Circular Dongle Winding Mechanism for Full Cable Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile adapters with multiple ports have a large footprint and difficulty in cable management, leading to issues with storage and electromagnetic interference due to the cable hanging freely and multiple ports occupying significant space.
Innovation Solution
A circular housing mechanism with a central reel and opposing magnets that retract the cable with more than one wind, ensuring the connector is fully enclosed within the housing using magnetic attraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the cable length is increased to provide sufficient working length, then the cable management difficulty increases and the housing footprint increases, but the cable needs to be long enough to provide adequate working length
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is wound around a central reel that is nested within the circular housing. The reel allows the cable to be coiled in a compact manner, fitting a longer cable length within a smaller housing footprint by nesting the cable around the reel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management transitions from a linear arrangement to a circular/windable arrangement around a central reel. This dimensional change allows the cable to be organized in concentric circles, maximizing space utilization and reducing the housing footprint while maintaining adequate cable length.
2Ease of operation
If the cable is allowed to hang freely for easy access, then the cable management becomes difficult and electromagnetic interference increases, but the cable needs to be accessible for use
Solution Approach 1:
The lower circular housing portion can rotate relative to the upper circular housing portion, allowing the cable to be dynamically extended or retracted as needed. This rotational mechanism provides ease of operation for cable access while keeping the cable organized and preventing electromagnetic interference when not in use.
3Ease of operation
If the connector is allowed to extend past the housing perimeter for connection, then the connector needs to be accessible, but the exposed connector creates interference and storage difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is retained in a dynamic state by magnetic force, allowing it to extend past the housing perimeter when needed for connection while being automatically retracted when not in use. The magnetic retention force balances the connector between extended and retracted positions, providing accessibility when required while preventing interference during storage.
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 provides a compact, user-friendly design that prevents cable exposure and interference, enhancing reliability and usability by fully retracting the cable into the housing.
Implementation Method 1
A first magnet exposed at a bottom surface of the upper circular housing portion magnetically attracts a second magnet included in an upper surface of the cable connector with a slight offset relative to the circular housing to bias the cable connector inward
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system mobile peripheral adapter interfaces with an information handling system through a cable connector that extends from a circular housing so that the information handling system can use peripherals coupled to ports of the circular housing. The cable and connector retract into a cavity of the circular housing so that at a fully retracted position a magnet in a bottom surface of the upper circular housing portion biases a magnet of the cable connector inward.