Card Edge Connector Latch Structure for Stable Electrical Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors experience unreliable connections due to latch movement during mounting and use, leading to undesirable relative movements between components.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector incorporates a latch design with a protrusion extending from the lower body to the upper body, filling gaps and preventing undesired movements while allowing smooth pivoting between locked and unlocked positions, enhancing stability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional latch design is used, then the connector can be manufactured with simple structure, but the latch moves during mounting and use causing unreliable connections
Solution Approach 1:
The latch body is divided into an upper body and a lower body that are separated by a gap, with the projection extending from the lower body toward the upper body. This segmentation allows the latch to maintain structural simplicity while improving reliability by preventing unwanted movement through the distributed contact points created by the separated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection is positioned specifically in the gap between the upper and lower bodies, creating a localized structural feature that prevents unwanted movement. This local quality enhancement addresses the reliability issue without requiring complex changes to the overall latch structure, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving connection stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the latch structure is simplified for easier manufacture, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the latch becomes unstable and moves during use
Solution Approach 1:
The latch design incorporates a projection that extends from the lower body toward the upper body, creating a dynamic structural feature that adapts to maintain stability during operation. This projection engages with the upper body to prevent unwanted movement while allowing the latch to pivot smoothly between locked and unlocked positions, thus maintaining both ease of manufacture and operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection is nested within the gap between the upper and lower bodies, creating a compact structure where the stabilizing feature is integrated into the existing latch geometry. This nesting approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while providing the stability needed to prevent latch movement during use.
3Reliability
If the latch body is made as a single solid piece, then manufacturing is easier, but gaps remain that allow undesired movements
Solution Approach 1:
The latch body is segmented into an upper body and a lower body with a gap between them, and a projection extends from the lower body toward the upper body. This segmentation creates multiple contact points and engagement surfaces that eliminate unwanted movement gaps while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection acts as an intermediary element between the lower body and upper body, filling the gap and preventing undesired movements. This intermediary structure provides the necessary stability and connection reliability without requiring a completely complex latch body design, as the projection can be integrated into the existing two-body structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector with latches that improve the connector's reliability. The connector comprises a housing having a slot for receiving a card and latches on opposite ends of the slot for locking the card in the slot. Each latch includes a body and a projection extending in a transverse direction from a side surface of the body. The latch is pivotably connected to the housing by the projection. The latch may rotate about the projection between a locked position and an unlocked position. The body includes a lower body and an upper body wider than the lower body in the transverse direction. The projection is disposed on the lower body. The latch further includes a protrusion extending between the projection and the upper body. Such a configuration restricts the latches from moving in the housing and therefore improves the reliability of the connector.