WO2014200327A1

WO2014200327A1 - A universal connector

Info

Publication number: WO2014200327A1
Application number: PCT/MY2014/000094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Choong SOO LI; Abdul Munir FIRDAUS
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2013-06-13
Filing date: 2014-05-02
Publication date: 2014-12-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to awater seal electrical connector for the use for an interface connection that connects between internal connection and external connection. The present invention having a water sealing mechanism which comprising: an encasing block (102); a compression wedge (105) to prevent the metal contact (101)-external device engagement from water; and a flange (203) integrated with the encasing block (102) to provide more water tight protection, wherein the integrated flange (203) is snapped into an enclosure (204). The present invention provides effective water sealing mechanism without having complicated features while maintaining the robustness of the engagement of external device on onto it. Most illustrative figure is FIG. 1

Description

Title of Invention: A UNIVERSAL CONNECTOR

[ 1 ] FIELD OF INVENTION

[2] The present invention relates to a water seal electrical connector for the use for an interface connection that connects between internal connection and external connection. External connection is defined as the connection outside a sealed enclosure without any path for water intrusion, while internal connection is defined as the connection inside a sealed enclosure

[3] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[4] In the present precision agriculture product, there are two separate modules (sensor module and communication module) which are independently water sealed connects to each other electronically by using a double sided elastomeric connector. The double sided elastomeric connector established a quick connect for the two modules and at the same time protecting the connections from water intrusion. However, there are additional components in the communication module to connect the double sided elastomeric connector externally and the printed circuit board assembly internally in a sealed enclosure.

[5] The design for the interface becomes complex and required more components and processes to maintain the robustness of the product, like in KR 101057969, which proposes auniversal connector for coupling of a water quality sensor with a holder comprises a fastening member, a slip ring, a fixing ring, and a doughnut-shaped packing. The fastening member is fitted to the exterior of a sensor body and has a male-thread part coupled to a holder. In the fastening member, the diameter of a nut part is greater than that of the male-thread part. The slip ring is fitted to the exterior of the sensor body and located as being pressed against the lower end of the male-thread part. The fixing ring is fitted to the exterior of the sensor body and located as being pressed against the underside of the slip ring. The doughnut-shaped packing is fitted to the exterior of the sensor body and located as being pressed against the underside of the fixing ring in order to seal a gap between the sensor body and the fixing ring and a gap between the sensor body and the holder. A water quality sensor is coupled to the holder by driving the fastening member and kept stationary in order to prevent the twisting of a cable.

[6] Therefore it is a need for a universal connector which having simpler water sealing mechanism.

[7] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[8] According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention providesa universal connector comprising: a metal contact (101) having a dimple (103) to receive engagement with external device; and a water sealing mechanism unit which provides water tight protection for the engagement of the external device; characterized in that the metal contact (101) is insert-molded in the water sealing mechanism, the water sealing mechanism having features that provide simple water tight protection while maintaining robustness of the engagement.

[9] Preferably, the water sealing mechanism further comprising: an encasing block

(102); a compression wedge (105) to prevent the metal contact (lOl)-external device engagement from water; and a flange (203) integrated with the encasing block (102) to provide more water tight protection, wherein the integrated flange (203) is snapped into an enclosure (204).

[10] The above provisions are advantageous as the present invention provides sealing mechanism without any additional complex features.

[11] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[12] FIG. lillustrates a view from external side of the present invention.

[13] FIG. 2illustrates a view from internal side of the present invention.

[14] FIG. 3illustrates a cross-section view of the present invention.

[15] FIG. 4illustrates a cross-section view of the present invention indicating the direct contact between the present invention and the printed circuit board (PCB)

[16] FIG. 5illustrates a cross-section view of the present invention indicating the wire connection of the present invention.

[17] FIG. 6illustrates tie bars (601) adjoining the metal contact (101) of the present

invention.

