Card Connector Ejection Damper Viscous Lubricant

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional card connectors with a push-push structure experience mechanical shock during card ejection due to the rapid sliding motion caused by a spring's repulsive force, requiring a speed reducer mechanism that complicates the design, increases costs, and hinders miniaturization.

Innovation Solution

A card connector design incorporating a viscous dampening material, such as grease, applied between the slide surface of a guide member and the guide surface, along with an abutment part to limit upward movement, eliminating the need for a separate speed reduction mechanism, thus slowing down the card ejection speed and reducing mechanical shock.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a speed reducer mechanism is added to slow down card ejection speed, then mechanical shock is reduced, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical shockVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A viscous dampening material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the guide member and guide surface. This material mediates the interaction between moving parts, providing damping effect without requiring complex mechanical speed reduction mechanisms. The viscous material absorbs and dissipates energy, reducing mechanical shock while maintaining simple connector structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical speed reducer mechanism with a viscous damping system. Instead of using gears, racks, or other mechanical components to control ejection speed, the invention uses the viscous properties of the dampening material to naturally slow down and control the card ejection process, eliminating complex mechanical subsystems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a speed reducer mechanism is added to control card ejection speed, then mechanical shock is reduced, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical shockVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The viscous dampening material serves as a low-cost, simple component that can be easily applied or replaced. Rather than manufacturing and assembling complex mechanical speed reduction mechanisms, the invention uses an inexpensive viscous material that provides the same shock-reducing function at lower manufacturing cost and simpler production processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a speed reducer mechanism is added to slow down card ejection, then mechanical shock is reduced, but connector size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical shockVSAvoidconnector volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The viscous dampening material functions as a thin film or coating layer between the guide member and guide surface. This thin-layer approach provides damping functionality without adding significant volume to the connector. The flexible viscous material conforms to the contact surfaces, providing shock reduction within the existing connector footprint rather than requiring additional space for mechanical speed reduction components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The solution allows for a simple, low-cost, and miniature card connector structure that prevents rapid card ejection and minimizes mechanical shock during card discharge, maintaining a stable damping effect without the need for additional speed reduction mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

a lubricant is applied between the guide surface and the slide surface so that the guide surface and the slide surface are in slidable contact with each other via the lubricant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Implementation Method 2

a lubricant is applied between the guide surface and the slide surface so that the guide surface and the slide surface are in slidable contact with each other via the lubricant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS7988471B2Card connector with ejection damper

Publication Date: 2011.08.02 MOLEX INC

AI summary

A card connector has a housing with a base and a side rail extending from the base to define a card-insertion cavity. A plurality of conductive terminals are supported by the housing and extend at least partially into the card-insertion cavity for contacting a card inserted into the card-insertion cavity. A push-push style card locking and ejection mechanism retains the card in the card-insertion cavity upon a first push and which ejects an inserted card upon a second push. The mechanism includes a slide member positioned for slidable movement on the side rail and a biasing member contacting the slide member for selectively exerting an ejection force on the slide member. The slide member includes a slide surface that slides along a guide surface of the side rail. A damping material is interposed between the slide member slide surface and the guide rail guide surface for retarding movement of the slide member on the side rail in response to an ejection force from the biasing member.