Bidirectional Connector with Floating Tongue and Concave-Convex Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bidirectional electrical connectors face manufacturing and assembling difficulties due to complex structures and high tolerance requirements, leading to increased costs and short-circuiting issues during improper use, which complicates user-friendly applications.

Innovation Solution

A bidirectional electrical connector with a reversible dual-positional docking mechanism, featuring a metal housing, insulation seat, and a floating H-shaped tongue with concave-convex structures and elastic connections, preventing short-circuiting and facilitating easy assembly and use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bidirectional electrical connector with duplex docking function is implemented, then the connector can be docked in two directions (reversible docking), but the manufacturing and assembling processes become more difficult due to stringent tolerance requirements and complex interlaced overlapping structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveduplex docking functionVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembling difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is divided into separate components: a housing, a tongue member, and a crossover terminal box. The crossover terminal box itself is segmented into multiple terminal units that can be independently manufactured and then assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard tolerances rather than requiring the entire assembly to meet stringent tolerance requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the crossover terminal box as a separate, independently manufacturable component from the overall connector assembly. This extracted component can be manufactured using conventional processes and then integrated into the housing and tongue member assembly, thereby simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining the bidirectional docking capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a crossover terminal box with interlaced overlapping structure is used to achieve bidirectional docking, then the duplex function is realized, but the bonding work becomes difficult due to non-fixed positions of bonding points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional docking capabilityVSAvoidbonding work difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The crossover terminal box is segmented into multiple discrete terminal units, each with defined bonding interfaces. This segmentation creates fixed, predetermined bonding positions for each terminal unit to the tongue member and housing, eliminating the problem of non-fixed bonding points while maintaining the interlaced overlapping structure necessary for bidirectional docking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If traditional electrical plug design with mistake-proof function is used, then the correct docking orientation is ensured, but users experience trouble when they accidentally insert the plug in the wrong direction and need to turn it over

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemistake-proof functionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using asymmetric features to prevent wrong-direction insertion (traditional mistake-proof design), this patent inverts the approach by making the connector symmetric and capable of functioning in both directions. The crossover terminal box and contact terminal arrangements are designed so that electrical connectivity is maintained regardless of insertion direction, thereby eliminating the need for users to correct wrong orientations while maintaining reliable docking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If existing bidirectional electrical connector designs are implemented, then reversible docking is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase and short-circuiting concerns arise upon improper use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereversible dockingVSAvoidshort-circuiting risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

While the overall connector enables bidirectional docking, asymmetric features are incorporated at critical interfaces to prevent harmful short-circuiting conditions. The contact terminals and housing features include asymmetric elements that ensure proper engagement and prevent improper use that could lead to short-circuits, thereby maintaining reversible docking capability while eliminating short-circuiting risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11329432B2Bidirectional electrical connector

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 TSAI CHOU HSIEN

AI summary

A bidirectional electrical connector includes: a housing made of a metal material; an insulation seat; a tongue; and two rows of contact terminals. Each of the two rows of contact terminals is provided with a contact. The two rows of contacts of the two rows of contact terminals are respectively disposed on the top and bottom sides of the tongue. Top and bottom surfaces of a front section of the tongue are projectingly provided with at least two limit projections, so that the top and bottom surfaces of the front section of the tongue have concave-convex structures, the at least two limit projections project beyond each of the two rows of contacts, and the concave-convex structure on the top and bottom surfaces of the tongue can make each row of contacts be isolated from the housing to prevent each row of contacts from being short-circuited.