Dual-Sided Carrier Plate Latching for Encoded Plug Connectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier plates do not offer efficient and cost-effective solutions for affixing electrical plug connectors on both sides, limiting application options and encoding possibilities.
Innovation Solution
A carrier plate with first detent elements on both main surfaces allows form-fit interlocking with second detent elements of electrical plug connectors, enabling affixation on both sides and providing encoding options, manufactured efficiently using injection molding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If detent elements are added to both sides of the carrier plate to enable plug connectors to be affixed on both sides, then the application flexibility and versatility are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier plate is designed with detent elements on both main surfaces, enabling it to serve multiple functions: affixing plug connectors on one side, affixing plug connectors on both sides, and providing cable fixing regions. This multi-functionality allows a single component design to accommodate various application scenarios without requiring different carrier plate variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier plate is divided into distinct functional regions: first cable fixing regions on the first main surface, second cable fixing regions on the second main surface, and detent elements distributed across both surfaces. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each region while maintaining overall system simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If detent elements are added to both sides of the carrier plate to enable plug connectors to be affixed on both sides, then the application flexibility and versatility are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single carrier plate component: plug connector affixing on both sides, cable fixing on both sides, and encoding features. By combining these functions into one integrated part rather than using separate components, the overall manufacturing process is simplified despite the increased functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The carrier plate serves as a universal mounting platform that can accommodate plug connectors on either side, providing design flexibility without requiring multiple specialized components, thereby reducing the total number of manufacturing operations needed.
3Reliability
If offset detent elements and encoding devices are implemented, then encoding capability and mismatch prevention are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detent elements are positioned with lateral offsets between the first and second main surfaces, creating an asymmetric configuration that enables encoding functionality. This asymmetric positioning allows the system to distinguish between different orientations and configurations, preventing mismating while maintaining mechanical simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The encoding devices and offset detent elements are pre-integrated into the carrier plate during manufacturing, establishing the encoding scheme in advance. This preliminary configuration ensures that encoding and mismatch prevention are built-in from the start, eliminating the need for additional complex components or assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier plate in the form of a flat plate having a first main surface and a second main surface facing away from the first main surface, these main surfaces being the surface sides of the plate having the largest surface area, and having first detent elements to which an electrical plug connector, having second detent elements, with its second detent elements is affixable via form-fit interlocking of the first detent elements with the second detent elements. Further relates an arrangement is provided having such a carrier plate and at least two electrical plug connectors, each of which has second detent elements. Also, an arrangement is provided having two such carrier plates and a plug connector as well as a mating plug connector, each of which has second detent elements.