Card Edge Connector with Fitting Portion for Lower Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current card edge connectors have a limited ability to reduce their profile height, which hinders their miniaturization and the subsequent reduction in thickness of electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
A card edge connector design featuring an insulative housing with a central slot and offset walls, incorporating first and second terminals with specific retaining and soldering portions, allows for a lower profile while maintaining or increasing terminal receiving space by utilizing resilient contacting arms and a fitting portion that integrates into a motherboard notch, enabling oblique insertion and enhanced clip force without increasing height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the connector height is reduced to achieve miniaturization, then the profile becomes lower and device thickness decreases, but the terminal receiving space becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by extending the fitting portion downward into the PCB notch, utilizing the vertical dimension (Z-axis) to create additional terminal receiving space. This allows terminals to be arranged in three-dimensional space within the notch, effectively increasing capacity without increasing the horizontal footprint or overall connector height.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting portion is nested within the PCB notch, and terminals are nested within the fitting portion's terminal slots. This nested arrangement allows multiple terminals to be compactly housed within the limited space of the notch, maximizing space utilization while maintaining a low profile.
2Quantity of substance
If the fitting portion extends downward into the PCB notch to increase terminal capacity, then more terminals can be received, but the insertion complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting portion is pre-formed with terminal slots during connector manufacturing, and the PCB notch is pre-designed to accommodate this fitting portion. This preliminary preparation of both the connector and PCB structures enables straightforward assembly by simply inserting the connector into the notch, reducing actual insertion complexity despite the three-dimensional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting portion extends asymmetrically downward into the PCB notch rather than uniformly in all directions. This asymmetric design allows the connector to be retained securely in the notch while maintaining a low profile, and the oblique insertion angle further simplifies the assembly process by providing natural alignment guidance.
3Quantity of substance
If terminals are arranged to increase capacity, then more terminals fit in the same space, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting portion is segmented into multiple discrete terminal slots, each precisely positioned to receive a specific terminal. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of each slot position, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while achieving high terminal density through systematic arrangement within the segmented structure.
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
This design achieves a lower profile card edge connector that accommodates more terminals without increasing the connector's height, facilitating miniaturization of electronic devices by providing a secure and space-efficient connection.
Implementation Method 1
each first terminal defines a first retaining portion received in the first terminal slot of the fitting portion and a first soldering portion extending out of the housing forwardly from the first wall, each second terminal defines a second soldering portion rearwardly extending out of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector for being retained into a notch of a print circuit board includes an insulative housing defining a central slot extending along a longitudinal direction, a first wall and a second wall located on the opposite sides of the central slot and a fitting portion extending downwardly into the notch from a bottom portion of the first wall, the fitting portion defining a plurality of first terminal slots and the second wall defining a plurality of second terminal slots. A plurality of first terminals are received in the first terminal slots, and a plurality of second terminals are received in the second terminal slots. Each first terminal defines a first retaining portion received in the first terminal slot and a first soldering portion extending out of the housing forwardly, each second terminal defines a second soldering portion rearwardly extending out of the housing.