Three-Wall Connector for Compact Backlight Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connectors with four side walls in the height direction are cumbersome for use in compact backlight module arrangements, limiting design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring male and female housings each formed by three side walls surrounding a bottom wall, with pawls and retention slots for secure mating, reducing the connector's wall thickness to two walls in the height direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional connectors use four side walls in the height direction, then connection reliability is improved, but connector thickness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnector thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes one side wall from the conventional four-side-wall connector structure, extracting only the necessary retaining features (pawls and retention slots) from the removed wall's location. This reduction from four side walls to three side walls directly decreases connector thickness while maintaining connection reliability through the retained pawl-slot engagement mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If connector wall thickness is reduced, then adaptability to compact backlight modules is improved, but connection reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to compact backlight modulesVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating retaining features (pawls and retention slots) at specific critical locations on the three side walls. Rather than uniformly distributing structural elements, the design places engagement features precisely where needed to maintain connection reliability despite the reduced overall wall count and decreased connector thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Length of stationary object

If three side walls are used instead of four, then connector thickness is reduced, but structural stability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector thicknessVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple side walls by integrating retaining features (pawls and retention slots) into the three remaining side walls. This consolidation combines structural support and connection retention functions into fewer elements, achieving the desired thickness reduction while maintaining structural stability through the combined mechanical engagement system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9153907B2Connector

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention discloses a connector, which includes a male housing and a female housing. The male housing is formed of three side walls surrounding a circumference of a bottom wall and the female housing is formed of three side walls surrounding a circumference of a bottom wall. The male housing and the female housing are mateable with each other through mutual insertion. Practicing the connector of the present invention may reduce the wall thickness of the connector, making the connector thinner so as to enable use in a backlight module arrangement of relatively small space and provide module designing with more flexibility.