Optical Disc Drive With Pivotable Connector For Tool-Free Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic equipment without a built-in optical disk drive requires users to attach an external drive via a cable, which is cumbersome and results in an exposed cable that can be annoying.
Innovation Solution
An optical disk drive with a pivotable connector terminal and locking pawls that allows easy attachment and detachment without tools, ensuring the connector terminal is connected inside the equipment, and a drive cover for stabilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an external optical disk drive is connected via a cable, then the optical disk drive functionality is added to electronic equipment, but the cable becomes exposed and annoying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the optical disk drive with the electronic equipment housing by integrating the connector terminal directly into the drive unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate external cables, as the connector is built into the drive assembly itself, allowing direct connection to the electronic equipment's internal connector terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical disk drive is designed to be nested within or attached to the electronic equipment housing. The drive unit contains the connector terminal within its structure, and when mounted, it nests into the housing with the connector accessing the internal connector terminal, effectively hiding all connection elements inside the equipment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an external optical disk drive is attached via a cable, then the drive can be connected to electronic equipment, but the attachment process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The connector terminal is merged with the optical disk drive housing as an integrated component. This combination eliminates the need for separate cable assemblies and simplifies the attachment process to a single unit installation, making the drive easily attachable and detachable without complex cable management.
3Ease of operation
If the connector terminal is made pivotable, then the attachment becomes easier and more flexible, but the connector structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connector terminal is designed with pivotability, allowing it to move between different angular positions. This dynamic capability enables the connector to accommodate variations in mounting angles and positions, facilitating easier attachment while the pivot mechanism itself remains a relatively simple hinge-like structure.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
There are provided an optical disk drive (20) that is easily attachable and detachable, and an electronic equipment unit (10) that includes the optical disk drive (20). The optical disk drive (20) detachably attachable to the electronic equipment (10) includes a case (21) having an insertion opening (21b) through which an optical disk is inserted, and a connector terminal (22). The case (21) is provided with a locking pawl (31a) supported by the electronic equipment (10) in a manner allowing the connector terminal (22) to pivot between a non-connecting position in which the connector terminal (22) is not connected to a connector terminal (13) provided on the electronic equipment (10), and a connecting position in which the connector terminal (22) is connected to the connector terminal (13).