Movable USB Socket with Driving Mechanism for Thin Notebook Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional USB connectors on notebook computers pose design challenges due to their fixed size, requiring increased thickness or exposure, which compromises both mechanical integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Innovation Solution
A movable USB socket system with a driving mechanism, including a first connector, a second connector, a soft cable, and various driving mechanisms such as racks, gears, magnetic components, and resilient components, allowing the connector to slide or protrude from the casing for easy connection and retraction, enabling a thinner design while maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-size USB connector is used, then the connector can be easily manufactured and installed, but the notebook computer thickness must be increased to accommodate it
Solution Approach 1:
The USB connector is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to protrude from the casing when needed and retract when not in use. The driving mechanism enables the connector to dynamically change its position relative to the casing, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to different usage states.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable connector is nested within the casing when not in use, similar to the nested doll principle. The connector can be stored inside the housing structure and only emerges when required for connection, allowing the overall device to maintain a compact form factor while still providing full connector functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the USB connector is exposed out of the notebook computer, then connection is easier, but the aesthetic feeling of appearance is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The connector transitions from a permanently exposed static state to a dynamically controllable state. It can protrude when connection is needed and retract to maintain aesthetic appearance when not in use, allowing the device to adapt its appearance based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is extracted from the casing only when necessary for connection, rather than being permanently exposed. This selective extraction allows the main body to maintain its aesthetic design while still providing access to the connector function when needed.
3Shape
If the connector is made movable to improve aesthetics and reduce thickness, then the design flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the driving mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs electromagnetic components to replace traditional mechanical driving mechanisms. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the same movable connector function, as electromagnetic actuation can be more compact and require fewer mechanical parts than conventional motor-driven systems.
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
The movable USB socket system allows for convenient operation and aesthetic design flexibility, accommodating the connector within the casing when not in use and easily exposing it for connection, overcoming the thickness and aesthetic issues of conventional sockets.
Implementation Method 1
The electromagnetic component and the magnetic component generate a magnetic force to move the first connector relative to the casing
Implementation Method 2
The first resilient component moves the part of the first connector out of the casing via the opening structure
Data Source
AI summary
A movable socket disposed between a casing and a circuit board is disclosed. An opening structure is disposed on the casing. The movable socket includes a first connector, a second connector, a soft cable and a driving mechanism. The first connector is slidably disposed on the casing. The second connector is disposed on the circuit board. The soft cable is disposed between the first connector and the second connector in a structurally deformable manner. Two ends of the soft cable are respectively connected to the first connector and the second connector. The driving mechanism is disposed between the first connector and the casing, the driving mechanism moves the first connector relative to the casing, to drive a part of the first connector to pass through the casing via the opening structure.