Compact RJ-45 Jack Connector With Lateral Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional RJ-45 jack connectors have a limited compact design due to the restricted dimensions of their shroud, which hinders further reduction in height, making them unsuitable for modern hardware requirements.
Innovation Solution
A jack connector design featuring a main body with a lateral opening and a top opening, equipped with an engaging assembly of two protruding engaging plates that surround the top opening, allowing plug insertion via the lateral opening and enabling electrical connection through contact terminals, thereby reducing the connector's height to 1.7 mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the shroud dimension is restricted by the main body dimension in conventional design, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the height cannot be reduced further
Solution Approach 1:
The jack connector is divided into two independent parts: the main body and the shroud. The shroud is separated from the main body such that its height is no longer constrained by the main body dimension, allowing independent optimization of each component's height to achieve overall compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging plates are repositioned from the upper surface of the shroud to the lateral side of the main body. This spatial relocation changes the engagement direction from vertical to lateral, enabling height reduction while maintaining the engaging function through a different dimensional approach.
2Reliability
If the engaging plates are positioned on the upper surface of the shroud, then the plug can be securely engaged, but the height increases to at least 3.55 mm
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing engaging plates on the upper surface of the shroud (conventional approach), the engaging plates are inverted to be positioned on the lateral side of the main body. This inversion changes the engagement direction and allows the plug to be engaged through lateral insertion, achieving both secure engagement and height reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement function is transferred from the vertical dimension (upper surface of shroud) to the lateral dimension (side surface of main body). This dimensional change allows the engaging plates to maintain their securing function while enabling the shroud height to be reduced below 3.55 mm.
3Length of moving object
If the shroud height is reduced to achieve compact design, then the modern hardware requirements are met, but the engaging plates cannot be properly positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging assembly is segmented from the shroud and repositioned on the main body. This segmentation allows the engaging plates to be independently positioned on the lateral side of the main body, maintaining their manufacturing feasibility while enabling the shroud to be designed with reduced height for compactness.
Data Source
AI summary
A jack connector includes a main body, contact terminals, and an engaging assembly. The main body has a lateral opening on its one side surface and a top opening on a top surface connected to the side surface. A portion of the contact terminals are provided in the main body. The engaging assembly is mounted on the top surface of the main body to surround the top opening. The engaging assembly has two engaging plates protruding from the top opening. When a plug is inserted into the jack connector via the lateral opening, the two engaging plates of the jack connector are engaged with the plug, so that the plug can be electrically connected to the jack connector via the contact terminals.