Receptacle Unit Guide Portions for Connector Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing docking connectors face challenges in accurately mounting multiple standard connectors, leading to potential connection failures or breakage, and increasing the number of contacts for higher speed transmission results in larger size and assembly complexity.
Innovation Solution
A plug unit with multiple standard plug connectors, an insulator to define intervals and postures, and a guide portion for precise alignment with a receptacle unit, along with additional connectors and a cover for enhanced positioning and posture control, minimizing tolerance and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple predetermined standard connectors are mounted to enable versatile docking, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to difficulty in mounting at accurate positions and postures
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator is designed with pre-formed guide portions that define the positions and postures of multiple predetermined standard connectors before the docking process. This preliminary configuration ensures accurate alignment without requiring high manufacturing precision during assembly, as the guide portions automatically guide the mating connectors into correct positions.
2Speed
If additional connectors are added to increase the number of contacts for higher speed transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple predetermined standard connectors are integrated into a single insulator structure that combines them into one unified component. This merging approach allows multiple connectors to be mounted on the insulator without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as they share common mounting and alignment features.
Solution Approach 2:
Additional connectors are arranged within the space defined by the guide portions of the insulator, nesting them in an organized manner. The guide portions create a structured framework that accommodates multiple connectors without requiring separate complex mounting mechanisms for each one.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple predetermined standard connectors are mounted to enable versatile docking, then adaptability is improved, but the size of the docking connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple predetermined standard connectors are arranged in a planar configuration on the insulator rather than stacking them in three dimensions. This two-dimensional arrangement optimizes space utilization and prevents significant increase in the overall volume of the docking connector while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a receptacle unit including a plurality of receptacle connectors and mounted on an electronic apparatus, at least two guide reception portions which, when docking with a plug unit including a plurality of plug connectors, before at least one of the plurality of receptacle connectors engages with at least one of the plurality of plug connectors, receiving a guide portion of the plug unit, and a coupling portion which couples the at least two guide reception portions, at least one receptacle connector of the plurality of receptacle connectors which is mounted on a board independently of at least one other of the receptacle connectors, and the at least two guide reception portions and the coupling portion which are fixed to the board after the plurality of receptacle connectors are mounted on the board.