Floating Connector Alignment via Guiding Incline and Elastic Buckle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional connectors face challenges in alignment, assembly speed, damage rate during assembly, and ease of disconnection.
Innovation Solution
A floating connector design featuring a shell, electrodes, buckle members, and a floating member with alignment blocks and notches, along with a guiding structure, allows for easy alignment and secure connection while enabling easy disconnection through elastic deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional connectors are used for electrical connection, then connection stability is achieved, but alignment difficulty and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment block and alignment notch are designed in advance to guide the relative position of the male and female connectors during assembly. The alignment block fits into the alignment notch before the electrodes make contact, pre-establishing the correct spatial relationship and eliminating alignment difficulties during the connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment block and alignment notch act as intermediary structures that mediate the connection between male and female connectors. These intermediary elements facilitate proper alignment and positioning, enabling smooth assembly without requiring precise manual alignment of the electrodes themselves.
2Device complexity
If traditional connectors are used for electrical connection, then structural simplicity is maintained, but assembly damage rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure with guiding incline is designed in advance to guide the buckling process. As the buckle member engages with the guiding structure, the guiding incline gradually directs the bump into the notch, distributing the assembly force over a longer period and reducing peak stress that could cause damage to electrodes or other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic part of the buckle member serves as a cushioning element that absorbs assembly forces. The elastic deformation capability allows the buckle member to accommodate misalignments and reduce impact forces during the buckling process, protecting the electrodes and other fragile components from damage.
3Reliability
If buckle members are used for connection, then connection security is improved, but disconnection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buckle member incorporates an elastic part that can dynamically change its state between locked and unlocked positions. During normal operation, the elastic part maintains the locked state for secure connection. During disconnection, external force applied to the pick causes the elastic part to deform and transition to the unlocked state, enabling easy release without damaging the connection structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic part of the buckle member provides self-service by automatically returning to its original locked position after disconnection. After the pick releases the bump from the notch, the elastic recovery of the elastic part automatically re-engages the bump with the notch, preparing the connector for the next connection cycle without requiring additional actions.
4Manufacturing precision
If floating member with alignment features is used, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment functionality is segmented into separate components: the alignment block on the shell, the alignment notch on the floating member, and the guiding structure on the buckle member. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing overall device complexity while achieving high alignment precision through the coordinated interaction of these simple geometric features.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The floating connector facilitates efficient and secure electrical connections with reduced assembly damage and improved disconnection ease, allowing for multiple connection cycles.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic part is deformed by an external force to release the bump from the notch
Implementation Method 2
the alignment notch has a guiding incline to restrict the alignment block to the alignment notch
Implementation Method 3
the bump comprises a guiding incline to buckle the bump to the notch by contacting a contacting part with a guiding structure through the guiding incline to deform the elastic part
Data Source
AI summary
A floating connector includes a shell, a plurality of electrodes, two buckle members and a floating member. The shell has an accommodating space and a plurality of openings. The electrodes are disposed in the accommodating space and penetrate the openings to protrude from the openings. The buckle members are respectively disposed on two sides of the accommodating space. Each of the buckle members includes a fixed part, a contacting part, and an elastic part. The floating member includes a body, a plurality of electrode notches, and a bump. The electrode notches are formed on one side of the body that near the electrodes for receiving the electrodes protruding from the openings. The bump is disposed on the body and correspondingly to the notch, and the width of the bump is not greater than that of the notch, so that the bump is restricted in the notches by the guiding structure.