Rotatable Series Unit Terminals for Shielding and Cable Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing series units with direct-mounted coaxial receptacles suffer from low shielding properties, leading to external electromagnetic interference and connectivity issues, especially with the transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting, and present challenges in storing and extending coaxial cables due to limited space and inflexible terminal configurations.

Innovation Solution

A series unit design featuring rotatable input and output terminals with concentric center and external conductors, allowing for perpendicular connection and disconnection orientations, and a unit case that supports these terminals with electrical interconnection, enabling flexible cable management and installation even in confined spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a direct-mounted type of series unit is used, then the installation is simple, but the shielding property is low causing electromagnetic interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidelectromagnetic interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The series unit is divided into a housing and a terminal assembly that can be separately installed. The terminal assembly with coaxial receptacles is detached from the housing, allowing the housing to provide shielding while the terminal assembly provides connection functionality. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the shielding function from the mounting function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the terminal assembly. It provides electromagnetic shielding and structural support, while the terminal assembly with coaxial receptacles provides the connection interface. This intermediary structure allows both simple installation and good shielding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If coaxial cables are introduced inside a wall with limited storage space, then the connection is secure, but the cables cannot be stored or extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidcable extension flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal assembly is designed to be rotatable relative to the housing, allowing dynamic adjustment of cable directions. The coaxial cables can be routed through different angles and positions, providing flexibility for cable extension and storage while maintaining secure wall connections. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between fixed installation and flexible cable management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the series unit is replaced from direct-mounted type to coaxial receptacle type, then the shielding property improves, but the installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding propertyVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The series unit is segmented into a housing and a terminal assembly that can be pre-assembled or separately installed. This segmentation allows the housing to provide shielding while the terminal assembly with coaxial receptacles provides connection functionality, reducing overall installation complexity while maintaining good shielding properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal assembly is designed with rotatable joints allowing flexible positioning during installation. This dynamic capability simplifies the installation process by accommodating various cable routing requirements without requiring complex fixed mounting structures, thereby reducing installation complexity while maintaining shielding effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the distal end portions of coaxial cables are cut and processed for F-type connectors, then the connection to coaxial receptacles is enabled, but the cable length becomes shorter with no extra length

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnector compatibilityVSAvoidcable length
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal assembly incorporates rotatable joints that allow cable routing through multiple paths and angles. This dynamic configuration enables the use of shorter cables by optimizing the routing path through the housing interior, accommodating cable length reduction while maintaining connector compatibility and functional connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2031709A1Series unit
Publication Date: 2009.03.04 MASPRODENKOH KK
  • EP2031709A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP2031709A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP2031709A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A series unit comprises an input terminal and an output terminal each composed of a tubular receptacle having a center conductor and an external conductor provided concentrically with the center conductor, a television terminal, and a unit case for supporting the input terminal, the output terminal, and the television terminal. The external conductors of the terminals are electrically interconnected through the unit case. The center conductors are electrically interconnected in the space defined inside the unit case. The orientation of the connection end portion of the unit case is perpendicular to the connection/disconnection end portion to/from which the terminal of the cable is connected/disconnected. The input terminal and the output terminal are constituted as movable terminals rotatable at the connection end portions of the unit case. The planes defined by the center axes of the connection/disconnection end portions by the rotation of the movable terminals are perpendicular to each other.