Concentric Electrical Connector for Misalignment-Tolerant Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically operated aerosol-generating systems face challenges in efficiently and easily connecting aerosol-generating devices with charging units, particularly when the devices are not fully aligned, leading to potential damage from misalignment and increased risk of connector damage.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a connector design with a first connector part and a second connector part, featuring multiple electrical contacts arranged to ensure engagement regardless of angular position, with the second connector part having a projection and electrical contacts on its sidewall to facilitate secure and resilient connection, reducing the risk of damage during use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional electrical connectors are used requiring precise alignment, then connection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs circular electrical contacts arranged in concentric patterns on both connector parts. The circular geometry allows the contacts to engage regardless of rotational orientation, eliminating alignment requirements while maintaining reliable electrical connection. This curvilinear arrangement directly resolves the contradiction by enabling easy operation without sacrificing connection reliability.
2Reliability
If connector design requires precise alignment, then electrical contact reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to alignment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arrangement of electrical contacts eliminates the need for complex alignment mechanisms. The concentric circular pattern ensures that contacts engage reliably regardless of rotational position, simplifying the connector design while maintaining electrical contact reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector design uses universal circular contact patterns that can engage at any orientation, making the connector adaptable to various insertion angles and positions. This multi-functional capability allows the same connector design to work reliably without requiring additional alignment features or mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If cavity size is increased to accommodate misalignment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased misalignment risk
Solution Approach 1:
The circular electrical contact arrangement inherently accommodates misalignment and varying insertion positions without compromising reliability. The circular geometry provides multiple engagement points that remain effective regardless of the exact insertion position or angle, allowing for a smaller, more precise cavity while maintaining both ease of operation and connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrically operated aerosol-generating system is provided, including: an aerosol-generating device; a charging unit to receive the device; and first and second connector parts, the device having one of the first and the second connector parts and the charging unit having the other one of the first and the second parts, in which the first part includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact circumscribing the first contact, and a third electrical contact circumscribing the second contact, the second part includes a face and a projection arranged centrally in the face, the projection being defined by an end face, and a sidewall extending between the face and the end face of the projection. An electrically operated aerosol-generating device, a charging unit for charging an aerosol-generating device, and an electrical connector for an electrically operated aerosol-generating system, are also provided.