Audio Connector Insulating Arm Elasticity via Nested Oblique Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Audio socket connectors face challenges in maintaining elasticity and preventing breakage due to the limited space constraint, which restricts the length of the insulating arm, affecting the switch function's reliability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an insulating arm that extends backward from the first receiving slot, with an elastic arm passing through a groove, allowing it to move along with the insulating arm and enter the insertion hole obliquely, increasing the arm's length and elasticity within a limited space, ensuring effective contact and disconnection of the switch terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insulating arm is extended to increase its length and elasticity, then the switch function reliability is improved, but the device length increases which conflicts with the light, thin, and small requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating arm is nested within the insulating body's receiving slot, with the movable terminal nested within the insulating arm structure. The elastic arm is positioned between the insulating arm and the insertion hole, creating a nested arrangement that maximizes the insulating arm length within the limited connector housing space, thereby improving reliability without increasing overall device length
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating arm extends obliquely into the insertion hole rather than linearly, utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently. The elastic arm is positioned at an angle between the insulating arm and the insertion hole, allowing the structure to achieve greater effective length in one dimension while maintaining a compact form factor in other dimensions
2Length of stationary object
If the insulating arm is made short to maintain compact size, then the device remains light and small, but the insulating arm is easily broken due to insufficient elasticity
Solution Approach 1:
The nested structure allows the insulating arm to achieve greater effective length by utilizing the internal space of the insulating body and receiving slot. The movable terminal and elastic arm are nested within the insulating arm structure, enabling the insulating arm to extend further without increasing the external dimensions of the connector, thus maintaining both compact size and sufficient elasticity
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arm is positioned between the insulating arm and the insertion hole, allowing dynamic movement and deformation during plug insertion and removal. This dynamic configuration enables the insulating arm to flex and recover, improving elasticity and resistance to breakage while maintaining a compact overall structure
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
This configuration enhances the elasticity of the insulating arm, preventing breakage and ensuring reliable switch-on/off functionality even with repeated insertions of the audio plug, while maintaining a compact form factor.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic arm extending backward from the first fixing portion. The elastic arm is located between the insertion hole and the insulating arm
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, an insulating arm, a movable terminal, and a fixed terminal. The insulating body has an insertion hole concavely formed from its front end surface, and a first receiving slot formed at a side of and in communication with the insertion hole. The insulating arm extends from the insulating body and has an extending portion partially entering the insertion hole. The movable terminal has a first fixing portion fixed in the insulating body, an elastic arm extending backward from the first fixing portion and located between the insertion hole and the insulating arm, and a first contact portion extending backward from the elastic arm. The first contact portion crosses the insulating arm, and is located at a side of the insulating arm away from the insertion hole. The fixed terminal has a second contact portion capable of connecting/disconnecting from the first contact portion.