Hermaphroditic Connector Housing With Staggered Guiding Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies require a large guiding structure that occupies significant space, limiting their use in designs with limited space constraints, and necessitate the production of two different connectors for mating, increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a hermaphroditic structure with staggered guiding grooves and posts that allow for efficient space utilization and eliminates the need for separate connectors, utilizing a single housing with complementary guiding grooves and posts for mating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional guiding structure is used to achieve guiding effects in all directions, then the guiding function is reliable, but the space occupied is large
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure is divided into two separate components: a guiding groove formed at the first end of the housing and a guiding post formed at the second end of the housing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and reduces the overall space required compared to a single integrated guiding structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the main body of the housing, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than only horizontal space. This dimensional change allows the guiding function to be achieved with reduced footprint area on the printed circuit board.
2Reliability
If two different connectors are used for mating to achieve signal transmission, then the connection function is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is designed with both a guiding groove and a guiding post, making it a universal component that can function as both male and female connectors. This hermaphroditic design allows a single connector type to mate with itself, eliminating the need to manufacture and inventory two different connector variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of both connectors (male and female) are merged into a single connector design. The housing integrates both the guiding groove (typically found on female connectors) and the guiding post (typically found on male connectors), combining what were previously separate components into one unified design.
Data Source
AI summary
A housing of a connector includes a body and a guiding structure. The body has a first end and a second end opposite the first end in a length direction. The guiding structure has a guiding groove at the first end of the body and extending perpendicular to the body and a guiding post at the second end of the body. The guiding groove is complementary to the guiding post and has a shape corresponding to and shaped to receive the guiding post.