Touch Sensor Unit Mold Part Movement Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch sensor units for automatic opening/closing devices in vehicles lack a mold part that effectively restricts the movement of the sensor body, leading to potential waterproofing and protection issues due to the flush end surfaces of the insulating tube and sensor holder, which allows molten resin to flow between components during molding.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor unit design featuring a sensor body with a tubular insulator that is elastically deformed, allowing electrodes to come into contact and an electrical component molded with resin, along with protruding ends and connection wires, and an insulating member to prevent short circuits, with a mold part that fixes the sensor body to the sensor holder, providing both waterproofing and movement restriction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the end surface of the insulating tube and the end surface of the sensor holder are made flush with each other, then the waterproofing and protection of the end is improved, but the mold part cannot function as a fixing means for restricting the movement of the sensor body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the end structure into two distinct components: the insulating tube (sensor body) and the sensor holder, with the insulating tube protruding from the sensor holder. This segmentation allows the mold part to serve dual functions: providing waterproofing/protection while simultaneously acting as a fixing means through mechanical interference fit between the protruding insulating tube and the mold part.
2Reliability
If the end surface of the insulating tube and the end surface of the sensor holder are made flush with each other, then the waterproofing and protection of the end is improved, but the insulating tube may be pushed deep into the housing hole by injection pressure, allowing molten resin to flow into the housing hole or between the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole and the outer peripheral surface of the insulating tube
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating tube is designed to protrude from the sensor holder before the injection molding process begins. This preliminary positioning prevents the insulating tube from being pushed deep into the housing hole during injection, as the protruding structure creates a physical barrier that stops resin flow and maintains proper positioning throughout the molding process.
3Ease of operation
If the insulating tube protrudes from the sensor holder, then the mold part can function as a fixing means and prevent resin flow, but the waterproofing and protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fixing function and waterproofing function into a single integrated mold part structure. The mold part simultaneously provides mechanical fixation through interference fit with the protruding insulating tube and waterproofing through its sealing structure, eliminating the need for separate fixing and sealing components.
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 effectively restricts the movement of the sensor body, enhances waterproofing and protection, and prevents resin flow into the sensor holder, ensuring reliable operation and durability of the touch sensor unit.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor body includes a tubular insulator that is elastically deformed when an external force is applied, and a plurality of electrodes that are provided inside the tubular insulator and come into contact with each other as the tubular insulator is elastically deformed
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure realizes a touch sensor unit including a mold part that can restrict the movement of a sensor body embedded in a sensor holder. A touch sensor unit includes a sensor body, a sensor holder in which the sensor body is embedded, and a resistor disposed outside the sensor holder and electrically connected to the sensor body. The sensor body includes a tubular insulator that is elastically deformed when an external force is applied, and a plurality of linear electrodes that are provided inside the tubular insulator and come into contact with each other as the tubular insulator is elastically deformed. At least an end of the sensor holder, an end of the tubular insulator protruding from an end surface of the sensor holder, and the resistor are molded together with a mold part which is a resin molded body.