Rotatable Mini-Coax Automotive Connector for Flexible PCB Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mini-coax automotive connectors face challenges in limited space applications due to fixed orientation requirements, making it difficult to connect them to circuit boards without complex adjustments, especially for high-frequency signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A mini-coax automotive connector design with a connection housing that can be oriented in multiple positions relative to the housing body, allowing for flexible placement and connection without altering the circuit board layout, using shape coding and securing features to ensure secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector uses fixed orientation requirements with shape coding, then reliable connection and signal transmission are ensured, but flexibility in placement and adaptability to different space constraints are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing is designed to be rotatable relative to the circuit board, allowing the connector to adapt its orientation dynamically. The housing includes a rotation axis that enables angular adjustment while maintaining electrical contact through flexible circuit traces, thus achieving both reliable connection and placement flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into separable components: a fixed base portion mounted on the circuit board and a rotatable housing portion that can be positioned at different angles. This segmentation allows the base to remain fixed for reliable electrical connection while the housing provides adaptability in orientation and placement
2Reliability
If the connector is designed for high-frequency signal transmission, then signal quality is improved, but the PCB design becomes more complex and requires optimization
Solution Approach 1:
A coaxial cable structure serves as an intermediary transmission medium between the connector and the circuit board. This coaxial design provides inherent shielding and controlled impedance, ensuring high-frequency signal quality while simplifying the PCB design by reducing the need for complex high-frequency trace routing and grounding structures
3Stability of the object's composition
If the connector uses predetermined orientation for connection, then connection stability is ensured, but the ability to accommodate limited space and obstructing components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates a rotatable housing that can be positioned at multiple angular orientations while maintaining stable connection. The rotation mechanism includes positioning detents or indexing features that ensure stable, repeatable orientations, thus achieving both connection stability and adaptability to different spatial constraints
Solution Approach 2:
The connector adds rotational freedom in the angular dimension while maintaining fixed connection in the insertion dimension. This allows the connector to accommodate obstacles in the planar dimension by rotating to a different angle, thus achieving space accommodation without compromising connection stability
Data Source
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AI summary
One aspect relates to a connector (10), in particular a mini-coaxial automotive connector, for connecting to a compatible plug device, comprising: a housing body (12) which has at least two coaxial connectors (20) for connecting to corresponding coaxial sockets of the compatible plug device, wherein the coaxial connectors (20) are aligned parallel to each other and extend from the housing body (12) in a connection direction (V); and a connecting housing (14) connectable to the housing body (12) for connecting the connector (10) to the compatible plug device, wherein the connecting housing (14) surrounds the at least two coaxial connectors (20) at least partially along the connection direction (V), and wherein the connecting housing (14) has exactly one insertion point for inserting the compatible plug device.to connect the coaxial connectors (20) with corresponding coaxial sockets when the compatible connector device is inserted into the connection housing (14) in exactly one insertion position, wherein the connection housing (14) can be connected to the housing body (12) in at least two different orientations and wherein each orientation of the two different orientations results in a different assignment of the at least two coaxial connectors (20) to the coaxial sockets of the compatible connector device.