Card Edge Connector Latch Guiding Surfaces

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional card edge connectors damage electrical cards due to slantwise resisting surfaces during insertion, and they face issues with terminal alignment and distortion when soldered onto PCBs.

Innovation Solution

A card edge connector design featuring an insulative housing with slantwise guiding surfaces and parallel resisting surfaces on latch members to reduce card damage, along with adjustable welding members that can be flattened for better alignment with the PCB.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If slantwise resisting surfaces are used on latch members, then locking force is improved, but electrical card damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking forceVSAvoidcard damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The latch member is designed with different surface orientations at different locations: the guiding surface is slantwise to provide gradual engagement and reduce impact, while the resisting surface is parallel to the card edge to provide locking force without concentrated stress points that would damage the card

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If terminals are soldered onto PCB, then electrical connection is established, but terminal alignment distortion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidterminal alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The welding members are designed with an adjustable structure that allows them to be flattened and pre-aligned with the PCB surface before soldering, ensuring proper alignment is established in advance to prevent distortion during the soldering process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Strength

If welding members are rigidly fixed, then structural strength is improved, but alignment adjustment capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidalignment adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The welding members incorporate an adjustable mechanism that allows temporary flexibility during the soldering process for alignment purposes, while maintaining structural integrity and strength once the alignment is achieved and soldering is complete

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9004934B2Card edge connector

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

A card edge connector defines an insulative housing, the housing includes a lengthwise base portion with opposite end walls along a lengthwise direction thereof, and a card-receiving slot runs forwards for an electrical card; a plurality of terminals are loaded in the housing and the terminals defines contacting portions exposing to the card-receiving slot and welding portions extending out of the housing; a pair of latch members are fixed to the end walls, each latch member comprises a locking portion, the locking portion bends inwards and downwards slantwise, the locking portion also defines an upper guiding surface and a lower resisting surface opposite to the upper guiding surface, wherein the guiding surfaces are disposed slantwise to the electrical card while the resisting surface is parallel to the electrical card.