Touchpad Base Plate Deformation Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touchpad devices face deformation issues in their chassis during manufacturing, leading to deformation of the base plate and a reduction in the gap between the circuit board and the base plate, which affects the pressing operation.
Innovation Solution
The touchpad device incorporates a base plate with holes and fixed portions that extend into these holes, allowing only the fixed portions to bend with chassis deformation while keeping the body portion flat, along with a reinforcing structure and a supporting element to maintain the gap and ensure proper operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the base plate is fixed rigidly to the chassis, then the touchpad device is securely mounted, but the base plate deforms along with chassis deformation, reducing the gap between circuit board and base plate
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is segmented into a body portion and multiple fixed portions. The fixed portions are selectively deformable to absorb chassis deformation, while the body portion remains flat to maintain the required gap with the circuit board. This segmentation allows different parts of the base plate to have different mechanical behaviors.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the base plate are given different mechanical properties. The fixed portions are designed to be deformable to accommodate chassis warping, while the body portion maintains rigidity and flatness to ensure proper spacing with the circuit board. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between mounting security and gap maintenance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the base plate is made completely rigid, then it maintains its shape, but it cannot accommodate chassis deformation during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is divided into a stable body portion and adaptable fixed portions. The body portion maintains flatness and stability, while the fixed portions extend into holes in the chassis and can deform to accommodate manufacturing variations in chassis shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed portions are designed with dynamic deformation capability, allowing them to adapt to chassis shape variations through elastic deformation. The connecting arms linking the fixed portions to the body portion enable this dynamic response while keeping the body portion stable and flat.
3Strength
If the fixed portions are made long to extend deeper into holes, then mounting security improves, but the risk of transmitting deformation to the body plate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed portions are designed with specific geometric characteristics - they extend into the holes for secure mounting but include connecting arms with appropriate flexibility. This local design ensures that the fixed portions can deform independently to absorb chassis deformation without transmitting it to the body portion, maintaining both mounting security and operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting arms in the fixed portions are designed to be flexible enough to deform with chassis warping while being sufficiently rigid to provide secure mounting. This dynamic design allows the fixed portions to absorb deformation energy without transmitting it to the body plate, ensuring continued normal operation of the touchpad device.
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 prevents the reduction of the gap between the circuit board and the base plate, ensuring normal operation of the touchpad device even with chassis deformation, by allowing the fixed portions to absorb deformation while keeping the body portion flat.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting arm is connected between the fixed segment and the body portion... only the fixed portion of the base plate is bent upward or downward along with a deformation of the chassis, but the body portion of the base plate is still flat
Data Source
AI summary
A touchpad device is fixed to a chassis. The touchpad device includes a base plate. The base plate is fixed to the chassis. The base plate includes a body portion and fixed portions. The body portion has holes. Each of the fixed portions is connected to the body portion and extends into a corresponding one of the holes. Each of the fixed portions includes a fixed segment and at least one connecting arm. The fixed segment is fixed to the chassis. The connecting arm is connected between the fixed segment and the body portion.