Rotary Knob Switch Cutout to Prevent Battery Drain in Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle operation devices face increased current consumption and dark currents when the rotary knob is left in a pushed state, leading to battery capacity depletion due to continuous communication processing.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle operation device with a rotating body and switch configuration that includes a contact portion with a cutout portion and inclined surfaces to prevent the switch from being pressed when the rotary knob is in an intermediate range, allowing it to freely advance and retreat between pushed and unpushed states, thereby avoiding continuous communication processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotary knob is left in a pushed state in an intermediate range, then the switch continuously presses and communication processing continues, but current consumption increases and battery capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic continuous contact area by creating a cutout portion in the contact portion of the rotary knob. This removes the ability of the rotary knob to continuously press the switch when left in intermediate positions, thereby eliminating the source of continuous current consumption while preserving the intended temporary pushed-state functionality at specific rotation positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion of the rotary knob is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cutout portion that prevents switch contact in intermediate ranges, and contact surfaces that enable switch pressing only at specific rotation positions (OFF and ON positions). This segmentation ensures that the switch is activated only when intentionally positioned, not when left in intermediate states.
2Ease of operation
If the rotary knob can freely advance and retreat in pushed state, then operation flexibility is improved, but the switch may be continuously pressed causing dark current increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a cutout portion specifically in the radial direction of the contact portion, while maintaining full contact capability in other directions. This localized modification allows the rotary knob to freely advance and retreat (maintaining operational flexibility) while preventing continuous switch pressing (reducing dark current) by eliminating contact only where the switch is positioned during intermediate rotation states.
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary knob that rotates in a pushed state includes an extending portion extending in a rotation direction of the rotary knob, and the extending portion includes a cutout portion cut out so as to prevent a first switch that detects that the rotary knob is pushed in from being pressed in a case where the rotary knob is in an intermediate range in which the rotary knob is in a pushed state.