Robust Card Edge Connector Latch Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Card edge connectors experience instability due to vibration and deformation during reflow soldering, leading to gaps between latches and the insulating housing, which can cause the electronic card to shake and weaken the connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a latch with protrusions that engage the side walls of an inner chamber, limiting the latch's movement and enhancing stability, even if the outer chamber side walls deform during reflow soldering, by using a heat dissipation through-hole and reinforcing members to maintain mechanical strength and prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the latch is pivotably connected to the outer chamber only, then the latch can move freely to lock and unlock the card, but the latch becomes unstable and shakes during vibration and reflow soldering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested chamber structure where the inner chamber is positioned inside the outer chamber. The latch protrusion engages with the inner chamber's side wall, providing a stable reference frame that is isolated from the deformation of the outer chamber during reflow soldering. This nested arrangement allows the latch to maintain stability while still achieving operational movement for locking and unlocking the card.
2Volume of moving object
If the side walls of the outer chamber are thin to reduce size, then the connector becomes more compact, but the side walls deform during reflow soldering causing connection instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into two distinct chambers: an outer chamber for mounting and an inner chamber for latch engagement. This segmentation allows the outer chamber side walls to be thin for compactness, while the inner chamber provides a stable engagement structure. The protrusion engages specifically with the inner chamber's side wall, isolating the critical latch function from the outer chamber's thermal deformation during reflow soldering.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner chamber acts as an intermediary structure between the outer chamber and the latch protrusion. It mediates the engagement by providing a stable side wall that the protrusion can reliably engage with, preventing direct transmission of deformation forces from the thin outer chamber walls to the latch mechanism during thermal processing.
3Device complexity
If the latch engages only with the outer chamber, then the structure is simpler, but gaps form between the latch and housing during vibration and reflow soldering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested chamber structure where the inner chamber is positioned inside the outer chamber. The latch protrusion engages with the side wall of the inner chamber, providing a stable reference frame that is isolated from the deformation of the outer chamber during reflow soldering. This nested arrangement ensures reliable engagement without requiring complex additional components.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the side wall of the inner chamber has greater transverse dimension, then the latch engagement is more stable, but the outer chamber dimensions must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the housing into two distinct chambers: an outer chamber for mounting and an inner chamber for latch engagement. This segmentation allows the inner chamber to have a larger transverse dimension for stable latch engagement, while the outer chamber maintains its original compact dimensions. The protrusion engages specifically with the inner chamber's side wall, isolating the critical latch function from the outer chamber's dimensional constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector that is robust under various operating conditions of a system in which the connector is used. The connector has a housing holding terminals. The housing has a slot extending from a body to a tower disposed at an end of the body. The tower has an outer chamber and an inner chamber joining the out chamber and the slot. The outer and inner chambers comprising joined side walls. The side walls of the inner chamber are thicker than that of the outer chamber. A latch is pivotably disposed in the tower between a locked position and an unlocked position for retaining and releasing an electronic card inserted in the slot. The latch has a body and protrusions protruding from the body toward the slot. The latch body engages the side walls of the outer chamber. The protrusions engage the side walls of the inner chamber.