Mobile Device Adapter Reducing Pin Count for Easier Docking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile device cradle and docking station designs require precise alignment and opposing forces for decoupling, leading to difficulty in insertion and potential damage due to tight manufacturing tolerances and complex pin arrangements.
Innovation Solution
An adapter that converts the female port of a mobile device into a set of enlarged and spaced contact pads, reducing the number of pins to facilitate easier coupling with cradles or docking stations by eliminating at least one pin, allowing for surface contact and improved alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cradle and docking station designs use multiple pins with tight manufacturing tolerances, then data transfer reliability is improved, but insertion difficulty and risk of damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes at least one pin from the multi-pin connector arrangement, reducing the number of pins that must be precisely aligned during insertion. This extraction of unnecessary pins simplifies the coupling process while maintaining essential data transfer and power supply functions through the remaining pins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the connector by reducing the number of pins and modifying the port configuration. This parameter change simplifies the alignment requirements and reduces insertion difficulty while preserving the core functionality of data transfer and power supply.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional designs use complex pin arrangements, then comprehensive functionality is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes unnecessary pins from the complex pin arrangement, simplifying the overall structure. The remaining pins are configured to provide essential functionality including power supply, ground connection, and data transfer, eliminating redundant components.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified pin arrangement is designed to provide multiple functions through fewer pins. The connector maintains adaptability for data transfer, power supply, and grounding operations, demonstrating that comprehensive functionality can be achieved with reduced complexity through multi-functional design.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional designs use tight manufacturing tolerances, then connection precision is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing at least one pin from the connector arrangement, the patent reduces the number of components requiring precise manufacturing and alignment. This simplification directly reduces manufacturing difficulty while maintaining adequate connection precision for essential functions.
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for a mobile device includes a housing, a connector coupled to a first side of the housing, and a plurality of adapter pins extending through the housing. Each of the adapter pins includes a first portion adapted to be electrically coupled to a corresponding port pin when the connector is inserted into a port of the mobile device. The adapter pins further include a second portion including a contact pad that is exposed on a second side of the housing opposite the first side of the housing. The adapter reduces the quantity of contact pads relative to the quantity of port pins, thereby facilitating increased contact pad sizes and improved contact pad distribution.