Connector Device With Differential Core Lengths

Solution Overview

Problem

The manufacturing cost of connectors for in-car cameras is increased due to the presence of unnecessary contacts at the time of actual use, which also results in a larger connector size, as these contacts are required for routing convenience within vehicles and for writing parameter information during manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

The connector device incorporates two types of contacts: actual use contacts with longer core lengths and manufacturing contacts with shorter core lengths, where the manufacturing contacts are only used for parameter writing during production and not at actual use, reducing the number of cores and downsizing the connector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a connector includes both actual use contacts and manufacturing contacts with the same core length, then parameter information can be written during manufacturing, but the connector size increases and manufacturing cost rises due to unnecessary contacts at actual use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter writing capabilityVSAvoidconnector size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into two distinct contact types: actual use contacts with longer cores for operational electrical connection, and manufacturing contacts with shorter cores for parameter writing only. This segmentation allows each contact type to be optimized independently, eliminating the need for all contacts to have the same length, thereby reducing overall connector size while maintaining manufacturing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connector design incorporates dynamic functionality where the same connector structure adapts to different operational modes: during manufacturing, both actual use and manufacturing contacts are utilized; during actual use, only actual use contacts are active while manufacturing contacts remain inactive due to their shorter core length. This dynamic adaptation eliminates unnecessary contacts from the operational configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If a connector includes both actual use contacts and manufacturing contacts with the same core length, then parameter information can be written during manufacturing, but manufacturing cost increases due to unnecessary contacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparameter writing capabilityVSAvoidnumber of contacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into two distinct contact types: actual use contacts with longer cores for operational electrical connection, and manufacturing contacts with shorter cores for parameter writing only. This segmentation allows each contact type to be optimized independently, eliminating the need for all contacts to have the same length, thereby reducing overall connector size while maintaining manufacturing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different contacts within the same connector have different local properties - specifically, different core lengths tailored to their specific functions. Actual use contacts have longer cores for reliable operational connection, while manufacturing contacts have shorter cores sufficient only for parameter writing. This local differentiation reduces the total number of contacts needed while maintaining both manufacturing and operational functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a connector uses the same core length for all contacts, then manufacturing is simplified, but the connector size increases and routing convenience is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconnector length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The connector is segmented into two distinct contact types: actual use contacts with longer cores for operational electrical connection, and manufacturing contacts with shorter cores for parameter writing only. This segmentation allows each contact type to be optimized independently, eliminating the need for all contacts to have the same length, thereby reducing overall connector size while maintaining manufacturing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The core length parameter is changed based on the specific function of each contact type. Instead of using a uniform core length for all contacts, the patent applies different core length parameters: longer cores for actual use contacts requiring reliable operational connection, and shorter cores for manufacturing contacts requiring only parameter writing capability. This parameter differentiation reduces connector size while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11152726B2Connector device and connector system

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 SONY SEMICON SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

The present technology relates to a connector device and a connector system capable of achieving reduction in manufacturing cost. Provided is a connector device including a first contact used in actual use, and a second contact used only in manufacturing, in which the first contact and the second contact have different core lengths in a case of being viewed from a connection target side. The present technology can be applied to a camera device electrically connected to a vehicle connector, for example.