Switch Driver Reset Mechanism for Reduced Stroke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pushbutton switches face issues with delayed switching due to driver rotation, friction, and high manufacturing precision requirements, leading to instability and increased costs, as well as inefficient force conversion and reliability problems.
Innovation Solution
A switch design featuring a driver with a swing element and elastic element that allows the driver to reset without swinging during operation, utilizing teeth engagement or sufficient friction between the driver and pushbutton contact faces to prevent sliding, and integrating a stop to define swing limit positions, allowing for reduced stroke and improved accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the driver rotates from the intermediate position to tilt before driving the swing element, then the driver can return to the intermediate position after each press, but this causes a delay between the pushbutton operation and the switching action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate position requirement from the driver's motion path. The driver directly drives the swing element from the pushbutton press position without needing to return to an intermediate position first, eliminating the time delay while maintaining reliable switching operation.
2Reliability
If the driver rotates during operation, then the driver can reset after each press, but friction is generated on the contact face between the driver and swing element which can cause the driver to become stuck or wear out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the rotational motion of the driver during operation. The driver moves in a straight line to directly drive the swing element, removing the source of friction on the contact face between the driver and swing element, thereby preventing sticking and wear issues.
3Reliability
If many components are used in the switch structure, then the switching function can be achieved, but the demand for manufacturing and fitting precision increases which also increases manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into fewer components. The driver directly drives the swing element without requiring separate intermediate mechanisms, reducing the total number of components while maintaining complete switching functionality and reducing manufacturing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If the press force direction is different from the driving force direction, then the pushbutton can be operated downward, but a particular mechanism is needed to convert the force which has poor efficiency and requires greater press force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent aligns the press force direction with the driving force direction. The driver moves in the same direction as the pushbutton press, eliminating the need for force conversion mechanisms and maximizing force efficiency, thereby reducing the press force required from the user.
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 design enhances the accuracy and reliability of the switching mechanism, reduces the number of components, and simplifies the structure, while minimizing the stroke of the driver and pushbutton, thus improving user operation and reducing the size and manufacturing complexity of the switch.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element connected between the driver and the swing element and causing the driver contact face of the driver to abut against the pushbutton contact face of the pushbutton
Implementation Method 2
The driver contact face and the pushbutton contact face are arranged with teeth engaging with each other... configured with a sufficient friction coefficient to prevent producing relative sliding
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a switch, comprising: a pushbutton (1) having a pushbutton contact face (11); a driver (2) having a driver contact face (21); a swing element (3) that can swing with respect to a first axis; an elastic element (4) connected between the driver (2) and the swing element (3) and causing the driver contact face (21) of the driver (2) to abut against the pushbutton contact face (11) of the pushbutton (1); and a first moving contact (81) and a first stationary contact (51). The driver (2) is configured to drive the swing element (3) to swing when the pushbutton (1) is pressed so that the moving contact contacts or is disconnected from the stationary contact. The switch has a smaller number of components and a simple and compact structure, and the operation of the driving mechanism is reliable. The switch allows reducing the stroke of the pushbutton while ensuring that the driver can return in place for the next operation.