Connector Tongue Light Guide for Low-Light Insertion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in inserting connectors in low-light environments and determining the status of electronic devices, such as battery charge or mode, due to lack of illumination and visual feedback.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into connector tongues and receptacles to provide illumination and visual status indicators, allowing for easier insertion and confirmation of connections, with the LEDs being directed through transparent or translucent materials to illuminate the connector edges or surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If illumination is added to connector receptacle or insert, then ease of operation in low light is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination function with the existing connector tongue structure by integrating an LED and light guide into the tongue. This merging approach allows the connector to provide illumination assistance during insertion without requiring a completely separate illumination system, thereby improving ease of operation while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector tongue is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for electrical contacts, guides the insertion process, and now also serves as a light guide for illumination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, addressing the contradiction between improved operation ease and device complexity.
2Loss of information
If status information is provided through additional indicators, then information availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the status indication function with the existing connector tongue and LED infrastructure. The same LED that provides illumination during insertion also serves as a status indicator to show connection state, charging status, or device mode. This dual-purpose design improves information availability without requiring separate indicator systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED component is designed to perform multiple functions: illuminating the connector opening during insertion and indicating device status afterward. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive information feedback while avoiding the complexity of separate illumination and status indication systems.
3Illumination intensity
If LED and light guide are integrated into connector tongue, then illumination effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the connector tongue, combining transparent or translucent materials with embedded LED components and conductive traces. This composite approach allows the tongue to function simultaneously as a structural element, light guide, and electrical conductor, improving illumination effectiveness while managing manufacturing complexity through integrated material design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector tongue is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates structural support, electrical conduction, and optical guidance functions. By combining these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate parts, the design improves illumination effectiveness while potentially simplifying the assembly process through reduced part count.
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
Facilitates connector mating in limited ambient lighting and provides visual feedback on device status, enhancing user experience by ensuring correct connection and status awareness without disturbing others.
Implementation Method 1
The illumination may be generated on a tongue in the connector receptacle... The tongue may include a recess or opening for supporting a light-emitting diode (LED)
Implementation Method 2
The tongue may be at least substantially transparent or translucent such that it may act as a light pipe or light guide. Light emitted by the LED may be directed out a front edge of the tongue
Data Source
AI summary
Connectors that may provide illumination at an opening in order to facilitate the mating to a corresponding connector by a user. The illumination may be generated on a tongue of a connector insert or in a connector receptacle. For connector receptacles, illumination may be guided to illuminate an opening of the connector receptacle, it may be guided out of a front edge of a tongue in the connector receptacle, or it may be guided in other directions. For connector inserts, illumination may be out of a front edge or sides of a tongue in the connector insert, or it may be guided in other directions. The illumination may be colored or patterned to convey information to a user. Other examples may include a connector system having a connector insert with a light guide to provide illumination from a connector receptacle to an opening in the connector insert where it may be viewed by a user. In other examples, other types of data, such as authentication or identification data, may be optically transmitted either to or through a connector insert inserted in the connector receptacle.