Backplane Contact Device for RIUP Data Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical contacts for electronics modules often result in data loss during removal and insertion under power (RIUP) operations due to intermittent open conditions and contact bounce, which existing solutions like increased preload fail to adequately address, leading to excessive wear and difficulty in component handling.
Innovation Solution
A contact device with first and second contact portions, each having resiliently movable arms that establish and maintain parallel electrical conduction paths during insertion and removal, ensuring continuous data flow by reestablishing the primary path before breaking the secondary path, and utilizing an annunciation contact arm for early notification of connection changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the preload of the contacts is increased to prevent intermittent open conditions and contact bounce, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the contact force becomes excessive which makes component insertion and removal more difficult and causes excessive wear on the mating contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The contact device is divided into two separate contact portions (first and second contact portions), each with its own contact arms. This segmentation allows independent control of each contact path, enabling one path to be maintained while the other is established or broken, thus preventing intermittent opens without requiring excessive preload on a single contact pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The first contact arms are configured to maintain electrical connection before the second contact arms establish connection during insertion. This preliminary action ensures that a continuous electrical path exists before any potential interruption, preventing data loss during the transition without requiring high contact force.
2Reliability
If the contacts are designed to close quickly upon removal of the component to prevent intermittent open conditions, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the contact bounce occurs after the initial contact closing process
Solution Approach 1:
During removal, the first contact arms are configured to re-establish electrical connection before the second contact arms disconnect. This preliminary reconnection action ensures continuous electrical path maintenance without the harmful effect of contact bounce, as the transition is controlled and sequential rather than simultaneous.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on the second contact arms to maintain connection during removal, the invention inverts the approach by using the first contact arms to re-establish connection first. This reverse sequencing eliminates the bounce problem by ensuring a smooth, controlled transition of electrical path from one contact pair to the other.
3Device complexity
If a single electrical conduction path is used during RIUP operations, then the device complexity is reduced, but data loss or corruption occurs due to intermittent open conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical conduction path is segmented into two separate paths (first and second contact portions), allowing one path to remain active while the other is being established or broken. This segmentation prevents data loss by ensuring continuous electrical connectivity without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The first contact arms act as an intermediary during the transition from second contact arms. During insertion, the first contact arms provide a temporary parallel path that ensures continuous conductivity. During removal, they re-establish connection before the second path breaks, serving as a mediator that prevents data interruption.
4Ease of manufacture
If the contact device uses a simple single-path design, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability during component insertion and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact device is manufactured as two separate contact portions with distinct contact arms, each independently controllable. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving RIUP reliability by allowing sequential establishment and breaking of electrical paths without complex control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures seamless data continuity during RIUP operations by maintaining at least one electrical conduction path between components, preventing data loss and corruption, and providing early notification for asynchronous module removals, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of component handling.
Implementation Method 1
first and second resilient contact arms that extend into an open slot
Data Source
AI summary
A contact device enables a contact method for RIUP operations relative to a backplane. The contact device includes first and second contact portions, each including first and second spaced-apart contact arms. The first and second contact portions are located relative to each other on the backplane such that when the contact device is in a first operative condition, the respective first contact arms abut each other and define a first electrical conduction path and the second contact arms are spaced from each other. The device is selectively movable to a second operative condition when an associated circuit board or other removable device is inserted into a slot defined between the second contact arms such that outer ends of the respective first contact arms of the first and second contact portions are moved apart and are separated by the removable device and the outer ends of the second contact arms are electrically connected through the associated removable device so that a second electrical conduction path is defined by the respective second contact arms. A contact method using the contact device and a backplane including the contact device are disclosed.