LED Connector Rear-Mounted PCB Translucent Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with identification light devices face challenges in manufacturing complexity and circuit layout due to LEDs being assembled on the front face, making it difficult to identify ports in dark conditions and being economically impractical.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring LEDs mounted on the rear side of the housing with a translucent color ring on the front, simplifying the manufacturing process and circuit layout, and using a shared negative connecting leg for multiple LEDs on a printed circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If LEDs are assembled on the front face of the housing, then identification of mating ports is improved, but manufacturing complexity and circuit layout complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing LEDs on the rear face of the housing instead of the front face. The light emitted by these rear-mounted LEDs passes through the translucent contact-retaining base to illuminate the mating ports, achieving identification functionality while simplifying manufacturing and circuit layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The translucent contact-retaining base serves as an intermediary element that transmits light from the rear-mounted LEDs to the front mating ports. This mediator allows the LEDs to be positioned on the rear face while still achieving front-face illumination for port identification.
2Illumination intensity
If transparent base is used to hold contacts in mating cavity, then LED light transmission is improved, but economic practicality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact-retaining base serves multiple functions: it holds the electrical contacts in place and simultaneously acts as a light transmission medium for the LEDs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transparent identification components, improving economic practicality while maintaining light transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact-retaining base is designed to be translucent rather than fully transparent, allowing it to transmit LED light effectively while potentially incorporating color characteristics for enhanced port identification. This balances optical performance with manufacturing economy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates efficient identification of mating ports in dark conditions while reducing manufacturing complexity and costs by allowing LEDs to be easily integrated into the connector's design, enhancing the economic layout and usability.
Implementation Method 1
an LED located right behind the mating cavity
Implementation Method 2
A translucent color ring is assembled upon a front face of the main body of the housing in front of each mating cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a main body defining a plurality of mating cavities each coupled with an LED located right behind the mating cavity. A plurality of contacts are disposed in the housing corresponding to each of the mating cavities. A translucent color ring is assembled upon a front face of the main body of the housing in front of each mating cavity. A printed circuit board is vertically attached upon a rear side of the main body with a terminal module assembled on the bottom edge. A plurality of LEDs are mounted upon the printed circuit board wherein all LEDs are electrically connected to the terminal module having connecting legs.