Electrical Data Connector Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data connectors like mini display port, superMHL, and HDMI often fail to lock positively into receptacles, leading to accidental disconnection and signal loss due to cumbersome or space-incompatible locking mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A compact releasable locking mechanism with a locking element that protrudes from the connector to engage a corresponding formation on the receptacle, actuated by a drive mechanism involving longitudinal and transverse sliding elements, ensuring secure engagement without obstructing insertion or removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional locking mechanism is used to secure the plug to the receptacle, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and housing space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a locking element with cam surface, a detent member with spring, and a actuating lever. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing overall complexity and space requirements compared to integrated conventional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism utilizes rotational movement in a vertical plane (perpendicular to the connector axis) to achieve lateral locking engagement. This dimensional change allows the locking action to occur in a different spatial dimension, reducing the longitudinal space required within the connector housing.
2Reliability
If a manual locking sleeve is used to actuate the locking mechanism, then the connection security is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in engagement and disengagement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism transitions from a static locked state to a dynamic unlocked state through lever actuation. The cam surface and spring combination creates a dynamic system that can quickly transition between states, making engagement and disengagement easier while maintaining secure locked positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating lever serves as an intermediary between the user's manual input and the locking element. This lever provides mechanical advantage and translates small user movements into effective locking or unlocking actions, improving ease of operation while maintaining connection security.
3Reliability
If excessive pressure is applied to the locking sleeve, then the locking mechanism may engage more securely, but the ease of operation worsens and the mechanism may become difficult to disengage
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded detent member provides a variable resistance force that changes during the locking process. Initially, the spring allows easy engagement with minimal force, then provides increasing resistance as locking progresses, finally maintaining a secure locked state without requiring excessive continuous pressure from the user.
4Reliability
If the locking element protrudes significantly from the connector element, then the locking reliability is improved, but the ease of operation worsens by impeding insertion and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element dynamically adjusts its protrusion distance based on its rotational position. During insertion, the locking element rotates to minimize protrusion, facilitating easy insertion. Once engaged, the locking element rotates to its operational position where it protrudes sufficiently to provide reliable locking engagement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4b
Figure 5a~6b
AI summary
An electrical data connector comprises a plug (2) that is configured for insertion in a longitudinal direction into a complementary receptacle (6). The plug (2) includes a connector element (10) that is configured to be received within the receptacle and carries a plurality of electrical connectors, a body (14) that is located externally of the receptacle when the connector element is inserted into the receptacle, and a releasable locking mechanism (22) for locking the plug positively to the receptacle to prevent unintentional removal of the plug from the receptacle. The locking mechanism includes a locking element (30) carried by the connector that is configured for movement between a locked configuration in which it protrudes from the connector element and an unlocked configuration in which it does not protrude substantially from the connector element, a locking control (20), provided on the body, for manually actuating the locking mechanism, and a drive mechanism that connects the locking control to the locking element, whereby operation of the locking control actuates the locking element. The drive mechanism includes at least one longitudinal sliding element (26) that is connected to the locking control and at least one transverse sliding element (28) that is connected to the locking element, wherein said longitudinal and transverse sliding elements are located in a common plane and are configured such that longitudinal movement of the longitudinal sliding element drives transverse movement of the transverse sliding element, thereby actuating the locking element.