Accessory Shoe Contact Arrangement for Signal Interference Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic apparatus and accessory configurations face interference issues with communication signals due to noise from adjacent signal contacts, leading to malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
The configuration includes a specific arrangement of contacts on the accessory shoe, where a first signal contact for data transmission, a second signal contact for clock synchronization, and a third signal contact for communication requests are positioned to minimize interference, with the third signal contact placed opposite to the first and second signal contacts, allowing for controlled data signal transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If contacts are arranged closely together to reduce device size, then device compactness is improved, but signal interference between adjacent contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear arrangement of contacts to a two-dimensional grid pattern. The first signal contact is positioned at one corner of the grid, the second signal contact at an opposite corner, and the third signal contact at another corner, ensuring maximum separation in both horizontal and vertical dimensions. This dimensional change allows compact device size while maintaining adequate spacing between signal contacts to prevent interference.
2Ease of manufacture
If the third signal contact is placed adjacent to the first or second signal contact for ease of manufacturing, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but communication signal reliability deteriorates due to noise interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric contact arrangement where the third signal contact is deliberately positioned at a corner of the grid that is maximally distant from both the first and second signal contacts, rather than using a symmetric or adjacent arrangement. This asymmetric positioning ensures that the communication request signal remains electrically isolated from the data and clock signals, preventing noise interference while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through the regular grid structure.
3Reliability
If ground contacts are added between signal contacts to reduce interference, then signal reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes equipotential regions by positioning ground contacts at the four corners of the grid, creating equipotential boundaries that contain and control electromagnetic fields. This approach provides effective noise shielding and signal isolation without requiring additional ground contacts between signal contacts, thereby maintaining signal reliability while minimizing device complexity. The corner-based equipotential arrangement is simpler than dense inter-contact grounding.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus detachably attached to an accessory via an accessory shoe includes contacts electrically connectable to the accessory via the accessory shoe and arranged in a row. The contacts include a first signal contact used to transmit a data signal in a communication between the electronic apparatus and accessory, a second signal contact used to transmit a clock signal in synchronization with the data signal in the communication, and a third signal contact used to receive a communication request signal from the accessory. The first and second signal contacts are arranged next to each other. The third signal contact is disposed on an opposite side of the second signal contact with respect to the first signal contact. A transmission of the data signal via the first signal contact is executed in response to a reception of the communication request signal via the third signal contact.