Spring-Loaded Receptacles for Line Card Connector Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing size and complexity of line cards in telecommunications systems cause heavy loads on connectors, leading to bending, distortion, and potential breakage during installation, maintenance, and removal.
Innovation Solution
The use of spring-loaded receptacles that mate with members on the backplane to apply a lifting force on line cards, reducing the burden on connectors and aligning, centering, and straightening the line cards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If line cards are made larger and more functional, then communication capabilities are improved, but weight and structural load increase causing connector failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide pins with spring-loaded mechanisms that act as counterweights to offset the weight of heavy line cards. The springs compress to absorb downward force and extend to provide upward support, creating a counterbalancing effect that prevents connector overload and failure during line card installation and operation.
2Productivity
If line cards are installed without alignment support, then installation speed is improved, but connector misalignment and damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins are pre-installed on the backplane before line card insertion. These guide pins protrude to automatically engage with corresponding recesses in the line card receptacles, establishing proper alignment before the line card is fully inserted. This preliminary alignment action prevents misalignment damage while maintaining quick installation.
3Device complexity
If heavy line cards are supported by receptacles alone, then device complexity is reduced, but connector distortion and breaking increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins serve as intermediary elements between the backplane and line card receptacles. Rather than relying solely on the receptacles to support heavy line cards, the guide pins transmit and distribute the mechanical load, reducing stress concentration on the receptacle-connector interfaces and preventing distortion and breaking.
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
Prevents bending and breaking of connectors by distributing the weight of the line card and compensating for tolerance variances, ensuring secure and stable installation and removal.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring that (A) is coupled to the receptacle and (B) applies, when the member is inserted into the receptacle, a force on the member to lift the line card in an upward direction
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed apparatus may include (1) at least one receptacle that (A) is coupled to a line card that facilitates communication among computing devices and (B) mates with at least one member coupled to a backplane of a telecommunications system to physically support the line card upon installation in the telecommunications system and (2) at least one spring that (A) is coupled to the receptacle and (B) applies, when the member is inserted into the receptacle, a force on the member to lift the line card in an upward direction. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.