Video Endoscope Plug Connection With Flexboard Cable Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing plug connections for video endoscopes are time-consuming, error-prone, and prone to mechanical stress, with insecure fixation, unclear watertightness, and unfavorable electrical signal transmission due to manual assembly complexities and mechanical weaknesses in sealing components.
Innovation Solution
A plug connection design utilizing a flexboard with a planar solder pad structure for easier cable contacting, combined with a connector housing that allows secure screwing via a union nut, and a two-part housing design with asymmetrical ferrule orientation to prevent cable twisting, ensuring hermetic and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual assembly of the connector is performed with traditional components (spring, O-ring, ferrule), then the connection can be established, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components (ferrule, O-ring, spring washer, sealing compound) into a single integrated connector housing made from PEEK material. The connector housing incorporates all sealing and fastening functions in one piece, eliminating the need for manual assembly of multiple components and significantly reducing assembly time and errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The PEEK connector housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, hermetic sealing (replacing O-ring and spring washer), cable management (replacing ferrule), and mechanical fastening (replacing spring washer and screw). This multi-functional design simplifies the assembly process while maintaining all necessary connection functions.
2Reliability
If traditional sealing components (spring, O-ring) are used, then the connection can be secured, but these components are easily damaged and do not always work reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the separate spring and O-ring components from the design. Instead, the PEEK connector housing itself provides the hermetic seal through its material properties and integrated design, removing the fragile sealing components that were prone to damage and failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of PEEK (polyether ether ketone) as the connector housing material provides both structural integrity and hermetic sealing properties in a single component. This composite material approach replaces multiple separate sealing components with one reliable, damage-resistant integrated structure that maintains connection security.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the connector is designed with large mounting eyelets for secure fastening, then the connection is more stable, but the handle design cannot be narrowed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mounting eyelet function directly into the PEEK connector housing structure. The housing itself is designed with integrated mounting features that provide stable fastening without requiring separate large eyelet components, allowing for a more compact handle design while maintaining connection stability.
4Ease of manufacture
If cables are manually stripped and soldered to ferrule and solder cups in a multi-step process, then the electrical connection can be established, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cable entry, shielding, and electrical connection functions into the integrated PEEK connector housing. The housing design allows cables to be directly routed and connected without requiring separate ferrule and solder cup components, reducing the multi-step manual process to a simpler, faster operation.
5Ease of manufacture
If the ferrule is round and cables are soldered to it, then the connection can be made, but the ferrule can rotate during assembly causing cables to twist and shorten
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the round ferrule component and uses the asymmetric PEEK connector housing structure to define cable orientation. The integrated housing design incorporates features that prevent rotation and ensure proper cable alignment during assembly, eliminating the twisting and shortening problems associated with round ferrules.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2a
Figure 2b~2c
AI summary
The invention relates to a plug connection (60) for a video endoscope (10) for establishing a signal connection between a distal video unit (12) and a proximal cable unit (16), comprising a plug (62) and a complementary connector (80) that can be inserted into the plug (62) to establish and interrupt the signal connection, as well as a video endoscope and a method. The plug (62) has a plurality of electrical vias (70), is electrically connected on a distal side to a flexboard (72) in the distal video unit (12), and has a connector receptacle (64) for the connector (80) on its proximal side. The connector (80) is enclosed in a connector housing (82, 90), which is shaped on its outer surface to be positively and/or force-fittedly received in the connector receptacle (64) of the plug (62).The connector (80) has a plurality of electrical vias (84) arranged according to an arrangement of the electrical vias (70) of the plug (62), wherein the electrical vias (84) of the connector (80) are proximally connected to a flexboard (86) which has a planar solder pad structure with solder pads to which the signal and connection cables (18) are soldered.