Waterproof Connector Sealing and Grounding Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waterproof connectors fail to maintain a reliable seal due to loosening and moisture ingress, especially when exposed to humid environments and repeated use, leading to potential damage to electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof connector design featuring a seamless metallic shell with integrated sealing members and conductive assemblies, including a first sealing member on the metallic shell and a second sealing member on the insulative housing, along with grounding plates for enhanced strength and EMI shielding, ensuring a tight and reliable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing ring is added to the connector, then waterproof function is improved, but the connector components become prone to loosening and falling off after repeated use
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate components: a connector body, a sealing ring, and a fixing component. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the sealing ring provides waterproofing while the fixing component secures it in place, preventing loosening after repeated use.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing component acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the connector body and the sealing ring. It secures the sealing ring in position and prevents it from loosening or falling off during repeated plugging and unplugging operations, while allowing the sealing ring to maintain its waterproof function.
2Ease of operation
If the connector is designed with a gap for insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but moisture can enter the electronic device through the gap
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing ring is used to seal the gap between the connector and the electronic device casing. The sealing ring can deform to accommodate the gap during insertion while maintaining a tight seal, thus allowing easy operation while preventing moisture ingress through the gap.
3Reliability
If the connector components are tightly secured, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing component integrates multiple functions into a single element: it secures the sealing ring in place, maintains the proper gap distance, and prevents component loosening. This merging reduces the number of separate parts needed while improving assembly reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a waterproof connector. The waterproof connector includes a shell assembly, the shell assembly includes a metallic shell and a first sealing member, the metallic shell includes a top surface, a bottom surface and two lateral surfaces, a cavity is defined by the top surface, the bottom surface and the lateral surfaces, the first sealing member is sleeved on the peripheral of the metallic shell; a conductive assembly, the conductive assembly is received in the cavity, the conductive assembly includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contact terminals and a second sealing member, the insulative housing includes a base portion and a tongue extending forwardly from the base portion, the contact terminals are insert molded with the insulative housing, the second sealing member is assembled onto the insulative housing.