Card Edge Connector Contact Structure to Prevent Terminal Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The contact end part of a card edge connector's terminal is prone to plastic deformation or damage during board insertion, leading to reduced connection reliability.
Innovation Solution
A card edge connector design featuring a housing, receptacle, connection terminal with a resilient contact piece, and a pressure holding member, where the pressure holding member displaces along a slope to increase the pressing stroke of the resilient contact piece as the housing is fitted into the receptacle, preventing collision with the circuit board and maintaining connection reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the contact end part projects into the insertion region, then electrical contact with the board is achieved, but the contact end part may be plastically deformed or damaged during board insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient contact piece is pre-loaded by the pressure holding member before board insertion occurs. This preliminary action ensures the contact piece is already in a ready state to make contact, eliminating the need for it to project into the insertion path where it would be vulnerable to damage during the insertion process.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact end part is designed as a resilient (elastic) component rather than a rigid fixed projection. This allows it to dynamically respond to board insertion by flexing and making contact only when the board is properly positioned, avoiding permanent deformation while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
2Reliability
If the contact end part is made resilient to avoid damage, then connection reliability is maintained, but the contact piece may not provide sufficient pressing force for reliable contact
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure holding member acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that applies continuous elastic force to the resilient contact piece. This counter-force compensates for any loss of pressing force in the resilient contact piece, ensuring that sufficient contact pressure is maintained against the board surface for reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure holding member pre-loads the resilient contact piece with elastic force before the board is inserted. This preliminary application of force ensures that when the board makes contact, the contact piece is already exerting sufficient pressing force to establish reliable electrical connection immediately.
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
Prevents deformation of the resilient contact piece, ensuring reliable electrical contact by displacing it towards the board accommodating portion, thus maintaining connection integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a connection terminal including a resilient contact piece to be brought into contact with a surface of the circuit board and a pressure receiving portion for displacing the resilient contact piece in a direction toward the surface of the circuit board by being pressed
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector is provided with a housing, a receptacle to be mounted on an end part of a circuit board and fit to the housing, a connection terminal including a resilient contact piece to be brought into contact with a surface of the circuit board and a pressure receiving portion, and a pressure holding member to be mounted into the housing and including a pressing portion for pressing the pressure receiving portion. The receptacle includes an inclined portion, along which the pressure holding member is displaced to increase a pressing stroke of the pressing portion for the pressure receiving portion as the housing is further fit into the receptacle. The resilient contact piece is displaced toward a board accommodating portion for accommodating the circuit board and contacts the surface of the circuit board while pressing the surface of the circuit board as the pressing stroke increases.