Alignment Tolerant Electronic Connector with Movable Tapered Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic connectors lack alignment tolerance, leading to connectivity issues and potential physical damage when devices are not properly aligned during attachment, as they do not allow for movement in multiple dimensions to accommodate misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An alignment tolerant electronic connector featuring a tapered extension coupled to a base via a joint that allows movement in three orthogonal dimensions, facilitated by biasing components such as fasteners and low-friction surfaces, enabling the connector to adjust and align properly with a female receptacle during insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If existing electronic connectors are used, then the connection structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but alignment tolerance is poor leading to connectivity issues and potential physical damage
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates a movable tapered extension that can shift position relative to the base in three orthogonal dimensions. This dynamic capability allows the connector to automatically adjust and accommodate misalignment during attachment, transforming a static rigid structure into an adaptive system that maintains connectivity despite positioning variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a base structure and a movable tapered extension. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component - the base provides structural support while the tapered extension provides alignment tolerance through controlled movement, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and alignment precision.
2Reliability
If rigid connector structures are used, then manufacturing and assembly are straightforward, but misalignment during attachment causes connectivity issues and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tapered extension is designed to move dynamically in three orthogonal dimensions in response to external forces applied during attachment. This dynamic behavior enables the connector to self-align and accommodate misalignment automatically, improving both connection reliability and ease of operation without requiring precise manual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector utilizes changes in positional parameters of the tapered extension relative to the base. By allowing the extension to shift in three orthogonal dimensions, the system adapts its geometric parameters to accommodate variations in alignment, ensuring reliable connection even when attachment conditions vary.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tapered extension is fixed to the base, then the connector structure is simple and stable, but it cannot accommodate misalignment during attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment tolerant joint creates a controlled dynamic relationship between the tapered extension and base, allowing movement in three orthogonal dimensions while maintaining structural integrity. This dynamic coupling provides adaptability for alignment accommodation without requiring overly complex mechanisms, as the movement is constrained within defined parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment tolerant joint acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed base and the movable tapered extension. It mediates the transition from a fixed to a movable connection, enabling alignment accommodation while maintaining structural stability through its designed movement constraints and support mechanisms.
4Manufacturing precision
If movement capability is added to the connector, then alignment tolerance improves, but the device complexity and potential instability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector implements controlled dynamics where the tapered extension can move in three orthogonal dimensions relative to the base through the alignment tolerant joint. This controlled movement capability provides alignment tolerance while the joint's design constraints maintain structural stability by preventing uncontrolled or excessive movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows controlled changes in positional parameters of the tapered extension while maintaining structural stability. The movement is confined to specific dimensional ranges that accommodate alignment variations without compromising the overall structural integrity and stability of the connector assembly.
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
An electronic connector includes a base and a tapered extension. The tapered extension includes a platform and a plurality of electrical contacts. An alignment tolerant joint couples the tapered extension to the base, such that the tapered extension is movable relative to the base in three orthogonal dimensions responsive to an external force applied to the tapered extension. One or more biasing components bias the tapered extension away from the base.