Flash Drive Volume Reduction via Embedded USB Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flash drives face challenges in minimizing volume due to the size of connectors, making it difficult to further reduce their size while maintaining functionality.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a circuit board with openings and metal contacts, a terminal module with elastic terminals and a fixture structure, and a storage circuit element, arranged to reduce volume by optimizing the placement and packaging of components, including the use of a molding compound and adherence to USB 3.0 standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the connector size is reduced to minimize flash drive volume, then the overall volume is reduced, but the connector may not meet USB standard requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the connector from a traditional side-mounted configuration to a configuration where the connector body extends through the circuit board, with contact portions protruding from both the first and second surfaces. This spatial reconfiguration allows the connector to maintain standard USB dimensions and compatibility while reducing the overall flash drive volume by utilizing the circuit board thickness dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector body is positioned within or through the circuit board structure, nesting the connector components within the existing flash drive architecture. This allows the connector to be integrated into the compact design without adding external volume, while still providing the necessary contact surfaces for USB connectivity.
2Volume of moving object
If the control circuit element and storage circuit element are miniaturized, then the flash drive volume is reduced, but further volume reduction is hindered by the connector size
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is merged with the circuit board structure, where the connector body is positioned to extend through the circuit board and the contact portions are integrated with the circuit board surfaces. This merging eliminates the need for separate connector housings and reduces overall component count, allowing further miniaturization of the flash drive while maintaining USB compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage apparatus including a circuit board, a control circuit element, a terminal module and a storage circuit element is provided. The circuit board includes a first surface, a second surface, a connect part, openings, metal contacts and metal units. The openings pass through the circuit board from the first surface to the second surface and the metal contacts are exposed on the first surface. The terminal module is disposed on the first surface and has elastic terminals and each of the elastic terminals has a first contact part and a second contact part. The first contact parts respectively contact with the metal contacts and the second contact parts respectively pass through the openings to protrude from the second surface. The metal units are disposed on the second surface and located between the openings and the connect part. Accordingly, the volume of the storage apparatus can be reduced.