Rotary Switch Elastic Support for Stable Tactile Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotary switches experience significant shaking and vibration during rotation, offer a coarse tactile and auditory feedback, are difficult to fine-tune for torque, prone to deformation and cracking, and have reduced durability due to design limitations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fixing body with a rotating body that includes a first elastic ring and a leaf spring, providing axial and radial support through elastic protrusions and a bracket with inclined support plates, which minimizes clearance and enhances rotational stability and sound feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a space is formed in the rotating body in the longitudinal and transverse directions, then the rotating body can rotate, but shaking and vibration are relatively large during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation capabilityVSAvoidshaking and vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a first elastic body as an intermediary component between the rotating body and the fixing body. This elastic body fills the space in the longitudinal direction and provides elastic support, reducing shaking and vibration while allowing rotation to occur. The intermediary element mediates between the need for rotation space and the need for stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the leaf spring and rotating body are supported only by the fixing body and cover, then the structure is simple, but durability is relatively degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoiddurability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enhances durability by adding support in another dimension - the first elastic body provides support in the longitudinal dimension, complementing the existing cover support. This multi-dimensional support system distributes stresses more effectively without significantly increasing structural complexity, thereby improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 improves rotational operation feeling and sound quality, allows for precise torque adjustment, prevents deformation, and increases durability by reducing vibration and stress on components.

Implementation Method 1

a first elastic body positioned under the cover to make contact with the protrusion, which is formed in the rotating body in the shaft direction, while rotating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second elastic body positioned under the cover to make contact with the protrusion, which is formed in the rotating body in the radial direction, while rotating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3624162B1Rotary switch
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3624162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3624162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3624162B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A rotary switch includes a fixing body 30, a rotating body 100 received in the fixing body 30 to be rotatable, a cover 20 coupled to an upper portion of the fixing body, a first elastic body 200 and a second elastic body 60 both positioned under the cover 20 to make contact with protrusions 130, 140 formed on the rotating body. The protrusions 130, 140 of the rotating body 100 protrude in a side direction and radial direction of the rotating body to improve a rotational operation feeling and the quality of a rotational sound.