Connector Housing Sidewall Extraction for Camera Module Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for portable electronic devices, such as camera modules, contribute to increased bulk due to the thickness of the connector and PCB, resulting in a larger device volume.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a top wall and sidewalls defining a cavity, containing conducting terminals that electronically connect with conductive pads on a circuit board, allowing for a camera module to be lowered into the board hole, reducing device height through lateral fixation using snap-lock latches or alternative mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional socket connector with bottom wall and sidewalls is used to connect the camera module to the PCB, then the connector can provide stable electrical connection and structural support, but the thickness of the bottom wall and PCB increases the connector bulk and device volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bottom wall from the traditional socket connector structure, eliminating the need for a thick bottom wall while maintaining electrical connection functionality. The connector housing now only has sidewalls, and the camera module is directly mounted on the PCB through the housing, with electrical connections established through terminals that engage with pads on the PCB, thereby reducing connector bulk without compromising connection stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the camera module is contained within the connector housing formed by the sidewalls, and the housing is in turn mounted on the PCB. This nesting arrangement allows compact integration of components, reducing the overall device volume while maintaining stable electrical and mechanical connections through the nested configuration
2Strength
If the camera module is connected via a traditional socket connector with significant thickness, then the connector can provide adequate mechanical support and electrical connection, but the overall height and thickness of the portable electronic device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the thick bottom wall from the connector structure, extracting the unnecessary volume that contributed to device height. The mechanical support function is maintained through the sidewalls of the housing and the mounting structure on the PCB, which provide adequate structural support without the additional height burden of a bottom wall
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional enclosed socket structure to a more planar configuration where the camera module is mounted directly on the PCB within the sidewall housing. This dimensional change reduces the height dimension while maintaining mechanical support through the lateral walls and PCB mounting structure
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (20) is coupled with a circuit board (10) of a portable electronic device, and the circuit board includes a board hole (12) therein and a plurality of conductive pads (14) thereon, adjacent the board hole. The connector includes a housing (22) and a plurality of conducting terminals (24). The housing has an open end and includes a top wall (222) and sidewall (224), with the top wall and the sidewall together co-operatively defining a cavity (220). The plurality of conducting terminals is positioned near/proximate the open end of the housing. The housing is fixed with circuit board corresponding with the board hole and is electronically connected with the conductive pads via the conducting terminals.