Mobile Unit Latching System for Compact Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile unit cradles require excessive space due to the need for sufficient surface area and strong components to hold and connect mobile units, and they struggle with accommodating short high-speed connection interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A hook and pivot latching system where the mobile unit's housing includes a loop and panel that couples with a latch, allowing for secure positioning and electrical connection, reducing the space required and enabling high-speed interfaces without the need for additional connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional cradles are designed with sufficient surface area and strong components to hold and connect mobile units, then the holding strength and connection reliability are improved, but the space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle is divided into modular components: a wall-mounted base unit and detachable cradle arms that can be configured as needed. This segmentation allows the system to provide sufficient holding strength through concentrated structural support at the base while reducing the overall footprint by eliminating redundant support structures throughout the cradle body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle design nests the mobile unit securely within a compact structure where the holding components are integrated into the wall-mounted base. The mobile unit sits in a recessed area with arms that fold or retract when not in use, effectively nesting the functional elements within a minimal spatial envelope while maintaining strong holding capability.
2Reliability
If conventional cradles are designed with sufficient surface area and strong components to hold and connect mobile units, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle integrates multiple functions into unified components: the wall-mounted base combines mounting structure, power connection, and data connection interfaces in a single integrated unit. The cradle arms merge the holding mechanism with the connection interface, eliminating the need for separate cables and connectors that would increase complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cradle design uses universal, multi-functional components that can accommodate different mobile unit types while maintaining reliable connections. The wall-mounted base provides both structural support and all necessary electrical/data connections through a single interface, reducing the number of separate components needed and simplifying the overall system while ensuring connection reliability.
3Speed
If very short cables are used for high-speed connection interfaces, then the connection speed is improved, but the adaptability to different cradle designs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cradle design employs asymmetric positioning of the connection interface on the wall-mounted base, optimized for high-speed data transfer while accommodating short cable lengths. The interface is positioned and oriented to work specifically with the intended mobile unit form factor, creating an asymmetric but highly effective connection geometry that maximizes speed while maintaining adaptability through precise geometric design rather than universal compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system provides a charging and a connection for a mobile unit. The system includes a housing of a mobile unit that couples to a latch. The housing comprises a loop and a panel. The loop is disposed on a top portion of the housing and receives a hook of the latch. The panel is disposed on a back portion of the housing and receives a corresponding panel of the latch. The panel includes a first set of electrical contacts that couple to a second set of electrical contacts of the corresponding panel to establish an electrical connection.