[18] FIG. 7illustrates an embodiment of a present invention applied to a communication device ( 1000) and connected a sensor device (2000)

[19] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[20] Generally, the present invention relates toa universal connector comprising: a metal contact (101) having a dimple (103) to receive engagement with external device; and a water sealing mechanism unit which provides water tight protection for the engagement of the external device; characterized in that the metal contact (101) is insert- molded in the water sealing mechanism, the water sealing mechanism having features that provide simple water tight protection while maintaining robustness of the engagement. The water sealing mechanism further comprising: an encasing block (102); a compression wedge (105) to prevent the metal contact (lOl)-external device engagement from water; and a flange (203) integrated with the encasing block (102) to provide more water tight protection, wherein the integrated flange (203) is snapped into an enclosure (204). All the features of the water sealing mechanism are made of silicon rubber.

[21] The present invention is an improvement to the existing double sided elastomeric connector. The connector is assembled on an enclosure which required to be sealed but also needs to connect to other electronic module externally without using additional parts or involve additional processes.

[22] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention comprises of metal contact

(101) that is insert-molded in an encasing block (102) that is made by silicone rubber. The elastomeric encasing block (102) provides water tight protection to the connections during assembly and also holds the metal contacts (101) in place. The exposed dimples (103) on the metal contacts (101) are to ensure connection on the flat contact surface after compressed. The connection at this side connects the circuits externally. While for the other side the connector, the metal contacts (101 ) are exposed and extended connects the circuits internally.

[23] The connection at this side, named as side A (104), connects the circuits externally which is outside of an enclosed enclosure/housing. Surrounding the metal contact (101 ) on side A (104) is compression wedge (105) which acts as gasket to protect the metal contacts when contact surface is mated with the connector. This helps prevent corrosive solution and water from damaging the contact. While for the other side the connector, named as side B (201), the metal contacts (101) are exposed and extended to connect the circuits internally. The metal contacts (101) can be either soldered directly to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) (401) as shown in FIG. 4 or soldered to the cables (501) through the holes (202) on the metal contact (101) as shown in FIG. 5. The PCB (401) or the cables (501) are assembled in an enclosure/housing that to be sealed. The invention further comprises flanges (203) that are integrated with the elastomeric encasing block (102) to fit into the mounting wall of an enclosure (204) without using any fasteners while providing water protection to the assembly. The elastomeric flange (203) allows it to be easily fitted into the enclosure (204) while maintaining the accurate position of each contact. FIG. 3 illustrates the cross section for the present invention that fitted into the mounting wall of the enclosure (204). The gap (301 ) on each metal contact is designed to fill with silicone rubber to provide compression room when the metal contact itself compressed on side A (104) and meanwhile to form spring force to push the metal contact back to home position when the module is disengaged. As in FIG. 6, the metal contacts (101) are adjoined by tie bar (601) for ease of molding. The tie bar (601) is then trimmed to break connection. The benefit of the present invention is no additional parts required for the connection interface that connects externally and internally.

[24] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of application of the present invention on communication system. The present invention is fixed at the communication device (1000) to connect the communication device ( 1000) with the sensor device (2000). The present invention snaps into the communication device (1000) enclosure which is water sealed. The sensor device (2000) is connected and fixed to the communication device (1000) by screws. The contact surface (2000a) on the sensor device (2000) that enables the sensor (2000) device connects to the present invention. The encasing block (102) that made by silicone rubber is compressed and provide sealing property to the contact surface after the sensor device (2000) is fixed to the communication device (1000). The metal contact (101) soldered directly to the Printed Circuit Board Assembly in the communication device (1000) to establish connection between the communication device (1000) and the sensor device (2000).

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiment, it is to be understood that the embodiment is merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiment that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

A universal connector comprising:

a metal contact ( 101 ) having a dimple (103) to receive engagement with external device; and

a water sealing mechanism unit which provides water tight protection for the engagement of the external device;

characterized in that

the metal contact ( 101) is insert-molded in the water sealing mechanism, the water sealing mechanism having features that provide simple water tight protection while maintaining robustness of the engagement.

A universal connector as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the water sealing mechanism further comprising: an encasing block ( 102); a compression wedge (105) to prevent the metal contact (lOl )-external device engagement from water; and a flange (203) integrated with the encasing block (102) to provide more water tight protection, wherein the integrated flange (203) is snapped into an enclosure (204).

A universal connector as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the water sealing mechanism is made of silicon rubber.