Rotating Circular Dongle Cable Retraction Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low profile information handling systems face challenges in compactly integrating communication and video ports due to their size, leading to issues with cable management, electromagnetic interference, and storage convenience, especially with existing mobile adapters that have a large footprint and awkward cable handling.
Innovation Solution
A low profile circular dongle design that rotationally stores a communication cable within a compact housing, using a rotating mechanism where the upper and lower housing portions align to retract the USB cable connector into a cavity with a magnetically held opening, reducing the overall height and footprint while maintaining efficient data transfer through multiple protocol conversion capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple protocol conversion capabilities are integrated into one mobile adapter housing, then end user convenience is improved, but the device footprint and cable management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable connector is nested within a cavity formed by the lower housing portion, allowing the cable to be stored compactly within the adapter body rather than hanging externally. This nesting approach reduces the external footprint while maintaining multiple protocol conversion capabilities within the same housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management system utilizes the vertical dimension by creating a cavity within the lower housing portion, allowing the cable connector to be retracted inward rather than extending outward. This dimensional approach reduces the horizontal footprint of the device while maintaining versatility.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple data and video ports are compressed into a smaller footprint, then device portability is improved, but electromagnetic interference and data rate maintenance become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter housing is segmented into an upper housing portion containing video ports and a lower housing portion containing the cable connector and cavity. This segmentation separates different functional components into distinct spatial zones, potentially reducing electromagnetic interference between high-speed data and video signals while maintaining a compact overall footprint.
3Length of stationary object
If the cable connector is stored within the lower housing portion, then the adapter height is reduced, but cable retrieval and storage convenience may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lower housing portion is designed to rotate relative to the upper housing portion, enabling dynamic cable management. The rotating mechanism allows the cable connector to be easily retrieved from or stored in the cavity by simply rotating the lower portion, maintaining convenience while achieving a low-profile height when the cable is retracted.
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 solution provides a compact, convenient, and reliable cable management system that minimizes electromagnetic interference and enhances user convenience by reducing the adapter's height and footprint, while ensuring efficient data and video communication through multiple protocol support.
Implementation Method 1
An opening formed in the lower housing portion bottom surface aligns with the cable connector upon retraction to provide storage of the cable connector with a reduced height profile
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile peripheral adapter rotationally couples first and second circular housings with a spindle to define and cable cavity. A cable retracts into and extends from the cable cavity by rotation of the housing portions to bring a cable connector into the cable cavity at an opening formed to align with the cable connector at retraction. First and second magnets disposed in the cable cavity retrain the cable connector when retracted. The opening at the bottom surface of the peripheral adapter reduces the vertical height of the cable cavity by providing vertical space within which the cable connector can reside.