Rotary Input Device Internal Detection for Compact Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices with touch pads, such as those in vehicle center consoles, face challenges in size reduction due to the need for space to accommodate detection components for rotation and pressing operations, which are typically located radially outward.
Innovation Solution
The input device incorporates a hollow support body with an operation knob and a touch pad, where a shaft extends from the operation knob's back surface, linked to rotating and pressing detection portions, and an interlocking shaft connected via a cam mechanism, allowing detection components to be housed within the device's internal space, reducing radial size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detection portions are located radially outward on the peripheral portion of the support body, then rotation and pressing operations can be detected, but the device size increases in the radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the detection portions from the radial direction to the axial direction by positioning them on the front and rear surfaces of the base member, which are parallel to the rotational axis. This dimensional shift allows detection functionality to be achieved without increasing the radial footprint of the device, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection capability and radial size.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection portions are integrated into the base member structure itself, with the front surface detection portion and rear surface detection portion forming part of the base member's layered construction. This nesting approach allows multiple detection functions to be embedded within the existing structural volume rather than adding external components that would increase radial dimensions.
2Device complexity
If a hollow support body is used to accommodate the shaft and detection portions, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the base member: the hollow support body, the shaft support structure, and the detection portion mounting surfaces are all integrated into a single base member component. This merging reduces the total number of parts and assembly steps, thereby reducing device complexity while the unified structure inherently maintains alignment precision without requiring high-precision interfaces between multiple separate components.
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 configuration enables a compact design by housing detection components internally, allowing for a smaller device size while maintaining smooth operation and click mechanism functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a plate-shaped touch pad which is provided on a back side of the top surface portion and detects approach or contact of a finger with respect to the top surface portion
Implementation Method 2
an interlocking shaft connected via a cam mechanism, allowing detection components to be housed within the device's internal space
Data Source
AI summary
A support body (21) holding a touch pad (7) is mounted on a hollow support body (11) of a base member (5), a space (21f) is formed in the base member and extends from its inside to an inside of the hollow support body, a shaft (20g) is provided vertically to an operation knob (20) and extends from a back surface of a top surface portion (20c), the touch pad has a through hole (7a) through which the shaft is inserted into the space, a rotation detection portion (8) detecting rotating movement of an operation body (6) and a pressing detection portion (9) detecting reciprocating movement of the operation body are provided, and, in the space, the shaft is linked to a rotating movement portion making rotation detection movement for the rotation detection portion with rotating movement of the operation body and a pressing movement portion (32b) making pressing detection movement for the pressing detection portion with reciprocating movement of the operation body.