Mini-Coax Automotive Connector With Rotatable Housing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mini-coax automotive connectors face challenges in limited space installations due to physical dimensions and orientation constraints, requiring complex adjustments in circuit board design for high-frequency signal transmission, especially when space is restricted.
Innovation Solution
A mini-coax automotive connector design featuring a housing body with two positioning projections and a connection housing with four positioning openings, allowing the connection housing to be oriented in one of four possible orientations, ensuring precise alignment and preventing twisting, thus enabling flexible placement without needing extensive circuit board revisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector uses a predetermined orientation with shape coding to ensure reliable connection, then connection reliability is improved, but the connector cannot be flexibly placed in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two functional parts: a housing body with coaxial connectors for electrical connection, and a connection housing for mechanical connection and orientation. The connection housing can be rotated relative to the housing body, allowing the plug device to be oriented differently while maintaining reliable electrical connection. This segmentation allows the connector to satisfy both reliability requirements through the coded interface and flexibility requirements through rotational freedom.
2Reliability
If the connector requires complex circuit board design adjustments to accommodate orientation constraints, then connection reliability is ensured, but device complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection housing is designed to be rotatable relative to the housing body, providing dynamic orientation adjustment capability. This allows the plug device to be connected in different orientations without requiring complex circuit board redesigns. The dynamic rotational freedom simplifies the overall system design while maintaining reliable high-frequency signal transmission through the coded interface.
3Volume of moving object
If the connector uses a compact design to fit limited space, then space utilization is improved, but the plug device cannot be connected in the desired position due to orientation constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The connector utilizes rotational freedom around the connection axis as an additional degree of freedom. While the connector maintains a compact size for space-constrained applications, the plug device can be oriented in different directions by rotating the connection housing relative to the housing body. This dimensional freedom in orientation space allows easy connection in confined spaces without compromising compactness.
Data Source
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AI summary
One aspect relates to a connector (10), in particular a mini-coaxial automotive connector, for connecting to a compatible plug device, comprising: a housing body (12) which has at least two coaxial connectors (20) for connecting to corresponding coaxial sockets of the compatible plug device, wherein the coaxial connectors (20) are oriented substantially parallel to each other and extend from the housing body (12) in a connection direction (V); and a connecting housing (14) connected to the housing body (12) for connecting the connector (10) to the compatible plug device, wherein the connecting housing (14) surrounds the at least two coaxial connectors (20) at least partially along the connection direction (V), and wherein the connecting housing (14) has exactly one insertion point for inserting the compatible plug device.wherein the coaxial connectors (20) are connected to corresponding coaxial sockets when the compatible connector device is inserted into the connection housing (14) according to the exactly one insertion option, wherein the connection housing (14) is arranged on the housing body (12) according to one of two possible orientations, wherein the housing body (12) has a positioning projection (94) and the connection housing (14) has at least two positioning openings (96), and wherein the positioning projection (94) and the at least two positioning openings (96) are arranged such that, according to the orientation in which the connection housing (14) is arranged on the housing body (12), the positioning projection (94) engages in an assigned positioning opening (96) of the at least two positioning openings (96).