Electrical Connector Outer Shell With Segmented Lateral Dimensions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical connectors face instability due to a larger insertion hole in electronic devices, leading to undesired movement and compromised electrical connection quality when inserted into complementary connectors with smaller receiving spaces.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with secured contacts and a metallic outer shell having a front portion matching the complementary connector's receiving space and a rear portion matching the electronic device's insertion hole, with a guiding surface to stabilize the connector during insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the insertion hole dimension is made larger to facilitate easy insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the connector stability deteriorates due to increased gap and undesired movement
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is divided into two distinct portions: a front portion with a first lateral dimension that matches the receiving space, and a rear portion with a second lateral dimension that matches the insertion hole. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function - the front portion ensures stable connection while the rear portion facilitates easy insertion through the larger insertion hole.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the outer shell are given different lateral dimensions tailored to their specific functional requirements. The front portion has a smaller dimension optimized for mating with the complementary connector, while the rear portion has a larger dimension optimized for insertion through the electronic device housing. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific purpose.
2Ease of operation
If the outer shell lateral dimension is increased to match the insertion hole, then the ease of insertion is improved, but the connection stability with the complementary connector deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer shell is segmented into front and rear portions with different lateral dimensions. The rear portion's larger dimension facilitates insertion through the insertion hole, while the front portion's smaller dimension ensures stable electrical connection with the complementary connector, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer shell exhibits local quality variation where the rear portion has a larger lateral dimension for insertion purposes and the front portion has a smaller lateral dimension for connection stability. This spatial differentiation of properties allows the single component to satisfy both contradictory requirements simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector for inserting along a mating direction into a receiving space of a complementary connector through an insertion hole of an electronic device that has a dimension greater than that of the receiving space includes: an insulative housing; plural contacts secured to the insulative housing; and an outer shell enclosing the insulative housing, the outer shell including a front portion and a rear portion each having a respective lateral dimension measured along a transverse direction perpendicular to the mating direction, wherein the lateral dimension of the rear portion is greater than the lateral dimension of the front portion, the front portion is adapted to match the receiving space of the complementary connector and the rear portion is adapted to match the insertion hole of the electronic device, and the lateral dimension of the rear portion is less than the electronic device insertion hole dimension.