Pogo Pin Connector Assembly for Keyed Sensor Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for medical sensors often fail to ensure proper and secure attachment, leading to incorrect connections and accidental disconnections, especially in non-invasive physiological monitoring applications where durability and ease of use are critical.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a low-profile structure with retractable contacts and a lock mechanism that accommodates various sensors, ensuring correct alignment through key and detent structures, and pogo pins in a staggered configuration for secure electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a connector design is simplified for ease of use, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased risk of incorrect attachment and accidental disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The connector employs asymmetric key structures on the sensor connector and corresponding detent structures on the instrument connector. These asymmetric features prevent incorrect attachment by ensuring that connectors can only be mated in the correct orientation, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation through simple plug-and-play connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector incorporates preliminary locking action through spring-loaded detent mechanisms that automatically engage when the sensor connector is inserted. This preliminary action secures the connection before the user completes the attachment, preventing accidental disconnection while requiring minimal user effort.
2Reliability
If the connector structure is made more complex to prevent incorrect attachment and accidental disconnection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric key and detent structures provide robust prevention of incorrect attachment and accidental disconnection through simple geometric features rather than complex mechanical systems. The asymmetry is inherent in the basic connector geometry, adding reliability without significant complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded detent mechanisms automatically perform the locking function upon insertion, eliminating the need for separate locking operations or complex control systems. The connector self-secures through the natural insertion motion, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable connection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is designed to accommodate various sensors, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for multiple contact configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates a standardized array of contact positions that can accommodate different sensor types through selective use of contacts. The same physical connector structure serves multiple functions by supporting various sensor configurations, achieving versatility without requiring multiple specialized connector designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector contacts are arranged in segmented groups that can be selectively activated depending on the sensor type. This segmentation allows a single connector design to support multiple sensor configurations by enabling or disabling specific contact groups, maintaining adaptability while avoiding the complexity of completely different connector structures.
Data Source
AI summary
The application is directed to various connector and sensor assemblies are described. The connector can have an opening that has a first surface and second surface that are opposite each other. The connector can include a plurality of retractable electrical connectors that extend from the first surface and a lock structure that is located on the second surface. The sensor assembly can include a body portion and a proximal end. The proximal end has a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a plurality of electrical contacts that is configured to interact with the plurality of retractable electrical connectors. The bottom side includes a key structure that is configured to interact with the lock structure in the connector.