Universal PCB Mounting for Mechanical and Electronic Keys
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PCB designs for home appliances require separate patterns for electronic and mechanical keys, limiting flexibility in key arrangement and making it difficult to change between key types once the PCB is manufactured.
Innovation Solution
A common mounting region on the PCB allows for both mechanical and electronic keys to be mounted, with conductive planes and jumpers configured to accommodate either type, enabling flexible key arrangement and easy switching between key types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate PCB patterns are designed for electronic keys and mechanical keys, then each key type can be properly mounted, but the PCB design becomes less flexible and requires different PCBs for different key types
Solution Approach 1:
The PCB mounting region is designed to universally accommodate both electronic keys and mechanical keys through a common interface structure. The conductive planes and jumpers are configured to work with either key type, allowing a single PCB design to serve multiple functions and key configurations without requiring separate patterns for each key type.
Solution Approach 2:
The PCB design incorporates configurable jumpers that can be dynamically set to different states (connected or disconnected) to adapt the mounting region for either electronic or mechanical keys. This dynamic configurability allows the same PCB to be flexibly adapted to different key types based on jumper settings rather than requiring fixed separate patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the PCB is manufactured with fixed patterns for a specific key type, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but changing to a different key type requires new PCB manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The PCB is pre-configured with all necessary conductive planes, jumpers, and mounting structures during manufacturing to accommodate both key types. The jumpers are pre-installed in specific positions and can be simply connected or disconnected during assembly to adapt the PCB for different key types, eliminating the need for new PCB manufacturing while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting region is segmented into configurable sections with jumpers that can be independently connected or disconnected. This segmentation allows the PCB to be manufactured with a unified pattern that can be selectively configured for different key types by simply changing jumper connections rather than requiring different manufactured PCBs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a common mounting region with conductive planes and jumpers is used, then key type flexibility is improved, but the PCB circuit design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Jumpers are introduced as intermediary elements that mediate between the conductive planes and the rest of the PCB circuit. These jumpers act as configurable switches that can be connected or disconnected to adapt the circuit configuration for different key types, managing the complexity by providing a simple mechanical interface rather than requiring complex circuit redesign.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
According to one embodiment disclosed herein, a user interface panel on a washing machine comprising a common mounting area in which a mechanical key and an electronic key can be mounted may include a printed circuit board (PCB), and the PCB may comprise: the common mounting area in which the electronic key or the mechanical key can be mounted; a first jumper connecting the common mounting area and a ground; and a plurality of conductive surfaces to which terminals of the mechanical key can be coupled.