Cable Retaining Module With Port-Matched Layout for Reconnection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
During maintenance activities on electronic devices connected via multiple signal transmission cables, the loose cables can cause hindrances, are prone to misconnection, and may suffer physical damage due to entanglement or mishandling, making manual labeling laborious and error-prone.
Innovation Solution
A retaining module with passive physical ports that match the shape, size, and layout of active ports on electronic devices is used to securely hold connector terminals during maintenance, eliminating the need for manual labeling and reducing the risk of misconnection and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual labeling of cables is performed to identify connection ports, then cable identification accuracy is improved, but maintenance time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching color-coded labels to cable connectors before maintenance activities. This allows technicians to quickly identify and reconnect cables to the correct ports without performing manual labeling during maintenance, thus improving identification accuracy while reducing maintenance time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-coded labels on cable connectors to provide visual identification. Different colors correspond to different cable types or destinations, enabling technicians to rapidly identify correct connections without reading text labels or performing complex identification procedures, thereby improving accuracy while minimizing time loss
2Ease of operation
If cables are left loose during maintenance activities, then ease of access for device removal is improved, but cable damage risk increases due to entanglement and mishandling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nesting principle by providing cable management features such as cable trays, clips, or channels that allow cables to be neatly organized and stored within the device housing or rack structure during maintenance. This keeps cables accessible yet protected from damage, entanglement, and mishandling while maintaining ease of access for device removal and reinstallation
3Ease of operation
If multiple cables are disconnected for device maintenance, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but reconnection error probability increases due to misconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing disconnected cables with color-coded labels that match corresponding port identifiers on the device. This allows technicians to quickly and accurately reconnect cables to the correct ports after maintenance, minimizing reconnection errors while maintaining ease of maintenance access
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-matched labeling systems where cable connector labels correspond to port color coding on the device. This visual matching system enables technicians to rapidly identify correct reconnection points, significantly reducing misconnection errors while maintaining straightforward maintenance procedures
Data Source
AI summary
Examples of a retaining module for a signal transmission cable are described. In an example, the retaining module comprises a passive physical port. The passive physical port is to receive a connector terminal attached to an end of the signal transmission cable. The passive physical port has a first shape which corresponds to a shape of the active physical port, and is arranged in a first layout on the housing corresponding to a layout of the active physical port on the electronic device.