Configurable Card Connector Structure for Mixed Card Lengths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card connectors in information handling systems are unable to efficiently accommodate cards of varying electrical contact sizes, leading to potential damage during shipping due to increased mass and stress on the connectors.
Innovation Solution
A configurable card connector with an elongated body and a cap that can be positioned or removed to adapt to different card types, providing support for cards with fewer, more, or the same number of electrical contacts, and featuring mechanisms for enhanced structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a card connector is designed to support cards with more electrical contacts, then the connector's length increases, but the stress and potential damage during shipping increases
Solution Approach 1:
The card connector is divided into two separate components: an elongated body and a cap. The elongated body contains the electrical contacts and mounting features, while the cap covers the open end to provide structural support. This segmentation allows the connector to be configured for different card types by adjusting whether the cap is attached, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The card connector transitions from a static, fixed-length design to a dynamic, configurable design. The cap can be attached or removed based on the card type being installed, allowing the connector to adapt its effective length and structural characteristics. This dynamic configuration enables the same connector to safely support cards with varying numbers of electrical contacts.
2Ease of manufacture
If a card connector is designed with a fixed length for a specific card type, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different card types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The card connector is designed as a universal component that can support multiple card types through the optional cap configuration. The elongated body is manufactured with standardized features that accommodate different card lengths, while the cap provides the necessary structural support for longer cards. This multi-functionality approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling broad adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the connector into an elongated body and a cap, the design allows the elongated body to be manufactured once with universal mounting and contact features, while the cap serves as a configurable element. This segmentation enables standardized production of the main connector body while providing flexibility for different card types through cap attachment or removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is designed to accommodate cards with more electrical contacts, then versatility is improved, but the mass and stress on the connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap is attached to the elongated body in advance during manufacturing or installation, creating a pre-configured connector structure. This preliminary action ensures that the structural support is already in place before the card is installed, preventing excessive stress on the connector during shipping and handling. The cap's presence is predetermined, eliminating the need to over-engineer the elongated body for maximum card lengths.
Data Source
AI summary
A card connector corresponding to a first card type associated with a plurality of electrical contacts for receiving cards corresponding to various card types, each card type associated with a set of electrical contacts fewer than, more than or the same number of electrical contacts as the first card type. An elongated body may be formed with a closed end and an open end. A cap may be positioned on the open end to configure the card connector in a closed configuration to support cards of a card type associated with fewer or the same number of electrical contacts. The cap may be removed to configure the card connector in an open configuration to support cards associated with more electrical contacts. The cap may have PCB connectors for positioning the cap a distance from the elongated body to configure the card connector in an augmented open configuration.