Connector With Joint Terminal For Sensor Position Recognition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector configurations for sensor units are complex and difficult to manufacture due to the need for varying numbers and arrangements of connection terminals to accommodate different sensor positions, leading to complications in wire combination and grounding processes.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a connector housing with insertion holes for connection terminals, a joint terminal for grounding, and a sealer to simplify the configuration by fixing the number of connection terminals and allowing the joint terminal to change shape to indicate sensor unit position, eliminating the need for separate wires at each position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number and arrangement of connection terminals are varied to accommodate different sensor positions, then the connector can adapt to various sensor unit positions, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is designed with a fixed number of insertion holes that can accommodate connection terminals for different sensor positions. The joint terminal with multiple grounding terminal parts can be selectively connected to different tab terminals depending on the sensor position, allowing a single connector design to serve multiple sensor positions without requiring different numbers of connection terminals.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint terminal is divided into multiple grounding terminal parts, each capable of being electrically connected to different tab terminals. This segmentation allows the joint terminal to selectively ground different sensors based on position while maintaining a unified connector structure, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If separate wires are used for each sensor position, then each sensor can be independently connected and grounded, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple grounding functions are merged into a single joint terminal structure that contains multiple grounding terminal parts. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate wires for each sensor position, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining reliable independent connection and grounding capabilities for each sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The joint terminal serves multiple functions by providing selective grounding to different tab terminals based on sensor position. This multi-functional design replaces multiple position-specific wires with a single versatile component, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Ease of manufacture
If the connector configuration is simplified with a fixed number of connection terminals, then manufacturing is easier and costs are reduced, but the ability to recognize different sensor unit positions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device determines the sensor unit position by analyzing which grounding terminal parts of the joint terminal are electrically connected to which tab terminals. This feedback mechanism allows position recognition without requiring complex physical position indicators, maintaining ease of manufacture while enabling accurate position detection through electrical connection patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a connector housing including: a plurality of insertion holes; a plurality of connection terminals inserted into some of the plurality of insertion holes and configured to be electrically connected to a first set of a plurality of tab terminals of a sensor unit; and a joint terminal accommodated inside the connector housing. The joint terminal includes at least one grounding terminal part electrically connected to at least one of a second set of the plurality of tab terminals and a joint connection part electrically connected to a ground connection terminal, which is one of the plurality of connection terminals.