Seesaw Switch Erroneous Operation Preventer Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seesaw-shaped switch devices with erroneous operation preventers either fail to prevent finger-induced erroneous operations due to inadequate protective wall spacing or increase manufacturing costs with additional components.

Innovation Solution

A switch device with an erroneous operation preventer featuring a frame-shaped preventer that includes side protective walls, side frame portions, an end protective wall, and claws for secure attachment, ensuring the preventer covers the flange portion of the switch main body and prevents finger insertion between the protective walls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If protective walls are provided with a distance larger than the width of the switch member, then the structure is simpler and manufacturing cost is lower, but erroneous operation by finger insertion cannot be fully prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoiderroneous operation prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective walls are divided into two segments: a first protective wall and a second protective wall, with the second protective wall positioned closer to the switch member than the first protective wall. This segmentation creates multiple barriers that prevent finger insertion while maintaining structural simplicity and low manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If an operation locking bar is provided to prevent erroneous operation, then erroneous operation prevention reliability is improved, but the number of components increases and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerroneous operation preventionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The erroneous operation prevention function is merged into the protective walls themselves, which are integral parts of the switch housing. The first and second protective walls work together as a unified structure to prevent finger insertion, eliminating the need for separate operation locking bars and reducing the total number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If protective walls extend upright on both sides of the switch member, then erroneous operation prevention is improved, but the distance between protective walls must be larger than switch member width

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerroneous operation preventionVSAvoiddistance between protective walls
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective walls have different positions and orientations tailored to local requirements. The first protective wall extends upright from the rear surface, while the second protective wall is positioned closer to the switch member. This local differentiation allows effective finger insertion prevention while optimizing the distance between walls to be just sufficient for the switch member width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2916339B1Switch device with erroneous operation preventer and the erroneous operation preventer
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 YAMAHA CORP
  • EP2916339B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2916339B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2916339B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A switch device with an erroneous operation preventer, including: a switch main body (20) having a switch member (22) supported by a shaft (24) with respect to a casing (21) and configured such that pushing a first end portion (25) of the switch member causes a second end portion (26) thereof to protrude and such that an on state and an off state of the switch main body are changed by pushing one of the first and second end portions; and a frame-shaped erroneous operation preventer (30) disposed around the switch member for preventing an erroneous operation on the first end portion that takes a protruding posture when the switch main body is in one of the on and off states, the preventer having side protective walls (31) extending in a longitudinal direction of the switch member so as to cover a surface of a flange portion (21a) of the casing on both sides of the first end portion.