USB Power Outlet PCB Bending Suppression via Contact Part
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Solution Overview
Problem
USB power outlets can experience bending deformation of their printed circuit boards due to repeated insertion and removal of USB plugs, leading to potential malfunctions such as jamming.
Innovation Solution
The USB power outlet design includes a housing with a contact part that protrudes from a partition wall, supporting both ends of the printed circuit board and preventing bending by ensuring the USB socket is mounted in a direction perpendicular to the board's thickness, with additional features like engagement nails and recesses to secure the circuit boards in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the USB socket is mounted on the printed circuit board allowing USB plug insertion, then the USB power outlet provides functional connectivity, but the pushing force from the USB plug causes bending deformation of the printed circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The contact part acts as an intermediary element between the USB plug and the printed circuit board. It receives the pushing force from the USB plug and transmits it to the housing, preventing direct force application to the printed circuit board and thus avoiding bending deformation while maintaining functional connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The contact force reception function is extracted from the printed circuit board and assigned to a dedicated contact part. This separation allows the printed circuit board to focus on electrical connectivity while the contact part handles mechanical force, preventing bending deformation
2Duration of action of moving object
If the USB socket is mounted on the printed circuit board for repeated plug and pull operations, then the USB power outlet provides continuous usability, but plastic deformation of the printed circuit board leads to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The contact part serves as a mediator that absorbs and redirects the mechanical stress from repeated USB plug operations away from the printed circuit board, preventing cumulative plastic deformation and maintaining reliability over extended usage periods
Solution Approach 2:
The contact part provides beforehand cushioning by absorbing the impact force before it reaches the printed circuit board. This protective mechanism prevents damage accumulation from repeated insertion and removal operations, ensuring long-term reliability
3Ease of operation
If the printed circuit board is made flexible to accommodate insertion force, then USB plug connection is easier, but bending deformation causes jamming obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The contact part acts as an intermediary that decouples the mechanical insertion force from the printed circuit board. It allows easy USB plug connection by providing a compliant contact surface while preventing harmful bending deformation that would cause jamming obstacles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A USB power outlet includes: a printed circuit board on which a USB socket is mounted; and a housing that accommodates the printed circuit board and has an insertion hole for a USB plug to be connected to the USB socket. The housing is provided with a contact part that is in contact with the printed circuit board in the proximity of the USB socket from an opposite direction of an insertion direction of the USB plug into the USB socket.