Smart Key Housing Flex for Secure Auxiliary Key Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart keys face issues with auxiliary keys being difficult to remove due to protrusions that either press too hard or not fixing properly, leading to rattling noise.
Innovation Solution
A smart key design with a housing that includes flexible displacement through-holes and protrusions to securely hold the auxiliary key, allowing easy removal by widening the gap with external force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protrusions are designed to be thicker to securely fix the auxiliary key in the housing, then the auxiliary key can be firmly secured without moving, but the auxiliary key becomes difficult to remove from the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with a flexible portion that can dynamically change its shape in response to external forces. When the user applies force to remove the auxiliary key, the flexible portion bends to widen the gap, allowing easy removal. When no external force is applied, the housing maintains its original shape with protrusions that securely fix the auxiliary key.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the housing is changed from rigid to flexible by incorporating a flexible portion made of elastomeric material. This allows the housing to change its geometric parameters (gap width) in response to applied force, enabling both secure fixation and easy removal of the auxiliary key.
2Ease of operation
If the protrusions are designed to be thinner to allow easy removal of the auxiliary key, then the auxiliary key can be easily removed from the housing, but the auxiliary key may move in the housing causing rattle noise
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible portion of the housing provides a dynamic solution where the housing structure itself adapts to the user's removal action. The flexibility allows the housing to open up when force is applied, eliminating the need for thin protrusions that would cause rattling, while still enabling easy key removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing incorporates a flexible portion made of elastomeric material that can bend and deform. This flexible structure replaces the need for thin protrusions, providing both secure fixation when at rest and easy removal when force is applied, without causing rattle noise.
3Reliability
If the auxiliary key is made thicker to improve security, then the auxiliary key can be more securely fixed, but the auxiliary key becomes harder to remove from the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible portion of the housing dynamically responds to the thickness of the auxiliary key. When a thicker key is inserted, the flexible portion can bend more to accommodate it while maintaining secure fixation. When removal is needed, the same flexible portion bends to create sufficient gap width, allowing easy removal regardless of key thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing's flexible portion changes its geometric parameters (bending angle, gap width) based on the applied force and key thickness. This allows the housing to adapt to different key thicknesses while maintaining both secure fixation and ease of removal through the same structural design.
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
Facilitates easy removal of auxiliary keys without rattling noise, ensuring secure fixation and improved assembly regardless of key thickness.
Implementation Method 1
a part of the housing adjacent to the through-hole is capable of flexibly displacing relative to the other parts of the housing to widen a vertical gap in the housing by an external force applied to the auxiliary key
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a smart key in which an auxiliary key can be inserted and a method of manufacturing the smart key. The smart key for a vehicle comprises a substrate on which components are mounted; a key accommodation unit formed on the substrate, and a housing into which an auxiliary key is capable of being inserted and a plurality of protrusions arranged inside the housing such that the auxiliary key is sandwiched between the plurality of protrusions when the auxiliary key is inserted into the housing; and a case covering the substrate and the key accommodation unit, wherein the housing includes a through-hole configured such that a part of the housing adjacent to the through-hole is capable of flexibly displacing relative to the other parts of the housing to widen a vertical gap in the housing by an external force applied to the auxiliary key.