Sliding Plug Reducing Vertical Space in Electronic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic devices with plugs occupy excessive vertical space when inserted, leading to potential accidental disconnection or damage due to protrusion and the need for protective caps that are costly and prone to loss.
Innovation Solution
A plug with a sliding structure integrated into the electronic device allows the head end to slide out of the shell in a direction intersecting the maximum extension direction, reducing vertical space occupation and eliminating the need for protective caps by retracting back into the shell after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the plug is fixed vertically to the shell with the head end stretching along the maximum extension direction, then the plug can be easily connected to the slot, but the shell occupies excessive vertical space and protrudes from the external device surface
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is designed to be movable relative to the shell through a sliding structure, allowing it to transition between extended and retracted positions. This dynamic configuration enables the plug to protrude when needed for connection and retract when not in use, resolving the contradiction between ease of connection and vertical space occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding structure enables the plug to move in a direction that is not strictly along the maximum extension direction of the shell, but rather at an intersecting angle. This dimensional change allows the plug to exit the shell edge at an optimized angle that reduces vertical protrusion while maintaining connection capability.
2Reliability
If the plug protrudes vertically from the shell, then connection to the slot is achieved, but the protruding shell is easily touched by users which may cause accidental disconnection or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The movable plug design allows the plug to be retracted into the shell when not in use, eliminating the protruding portion that users might accidentally touch. This dynamic retraction capability prevents accidental disconnection or damage while maintaining reliable connection when the plug is extended and in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding structure provides a preliminary protective action by allowing the plug to be retracted into a protected position within the shell before any potential accidental contact can occur. This pre-positioning prevents the harmful effect of user-induced disconnection or damage.
3Reliability
If a protective cap is added to cover the plug when not in use, then the plug is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases and protective caps are prone to loss
Solution Approach 1:
The protective function is merged with the shell structure itself. The shell is designed to accommodate and protect the plug when retracted, eliminating the need for a separate protective cap. This integration reduces device complexity while maintaining plug protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug automatically protects itself by retracting into the shell when not in use. The shell structure provides the protection that would otherwise require a separate protective cap, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional components that could be lost.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to electronic technologies, and in particular, to a plug and an electronic device with the plug. The present invention solves the following problem: In the conventional art, an electronic device with a plug occupies too large space in the direction vertical to the surface of an external device when the electronic device is inserted in a slot of the external device. A plug of the present invention takes on the following features: when a head end of the plug is inserted in a slot of an external device, the plug is electrically connected to the slot; a back end of the plug is electrically connected to a main circuit board of an electronic device equipped with the plug; a sliding structure is set on the plug and integrated with the electronic device equipped with the plug; and the plug can slide relative to a shell of the electronic device through the sliding structure, and a head end of the plug can slide out of an edge of the shell in a direction that intersects a maximum extension direction of the shell through the sliding structure. The electronic device with the plug includes the shell, the main circuit board located in the shell, and the plug disclosed herein. A pair of slidable plugs may be used to enable selective mounting of the device.