Connector Assembly With Integrated Self-Cleaning Mating Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional connector assemblies lack effective cleaning mechanisms for maintaining clear mating portions, which is crucial for reliable signal transmission, especially in optical connectors where dust-proof covers hinder inspection and may lead to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design where both connectors have cleaning devices that wipe each other's mating portions during mating, ensuring cleanliness and preventing scratches, using protruding cleaning devices that are positioned in the mating direction to effectively remove dirt from the mating surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a dust-proof cover is used to prevent contamination of optical elements, then protection from dust is improved, but inspection of optical elements becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning devices perform preliminary cleaning action on the mating portions before the connectors are fully mated. The cleaning devices are positioned to contact and clean the optical elements during the mating process itself, eliminating the need for separate cleaning operations and allowing inspection after cleaning without requiring disassembly of dust-proof covers.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional scraping methods are used to clean mating portions, then contamination is removed, but scratches may be left on optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning devices use soft, flexible cleaning surfaces that change their mechanical properties during operation. The cleaning members are made of compliant material that adapts to the optical element surface, providing sufficient friction to remove contamination while maintaining low enough pressure to prevent scratching. This parameter change in material compliance resolves the contradiction between effective cleaning and optical element protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cleaning devices are added to connectors, then mating portion cleanliness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning devices are merged with the connector housing and mating structure. The cleaning members are integrated into the connector body such that they are automatically positioned and actuated during the normal mating process. This combining of cleaning function with existing connector components minimizes additional complexity while ensuring reliable cleaning action.
Solution Approach 2:
The connectors perform self-cleaning through the integrated cleaning devices that are activated automatically during the mating process. The mechanical action of mating the connectors themselves drives the cleaning function, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms or manual intervention. This self-service approach reduces overall system complexity.
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
This design ensures reliable signal transmission by keeping the mating surfaces clean, preventing contamination, and allowing for easy inspection without risking scratches on the optical elements, thereby enhancing the performance and reliability of the connectors.
Implementation Method 1
the first cleaning device wipes the second mating face for wiping away the dirty attached to the second mating portion while the second cleaning device wipes the first mating face for wiping away the dirty attached to the first mating portion
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector mating with the first connector. The first connector defines a first mating face, a first cleaning device disposed in the first mating face and a stiff first mating portion exposed upon the first mating face. The second connector defines a second mating face, a second cleaning device disposed in the second mating face and a stiff second mating portion exposed upon the second mating face. During mating the first connector to the second connector along the mating direction, the first cleaning device wipes the second mating face for wiping away the dirty attached to the second mating portion while the second cleaning device wipes the first mating face for wiping away the dirty attached to the first mating portion until the first and second mating portions mated with each other.