Variable-Diameter Guide Sleeve for Backplane Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed connector fitting scenarios in communication devices are complex, with insufficient guiding capability leading to misalignment and damage during plugging between the pluggable functional module and the backplane, affecting the reliability and maintenance of communication devices.
Innovation Solution
A guiding connection structure featuring a guide pin and guide sleeve with a variable-diameter section, where the guide pin is inserted into the guide sleeve, reducing misalignment caused by gravity and extreme plugging angles, and ensuring accurate alignment between connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high-speed backplane connectors are integrated with high density within limited spatial size, then service volume increases, but robustness and tolerance capability of connectors are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding connection structure is segmented into multiple functional components: guide pin, guide sleeve, variable-diameter section, and fine guide hole. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability despite high connector density
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pin and guide sleeve act as intermediary elements between the pluggable functional module and the backplane. These intermediaries provide precise alignment and guiding during insertion, compensating for the reduced tolerance capability caused by high-density integration
2Power
If pluggable functional module size and weight increase with product rate evolution, then communication function capability improves, but force applied to connectors during installation becomes increasingly complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin and guide sleeve perform preliminary alignment action before the actual connector insertion. This preliminary guiding action prevents misalignment and reduces the complexity of forces during the main insertion process, making installation easier despite increased module weight
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding connection structure serves as a mediator that absorbs and manages the complex forces generated during installation of heavier modules. The variable-diameter section and fine guide hole design distribute and control the insertion forces, protecting the connectors from damage
3Device complexity
If guiding capability during connector fitting is insufficient, then assembly process is simpler, but misalignment occurs leading to device exception or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sleeve features a variable-diameter section with different local qualities: the variable-diameter section provides initial guidance and alignment, while the fine guide hole at the end provides precise final positioning. This local quality variation ensures high alignment accuracy without overly complicating the overall fitting process
Solution Approach 2:
The guide sleeve's inner hole path changes its geometric parameter (diameter) along the insertion direction. The variable-diameter section gradually transitions from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter, and the fine guide hole provides the final precise dimension. This parameter change enables progressive alignment and reduces misalignment risks
Data Source
AI summary
A guiding connection structure is configured to implement mutual guiding connection between a plug-in part installed on a first object and a plug-in part installed on a second object. The guiding connection structure includes a guide pin and a guide sleeve for guiding insertion of the guide pin. The guide pin is installed on the first object, and the guide sleeve is installed on the second object. An inner hole path of the guide sleeve includes a variable-diameter section. A hole diameter of the variable-diameter section gradually increases from one end of the variable-diameter section to the other end of the variable-diameter section. When the guide pin is inserted into the guide sleeve, the guide pin is inserted into the other end of the variable-diameter section from the one end of the variable-diameter section.