Fine Alignment Adapter for Connector Card Width Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems face challenges in ensuring proper alignment of device boards with connectors, particularly when power supplies with different power ratings have varying card widths, leading to improper alignment and communication issues.
Innovation Solution
A fine alignment adapter with an insert portion and a support wall is used, which includes a chamfer that fits within the connector's gap, ensuring correct alignment of signal and power contacts by snapping into place over the connector's rear edge, even when the device board is slightly misaligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If device boards with varying card widths are used to accommodate different power ratings, then adaptability to different power supplies is improved, but alignment precision with the connector deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an alignment adapter as an intermediary component between the device board and the connector. The adapter includes a support wall that interfaces with the connector and an insert portion that receives the device board. This mediator compensates for width variations by providing a standardized interface on one side (support wall matching connector) and an adaptive interface on the other (insert portion accommodating different board widths), thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into three distinct components: the connector, the alignment adapter, and the device board. The alignment adapter acts as an independent segment that can be manufactured with precise dimensions for the connector interface, while the device board segment can vary in width. This segmentation allows the precision requirements to be localized to the adapter-connector interface, while the board-adapter interface can accommodate variations.
2Ease of operation
If the connector gap is made larger to accommodate alignment tolerances, then ease of insertion is improved, but structural integrity and contact reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment adapter performs preliminary alignment action before the device board contacts the connector. The support wall with its precisely positioned chamfer creates a mechanical guide that pre-positions the adapter (and subsequently the device board) relative to the connector. This preliminary positioning action ensures that even with a larger gap for ease of insertion, the final contact position is precise and reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces reliance on purely mechanical tight-fit insertion with a mechanical guidance system. Instead of depending on the connector gap being small for alignment, the system uses the chamfered support wall geometry to mechanically guide and constrain the insertion path, substituting the need for tight tolerances with a positive mechanical guidance mechanism that ensures reliable contact.
Data Source
AI summary
An alignment adapter is to be placed in physical communication with a connector of an information handling system. The alignment adapter includes an insert portion and a support wall. The insert portion is to be placed within the connector, and to provide a proper alignment of a device board within the connector. The support wall is to be placed in physical communication with an outside edge of the connector. The support wall is a particular distance from the insert portion. A chamfer of the connector is to be placed within the particular distance the support wall is from the insert portion when the insert portion is fully inserted within the connector.