Touch Input Device Metallic Connecting Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touchpads experience deterioration of foam sheets over time, leading to reduced restoring force and discomfort due to overuse, affecting the touch input experience.
Innovation Solution
A touch input device design featuring a base board, circuit module, metallic connecting member, and annular metallic frame with elastic arms and coupling blocks, providing stability and electric connection, and a coupling mechanism that maintains comfort and longevity by using metallic components instead of foam.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a foam sheet is used as the connecting member between the circuit board and the frame, then the assembly is simple and easy to manufacture, but the foam sheet deteriorates over time, reducing restoring force and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from foam (organic, deteriorating) to metal (inorganic, stable). The metallic connecting member maintains structural integrity and restoring force over time, eliminating the deterioration issue while preserving the mechanical connection function between the circuit board and frame
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure where the metallic connecting member integrates both structural support and electrical connection functions. The metal material provides both mechanical strength for structural integrity and electrical conductivity for signal transmission, replacing the foam's purely mechanical role
2Ease of operation
If the foam sheet is used to connect the circuit board to the frame, then the initial comfort is good, but the restoring force reduces over time due to overuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from foam (viscoelastic, degrades with compression) to metal (elastic, maintains properties). The metallic connecting member's elastic arms provide consistent restoring force through elastic deformation, maintaining operational comfort throughout the product lifecycle without the degradation seen in foam materials
3Reliability
If a metallic connecting member with elastic arms is used instead of foam, then reliability and longevity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic connecting member integrates multiple functions into a single component: structural support, electrical connection, and mechanical coupling. The elastic arms provide both structural integrity and the necessary mechanical compliance, eliminating the need for separate foam elements and reducing overall assembly complexity despite the more sophisticated metal construction
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 enhances the stability and longevity of the touch input device, maintains comfort through consistent restoring force, and simplifies assembly, while preventing electromagnetic interference by grounding the frame.
Implementation Method 1
at least one elastic arm that is connected to the positioning portion. The at least one elastic arm has a first extending section extending from the positioning portion away from the circuit board in the pressing direction
Data Source
AI summary
A touch input device includes a base board, a circuit module having a free end portion and a connecting end portion, a metallic connecting member and an annular, metallic frame. The connecting member includes a positioning portion fixedly mounted to the connecting end portion of the circuit module, and an elastic arm extending from the positioning portion away from the connecting end portion and toward a free end portion in such a way to define a coupling groove that indents away therefrom. The frame is spaced apart from the circuit module and includes a coupling portion that is embossed from a side of the frame proximate to the connecting member, and that has a coupling block coupled to the coupling groove of the elastic arm.