Wire Spring Unit with Tunable Spring Constant for Slide Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring units for electronic devices, such as cell phones and game machines, are difficult to quickly modify to suit variations in apparatus design without significant changes in size or spring characteristic, making it challenging to adapt to different operational feelings or flavors.
Innovation Solution
A spring unit comprising L-shaped wire springs with bent parts, extending parts, and deformed parts that can be adjusted to change the spring constant, allowing for the selection of wire springs with pre-formed deformed parts to achieve desired spring characteristics without altering the entire unit's size or shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a spring unit is redesigned from scratch to change spring characteristics, then the spring characteristic can be changed, but it is difficult to quickly adapt to variations and increases development time
Solution Approach 1:
The wire spring is segmented into multiple extending parts, with deformed parts formed in specific extending parts to modify spring characteristics. This segmentation allows selective modification of spring properties without redesigning the entire spring unit, enabling quick adaptation to variations while reducing development time.
Solution Approach 2:
Deformed parts are formed in specific extending parts of the wire spring to locally modify the spring characteristic. By concentrating the deformation in particular sections rather than redesigning the whole spring, the invention enables targeted adjustment of spring properties for different variations, improving adaptability without increasing overall development time.
2Length of stationary object
If wire springs are used to reduce apparatus thickness, then the thickness can be reduced, but changing spring characteristics for different variations becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wire spring structure incorporates deformed parts in extending parts that can be selectively configured to achieve different spring characteristics while maintaining the compact L-shape design. This dynamic configuration approach allows the same basic spring structure to adapt to different spring constant requirements without increasing thickness, resolving the contradiction between compactness and adjustability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring characteristic is adjusted by changing the physical parameters of specific extending parts through forming deformed parts, rather than changing the overall spring geometry. This parameter change approach allows modification of spring constants while maintaining the compact L-shaped wire spring structure, enabling both thickness reduction and characteristic adjustability.
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
Enables quick adjustment of spring characteristics by selecting wire springs with varying deformed parts, improving the adaptability and efficiency of the spring unit in different electronic device configurations, enhancing operational feel and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The spring unit biases the movable unit toward a closing direction until the movable unit is moved by an operator to a predetermined position relative to the stationary unit, and biases the movable unit toward an opening direction after the movable unit is moved past the predetermined position
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a spring unit whose spring constant can be easily changed. The spring unit includes a plurality of wire springs each including a bent part formed in the middle of wire by bending, extending parts extending from the bent part, and end parts formed at ends of the extending parts. The wire springs are arranged side by side, and a deformed part protruding in a direction of arrangement of the wire springs is formed in one or more of the extending parts.