Waterproof USB-C Connector Front Buckling Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB type-C electrical receptacle connectors lack a strengthening structure for positioning with a circuit board, leading to misalignment and difficulty in mating with electrical plug connectors when subjected to impact forces.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof electrical receptacle connector design featuring a plastic shell, metallic shell, insulated housing, upper-row and lower-row receptacle terminals, and a buckling member with a hook portion that securely engages with the circuit board, along with waterproof gaskets to prevent water ingress, allowing for firm positioning and reversible orientation compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electrical receptacle connector is positioned with the circuit board by the rear thereof only, then the structure is simple, but the connector becomes unstable and misaligned when subjected to impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is divided into two independent parts: rear positioning (protrusions fitting into recesses) and front positioning (strengthening structure with positioning protrusions). This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific positioning function, preventing misalignment while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The strengthening structure with positioning protrusions is pre-installed at the front of the connector before assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the connector is subjected to impact forces, the positioning protrusions are already in place to prevent misalignment, rather than relying on post-assembly adjustments.
2Ease of manufacture
If the connector lacks a strengthening structure at the front, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the connector cannot maintain proper alignment under impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The strengthening structure is applied locally only at the front of the connector where positioning is critical, rather than reinforcing the entire connector. The positioning protrusions are specifically placed at locations that experience the most stress during impact, providing targeted strength while minimizing additional manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector combines different materials with complementary properties: the insulating housing provides structural support, the metallic terminals provide electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, and the positioning protrusions (which may be metallic or reinforced plastic) provide impact resistance. This composite approach achieves high strength-to-complexity ratio.
3Device complexity
If the connector is designed without waterproof features, then the structure is simpler, but water ingress can damage the electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproof design uses a nested structure with multiple protective layers: the outer shell provides primary protection, inner seals create secondary barriers, and gaskets provide tertiary sealing at critical interfaces. This nested approach to waterproofing achieves high protection without requiring a complete redesign of the connector structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproof design incorporates flexible sealing elements such as rubber gaskets and elastic seals at critical interfaces like the mating interface and circuit board connection points. These flexible thin films conform to surface irregularities and maintain sealing under various conditions including thermal expansion and mechanical stress, preventing water ingress while adding minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A waterproof electrical receptacle connector includes a plastic shell, a metallic shell, an insulated housing, and a buckling member. The plastic shell includes a shell body, a through hole defined in the shell body, and an assembling hole defined on the shell body. The metallic shell is received in the through hole and defines a receiving cavity. The insulated housing is received in the receiving cavity and includes a base portion and a tongue portion extending from the base portion. The buckling member is positioned with the assembling hole and includes a buckling body and a hook extending from the bottom of the buckling body and protruded out of the assembling hole. Accordingly, the hook is protruded out of the assembling hole and engaged with a buckling hole of a circuit board, so that the front of waterproof electrical receptacle connector can be firmly positioned with the circuit board.