Recessed Notch Electrical Receptacle Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional USB type-C electrical connectors protrude from the housing of electronic devices due to their flush periphery, causing interference with other components and failing to accommodate design changes in the device's internal space.
Innovation Solution
The electrical receptacle connector features a metallic shell with a recessed notch around the insertion opening, allowing the connector to be aligned with a cut opening in the housing, and includes a dual orientation design with upside-down terminal arrangements and reversed pin assignments for flexible insertion orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the periphery of the insertion opening of the outer iron shell is flush (four sides on the same horizontal plane), then the connector structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the connector protrudes out of the housing cut and interferes with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The periphery of the insertion opening is segmented by introducing notches that divide the continuous flush periphery into distinct sections. These notches create a non-uniform profile that allows the connector to align with the housing cut without protruding, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a two-dimensional flush periphery (all sides on the same horizontal plane) to a three-dimensional non-uniform profile with notches at different positions. This dimensional change allows the connector to fit within the housing cut contour, eliminating protrusion while preserving structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If the periphery of the insertion opening is flush, then the connector structure is simple, but the connector cannot satisfy design changes of the space inside the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The periphery is segmented into multiple sections by notches, allowing independent adjustment of each section's position and depth. This segmentation enables the connector to adapt to various housing cut designs and internal space configurations without requiring complete redesign of the entire connector structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The notch configuration provides a dynamic adaptation mechanism where the periphery profile can be modified by adjusting the number, position, and depth of notches. This allows the connector to accommodate design changes in housing space while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the connector is designed with a flush periphery, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the connector protrudes out of the cut and cannot be integrated seamlessly into the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The periphery shape is transformed from a uniform two-dimensional flush profile to a three-dimensional non-uniform profile with notches. This dimensional transformation allows the connector to conform to the housing cut shape, achieving seamless integration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through standard forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of modifying the entire periphery uniformly, local notches are introduced at specific positions to achieve the desired integration. This local quality approach maintains the overall simple structure while making targeted modifications to eliminate protrusion and achieve seamless housing integration.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical receptacle connector includes a terminal module received in a metallic shell. The terminal module includes a base portion and receptacle terminals held on the base portion. A notch is recessed from a periphery of an insertion opening of the metallic shell. Therefore, when the electrical receptacle connector is assembled in an electronic device, the periphery of the notch corresponds to the periphery of a cut opening of a housing of the electronic device. The periphery of the cut opening and the periphery of the notch are aligned along the same profile line, and the periphery of the notch does not protrude out of the cut opening. Therefore, the periphery of the insertion opening will not interfere with other components assembled with the housing, and the problem of that the conventional design cannot satisfy the design change of the housing of the electronic device can be solved.