Connector Orientation Detection Without Identification Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic systems require additional identification pins to determine the installation direction of electronic devices on external keyboard docks, increasing manufacturing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system that determines the installation direction of an electronic device without additional identification pins by using a device connector with first and second device interfaces and an object connector with an object interface, employing a control module to detect connecting conditions and generate determination results to identify the installation direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional identification pins are configured in the device connector to determine installation direction, then the installation direction determination accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The existing device interfaces (first device interface and second device interface) in the device connector are made to serve dual purposes: both data transmission and installation direction determination. By detecting which device interface is connected to the object interface, the system simultaneously achieves data communication and orientation identification without requiring separate identification pins, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the installation direction determination function with the existing data transmission interfaces. Instead of adding separate identification pins, the system combines the orientation detection capability into the already-present first and second device interfaces, allowing a single connector structure to perform multiple functions including data transmission and direction identification
2Measurement precision
If additional identification pins are configured in the device connector to determine installation direction, then the installation direction determination accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing device interfaces are designed to perform multiple functions including data transmission and installation direction determination. By making the first and second device interfaces serve dual purposes, the patent eliminates the need for additional identification pins, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining accurate direction determination capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating new identification pins, the system uses the existing device interfaces in a creative way - by detecting which interface (first or second) is connected, the system copies the orientation determination function from dedicated identification hardware to the already-present data transmission interfaces, achieving the same effect at lower manufacturing cost
Data Source
AI summary
A method is utilized for determining an installation direction of an electronic device. The electronic device is installed on an object and includes a device connector for utilizing a pluggable method to combine with an object connector of the object. A first interface and a second interface are configured in the device connector. When the electronic device is installed on the object by a first direction, the first interface is connected to an object interface of the object connector. When the electronic device is installed on the object by a second direction, a second interface is connected to the object interface of the object connector. The method includes detecting an outside connecting condition of the first interface and the second interface to generate a first result and a second result, and determining the installation direction of the electronic device according to the first result and the second result.