Rubber Cover for Push Switch Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing push switches generate vibration and sound when the metallic spring plate is pressed due to the interaction between the spring plate and the substrate or motherboard, which is not effectively mitigated by current designs.

Innovation Solution

A switch component comprising a metallic spring plate with protrusions and a rubber cover that supports these protrusions, where the rubber cover covers part of the spring plate's upper surface and outer edge, absorbing sound and minimizing vibration by creating a gap that reduces the inverting sound of the spring plate when pressed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the metallic spring plate is pressed against the substrate or motherboard, then the push switch achieves electrical contact and mechanical support, but vibration and sound are generated due to the interaction between the spring plate and the substrate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact reliabilityVSAvoidvibration and sound

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A rubber cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the metallic spring plate and the substrate. The rubber cover includes supporting portions that contact the spring plate while the main body covers the spring plate, creating a rubber-based intermediary layer that reduces direct metal-to-substrate contact and thereby diminishes vibration and sound generation during pressing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The supporting portions of the rubber cover are designed with specific geometric parameters including a first curvature radius at the contact surface with the spring plate and a second curvature radius at the outer peripheral edge. By optimizing these curvature radius parameters, the stress distribution and contact characteristics are modified to reduce vibration and sound while maintaining reliable electrical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the rubber cover completely covers the spring plate, then sound absorption is maximized, but the spring plate loses mechanical support and proper contact positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesound absorptionVSAvoidmechanical support

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The rubber cover is segmented into functionally distinct regions: supporting portions that provide mechanical support and contact positioning for the spring plate, and a main body portion that covers and absorbs sound from the spring plate. This segmentation allows the single rubber cover component to simultaneously fulfill both support and sound absorption functions without compromising either.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the spring plate has protrusions for support, then positioning and contact reliability are improved, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact positioning accuracyVSAvoidspring plate structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the spring plate complex with multiple protrusions for support, the design inverts the approach by making the rubber cover complex with integrated supporting portions. The rubber cover's supporting portions provide the necessary contact points and positioning features, thereby simplifying the spring plate structure while maintaining or improving contact positioning accuracy and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 effectively absorbs sound and minimizes vibration generated during the inversion of the metallic spring plate, enhancing the quiet operation of push switches and electronic devices by using the rubber cover to support the spring plate's protrusions and cover its edges.

Implementation Method 1

The cover of rubber covers at least one part of an upper surface of the metallic spring plate... absorbing sound and minimizing vibration by creating a gap that reduces the inverting sound of the spring plate when pressed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Implementation Method 2

The cover of rubber covers at least one part of an upper surface of the metallic spring plate... minimizing vibration by creating a gap that reduces the inverting sound of the spring plate when pressed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

The cover of rubber includes at least one pair of supporting portions that support the spring plate... The supporting portion of the cover of rubber includes a groove and/or a step supporting the at least one pair of protrusions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10115541B2Switch component, push switch, electronic device including push switch

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 CITIZEN ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A switch component includes a spring plate and a cover of rubber. The cover of rubber covers at least one part of an upper surface of the spring plate. The cover of rubber includes at least one pair of supporting portions that support the spring plate.