead of trying to eliminate dimensional variations through strict control, the design allows these variations to exist while using asymmetric prepressured elastic members to generate compensatory torques. The dimensional deviations that would normally cause shaking are transformed into a system where the elastic members' asymmetric forces automatically correct the positioning, turning the problem into a solution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If symmetric torque is applied to both ends of the pressing rocking bar, then structural simplicity is maintained, but dimensional deviations cause shaking and zero drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque distribution structureVSAvoidswitch stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry in the torque distribution to the pressing rocking bar. The first elastic member and second elastic member are pre-compressed with different forces, creating unequal torques on either end of the rocking bar. This asymmetric torque distribution is essential for compensating dimensional deviations and preventing shaking. The asymmetry is achieved through different prepressure settings rather than complex structural modifications, maintaining relative simplicity while dramatically improving stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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 stabilizes the switch position, reduces zero drift, and improves product texture by maintaining accuracy without increasing production costs, effectively addressing the issues of zero drift and shaking.

Implementation Method 1

a first elastic member (4) is fixedly arranged and connected to the bottom of the first push rod (2), the second elastic member (5) is fixedly arranged and connected to the bottom of the second push rod (3), prepressures on the second elastic member (5) and the first elastic member (4) enable torque of the second push rod (3) acting on the second end (12) of the pressing rocking bar (1) to be greater than torque of the first push rod (2) acting on the first end (11) of the pressing rocking bar (1)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4033508B1Switch for vehicle and vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 NIO TECH ANHUI CO LTD
  • EP4033508B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4033508B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4033508B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of switches, and particularly provides a switch for a vehicle and a vehicle. The invention aims to solve the problems of switch zero drift and shaking caused by the existence of a dimensional deviation of a switch of an existing vehicle. To this end, the switch according to the invention comprises a pressing rocking bar, a first push rod, a second push rod, a first elastic member, a second elastic member, a first limiting body, a second limiting body, and a housing, wherein the pressing rocking bar is pivotally connected to the housing; the first push rod and the second push rod respectively run through the first limiting body and the second limiting body and abut against bottoms of a first end and a second end of the pressing rocking bar, and the second push rod abuts against the second limiting body; and the first elastic member and the second elastic member are fixedly arranged and respectively connected to bottoms of the first push rod and the second push rod, torque of the second push rod acting on the second end is greater than torque of the first push rod acting on the first end, and a moving gap is reserved between the first limiting body and the first push rod in a pressing direction of the first push rod. Switch shaking is prevented and switch position accuracy is ensured.