Floating Communication Connector Assembly for Blade Server Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems, particularly blade server systems, aligning connector assemblies with mating connectors becomes challenging due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to misalignment issues during mating operations.
Innovation Solution
A communication connector assembly with a flexible cable assembly that allows the communication connector to float relative to the assembly housing, enabling alignment and engagement with a mating connector, even in the presence of misalignment, and includes a seating member to protect cables during mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of connector assemblies along the leading edge increases, then the communication capability is enhanced, but the alignment difficulty between connectors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly incorporates a flexible cable assembly that allows the communication connector to float or move relative to the assembly housing. This dynamic capability enables the connector to self-align with the mating connector during the mating operation, accommodating misalignment caused by manufacturing tolerances while maintaining enhanced communication capability through multiple connector assemblies
2Ease of manufacture
If manufacturing tolerances are relaxed to reduce cost, then the manufacturing precision decreases, but the alignment accuracy between connectors worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible cable assembly provides dynamic movement capability that compensates for alignment inaccuracies resulting from relaxed manufacturing tolerances. The communication connector can float and adjust its position relative to the housing, ensuring proper alignment with the mating connector even when manufacturing precision varies within acceptable tolerance ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the communication connector from fixed to movable by implementing the floating connector design with flexible cable assembly. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate variations in manufacturing precision without requiring high-precision manufacturing, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining alignment accuracy
3Stability of the object's composition
If the communication connector is fixed rigidly to the housing, then the structural stability is improved, but the ability to tolerate misalignment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly transitions from a rigid fixed connection to a dynamic floating connection. The flexible cable assembly allows the communication connector to move and self-align during mating operations, providing misalignment tolerance while maintaining structural stability through the overall connector assembly design and the stabilizing effect of the flexible cable
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly including an assembly housing having a leading end, a back end, and an interior cavity extending therebetween. The interior cavity opens to the leading end. The connector assembly also includes a communication connector that is disposed in the interior cavity proximate to the leading end and movably held therein. The connector assembly also includes a board connector located a distance away from the communication connector. The connector assembly also includes a flexible cable assembly that has communication cables extending between and communicatively coupling the board connector and the communication connector. The communication connector is configured to engage a mating connector when the communication connector and the mating connector are mated along a mating axis. The communication connector and the cables are permitted to float relative to the assembly housing when the communication connector mates with the mating connector.