Backplane Connector One-Piece Insulative Bases Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backplane connectors with abreast-abutted contact modules suffer from excessive tolerance, lack of durability, and structural weakness, leading to fabrication failures, loose connections, and unstable signal transmission during repeated engagements with accessory cards.
Innovation Solution
A backplane connector design featuring one-piece insulative bases with securely mounted terminals and a supporting spine, which reduces tolerance and enhances structural strength, stability, and durability by using insert molding and hooking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple contact modules are arranged abreast together, then the connector can accommodate multiple electrical contacts, but the total tolerance exceeds reasonable expectations causing fabrication failure and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate contact modules into a single integrated contact module where multiple electrical contacts are formed on one insulating member. This integration eliminates the cumulative tolerance issues that arise when multiple separate modules are assembled together, as there are no interfaces between separate modules to create tolerance accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
While the overall contact module is integrated, the electrical contacts themselves are segmented into multiple signaling pairs on the single insulating member. This allows multiple contacts to be provided through one piece rather than assembling multiple separate modules, reducing tolerance while maintaining the required number of contacts.
2Device complexity
If contact modules are arranged abreast without firmly fastening elements, then the structure is simpler, but the overall structure is weak and contact modules loosen or break after repeated engagements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrical contacts and their fastening elements into a single integrated contact module. The insulating member provides unified fastening through ribs that engage with slots in the housing, eliminating the need for separate fastening elements for each contact module and ensuring they move as one reliable unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses resilient arms with curved configurations that provide mechanical fastening and retention. The curved resilient arms engage with the housing to securely hold the integrated contact module in place, providing firm retention that prevents loosening during repeated plug and unplug operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If the housing is implemented without crossbeam structures, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the housing is structurally weak and cannot protect the contact modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the protective function into the single insulating member that houses all electrical contacts. The insulating member itself acts as the protective structure, with ribs extending to engage with the housing, eliminating the need for separate crossbeam structures while providing adequate protection for the integrated contacts.
Data Source
AI summary
A backplane connector has a housing, a first insulative base, a second insulative base, multiple first terminals, multiple second terminals and multiple third terminals. Each of the insulative bases is mounted in the housing and is formed into one-piece. The first terminals are mounted on the first insulative base. The second terminals are mounted on the second insulative base. The third terminals are mounted on the insulative bases. The one-piece insulative bases excellently reduce their tolerances and raise the structurally strength of the backplane connector. Therefore, the production rate of the backplane connector increases.