Trigger Switch Vibration Alert Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration alert systems in hand-held devices face issues with high power consumption, increased weight, and cost due to the need for larger vibrating motors and counterweights, which also result in vibrations being damped by device components, making them less effective in noisy environments and harder to feel amidst ambient vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A trigger switch assembly that directs vibrations directly to the user's fingers using a miniaturized vibrating motor, a spring-mass system, and a counterweight, optimized to operate near the natural resonance frequency, with damping to ensure discrete and effective alert delivery, and a compact design to reduce weight and power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If larger vibrating motors and counterweights are used to provide sufficient vibration amplitude, then the vibration alert effectiveness is improved, but the weight and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration alert effectivenessVSAvoiddevice weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the vibration effect at a specific location (the trigger button area) rather than distributing it throughout the device. The vibrating motor is positioned to create localized vibrations that are amplified at the trigger button, providing effective alerts without requiring large-scale vibration systems throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration principles by employing a vibrating motor that generates mechanical oscillations. The system uses resonance and vibration transmission through the trigger button mechanism to create tactile alerts. The vibrating motor induces periodic motion in the trigger button, which transmits vibrations to the user's finger, providing effective alerting with minimal mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Reliability

If larger vibrating motors are used to provide sufficient vibration amplitude, then the vibration alert effectiveness is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration alert effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the vibration effect at a specific location (the trigger button area) rather than distributing it throughout the device. The vibrating motor is positioned to create localized vibrations that are amplified at the trigger button, providing effective alerts without requiring large-scale vibration systems throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration principles by employing a vibrating motor that generates mechanical oscillations. The system uses resonance and vibration transmission through the trigger button mechanism to create tactile alerts. The vibrating motor induces periodic motion in the trigger button, which transmits vibrations to the user's finger, providing effective alerting with minimal mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

3Reliability

If larger vibrating motors and counterweights are used, then the vibration alert effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration alert effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the vibration system into distinct functional components: a vibrating motor, a trigger button mechanism, and a housing structure. Each component performs a specific function, and the system is designed so that the vibrating motor can be independently mounted and positioned. This modular approach reduces overall complexity while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating the vibration effect at a specific location (the trigger button area) rather than distributing it throughout the device. The vibrating motor is positioned to create localized vibrations that are amplified at the trigger button, providing effective alerts without requiring large-scale vibration systems throughout the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If vibrations are directed to the user's fingers through the trigger button, then the alert effectiveness is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes mechanical vibration principles by employing a vibrating motor that generates mechanical oscillations. The system uses resonance and vibration transmission through the trigger button mechanism to create tactile alerts. The vibrating motor induces periodic motion in the trigger button, which transmits vibrations to the user's finger, providing effective alerting with minimal mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The trigger button serves as an intermediary element between the vibrating motor and the user's finger. It transmits and amplifies the vibrations from the motor to the user's hand, providing a comfortable and effective delivery mechanism. The button acts as a mechanical mediator that transfers vibratory energy without requiring direct contact between the motor and the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 provides efficient, lightweight, and effective vibration alerts that can be felt even with low amplitude vibrations, reducing power consumption and weight while ensuring alerts are noticeable amidst ambient noise, enhancing user interaction in hand-held devices.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrating motor that generates vibrations to be communicated to a user of the device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

A trigger switch assembly that directs vibrations directly to the user's fingers using a miniaturized vibrating motor, a spring-mass system, and a counterweight, optimized to operate near the natural resonance frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

with damping to ensure discrete and effective alert delivery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8421608B2Vibrating trigger button

Publication Date: 2013.04.16 JANAM TECH

AI summary

A trigger switch for a hand-held device provides vibrating alerts directly to one or more fingers of a user's hand when signaled by the device. The trigger switch housing is pivotally mounted in the device with a stop to limit outward travel therefrom. A housing cavity receives a miniaturized vibrating motor that is electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, which has a wire bundle with a connector to couple the board to the device. The motor's body may contact one side of the printed circuit board, and directly on the opposite side of the board may be a platform with a post extending therefrom to support one end of a coil spring, with the other end being retained within the device. When the user completes an operation, the device may signal the printed circuit board, which causes a counterweight to rotate and transmit vibrations to the trigger switch.