Adaptor for USB Port Coupling with Pod Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable electronic devices may not be able to couple with charging stations or data transfer pods that lack a USB plug, leading to compatibility issues and potential damage from protruding plugs.
Innovation Solution
An adaptor with a plug for inserting into a USB port and an abutting contact for coupling with exposed conductive surfaces on the pod, allowing electrical energy and data transfer without a protruding plug on the pod.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a USB plug is used on the pod for charging and data transfer, then compatibility with portable electronic devices is improved, but the risk of accidental damage from protruding plugs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adaptor as an intermediary component between the portable electronic device and the pod. The adaptor contains a USB plug that couples to the portable device's USB port, while the adaptor's body provides an abutting contact surface that interfaces with the pod's exposed conductive surface. This intermediary solution allows the pod to maintain a flush design without protruding plugs, eliminating the accidental damage risk while preserving USB compatibility through the adaptor mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pod uses exposed conductive surfaces without USB plugs, then the risk of accidental damage is reduced, but compatibility with portable electronic devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor serves as a translation layer between the pod's exposed conductive surface interface and the portable device's USB port interface. The adaptor's USB plug section couples with the portable device, while the adaptor's abutting contact section interfaces with the pod's exposed conductive surface. This allows the pod to use the safer exposed conductive surface design while maintaining full USB compatibility through the adaptor.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides USB connectivity, enables charging through the exposed conductive surface, and facilitates data transfer. By consolidating these functions into a single adaptor component, the system achieves universal compatibility between the pod's simplified interface and various USB-equipped portable devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an adaptor is introduced between the portable device and pod, then compatibility and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the adaptor does add a component to the system, it simplifies the overall coupling process by providing a standardized USB interface on one end and a simple abutting contact interface on the other. The adaptor's compact design integrates the USB plug and abutting contact sections in a single small component, minimizing the increase in physical complexity while maximizing compatibility and safety benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
An adaptor is provided. The adaptor comprises a first portion including a plug insertable into a port of a portable electronic device. The adaptor further comprises a second portion including at least one adaptor contact configured such that, when the plug of the first portion is inserted into the port and the portable electronic device is placed in a pod, the at least one adaptor contact abuts to at least one pod contact in the pod.