Board-to-Board Connector Offset Alignment Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board-to-board connector assemblies face mis-mating issues due to their rectangular configuration, leading to potential incorrect orientation, which can compromise structural symmetry and strength, as asymmetrical molding structures are often used to prevent such errors.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly features a male and female connector design with offset alignment structures on each plate, including alignment posts and grooves, forming symmetrical patterns to ensure correct mating orientation while maintaining structural symmetry and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a chamfered structure or key structure is provided on one of the connectors to prevent mis-mating, then the anti-mis-mating function is improved, but the structural symmetry along the longitudinal direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment structure is divided into multiple segments: a first alignment structure (chamfered surface or key) on one connector and a corresponding second alignment structure on the mating connector. This segmentation allows each connector to contribute to the anti-mis-mating function while maintaining individual structural symmetry, as both connectors can be molded symmetrically with their respective alignment features positioned appropriately.
2Reliability
If an offset alignment structure is used to ensure correct orientation, then the anti-mis-mating capability is improved, but the molding structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making one connector asymmetric to achieve alignment, the invention inverts the approach by providing complementary alignment structures on both connectors. Each connector maintains its own symmetry while the pair works together to ensure correct orientation, thereby reducing the molding complexity that would arise from asymmetric design.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly includes a male/plug/first connector and a female/receptacle/second connector mateable with each other. The first connector includes a first plate and a plurality of first contacts retained to the first plate, and the second connector includes a second plate and a plurality of second contacts retained to the second plate. The first plate includes opposite first long side and second long side to respectively form a first alignment structure and a second alignment structure which is offset from the first alignment structure in the longitudinal direction. The second plate includes opposite third long and fourth long side to respectively form a third alignment structure and a fourth alignment structure to be coupled to the corresponding first alignment structure and second alignment structure during mating.