Angled Mobile Connector for Hot-Swappable Card Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connectors in mobile devices face challenges in reducing device size and user accessibility for removable cards, as they often require more space and are difficult to access without removing the battery.

Innovation Solution

An angled connector design is implemented, where the external interface is positioned at a predetermined angle relative to the main printed circuit board, allowing for reduced space usage and accessibility via a battery cover that can be partially opened without removing the battery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a conventional card slot or card sleeve is used, then the connector can be securely mounted, but the device dimensions increase and user accessibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice dimensionsVSAvoiduser accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is positioned at an angled orientation (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the battery cover rather than being parallel or perpendicular to it. This angular positioning allows the connector to be accessed by partially opening the battery cover, enabling users to insert or remove cards without completely removing the battery, thus reducing device volume while maintaining accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If the connector is positioned parallel to the battery cover, then manufacturing is simplified, but the connector requires excessive space and is difficult to access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector positioningVSAvoidspace required
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of positioning the connector parallel to the battery cover (which would require excessive space), the connector is angled relative to the battery cover. This allows the connector to be accessed by partially opening the battery cover, reducing the space required while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through precise angular positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Area of stationary object

If the connector is positioned perpendicular to the battery cover, then space is optimized, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace requiredVSAvoidconnector positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is positioned at an intermediate angle (e.g., 45 degrees) rather than perpendicular to the battery cover. This angular positioning optimizes space utilization while maintaining reasonable manufacturing complexity, as it allows access by partially opening the battery cover without requiring the extreme precision needed for perpendicular positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Ease of operation

If the battery cover is made fully removable, then user accessibility is maximized, but device reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoiddevice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring the battery cover to be fully removed for card access, the design allows partial opening of the battery cover to access the angled connector. This partial action provides sufficient accessibility for card insertion/removal while maintaining the battery cover's attached state, thus preserving device reliability while improving user accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2309413B1Angled connector and system for a mobile device
Publication Date: 2012.08.08 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2309413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2309413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2309413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connector and a system for connectors of a mobile device (100) wherein the connector is angled, that is, wherein the connector includes an external interface (455) for receiving an external connection and an internal interface (465) configured for connection to a printed circuit board (410), wherein the internal interface is connected to the external interface and the internal interface is at a predetermined angle with respect to the external interface. In a mobile device, the external interface is at an angle to a main printed circuit board of the mobile device.