Rolling-ball switch with segmented housing for reliable tilting detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ball-vibration switches are not reliable due to small, lightweight conductive balls that may not contact all terminals simultaneously, leading to unreliable operation and are limited to vibration-sensing applications, failing to detect tilting of electronic appliances effectively.
Innovation Solution
A rolling-ball switch design with a housing featuring two receiving sections, a separating member, and two conductive balls that roll towards pairs of terminals, ensuring simultaneous contact and preventing movement between sections, enhancing reliability and enabling tilting detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a small, lightweight conductive ball is used in a conventional ball-vibration switch, then the switching operation becomes highly sensitive, but the conductive ball may not contact all terminals simultaneously, leading to unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the single-ball system into multiple independent conductive balls (first conductive ball and second conductive ball), each responsible for contacting specific terminals. This segmentation ensures that each ball can reliably contact its designated terminals while maintaining overall switching sensitivity, resolving the contradiction between sensitivity and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional ball-vibration switch is used, then vibration sensing is achieved, but the switch cannot detect tilting of electronic appliances
Solution Approach 1:
The invention designs the switch housing with multiple receiving spaces and conductive balls that can respond to different types of external forces. The first and second conductive balls are positioned to detect both vibration and tilting forces, making the switch universal for multiple detection purposes while maintaining reliable operation through the multi-ball contact mechanism.
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 significantly reduces conduction failure rates, achieving reliable ON/OFF switching and allowing detection of both tilting and orientation changes, thus expanding applicability beyond vibration-sensing to various electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive balls are rollable toward the respective pairs of the first and second terminals in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling-ball switch includes a housing defining at least two receiving sections, at least one separating member provided in the housing between the two receiving sections, at least two conductive balls disposed rollably and respectively in the receiving sections, a pair of first terminals extending into one of the receiving sections to contact one of the conductive balls, and a pair of second terminals extending into the other one of the receiving sections to contact the other one of the conductive balls. The conductive balls are rollable toward the respective pairs of the first and second terminals in a first direction. The separating member prevents movement of the conductive balls from one of the receiving sections to the other one of the receiving sections.