Docking Station Resilient Connector Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The connection between the tablet end electrical connector and the base end electrical connector in transformer tablets is often imprecise, leading to unnecessary stress and damage due to manufacturing tolerances, resulting in poor contact and reduced durability.
Innovation Solution
A docking station with a housing, circuit board, base end electrical connector, screw, and resilient member is designed, where the resilient member, such as a compression spring or sleeve, is used to allow for movement between the circuit board and housing, enabling the base end electrical connector to align and connect with the tablet end electrical connector even if not precisely aligned, reducing stress and improving durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tablet end electrical connector is rigidly connected to the base end electrical connector, then the connection is stable, but manufacturing tolerances cause misalignment and stress leading to connector damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid fixed connection with a movable connection mechanism. The circuit board is designed to move relative to the housing along a guiding direction, allowing the base end electrical connector to automatically align with the tablet end electrical connector during insertion. This dynamic adjustment compensates for manufacturing tolerances and prevents misalignment damage while maintaining connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the parameter changes principle by modifying the positional parameters of the circuit board relative to the housing. The circuit board's position is no longer fixed but can vary within a certain range along the guiding direction, enabling automatic alignment compensation. This parameter flexibility allows the system to adapt to manufacturing variations without requiring high-precision manufacturing.
2Device complexity
If the circuit board is rigidly fixed to the housing, then the structure is simple, but the electrical connector cannot accommodate alignment variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guiding structure that enables the circuit board to move relative to the housing along a specific guiding direction. This simple dynamic mechanism allows the base end electrical connector to automatically align with the tablet end electrical connector during insertion, improving contact quality without significantly increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guiding structure as an intermediary element between the circuit board and housing. This guiding structure constrains the movement of the circuit board along a specific direction, enabling automatic alignment compensation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The guiding structure acts as a mediator that translates insertion motion into proper connector alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If the electrical connector allows movement to compensate for misalignment, then alignment tolerance is improved, but the connection stability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by allowing the circuit board to move relative to the housing along a guiding direction during insertion, enabling automatic alignment compensation. Once connected, the guiding structure maintains the circuit board in a stable positioned state, ensuring both alignment tolerance and connection stability are achieved simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using the guiding structure to pre-constrain the movement direction of the circuit board before connection. This preliminary constraint ensures that the circuit board moves only in the correct guiding direction during insertion, preventing misalignment while maintaining connection stability after assembly.
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 docking station allows for flexible connection, reducing stress and damage between the connectors, enhancing the longevity and reliability of the tablet module and docking station interface.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient member, such as a compression spring or sleeve, is used to allow for movement between the circuit board and housing
Implementation Method 2
The compression spring is compressed between the head portion and the first surface
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a docking station that includes a housing, a circuit board, a base end electrical connector, a screw, and a resilient member. The housing has a stud. The circuit board is supported on the stud and has a through hole. The through hole is aligned with and communicated with the stud. The base end electrical connector is disposed on the circuit board. The base end electrical connector and the stud are respectively located at two opposite sides of the circuit board. The screw is fastened to the stud via the through hole. The resilient member is sleeved onto the screw and located between the screw and the stud. The disclosure further discloses an electronic apparatus including the docking station.