Protective Connector With Free-Moving Coupling For Circuitry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems for farm equipment lack efficient data collection and processing capabilities, making it difficult to optimize agricultural processes based on real-time environmental and operational data.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a wireless drive unit with a portable computing device that enables farm equipment to share data and receive agricultural prescriptions, utilizing a CAN bus, sensors, and wireless transceivers for communication, along with a secure and pressure-free connector design to protect circuitry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connector is designed to securely connect communication devices to farm equipment, then connection reliability is improved, but the circuitry may be subjected to excessive force during connection and disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate functional components: a coupling structure for mechanical connection and a core assembly for housing circuitry. This segmentation allows the coupling structure to absorb connection/disconnection forces while the core assembly remains protected and isolated from these mechanical stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuitry-containing core assembly is extracted from the force-bearing coupling structure. By separating the electrical connection function from the mechanical connection function, the circuitry is protected from the harmful forces generated during connector engagement and disengagement.
2Productivity
If data collection and processing capabilities are enhanced in farm equipment, then agricultural process optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication device integrates multiple functions including data collection from sensors, wireless communication capabilities, and processing power for agricultural prescription generation. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves enhanced productivity without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication device acts as an intermediary between the farm equipment's sensor system and the agricultural processing system. It collects data from CAN bus sensors, processes this information, and generates prescriptions, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enhancing analytical capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A protective connector includes a core assembly structure, mating pins and a mating coupling structure. The core assembly structure has circuitry mounted therein. The mating coupling structure substantially encases the core assembly structure and mates with another connector such that the mating pins of the protective connector are electrically coupled to pins of the other connector. The mating coupling structure is mechanically free-moving with respect to the core assembly structure such that forces applied to the mating coupling structure to mate the protective connector to the other connector are not applied to the circuitry within the core assembly structure.