Input-Output Component Mounting Structures for Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic device mounting structures for input-output components are often bulky, complex, and prone to failures, leading to undesirably large devices with difficult assembly and alignment issues.
Innovation Solution
The use of a housing with specifically designed openings and mounting members, such as a camera window trim structure with a threaded nut or welded attachment plate, and an input-output component mounting member with recesses and protrusions for accurate alignment and secure attachment of components like cameras, microphones, and buttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bulky mounting structures are used to mount input-output components, then the components can be securely attached, but the electronic device becomes undesirably large
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure is divided into separate functional elements: a mounting member with alignment features (protrusions and recesses) that interfaces with the housing, and separate input-output components that attach to the mounting member. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall size while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting member is designed to nest within the housing structure, with alignment protrusions fitting into corresponding recesses in the housing. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for external mounting brackets or bulky fastening mechanisms, securing components firmly while minimizing the device's external dimensions.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex mounting structures are used to ensure accurate alignment, then component alignment improves, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member incorporates asymmetric alignment features including protrusions on one side and corresponding recesses on the housing. This asymmetric design provides unique orientation and precise positioning for each input-output component, ensuring correct alignment while keeping the structure simple and intuitive to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment protrusions and recesses are designed to guide components into correct positions automatically during assembly. The geometric constraints of the protrusion-recess interface self-align the components without requiring additional alignment tools, complex adjustment mechanisms, or specialized assembly procedures.
3Strength
If multiple separate mounting components are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but the number of parts and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support for input-output components, incorporates alignment features (protrusions and recesses) for precise positioning, and includes attachment interfaces for securing components. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets, alignment tools, and fastening mechanisms, reducing the total part count while maintaining secure attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may have a housing such as a metal housing. Openings may be formed in the housing to accommodate a button, to form a camera window, to form a microphone port, and to form a camera flash window. An input-output component mounting member may be used to mount input-output components to the housing of the electronic device. The input-output component mounting member may have a recess that mates with a corresponding protrusion on the housing. Screws may attach the input-output component mounting member to the housing. The protrusion and recess in the input-output component mounting member may ensure that the input-output component mounting member is accurately aligned with respect to the housing. Input-output components such as a microphone, button switch, camera, and camera flash may be mounted to the electronic device with the input-output component mounting member.