Connector Guide Assembly Protruding Members Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connector alignment methods often result in damage due to improper alignment, with traditional approaches either blindly aligning connectors or using guide pins that can cause damage if the connectors move parallel to each other.

Innovation Solution

A connector guide assembly with multiple protruding members extending perpendicularly from the connector frame, which align and guide connectors before mating, preventing conflicts with the connector features and ensuring reliable interconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional guide pins are used to align connectors, then alignment is provided, but connector damage occurs if connectors move parallel to each other

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidconnector damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from traditional guide pins (single-point contact) to protruding members extending along the mating direction (linear contact). This dimensional change from point to line contact provides alignment guidance while accommodating parallel movements without causing damage, as the extended protruding members can tolerate sliding along their length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding members act as intermediary elements between the connector housings, providing a buffering zone that allows parallel movement during the mating process. These intermediaries absorb the harmful parallel motion before it can transmit damage to the actual connector contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If blind alignment is used to mate connectors, then simplicity is maintained, but connector damage occurs due to improper alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment mechanism complexityVSAvoidconnector damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding members perform preliminary alignment action before the actual connector contacts engage. By extending beyond the connector housing, they establish proper alignment and guide the mating process, ensuring that when the connectors finally make contact, they are already correctly positioned to avoid damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9755360B1Connector guide assembly with a protruding member

Publication Date: 2017.09.05 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

Examples herein disclose a connector guide assembly. The connector guide assembly includes a connector frame and multiple protruding members. The connector frame includes multiple side walls. The multiple protruding members are coupled to the side walls of the connector frame such that the multiple protruding members extend substantially perpendicular to the connector frame and are located on opposing side walls of the connectors frame.