Connector Lock Portion Protection via Fitting Assuring Component
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face the challenge of unintentional cancellation of the fitting state with a counterpart connector, which can lead to size increases when attempting to prevent this issue through additional protective members.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a cantilever-shaped lock portion and a fitting assuring component with a hollow portion that houses the lock portion, preventing unintentional external forces from causing state cancellation by interfering with the inside wall of the hollow portion, thus minimizing size increments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate protective member is added to prevent unintentional lock arm movement, then reliability of fitting state is improved, but connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is merged with the existing fitting assuring component (CPA). The CPA's attachment body is configured to surround and protect the lock arm, combining the fitting assurance function with the protective function in a single integrated component, thereby preventing unintentional lock arm movement without adding separate protective members that would increase connector size
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting assuring component is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects the fitting state between connectors and simultaneously protects the lock arm from unintentional movement. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional dedicated protective members, maintaining compact connector dimensions while improving reliability
2Reliability
If the lock arm is made more robust to prevent unintentional movement, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure of the fitting assuring component is positioned to preemptively prevent unintentional lock arm movement before it can occur. The attachment body surrounds the lock arm and provides continuous protection during connector operation, eliminating the need for complex additional locking mechanisms or multi-stage protection systems
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes: a housing having a lock portion; and a fitting assuring component attached to the housing and detecting whether the housing and the counterpart housing being fitted with each other. The fitting assuring component has a hollow portion to house at least part of the lock portion to surround the at least part of the lock portion upon the fitting assuring component being located at the preset attachment position, and the fitting assuring component preventing the lock portion from switching to cancellation of the state of the housing and the counterpart housing being fitted with each other by interfering with an inside wall of the hollow portion.