Card Edge Connector Guide Cover Alignment Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card edge connectors are prone to damage from stresses and strains during mating and misalignment with pluggable modules, leading to potential damage or breakage of soldered connections.
Innovation Solution
A card edge connector assembly featuring a guide cover with alignment channels and a guide frame that guides the pluggable module into the card slot, providing initial and fine alignment, and transferring stresses to the host circuit board, thereby reducing the strain on the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If card edge connectors are designed for supporting pluggable modules, then the connector can perform its basic function, but the connector is susceptible to damage from stresses and strains during mating
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the alignment function into two separate components: alignment channels in the guide cover and guide tracks in the guide frame. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of alignment, distributing the mechanical stress away from the card edge connector contacts and improving both mating reliability and connector strength.
2Device complexity
If the card edge connector directly receives the pluggable module, then the structure is simple, but misalignment during loading can damage the contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs alignment actions before the card edge connector contacts engage with the pluggable module. The alignment channels and guide tracks guide the module into proper alignment prior to contact engagement, preventing misalignment damage while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces guide cover and guide frame as intermediary components between the card edge connector and the pluggable module. These intermediaries perform the alignment function, protecting the contacts from misalignment damage while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to guide the pluggable module, then alignment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide cover serves multiple functions: it provides alignment channels for precise alignment, acts as a protective cover, and guides the pluggable module during insertion. The guide frame similarly provides guide tracks for alignment and structural support. This multi-functionality achieves high alignment precision without proportionally increasing assembly complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector assembly includes a card edge connector having a housing defining a card slot and holding contacts to electrically connect to a pluggable module and a host circuit board. The card edge connector assembly includes a guide cover having a main body including a first side wall between first and second end walls. The main body defines a center cavity receiving the housing and the pluggable module. The guide cover has a first alignment channel between the center cavity and the first end wall and a second alignment channel between the center cavity and the second end wall. The alignment channels are configured to receive alignment posts of the pluggable module prior to the card slot receiving the pluggable module.