Earphone Socket Waterproof Sealing via Embedded Housing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing earphone sockets for mobile terminals face challenges in achieving a simple waterproof structure without occupying excessive internal space, which hinders the development of light and thin designs, and require complex machining processes that increase costs.

Innovation Solution

The earphone socket design features a housing with a thicker first peripheral side wall and a thinner second peripheral side wall, where a sealing member is embedded on the outer surface to surround the opening port, preventing water entry without increasing the overall thickness, and a method involving machining an embedding groove and using a glue portion to fix the sealing member, simplifying the manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a waterproof structure is added to the earphone socket, then waterproof reliability is improved, but the internal space is occupied and the design becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the waterproof sealing function with the existing housing structure by forming an integrated sealing member that combines the housing body and sealing components into a single unified structure, eliminating the need for separate waterproof structures and reducing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, defines the insertion hole geometry, and incorporates the sealing function through the integrated sealing member, thereby achieving waterproof protection without adding dedicated waterproof components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a waterproof structure is added to the earphone socket, then waterproof reliability is improved, but the internal space is occupied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaterproof reliabilityVSAvoidinternal space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The waterproof sealing function is merged into the existing housing structure through the integrated sealing member, eliminating the need for additional separate waterproof components that would occupy internal space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If a complex machining process is used to manufacture the earphone socket, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple machining operations into a single integrated machining process that forms the housing body and sealing member simultaneously, reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps while maintaining precision requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing member structure is pre-formed as an integral part of the housing during the initial machining process, eliminating the need for subsequent separate sealing component manufacturing and assembly operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3309905B1Mobile terminal, earphone socket and method for manufacturing earphone socket
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3309905B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3309905B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3309905B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a mobile terminal, an earphone socket and a method for manufacturing an earphone socket. The earphone socket includes a housing and a sealing member. The housing has an insertion hole surrounded by a peripheral side wall, the peripheral side wall has a first peripheral side wall located at an inner portion of the insertion hole and a second peripheral side wall located at an outer portion of the insertion hole, the first peripheral side wall has a thickness greater than that of the second peripheral side wall, and the second peripheral side wall has an opening port at an outer end of the insertion hole. The sealing member is embedded on an outer surface of the housing, and surrounds a periphery of the opening port, and at least a part of the sealing member extends to the first peripheral side wall.