Waterproof Connector Positioning for Faster Housing Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector devices face challenges in ensuring waterproofness and accurate positioning without increasing the number of parts, which can lead to attachment errors and increased takt time in assembly lines.
Innovation Solution
A connector device design that includes a housing with a fit-in hole and a connector with a seal packing and position setting determination portions, allowing for precise positioning and attachment in the same direction as the circuit board, without adding extra parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate member is used to attach the housing and connector, then waterproof seal performance is ensured, but the number of parts increases and attachment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connector attachment function and waterproof sealing function into a single integrated connector structure. The connector directly attaches to the housing while incorporating a seal packing member that provides waterproof sealing without requiring a separate attachment member, thus reducing part count while maintaining sealing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical attachment to the housing, electrical connection, and waterproof sealing. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate members dedicated to each function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity
2Reliability
If the connector and housing are attached in advance to ensure waterproofness, then sealing is improved, but positioning accuracy decreases due to attachment errors
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is pre-positioned on the circuit board with high positioning accuracy before housing attachment. The connector's position setting determination portion ensures precise positioning relative to the circuit board terminals, and this pre-established accurate positioning is maintained during subsequent housing attachment, preventing positioning errors while ensuring waterproofness
3Strength
If the connector requires rotation for attachment, then secure fixation is achieved, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring rotational movement for secure attachment, the patent inverts the approach by using a linear push-in attachment method. The connector is fitted into the housing in a straight-line motion, achieving secure fixation through the integrated seal packing and connector-housing interface without requiring rotation, thus reducing assembly time while maintaining fixation security
Data Source
AI summary
A connector device includes: a housing in which a connector is provided; and a circuit board which transmits information from an electronic device fixed inside the housing. The connector has a seal packing for waterproofing, a connection terminal to be connected to an external circuit, a connection terminal to be connected to the circuit board, and a position setting determination portion to determine a set position relative to the housing. The housing has a fit-in hole into which an end of the connector is fitted, and a positioning portion to determine a placement position of the connector on the housing. The connector is fixed by being fitted into the fit-in hole of the housing with the seal packing interposed therebetween, and a position of the connector relative to the housing is set by the position setting determination portion of the connector and the positioning portion of the housing.