Rotary Cable Connector Locking for Miniaturized Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturization of electronic devices poses a challenge in providing sufficient movement of actuators in connectors for easy cable insertion and removal, leading to potential damage due to unintentional rotation.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a rotatable actuator supported by an insulator with a biasing member that applies force to maintain the actuator in a lock position, ensuring sufficient movement for cable insertion and removal while preventing excessive rotation, comprising an extending portion, hook portion, and a biasing member that biases the actuator towards the lock position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the connector is miniaturized to reduce mounting area, then the mounting area is reduced, but the actuator movement range becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator rotates about an axis that extends in a direction orthogonal to the cable insertion/removal direction, utilizing a different spatial dimension for actuator movement. This allows the actuator to achieve sufficient movement range within the miniaturized connector footprint by rotating in a direction perpendicular to the main insertion axis, effectively transforming a linear movement problem into a rotational movement solution in three-dimensional space.
2Ease of operation
If the actuator movement range is increased for easy cable insertion and removal, then the workability is improved, but the risk of unintentional rotation and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is pre-loaded to apply a biasing force to the actuator before any operation occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the actuator is constantly pushed toward the lock position, creating a restoring force that prevents unintentional rotation beyond the intended range. The biasing force acts as a protective mechanism that automatically returns the actuator to its safe position if excessive rotation occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member applies a counteracting force to the actuator that opposes any unintended movement away from the lock position. This preliminary anti-action creates a mechanical constraint that prevents the actuator from rotating beyond its designed range, thereby protecting against damage while still allowing intentional operation within the proper range.
3Area of stationary object
If the connector is miniaturized, then the mounting area is reduced, but the cable insertion and removal operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator operates by rotating about an axis orthogonal to the cable insertion/removal direction, utilizing a different spatial dimension for operation. This rotational mechanism in a perpendicular direction provides sufficient movement range and operational leverage even within the miniaturized connector structure, maintaining ease of operation despite the reduced footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member is pre-loaded to automatically return the actuator to the lock position after cable insertion or removal. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual resetting of the actuator, simplifying the operation sequence and maintaining ease of use in the miniaturized connector.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances workability by ensuring stable cable holding and prevention of removal without manual actuator operation, reducing the risk of actuator damage and allowing for miniaturization while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member supported by the insulator and including an abutting portion that abuts on the actuator, the biasing member applying a force to bias the actuator toward the lock position through the abutting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A connector (10) according to the present disclosure includes an insulator (20) including an insertion space portion (21), an actuator (50) supported by the insulator (20) rotatably about a rotation axis (C) toward a lock position at which the actuator (50) locks a cable (70), and a biasing member (60) supported by the insulator (20) and including an abutting portion (64) that abuts on the actuator (50), the biasing member (60) applying a force to bias the actuator (50) toward the lock position through the abutting portion (64), wherein the actuator (50) includes an extending portion (55) extending in a direction orthogonal to both an insertion/removal direction in which the cable (70) is inserted into and removed from the insertion space portion (21) and an extending direction of the rotation axis (C), and a hook portion (56) formed at an end of the extending portion (55) and positioned to face the insulator (20) in the orthogonal direction, and the rotation axis (C) is positioned between the hook portion (56) and the abutting portion (64) in the insertion/removal direction.