Vehicle Head Unit Mounting Frame Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual insertion of connectors into head units in vehicles is inefficient, leading to increased vehicle weight, potential damage to optical cables, connection errors, and prolonged assembly time due to the need for excess cable length and reliance on human precision.

Innovation Solution

A mounting frame assembly that houses pre-positioned connector assemblies and uses a manually operable lever to apply a pressing force, guiding the head unit into place, ensuring proper connector alignment and connection, with adjustable pins for centering and easy disconnection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual insertion of connectors is used, then assembly flexibility is maintained, but assembly time increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly speedVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assemblies are pre-positioned in the mounting frame assembly before the head unit is inserted. This preliminary arrangement of connectors eliminates the need for manual insertion during assembly, thereby reducing assembly time and increasing productivity while maintaining flexibility through the modular frame design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If excess cable length is used, then ease of connection is improved, but vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of connectionVSAvoidvehicle weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting frame assembly pre-positions connector assemblies at their final destinations before head unit installation. This allows cables to be routed optimally without requiring excessive length for manual maneuvering, reducing vehicle weight while maintaining ease of connection through the guided insertion process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If manual connector insertion is used, then adaptability is maintained, but connection precision decreases and errors increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector alignment precisionVSAvoidmanual insertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting frame assembly acts as an intermediary structure that holds connector assemblies in precise positions. The frame's guide structures and the interaction between the first fixing means and second fixing means ensure accurate connector alignment, eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity through the lever-based insertion mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Volume of moving object

If optical cables are bent with small curvature radius, then space utilization is improved, but cable reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidoptical cable reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting frame assembly pre-positions connector assemblies with adequate spacing and routing paths that ensure optical cables maintain sufficient bend radius. This preliminary spatial arrangement prevents cable damage while achieving compact space utilization through optimized connector placement within the frame structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2559596B1Quick in frame for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2015.10.07 HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYST GMBH
  • EP2559596B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2559596B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1C
  • EP2559596B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

The invention relates to a mounting frame (100) assembly for receiving a head unit (200) in a vehicle, wherein the mounting frame assembly is fixable to the vehicle and is configured to house one or more first connector assemblies (150) including first electrical and/or optical connectors to be connected to complimentary second electrical and/or optical connectors of the head unit (200), and first fixing means (120) for interacting with second fixing means of the head unit and for forcing the head unit into the mounting frame assembly and thereby connecting respective connectors. The invention further relates to a corresponding head unit and a system comprising the mounting frame assembly and the head unit.