Low-Profile Cable Connector With Interlatching Metal Shells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable connector assemblies with a two-piece metallic shell configuration for high-speed signal transmission have a greater height and require complex assembly, making them less desirable for compact designs.
Innovation Solution
A cable connector assembly with a metallic shell comprising a front shell and a rear shell that combine to enclose an insulative housing with a tongue portion and latches, featuring a low-profile design compatible with USB 2.0 standards, and a spacer to support contacts, allowing for efficient assembly and shielding of electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-piece metallic shell configuration is used to enclose the insulative housing, then the electrical connections are shielded effectively, but the height increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the front shell and rear shell into a single integrated metallic shell structure. The front shell includes a front sleeve portion and engaging portion, while the rear shell includes a rear sleeve portion and engaging portion, with both shells featuring interlatching arm portions that connect during assembly to form a complete enclosing structure, thereby reducing height while maintaining shielding effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic shell is divided into front and rear segments with distinct functional portions. The front shell engages with the insulative housing first, followed by the rear shell, with interlatching arm portions that latch together to secure the assembly. This segmentation allows for simplified assembly while achieving compact dimensions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a two-piece metallic shell configuration is used, then the electrical connections are shielded, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front shell and rear shell are designed with pre-formed interlatching arm portions and engaging features that are prepared in advance. The arm portions include latching mechanisms that automatically engage when the shells are positioned together, eliminating the need for additional fastening operations and simplifying the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The front and rear shells are merged into a unified enclosing structure through their interlatching arm portions. The engaging portions of both shells are designed to mate together seamlessly, creating a complete shielded enclosure in a single assembly operation rather than requiring multiple separate assembly steps
Data Source
AI summary
A cable connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (1) including a base portion and a first tongue and a second tongue extending forwardly from the base portion, a number of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing and held in the first and second tongues, and a metallic shell (3) enclosing the insulative housing. The metallic shell comprises a front shell (31) and a rear shell (32) combined with each other. The front shell has a front sleeve portion, a rear engaging portion (312) extending backwards from the sleeve portion, and a pair of arm portions extending rearwards from two sides of the engaging portion and opposite to each other. The rear shell encloses the engaging portion of the front shell, and has a latching hole (3212) on each of two lateral walls thereof engaging with a corresponding arm portion.