Remote Control Dock Lock Pin Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle entertainment systems face operational incompatibility due to the inability to distinguish remote control modules from different suppliers, leading to accidental substitution and potential system malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A housing with a recess and lock pin mechanism that prevents secure mounting of incompatible remote control modules by using locator ribs and lock pins with specific spacing, ensuring only compatible modules can be securely mounted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control modules from different suppliers have identical outward appearance, then customer familiarity and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to distinguish compatible modules is worsened, leading to accidental substitution and operational incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making only specific localized features different while keeping the overall appearance identical. The locator rib spacing and lock pin positioning are modified locally on compatible modules, while incompatible modules have different spacing at these same locations. This allows the majority of the remote control appearance to remain familiar to customers while creating subtle local differences that prevent accidental substitution of incompatible modules.
2Reliability
If the housing structure includes specific locator rib spacing and lock pin positioning, then secure mounting of compatible modules is improved, but the complexity of the housing structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting interface into distinct functional elements: locator ribs for positioning, lock pins for securing, and specific spacing dimensions for compatibility. By dividing the mounting interface into these separate segments with specific dimensional requirements, the system achieves reliable secure mounting while keeping each individual element simple and manufacturable.
3Ease of operation
If the remote control module is designed with removable mounting capability, then ease of operation and flexibility are improved, but the risk of accidental substitution with incompatible modules increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by creating non-uniform spacing between the locator rib and lock pin on compatible modules, while incompatible modules have different asymmetric spacing. This asymmetric dimensional relationship allows the module to be easily removed and reinstalled by the same supplier's modules, while preventing accidental substitution of incompatible modules from different suppliers due to the mismatched asymmetric dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle entertainment system and method to prevent a mechanical connection between certain components of an entertainment system for a vehicle can include an entertainment system housing containing a plurality of entertainment components and a remote control module. The remote control module can include a user interface on a surface of the remote control module. In addition, the remote control module can be configured to prevent secure mounting of the remote control module to the entertainment system housing when the remote control module is not the appropriate remote control module for the particular vehicle entertainment system.