Charging Cradle Movable Contacts for Reliable Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional charging cradles for battery-operated devices face issues with contact wear and reliability due to repeated use, leading to poor electrical connections and potential failure over time, especially in lightweight devices where insufficient pressure is applied.
Innovation Solution
A charging cradle with movable electrical contacts that retract below a contact surface when not in use, extending only when a device is detected, reducing wear and ensuring reliable connections through a contact actuator system that includes a detector and controller for precise positioning and user notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spring-loaded contacts are used in the charging cradle, then electrical connection is provided when the reader is placed on the cradle, but the contacts wear out or break over time with repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the electrical contacts movable rather than fixed. The contacts are spring-loaded to automatically extend and retract based on the presence of the reader device. This dynamic configuration allows the contacts to engage smoothly when needed and retract to avoid wear when not in use, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and contact lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by implementing a detector that identifies the reader's approach and triggers the contacts to extend in advance. This preliminary action ensures the contacts are ready for immediate connection, preventing connection failures while minimizing the time contacts are exposed and vulnerable to wear
2Reliability
If spring-loaded contacts are used in the charging cradle, then electrical connection is provided, but friction between the reader and contacts causes wear on the reader's enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The movable, spring-loaded contacts dynamically adjust their position based on reader presence. They extend only when the reader is on the cradle and retract when removed, minimizing the duration of contact and associated friction. This reduces wear on the reader's enclosure while maintaining reliable electrical connection during charging
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded mechanism provides a cushioning effect by using elastic deformation to absorb impact and reduce friction during contact. The spring action creates a compliant interface that minimizes harsh mechanical stress on both the cradle contacts and the reader's enclosure, reducing wear on the reader's external surfaces
3Force
If the spring force on contacts is reduced over time, then contact force decreases, but this leads to failure or poor contact between contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded contact system is designed to be self-adjusting and self-service. The spring mechanism automatically compensates for wear and force degradation over time by maintaining constant contact pressure through elastic recovery. This self-regulating property ensures reliable electrical connection without requiring external adjustment or intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic spring-loaded design allows the contact force to adapt automatically. As the spring compresses and rebounds during each engagement, it maintains optimal contact pressure. This dynamic force application ensures reliable electrical connection even as the system ages, compensating for gradual force reduction
4Weight of moving object
If lightweight readers are used, then portability is improved, but they fail to apply sufficient pressure to the contacts of the cradle
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded contacts provide a counterbalancing force that compensates for the lightweight nature of portable readers. The spring mechanism generates sufficient contact pressure independently of the reader's weight, ensuring reliable electrical connection even with very light devices. This allows the cradle to work effectively with readers of varying weights without requiring the reader to provide its own contact force
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
The solution enhances contact durability and reliability by minimizing wear and ensuring consistent electrical connections, even in lightweight devices, by only extending contacts when needed, thus extending the lifespan of both the cradle and the device.
Implementation Method 1
a contact actuator physically coupled to the electrical contact, the contact actuator moves the electrical contact between a retracted position wherein the electrical contact of the cradle is positioned below the contact surface of the device receiver portion, and a protruded position wherein the electrical contact at least partially extends above the contact surface through the contact aperture
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and articles to provide a charging cradle or base station that includes one or more movable electrical contacts. Generally, each of the movable contacts protrudes through an opening in a surface of the cradle only when a cordless electrical device is positioned on or within the cradle. When the cordless electrical device is not positioned on or within the cradle, the one or more movable contacts are retracted inside the body of the cradle such that the movable contacts cannot be bumped or hit by the reader during insertion of the reader into the cradle and during removal of the reader from cradle. Systems, methods, and articles to provide a charging cradle or base station with selectively removable electrical contacts are also disclosed.