Connector Pre-Load Mechanism for Microphone Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector structures for attaching external microphones to voice recorders face challenges with variations in axial length, leading to instability and noise issues due to varying repulsive forces from coil springs, making it difficult to attach and maintain a stable connection.
Innovation Solution
A connector structure with a recorder-side connector, pre-load applying device, holder housing, and locking device that applies a pre-load without repulsion during attachment, using a tubular cylindrical pre-load applying member and operation ring to adjust and secure the connection, ensuring stability across different axial lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a push-on type connector with coil spring is used to attach external microphone, then the connection is easy to make and joint stability is improved, but variations in axial length of mikeside connectors cause varying repulsive forces that lead to connection instability and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the coil spring from the connector structure entirely. Instead of using elastic repulsion to maintain contact pressure, the invention employs a rigid structure with a pre-load applying device that pushes the connector housing forward to eliminate gaps between engaging surfaces, thereby eliminating the source of instability while maintaining ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of force application from dynamic elastic repulsion (coil spring) to static pre-load (rigid push). This parameter change eliminates the variation in repulsive force caused by different axial lengths of mikeside connectors, ensuring consistent connection stability across all connector variants.
2Stability of the object's composition
If coil spring provides biasing force to close gap between engaging claw and engaging hole, then joint stability is improved, but dimensional errors or variations in axial length cause varying pre-load that leads to connection instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coil spring component that is sensitive to dimensional variations. By removing this elastic element, the system becomes insensitive to manufacturing tolerances and axial length variations in mikeside connectors, as the rigid pre-load structure provides consistent force regardless of minor dimensional differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-load applying device is designed to push the connector housing forward with a predetermined force that compensates for potential gaps caused by dimensional variations. This beforehand application of pre-load ensures that engaging surfaces are always in firm contact, cushioning against the effects of manufacturing tolerances.
3Length of moving object
If mikeside connector has short axial length, then the connector is more compact, but the amount of thrust into recorder-side connector is reduced, resulting in insufficient pre-load and increased risk of wobbles and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-load applying device applies the required pre-load force before the connector is fully assembled or before any potential wobbles can occur. This preliminary application of force ensures that even compact connectors with short axial lengths receive sufficient pre-load to prevent instability and noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The pre-load applying device acts as an intermediary mechanism that decouples the relationship between connector axial length and pre-load force. Instead of relying on the connector's own length to generate thrust, this intermediary device provides the necessary pre-load force independently, ensuring consistent performance across different connector lengths.
4Force
If mikeside connector has long axial length, then the amount of thrust into recorder-side connector is increased, but the repulsive force from coil spring becomes too strong, making attachment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the coil spring, the patent eliminates the mechanism that generates excessive repulsive force in long axial length connectors. The rigid pre-load structure provides controlled, consistent force that does not amplify with connector length, making attachment equally easy for all connector variants.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing the connector's axial length to determine the thrust force (which causes too much force in long connectors), the invention inverts the approach by using a pre-load applying device that actively pushes the connector forward. This reverses the causal relationship, ensuring consistent pre-load regardless of connector length.
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector structure (10) for attaching a hand microphone (13) to a voice recorder 11 includes a recorder-side connector (21), a pre-load applying member (22) and an operation ring (23). The pre-load applying member (22) applies a pre-load by pushing a rear end of a connector housing (17B) of a mikeside connector (17) while the mikeside connector (17) is joined to the recorder-side connector (21). The position of the pre-load applying member (22) is adjustable in the axial direction of the recorder-side connector (21) by means of the operation ring (23), so as to apply a proper pre-load to the mikeside connector (17), thereby stabilizing the joint regardless of variations in axial length of the mikeside connector (17). As using no coil spring, the connector structure (10) does not provide repulsion during the attaching operation.