Connector Assembly Light Guide Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies are bulky due to the placement of light guide elements outside the metal shielding cage, which compromises their compactness.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design where a light guide pipe is partially inserted into an installation through hole within the insulating body, allowing the light guide head to be adjacent to the metal shielding cage's receiving cavity and the light emitting element, thereby eliminating the need for external placement and optimizing space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light guide element is installed outside the metal shielding cage, then the light guide element can avoid interference with the electrical connector during installation, but the overall profile of the connector assembly becomes relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element is nested within the insulating body's installation through hole, which is itself part of the electrical connector structure. The light guide pipe passes through the installation through hole from the front end, with the light guide head positioned at the front end and the light guide tail at the rear end, effectively nesting the light guide element within the existing structural cavity rather than adding external volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide element is positioned along the mating direction (front-rear axis) rather than being placed laterally outside the shielding cage. By utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the insulating body and passing the light guide pipe through the installation through hole along the mating direction, the design transforms a lateral placement problem into a longitudinal integration solution, reducing the overall profile while maintaining installation reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the light guide element is installed outside the metal shielding cage, then the installation process is simpler, but the structural compactness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide element installation is merged with the existing insulating body structure by utilizing the installation through hole that is already part of the electrical connector. The light guide pipe passes through this pre-existing through hole, combining the light guide installation with the connector assembly process rather than requiring separate external mounting, thereby maintaining installation simplicity while improving structural compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation through hole in the insulating body serves multiple functions: it allows passage of the light guide pipe for light guide element installation, maintains structural integrity of the insulating body, and integrates the light guide element into the connector assembly. This multi-functional use of the same structural feature simplifies the overall installation process while achieving compact integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances the structural compactness of the connector assembly by fully utilizing the insulating body's space and improves the integration of the light guide element within the assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide element including a light guide pipe which is at least partially inserted into the installation through hole along the mating direction; the light guide pipe including a light guide head located adjacent to a port of the receiving cavity and an end far away from the light guide head; the end being located adjacent to the light emitting element
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes an electrical connector, a metal shielding cage and a light guide element. The electrical connector includes an insulating body and a number of conductive terminals. The insulating body includes a mounting surface configured to be mounted to a circuit board and an installation through hole. The light guide element includes a light pipe which is at least partially inserted into the installation through hole along a mating direction. The light guide pipe includes a light guide head and an end far away from the light guide head. The end is disposed adjacent to the light emitting element on the circuit board.