Charging Contacts Alignment Mechanism for Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile communication devices face issues with proper alignment during charging, which can lead to damage and misalignment between the device port and charging cradle, causing scratches and charging inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A mobile communication device with a housing featuring a pair of charging contacts on the sides, designed to engage with a corresponding charging accessory, ensuring proper alignment and preventing damage through a mechanism where the charging contacts are flush with the device's edges and the accessory includes angled pins and buttons for secure engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a charging port is provided on the device for engaging a charging cradle plug, then charging functionality is enabled, but misalignment between the device port and cradle plug can cause scratches and damage to the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging operationVSAvoiddevice damage from misalignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having a recessed port in the device that requires the plug to insert into it, the invention inverts the configuration by placing protruding charging contacts on the device that actively engage with recessed areas in the cradle. This inversion allows the device to guide itself into proper alignment during insertion, preventing misalignment damage while maintaining charging functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If alignment mechanisms are added to prevent misalignment, then device safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging alignment reliabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the charging contact function with the alignment function into a single integrated structure. The protruding charging contacts serve dual purposes: they conduct electricity for charging and they physically guide the device into proper alignment with the cradle. This eliminates the need for separate alignment mechanisms, maintaining device simplicity while ensuring reliable alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The charging contacts act as an intermediary element between the device and cradle, mediating both the electrical connection and the mechanical alignment. By designing these contacts to protrude from the device, they serve as the first point of contact during insertion, guiding the device into proper position before the main body engages with the cradle, thus preventing misalignment without adding complex separate alignment systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2133976B1Communication device

Publication Date: 2016.10.12 BLACKBERRY LTD

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AI summary

A communication device (100) includes a housing (150), a processor (102) enclosed within the housing, a device display (110) provided on the housing and in communication with the processor, at least one navigational input means (166) in communication with the processor, at least one data entry input means (116) in communication with the processor, and a pair of charging contacts (194) provided on the housing and configured for engaging a corresponding charging accessory (250) and enabling charging of the device.