Replaceable Receptacle Connector Assembly for Mounted Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing receptacle connectors, particularly those conforming to USB Type-C standards, are prone to failure and require replacement, which involves replacing the entire main substrate due to soldering, increasing user costs and environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A mounted substrate design featuring a receptacle connector with a detachable relay connector connected to a surface mount connector, allowing easy replacement without soldering, utilizing a connector configuration with specific edge portions and clearances for smooth detachment and attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If receptacle connector is mounted on main substrate by soldering, then connection reliability is improved, but replacement difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidreplacement difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The connector assembly is divided into separate components: the receptacle connector and the surface mount connector are independently replaceable parts connected through a detachable relay connector. This segmentation allows the receptacle connector to be replaced without replacing the entire main substrate, while maintaining reliable connections through the relay connector interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If receptacle connector is soldered to main substrate, then connection stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The connector system is segmented into modular components where the surface mount connector with relay connector provides stable electrical connections through detachable interfaces, while the receptacle connector remains separately replaceable. This reduces manufacturing costs by allowing selective replacement rather than entire substrate replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay connector serves as an intermediary component between the surface mount connector and the receptacle connector. It provides stable electrical connections while enabling easy detachment and replacement, thus maintaining connection stability without requiring permanent soldering of the receptacle connector to the main substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If receptacle connector is permanently mounted on substrate, then connection reliability is improved, but environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The design enables the receptacle connector to be easily detached and replaced when failed, while the surface mount connector and relay connector remain on the substrate. This partial replacement approach reduces waste by allowing recovery and continued use of functional components, thereby reducing environmental impact while maintaining connection reliability through the replaceable receptacle connector.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4625708A1Mounted substrate and electronic apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD
  • EP4625708A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625708A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4625708A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a mounted substrate and an electronic apparatus each of which can achieve easy replacement of a receptacle connector. A mounted substrate includes: a substrate having a mounting surface; a surface mount connector having an inner surface provided with a contact point, having a connector connecting hole opened along a surface direction of the substrate, and mounted on the mounting surface of the substrate; and a receptacle connector having a plug connection opening to which a plug is connected, the receptacle connector including a relay connector detachably connected to the connector connecting hole. The connector connecting hole has an opening edge portion including a first edge portion placed closer to the mounting surface side in a height direction of the connector connecting hole, and a second edge portion placed opposite from the first edge portion in the height direction. The second edge portion is disposed on a deep side from the first edge portion in a depth direction of the connector connecting hole.