Motor Connector and PCB Layout for Visible Axial Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing motor devices with deceleration mechanisms have a structure where the connector module is inserted from a side surface of the gear housing, making it difficult to visually observe the electrically connected portions, leading to degraded assembly performance.

Innovation Solution

The motor device is designed with a housing that stores the deceleration mechanism, featuring a connector storage unit and a substrate storage unit opened in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the rotation shaft, with conductive members extending in this direction for easy assembly and visual observation, using secured and movable jigs for precise positioning and insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the connector module is inserted from a side surface of the gear housing, then the motor device can be assembled in a compact space, but the electrically connected portion cannot be visually observed from the outside, leading to degraded assembly performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor device sizeVSAvoidassembly performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector storage unit and substrate storage unit are opened in the axial direction of the rotation shaft rather than from the side surface, changing the assembly dimension from radial to axial. This allows visual observation of electrical connections from the end surface while maintaining compact overall dimensions through the flat-shaped housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves as an intermediary structure that incorporates dedicated storage units for connectors and substrates. These storage units are opened in the axial direction to provide both visual access to electrical connections and structured guidance for assembly, mediating between the need for compact size and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the connector storage unit and substrate storage unit are opened in the axial direction, then visual observation of assembly state is enabled, but the housing structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly performanceVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing performs multiple functions: it stores the deceleration mechanism, provides dedicated storage units for connectors and substrates with axial openings for visual observation, and guides the assembly process. By integrating these functions into a single structure, the apparent complexity is justified by the multi-functionality that simplifies overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is segmented into distinct storage units (connector storage unit and substrate storage unit) that are opened in the axial direction. This segmentation allows each unit to serve its specific function while maintaining visual observability, organizing the internal structure to balance complexity with assembly ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of stationary object

If the motor device is formed into a flat shape with thin height dimension, then it can be placed in narrow space inside vehicle door, but the connector assembly becomes difficult to observe and assemble

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing height dimensionVSAvoidconnector assembly performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

While the housing height dimension is reduced for compact installation, the connector storage unit and substrate storage unit are opened in the axial direction (lengthwise), shifting the assembly access from the compressed radial dimension to the extended axial dimension. This allows maintainable assembly performance despite the flattened overall shape.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3736949B1Motor device and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 MITSUBA CORP
  • EP3736949B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3736949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3736949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connector storage unit 33d and a substrate storage unit 33c which are provided in a gear case 31 open in a direction (axial direction of output shaft) which intersects the axial direction of an armature shaft. As a result, when assembling a motor device 10, it is possible to store a connector member 60 and a control substrate 50 in the connector storage unit 33d and the substrate storage unit 33c, which have comparatively large openings, by insertion therein from the same direction. Consequently, it is possible to easily and definitively assemble the motor device 10 and to visually observe the state of assembly thereof from the outside.