Battery charging cable assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical cables for charging devices are either too short and difficult to manipulate or too long and prone to tangling, and they lack a solution for efficiently charging multiple rechargeable batteries simultaneously while maintaining structural rigidity.
Innovation Solution
A battery charging cable assembly featuring a non-circular section cable with a USB connector, a splitter block that divides the cable into multiple sections, and rechargeable batteries with integrated micro-USB or USB-C charging ports and state-of-charge indicators, utilizing a thermoplastic elastomer outer sleeve for insulation and structural support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cable is made short for compactness, then it is easier to handle without tangling, but it becomes difficult to manipulate and attach to devices
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple sections with different lengths and functions. The first cable section has a first length for connecting to the device, while the second cable section has a second length for connecting to the battery pack. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between overall compactness and ease of manipulation at connection points.
2Length of moving object
If the cable is made long for ease of manipulation, then it is easier to attach to devices, but it becomes prone to tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is divided into multiple sections with different lengths and functions. The first cable section has a first length for connecting to the device, while the second cable section has a second length for connecting to the battery pack. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between overall compactness and ease of manipulation at connection points.
3Device complexity
If a single cable is used to charge multiple batteries, then the charging system is simplified, but the structural rigidity and organization become poor
Solution Approach 1:
The cable assembly is segmented into a first cable section and a second cable section that can be independently arranged. The second cable section includes multiple connection points for attaching multiple batteries in an organized manner. This segmentation maintains structural stability while enabling simplified charging of multiple batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable transitions from a two-dimensional flat configuration to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement by extending the second cable section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first cable section. This dimensional change allows multiple batteries to be attached in an organized, space-efficient manner while maintaining structural rigidity.
4Strength
If a circular cable cross-section is used, then the cable is flexible and easy to route, but it lacks structural rigidity and is prone to tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The cable cross-section is designed with an asymmetric non-circular shape, specifically with a first width and a second width that are different from each other. This asymmetric shape provides inherent structural rigidity and resistance to tangling while maintaining flexibility for routing. The asymmetric geometry prevents the cable from rotating freely and becoming tangled.
Data Source
AI summary
The specification describes cable comprising: a first universal serial bus (USB) connector, a first non-circular section cable coupled to the first USB connector, the first non-circular section cable having a cross-sectional width and a thickness, the cross-sectional width being substantially greater than the thickness, a splitter block coupled to the first non-circular section cable, two or more second non-circular section cables coupled to the splitter block, and two or more second USB connectors that are correspondingly coupled to the two or more second non-circular section cables. The first non-circular section cable may include a cable core comprising one or more signal conductors and an outer sleeve surrounding the cable core.