Asymmetric Guide Pin Connector for Circuit Board Alignment
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for overlapping circuit boards often fail to ensure proper alignment and electrical connection due to the risk of incorrect board orientation, leading to failed connections.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring guide pins with varying widths at different stages, ensuring correct alignment by fitting into corresponding openings on the circuit boards, preventing incorrect orientation and ensuring secure electrical contact through elastic projections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connectors with uniform penetrating pieces are used, then the connector structure is simple, but the connector cannot prevent incorrect board orientation leading to failed connections
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin is designed with asymmetric cross-sectional dimensions where the first cross-sectional dimension (at the base) is larger than the second cross-sectional dimension (at the tip). This asymmetric geometry creates a directional fitting mechanism that prevents incorrect board orientation, as the guide pin can only be inserted when the circuit boards are stacked in the correct order with opening portions matching the corresponding dimensions. This resolves the contradiction by introducing structural asymmetry to ensure reliable directional connection while maintaining overall connector simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If guide pins with varying widths are added to ensure correct alignment, then connection reliability improves, but the connector structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin employs asymmetric cross-sectional dimensions with the first dimension (at the base) being larger than the second dimension (at the tip). This asymmetric design provides built-in alignment precision by creating a directional fitting mechanism that guides the circuit boards into the correct relative position during stacking. The varying width itself serves as the alignment feature, eliminating the need for separate alignment components and thus maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving high alignment precision.
3Reliability
If the guide pin has a uniform cross-section, then the guide pin structure is simple, but it cannot prevent incorrect board stacking order
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pin is designed with non-uniform cross-sectional dimensions along its length, where the first cross-sectional dimension at the base exceeds the second cross-sectional dimension at the tip. This asymmetric geometry creates a directional constraint that prevents incorrect board stacking order, as the guide pin can only be successfully inserted when the circuit boards are stacked in the correct sequence with corresponding opening portions. The asymmetric design itself serves as the prevention mechanism without requiring additional components, thus maintaining structural simplicity while ensuring reliable orientation prevention.
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector includes a flat plate portion and one or more guide pins protrudingly formed on a surface of the flat plate portion, each of the one or more guide pins having a first fitting portion disposed on a root side of the guide pin and fitted with a first circuit board and a second fitting portion disposed on a tip side of the guide pin and fitted with a second circuit board, the first fitting portion being larger in size than the second fitting portion in a direction perpendicular to a connecting direction.