USB Cable Connector Assembly with Aligned Solder Tails for Orientation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB cable connector assemblies lack an effective method to determine orientation and characteristics during connection between a host and a device, particularly in improving the arrangement of physical resistors within the connector assembly.
Innovation Solution
A cable connector assembly featuring a cable end connector with insulative support, insert molded contacts including USB 2.0 signal, power, and ground contacts, and a detection contact, where a resistor is strategically positioned between the solder tails of the power and detection contacts or ground and detection contacts, facilitating dual orientation mating and mode determination through resistive values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a physical resistor is included in the cable connector assembly to determine connection orientation and characteristics, then the ability to identify connection mode and orientation is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the need to arrange and solder the resistor precisely between specific contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the resistor with the cable connector assembly by integrating it into the terminal module structure. The resistor is positioned between specific contacts (power/detection or ground/detection) and becomes part of the unified connector assembly, allowing orientation determination while maintaining structural integration rather than adding a separate complex subsystem
Solution Approach 2:
The resistor serves as an intermediary element that enables communication between the physical connector and the digital identification system. By placing the resistor between specific contacts, it creates a measurable electrical characteristic that allows the host to determine connection mode and orientation without requiring complex mechanical or optical identification mechanisms
2Reliability
If a physical resistor is soldered between contacts to enable mode determination, then the reliability of connection identification is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for precise solder tail alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The resistor is pre-positioned and fixed to the insulative support structure before the final assembly is completed. The terminal module is designed with predetermined contact arrangements where the resistor connects to specific contacts (power/detection or ground/detection), allowing manufacturing personnel to follow a established pattern rather than requiring complex real-time alignment during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions of the connector assembly. The area where the resistor is mounted has specific local features (insulative support structure, predetermined contact positions) that facilitate precise positioning and soldering, while other parts of the connector maintain their standard design. This localized optimization ensures manufacturing precision only where needed for the resistor connection
Data Source
AI summary
A cable connector assembly (300) includes: a cable end connector (100) including an insulative support (21), plural contacts (22) insert molded with the insulative support, and a front insulative body (10) mounted to the insulative support, the plural contacts including a pair of USB 2.0 signal contacts (220), plural power contacts (221), plural ground contacts (222), and a detection contact (223), the plural power contacts having a solder tail (2211), plural ground contacts having a solder tail (2221), the detection contact having a solder tail (2230); and a cable (200) including a plurality of wires (201) directly connected to each of the two USB 2.0 signal contacts, one of the power contacts, and one of the ground contacts, respectively.