Floating Dock Connector for Vibration Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing docks for electronic devices face challenges with misalignment, vibration, and shock, which can lead to broken connections between the dock and the device.
Innovation Solution
The dock incorporates a dock connector arrangement featuring a rigid plastic dock connector, an elastomeric sleeve around the connector, and a contact box made of hard plastic, allowing the guide pins and contacts to move relative to the base, thereby maintaining alignment and contact despite vibrations or shocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the dock connector is rigidly fixed to the base, then structural stability is improved, but connection reliability deteriorates under vibration and shock
Solution Approach 1:
The dock connector is designed to float independently within the contact box rather than being rigidly fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to vibrations and shocks. This dynamic capability enables the connector to maintain reliable electrical contact with the electronic device despite external disturbances, while the overall dock structure remains stable.
Solution Approach 2:
The dock connector is separated from the base structure and allowed to move independently within the contact box. This segmentation creates a degree of freedom that isolates the connector from the effects of vibration and shock transmitted through the base, thereby maintaining connection reliability without compromising structural stability.
2Reliability
If the dock connector is made flexible to absorb vibration, then connection reliability is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the connector itself flexible, the invention allows the connector to float dynamically within the contact box. This approach maintains the structural integrity and stability of the connector while enabling it to respond to vibrations and shocks by adjusting its position, thus preserving both structural stability and connection reliability.
3Reliability
If the dock connector is isolated from the base, then connection reliability under vibration is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation of the dock connector from the base is achieved through a simple floating arrangement within the contact box, rather than through complex isolation mechanisms. This segmentation approach maintains connection reliability by decoupling the connector from base vibrations while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating dock connector design allows the connector to self-adjust its position in response to vibrations and shocks without requiring external control mechanisms or complex active systems. The connector automatically maintains optimal contact alignment through its inherent floating capability, simplifying the overall system while improving reliability.
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
This design ensures reliable and stable connections between the dock and the electronic device, even under conditions of vibration or shock, by allowing the dock connector and associated components to float relative to the base.
Implementation Method 1
allowing the guide pins and contacts to move relative to the base, thereby maintaining alignment and contact despite vibrations or shocks
Implementation Method 2
reliable and stable connections between the dock and the electronic device, even under conditions of vibration or shock
Data Source
AI summary
A dock for an electronic device includes a base configured to fit over at least a portion of a back surface of the electronic device; a tray extending from the base for receiving one side of the electronic device; and a dock connector arrangement that includes a dock connector formed of a first rigid or hard plastic material, a plurality of contacts extending out of, or disposed on, the dock connector, an elastomeric sleeve molded around at least a perimeter of the dock connector, and a contact box, wherein at least a portion of the contact box is molded around at least a perimeter of the elastomeric sleeve, wherein at least the portion of the contact box is formed of a second rigid or hard plastic material, wherein the contact box is coupled to, or part of, the base or the tray.