Touch Pad Static Discharge via Base Plate Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing input devices, such as touch pads in laptop PCs, require countermeasures against static electricity, which often increase component and assembly costs due to the need for additional grounding components.
Innovation Solution
A touch pad is movably supported above a metal base plate with a resin housing plate and a conductive board, where protruding pieces on the base plate contact a ground line on the board, ensuring continuous electrical connection and static discharge without additional grounding components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal base plate with protruding pieces is used to contact the ground line directly, then static electricity countermeasures are effective, but the number of components and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground line is integrated directly into the metal base plate structure, merging the grounding function with the base plate itself. This eliminates the need for separate grounding components and reduces assembly steps while maintaining effective static electricity countermeasures.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal base plate serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a ground connection through its protruding pieces that contact the ground line, and dissipates static electricity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated grounding components.
2Reliability
If additional grounding components are added to ensure static discharge, then static electricity protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grounding function is merged into the existing metal base plate and board assembly structure. By using the protruding pieces of the metal base plate to contact the ground line directly, the patent eliminates the need for additional grounding components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining effective static electricity protection.
3Device complexity
If the ground line is connected to the metal base plate through protruding pieces, then electrical contact is maintained without additional components, but the structural design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The metal base plate is designed with segmented protruding pieces that make contact with the ground line at specific locations. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual components while achieving the desired electrical contact function, balancing structural design complexity with component reduction.
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 configuration effectively counters static electricity without increasing costs by maintaining electrical contact between the ground line and base plate, reducing the number of components and assembly steps, and ensuring stable operation of the touch pad.
Implementation Method 1
The metal base plate has an upper face, on which a protruding piece is disposed so as to be inserted between the board and the resin housing plate and come into contact with a conductive part provided at the board
Data Source
AI summary
An input device having sufficient countermeasure against static electricity is disclosed. The input device includes a touch pad as an operation-input part that is movably supported above a metal base plate. The operation-input part includes a pad plate to receive an input operation, a board plate stacked below the pad plate to detect an input operation to the pad plate, and a resin housing plate stacked below the board plate. The base plate has an upper face, on which a protruding piece is disposed so as to be inserted between the board plate and the housing plate and come into contact with a ground line as a conductive part provided at the board plate.