Touchpad Support Assembly for Uniform Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing touchpads have issues with complex structures that affect human-computer interaction, battery capacity, and user experience due to limited pressing functionality and inconsistent force feedback.
Innovation Solution
A touchpad design featuring a support assembly with a main support component, elastic components, and a fixed platform that allows for full-area pressing and balanced force feedback, utilizing a cantilever beam structure and integrated elastic arms for uniform force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an integrated touchpad combines touch panel and key into a whole board with a single pendulum structure, then the pressing function is implemented, but the touchpad module occupies a lot of space affecting battery capacity and the consistency of pressing feel is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The support component is divided into multiple support arms (first support arm, second support arm, third support arm, fourth support arm) that are symmetrically distributed around the pressing area. Each support arm independently supports the pressing area from different directions, replacing the single pendulum structure with a multi-point support system that reduces space occupation while maintaining pressing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses symmetric arrangement of support arms around the pressing area, creating a balanced force distribution system. The first and second support arms are symmetrically arranged on one side, while the third and fourth support arms are symmetrically arranged on the other side, ensuring uniform force feedback across different pressing positions.
2Device complexity
If an existing detachable touchpad uses a touch panel without pressing function, then the structure is simpler, but human-computer interaction and appearance effect are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the touch panel and mechanical key functions into an integrated touchpad structure. The pressing area is formed by the support component itself, combining the flat touch surface with mechanical pressing capability in a single unified structure, improving human-computer interaction without significantly increasing complexity.
3Device complexity
If a single pendulum structure is used to implement pressing function, then the structure is simpler, but the consistency of pressing feel is poor and user experience is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The support component is segmented into multiple support arms that independently support the pressing area. This segmentation allows each arm to contribute to the overall pressing feel, creating a more consistent and uniform force feedback across different pressing positions compared to a single pendulum structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different support arms are positioned at different locations around the pressing area, providing localized support where needed. The first and second support arms provide support on one side while the third and fourth support arms provide support on the other side, ensuring uniform force distribution and consistent pressing feel across the entire pressing area.
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 enables consistent force feedback across the entire touchpad surface, improving user experience and reducing module thickness while maintaining balanced pressing forces.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic component and a second elastic component, where the first elastic component and the second elastic component are symmetrically connected to the main support component
Data Source
AI summary
A touchpad includes a touch assembly and a support assembly. The touch assembly is disposed on the support assembly. The support assembly includes: a main support component, disposed at an edge of a bottom surface of the touch assembly; a fixed platform, on which a boss is integrally formed; and first and second elastic components, where the first and second elastic components are symmetrically connected to the main support component along a plane in which the main support component is located, an opening for accommodating the fixed platform is formed between the first and second elastic components, the fixed platform is connected between the first and second elastic components, and the support assembly has a sheet-like structure; and a travel switch is disposed on the bottom surface of the touch assembly, and the boss is configured to touch and trigger the travel switch when the touch assembly is pressed.