Bridge-Spring Data Contacts for Continuous Vehicle Bus Lines

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data contact means and vehicle communications networks face challenges in maintaining a continuous bus line connection, especially when disconnected or damaged, leading to potential disruptions in data exchange.

Innovation Solution

A data contact means with first and second contact modules, each having contact housings and elements, connected by bridge-spring contacts that allow for a continuous bus line through offset recesses and support surfaces, ensuring connection integrity even when disconnected from network participants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data contact means is disconnected from a network participant, then the connection to the network participant is broken, but the bus line continuity is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebus line continuityVSAvoidconnection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The data contact means is divided into a first contact module and a second contact module, which can be independently connected or disconnected from network participants. The bridge-spring contact acts as a permanent internal connector between modules, ensuring bus line continuity even when external connections are made or broken.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge-spring contact serves as an intermediary element that permanently connects the first and second contact modules internally. This mediator ensures that the bus line remains continuous through the data contact means regardless of the external connection state, resolving the contradiction between connection flexibility and bus line reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If traditional bridge connectors are used with predefined spacing, then impedance can be controlled, but the connection point becomes vulnerable to disconnection and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection integrityVSAvoidconnector structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second contact modules are merged into a single data contact means with an integrated bridge-spring contact. This combining of modules and permanent bridge connection creates a more robust structure that maintains connection integrity while reducing the vulnerability of separate connectors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge-spring contact incorporates elastic elements that provide dynamic adaptation capability. The spring mechanism allows for automatic compensation of misalignments and maintains reliable electrical contact under varying mechanical conditions, improving connection integrity without requiring complex rigid structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If contact elements are arranged in a straight line, then the structure is simple, but electromagnetic crosstalk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic crosstalkVSAvoidcontact arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact elements are arranged in an offset pattern rather than a straight line, utilizing two-dimensional spatial distribution. The first and second contact modules are positioned with lateral offsets, and the bridge-spring contact connects them at different positions, creating a multi-dimensional arrangement that reduces electromagnetic field interference between adjacent contacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 a continuous bus line connection is maintained, reducing electromagnetic crosstalk and protecting against disconnection or damage, particularly in safety-critical applications.

Implementation Method 1

a bridge-spring contact having at least one first contact spring and a second contact spring that is connected to the first contact spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4708584A1Data contact means and vehicle communications network comprising data contact means
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
  • EP4708584A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4708584A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4708584A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A data contact means (300, 400, 500, 900) has a first and a second contact module (100, 200). The first contact module (100) has a first contact housing (104) having a first contact element (101). The second contact module (200) has a second contact housing (204) having a second contact element (201). The first and the second contact housing (104, 204) each enclose a contact receiver. The first contact housing (104) has a first recess (107) extending through the first contact housing (104) and arranged laterally on the first contact housing (104), and the second contact housing (204) has a second recess (207) extending through the second contact housing (204) and arranged laterally on the second contact housing (204). The first recess (107) leads into the first contact receiver, and the second recess (207) leads into the second contact receiver. The first and the second recess (107, 207) are each arranged on the same side of the first and the second contact housing (104, 204) and are designed to receive a bridge-spring contact (301).