Flippable USB Connector with Dual-Surface Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB Type-C connectors lack a simple and cost-effective design that allows for versatile connectivity options, including ease of use in either orientation and efficient power transmission up to five amperes.
Innovation Solution
A USB 2.0 Type-C plug connector with a dual-surface cable supporting platform, featuring specific terminal configurations and soldering legs for USB signal, power, and grounding connections, along with a detecting leg, and an additional power or grounding leg on each surface, allowing for three different cable usages by varying the connection of a resistor leg.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a USB Type-C connector is designed with a paddle card to enhance ease of use in either orientation, then the connector achieves flippable capability, but the overall cost of the cable connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the paddle card component from the connector design, extracting the unnecessary element that caused cost increase while preserving the flippable capability through the inherent symmetry of the connector body and terminal arrangements
Solution Approach 2:
The connector body is designed with symmetric terminal arrangements on both surfaces, allowing the same connector to function in multiple orientations without requiring additional components, thereby achieving universal compatibility and flippable capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a connector supports multiple cable usage types (Type-C to Type-C, Type-A, Type-B), then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs a reconfigurable terminal structure where the second surface can be selectively connected to different circuit board pads through soldering, allowing the same physical connector to dynamically adapt to different cable types (Type-C, Type-A, Type-B) based on the specific wiring configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal connections are segmented into different surfaces, with the first surface dedicated to cable wire connections and the second surface dedicated to circuit board pad connections, allowing independent configuration of each surface to support different cable types
Data Source
AI summary
A plug connector includes a connector body defining a rear cable supporting platform with opposite first and second surfaces, a plurality of terminals and a cable. The terminal includes a pair of USB 2.0 signal soldering legs, a grounding and power soldering legs exposed to the first surface of the supporting platform and a detecting soldering leg, an additional power and grounding soldering legs exposed to the second surface. Wires of the cable consist of a pair of USB 2.0 signal wires, a power wire, a grounding wire welded with corresponding soldering legs on the first surface. The second surface of the supporting platform is further located with a SMT type resistor with a first leg and a second leg, the first leg is connected with the detecting soldering leg, the second leg is connected with the additional power soldering leg or the additional grounding soldering leg.