Hard-Disc Holder Decoupling Fastening from Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The connection state between a hard disc device and a connector in electronic apparatuses is heavily dependent on the degree of fastening of a pin-shaped fastener, leading to inconsistent connections due to either over-tightening or under-tightening, which affects the proper alignment and electrical contact.
Innovation Solution
The electronic apparatus design includes a hard-disc-insertion opening in the second outer plate portion and a pin-shaped fastener inserted through the first outer plate portion, with a fixing plate and holes in the holder and chassis to ensure correct alignment and reduce dependence on fastener tightness for connection correctness, allowing for visual confirmation of proper fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the screw is fastened too tightly, then the hard disc device is pushed toward the connector, but a load is applied to the connector causing improper connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the fastening function from the alignment function by using two different insertion directions. The fastener (screw) is inserted from the bottom surface through the first outer plate portion, while the hard disc device is inserted from the front surface through the hard-disc-insertion opening. This segmentation allows independent optimization of fastening strength and connection alignment, resolving the contradiction between tight fastening and proper connector contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension for fastener insertion (through the bottom first outer plate portion) that is perpendicular to the horizontal insertion direction of the hard disc device (through the front second outer plate portion). This dimensional separation allows the fastening operation to occur in one plane while the alignment operation occurs in another plane, eliminating the interference between these two functions.
2Strength
If the screw is insufficiently fastened, then the hard disc device does not reach a correct position with respect to the connector, but the connection is still inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the assembly process into two independent operations: alignment (achieving correct position) and fastening (securing the device). The alignment is achieved during insertion through the hard-disc-insertion opening in the front plate, while fastening is achieved separately by inserting the screw from the bottom plate. This segmentation ensures that alignment precision is not compromised by fastening strength variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary alignment through the hard-disc-insertion opening before final fastening. The hard disc device is first inserted and positioned correctly through the front opening, ensuring proper alignment with the connector. Only after this preliminary alignment is achieved is the fastener inserted from the bottom to secure the device in place, preventing alignment errors that would occur if fastening were attempted first.
3Device complexity
If the fastener insertion direction is the same as the hard disc device insertion direction, then the structure is simplified, but the connection state depends heavily on fastener tightness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses perpendicular insertion directions for the hard disc device (front-to-back through the second outer plate portion) and the fastener (bottom-to-top through the first outer plate portion). This orthogonal arrangement increases structural complexity compared to a single-direction insertion, but it fundamentally improves connection reliability by decoupling the alignment and fastening operations, making the connection state independent of fastener tightness variations.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electronic apparatus capable of reducing dependence of a connection state between a hard disc device and a connector on degree of fastening of a screw. A hard-disc-insertion opening serving as an opening through which a hard disc device is inserted into a housing is formed in a front plate portion of the housing. A connector of a circuit board is arranged facing the hard-disc-insertion opening on a back side of the hard-disc-insertion opening. A fastener for fixing the hard disc device to an electronic apparatus is inserted into the housing through a bottom plate portion of the housing.