Connector Sealing Assembly for Different Cable Diameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for laser radars have complex structures and large volumes due to separate cable and housing seals, complicating integration into modern system packaging.
Innovation Solution
A connector sealing assembly with integrated seal mounting portions for both cable and housing seals, allowing a single outer housing to accommodate multiple seals and simplify the structure, while accommodating different diameter cables and providing sealing between the outer housing and mating connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cable seal and housing seal are arranged within inner housing and outer housing respectively, then sealing function is achieved, but connector structure becomes complicated and volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable seal and housing seal into a single integrated seal component. The seal member includes a cable seal portion that seals around the cable and a housing seal portion that seals against the outer housing, both formed as one integrated structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate seal components and their respective mounting structures, thereby reducing connector complexity while maintaining both sealing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated seal member performs multiple sealing functions simultaneously. It provides both cable sealing (sealing the interface between outer housing and cable) and housing sealing (sealing the interface between outer housing and mating connector) through a single component design, making the seal structure universal and multi-functional.
2Reliability
If separate cable seal and housing seal are arranged within inner housing and outer housing respectively, then sealing function is achieved, but connector volume becomes too large for modern system packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cable seal and housing seal into a single integrated seal member, which significantly reduces the overall connector volume. By eliminating the space required for separate seal components and their individual mounting structures, the integrated design compactes the connector, making it suitable for modern system packaging with space constraints.
3Device complexity
If integrated seal mounting portions are used in outer housing, then connector volume and complexity are reduced, but sealing performance for different diameter cables must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with different local characteristics to handle various cable diameters. The cable seal portion includes a sealing surface with specific geometric features that can adapt to different cable sizes, while the housing seal portion provides a separate sealing interface. This local differentiation allows the integrated seal to maintain reliable sealing performance across different cable diameters despite the simplified overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector sealing assembly includes an outer housing defining a plurality of seal mounting portions. A cable seal of the assembly is mounted on a cable seal mounting portion of the plurality of seal mounting portions. The cable seal is sized and located to form a seal between the outer housing and a cable extending into the outer housing. A housing seal of the assembly is mounted on a housing seal mounting portion of the plurality of seal mounting portions. The housing seal is sized and located to form a seal between the outer housing and a mating housing of a mating connector.