Connector Fitting Confirmation via Rear Visual Indication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fitting confirmation constructions for connectors, especially when circuit boards are stacked or obstructed, make it difficult to visually confirm the proper connection from the front or sides, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A fitting confirmation construction featuring a lock arm with an inclined lock wall, a deflection space, and an operation plate, along with a confirmation opening in the rear wall, allowing visual confirmation of the operation plate's position to determine complete or incomplete connections, even when obstructed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connectors are fitted together in stacked or obstructed configurations, then connection reliability is improved, but visual confirmation of proper connection becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a confirmation opening in the rear wall of the housing, enabling visual confirmation of the lock arm's locked state from the rear direction (arrow E) rather than from the front or sides. This dimensional change in observation direction allows workers to verify proper connection even when connectors are stacked or obstructed, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and visual confirmation difficulty
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional fitting confirmation constructions are used with obstructed views, then connection stability is maintained, but confirmation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visual confirmation function to a separate confirmation opening in the rear wall, independent of the locking mechanism itself. This allows the lock arm to maintain connection stability through its locking action, while the confirmation opening provides a simplified visual indication path from the rear, reducing confirmation complexity by separating the stabilization function from the confirmation function
Data Source
AI summary
In a fitting confirmation construction, a lock arm is provided in a housing of a first connector. The lock arm includes a lock wall inclined and disposed at a front end of the lock arm in a direction from the first connector toward the second connector; a deflection space formed at a rear of the lock wall in the direction; and an operation plate disposed on the deflection space. A confirmation opening is provided in a rear wall of the housing, and has a height equal to a height of the deflection space. A lock projection is provided on a second connector to be brought into engagement with the lock wall. A rear end face of the operation plate is exposed to a rear outside of the housing of the first connector through the confirmation opening, only in a state where the lock arm is deflected.