Cigarette Lighter Adapter Cantilevered Port Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigarette lighter adapter (CLA) devices with cantilevered port interfaces lack robust mechanical support for external devices, particularly in vehicles subject to vibrations and jolts, leading to insecure attachment and potential disconnection.
Innovation Solution
The CLA device integrates a housing with a support surface and a protruding portion that positions the port interface connector to provide a cantilevered support point, securing external devices via complementary connectors, and additional support from the housing surface to prevent movement due to vibrations or jolts, while incorporating multiple functionalities like power inverter, FM transmitter, and data exchange capabilities in a single unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the port interface connector is arranged in a conventional cantilevered manner, then the device structure is simple, but the external device is not securely supported under vibration and jolts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-point cantilevered support to a distributed support system by adding a support surface that contacts the external device along its bottom surface. This dimensional expansion from point support to surface support provides stability against vibrations and jolts while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple functionalities are integrated into a single CLA device, then the device versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements multi-functionality by integrating power conversion circuitry (DC to AC and DC to DC), FM transmitter, USB port interface, and audio jack into a single CLA device. The housing contains all these functional modules, allowing the device to serve multiple purposes: power supply, data transfer, audio transmission, and wireless communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A CLA device comprises a CLA plug that is insertable into an external CLA socket, for example, a DC CLA socket inside a vehicle. The CLA device has a housing coupled to the CLA plug, for example, by integration or via a tethered wire, with the housing having a support surface. A port interface connector in the CLA device engages with a complementary port interface connector of an external device at a cantilevered support point when the external device is attached to the CLA device.