Touch Pad Reinforcement Rod for Switch Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touch pads with integrated switches lack structural strength, leading to deflection when pressed away from the switch, resulting in unreliable triggering and poor user feedback.
Innovation Solution
A touch pad design featuring a reinforcement rod on the top cover, which enhances structural strength and ensures uniform pressure transmission, allowing the top cover to rotate synchronously and trigger the switch regardless of the pressing position, using a support frame, touch circuit board, elastic member, and a movable reinforcement rod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the touch pad uses an integrated switch design to reduce volume, then the overall volume is reduced, but the structural strength is insufficient causing deflection when pressed away from the switch
Solution Approach 1:
The touch pad is divided into functionally independent components: the top cover for user interaction, the reinforcement rod for structural support, the touch circuit board with switch for signaling, and the elastic member for force transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together as a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement rod acts as an intermediary element between the top cover and the touch circuit board. It receives the pressing force from the top cover and transmits it uniformly to the touch circuit board, preventing deflection while maintaining the integrated design benefits.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the touch pad is pressed at a position away from the switch, then the user can press anywhere on the pad, but deflection occurs making reliable triggering difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement rod is strategically positioned at the second side of the support frame, creating localized structural enhancement where needed. This local reinforcement prevents deflection when users press at peripheral positions while maintaining the overall thin design.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-installed between the touch circuit board and support sheet to provide preliminary elastic force. This pre-applied force ensures that when the top cover is pressed, the touch circuit board is already positioned to overcome the elastic force and trigger the switch reliably, regardless of pressing position.
3Length of stationary object
If the top cover is made thin for compact design, then the overall thickness is reduced, but the structural strength to prevent deflection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The touch pad employs a composite structure combining multiple materials with different properties: the top cover material for user interface, the reinforcement rod material for structural strength, the elastic member material for force transmission, and the touch circuit board material for electrical functionality. This composite approach allows the overall assembly to be thin while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing thickness in the vertical dimension, the reinforcement rod extends horizontally across the second side of the support frame, providing structural strength in a different dimension. This allows the top cover to remain thin while the reinforcement rod compensates for the reduced thickness.
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 design improves operational comfort and triggering sensitivity by ensuring the switch is triggered reliably, providing a better pressing feeling and preventing deflection, even when pressed at the periphery.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic member is disposed between the touch circuit board and the support sheet for providing an elastic force to the touch circuit board so as to make the touch circuit board movable relative to the support sheet
Implementation Method 2
When the top cover is pressed by an external force, the top cover rotates pivotally relative to the first side of the support frame and drives the touch circuit board to overcome the elastic force
Data Source
AI summary
A touch pad includes a support frame having an opening, a touch circuit board disposed on a support sheet and having a switch, a top cover connected to a first side of the support frame and covering the touch circuit board, a reinforcement rod disposed on the top cover corresponding to a second side of the support frame, and an elastic member. The support sheet extends inwardly from the opening and has a protruding point. The elastic member is disposed between the touch circuit board and the support sheet for providing an elastic force. When being pressed by an external force, the top cover rotates pivotally relative to the first side of the support frame and drives the touch circuit board to overcome the elastic force. Accordingly, the touch circuit board could move downward relative to the support sheet so that the switch could be triggered by the protruding point.