Connector Incorrect Insertion Prevention Using Magnetic Shutter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector technologies face challenges in preventing incorrect insertion, as they either rely on mechanical key pins that can be damaged or complex magnet-based systems that increase costs and are prone to forced insertion due to weak repulsive forces.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring permanent magnets on both the female and male connectors, with a shutter and shutter-rotation-prevention unit that uses springs and engaging members to prevent incorrect insertion by controlling the rotation of a shutter to block the insertion path when polarity mismatch occurs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnets are provided in corresponding positions of connector socket and connector plug to prevent incorrect insertion, then connector reliability is improved, but the repulsive force is too weak to prevent forced insertion of incorrect connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field generation is segmented between two sources: permanent magnets in the connector plug and electromagnetic coils in the connector socket. This division allows the system to combine the always-present passive magnetic field with the actively controllable electromagnetic field, achieving stronger overall repulsive force while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static permanent magnets alone to a dynamic combination of permanent magnets and controllable electromagnetic coils. The coils can be activated on-demand to provide additional repulsive force when needed, making the force characteristic adaptive rather than fixed.
2Reliability
If connector pins are formed of magnets to achieve polarity-based connection, then incorrect insertion prevention is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to large number of magnets and complicated shape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetic function from the connector pins themselves and relocates it to separate permanent magnets positioned in the connector plug. This allows the pins to remain simple conductive elements while the magnetic polarity control is handled by dedicated magnet components, simplifying overall manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnets serve multiple functions: they provide polarity-based identification, generate repulsive force when combined with coils, and enable both connection and disconnection control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, lowering manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If key pins are formed at empty pin positions to prevent incorrect fitting, then connector reliability is improved, but the types of accurately fittable connectors are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the physical presence/absence of key pins (structural parameter), the system changes magnetic field parameters (polarity, strength, activation state) to control connector compatibility. This allows dynamic adaptation to different connector types without structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector system becomes dynamic through controllable electromagnetic coils that can adjust magnetic repulsion in real-time. This enables the same physical connector to adapt to different mating connectors by changing magnetic field characteristics, increasing versatility.
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
Effectively prevents incorrect insertion while allowing correct connectors to be easily fitted, maintaining connector integrity and reducing manufacturing costs by using a simple magnetic force-based mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the magnets are small. Thus, even when an incorrect connector is inserted and a corresponding magnet is repulsive, forced insertion may be made due to a weak repulsive force
Data Source
AI summary
An incorrect-insertion-prevention structure of a connector which prevents a first connector from being incorrectly inserted into a space formed within a second connector to be fitted to the first connector, wherein the first connector includes at least one first magnet, a bottom surface or a side surface at an insertion end to be inserted into the second connector, wherein the second connector includes: a shutter rotatably and pivotally supported by a rotating shaft to open and close an inlet of the space, and a shutter-rotation-prevention unit rotatably and pivotally supported by a supporting shaft in parallel to the rotating shaft of the shutter to prevent the shutter from being rotated in an opening direction, and wherein the shutter-rotation-prevention unit shutter-rotation-prevention unit includes: at least one engaging member facing a rotation end of the shutter in a closed state to prevent the shutter from being moved in the opening direction.