Chip Connector Terminal Buckling Structure for Thin-Housing Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chip connectors face issues with terminals falling off during transportation and struggle to maintain a strong holding force due to housing thinning requirements for high-frequency transmission and multi-chip module expansion.
Innovation Solution
The chip connector design includes an insulative housing with fixing slots and buckling recesses, and conductive terminals with elastic arms and buckling heads that securely engage with these features, ensuring stability even with thinner substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the housing is thinned to meet miniaturization requirements, then the size of the chip connector is reduced, but the holding force on the terminal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is segmented into multiple functional parts: main body, elastic arms for electrical contact, and buckling heads for mechanical retention. The buckling head is further segmented with a slantwise extension that engages with the buckling recess. This segmentation allows the terminal to maintain strong retention through the buckling mechanism while the housing can be thinned for miniaturization.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism transitions from relying solely on the housing thickness (one dimension) to utilizing a multi-dimensional engagement system. The buckling head with its slantwise extension engages with the buckling recess in a way that distributes retention forces across multiple dimensions, allowing thin housing design while maintaining strong holding force.
2Volume of moving object
If the housing is thinned for high-frequency transmission and multi-chip module expansion, then the chip connector becomes more compact, but the reliability of terminal retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is pre-formed with elastic arms and buckling heads during manufacturing. The elastic arms are pre-stressed to provide inherent contact force, and the buckling heads are pre-shaped with slantwise extensions ready to engage with the buckling recess. This preliminary preparation ensures reliable retention from the moment of assembly, even in thinned housing designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the retention mechanism from friction-based (dependent on housing thickness) to geometric-interlock-based (independent of housing thickness). The buckling head's slantwise extension parameter and its engagement with the buckling recess create a retention system whose effectiveness is determined by geometric parameters rather than housing thickness, ensuring reliability in miniaturized designs.
3Ease of manufacture
If hard interference fixation is used between terminal retaining portions and housing inner wall, then the terminal is initially secured, but the terminal falls off during transportation stress or impact
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal incorporates elastic arms that provide dynamic, adaptive retention. These elastic arms can deform elastically under stress or impact, allowing the terminal to absorb transportation stresses while maintaining retention. The dynamic elastic response replaces the static hard interference fixation, preventing terminal detachment during stress events.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms serve as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and dissipates impact energy before it can cause terminal detachment. This beforehand cushioning through elastic deformation protects the terminal-housing connection during transportation stress or impact events, preventing the falling off problem associated with rigid hard interference fixation.
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
The design provides stable retention of terminals, meeting miniaturization needs while preventing detachment during impact or stress, enhancing reliability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the terminals are fixed by hard interference between the retaining portions of the terminals and the inner wall face of the terminal passageways
Data Source
AI summary
A chip connector includes: an insulative housing defining an upper face and a lower face, plural receiving passageways extending through the upper face and the lower face, a pair of fixing slots at opposite sides of each receiving passageway, and a pair of buckling recesses; and plural conductive terminals received respectively in the receiving passageways, each terminal having a main portion extending longitudinally, an upper elastic arm extending from the main portion with an upper contacting portion, and a lower elastic arm extending from the main portion with a lower contacting portion, and two fixing portions at opposite sides of the main portion, the fixing portion having a buckling head, wherein the buckling head slantwise extends upwards and outwards from an upper edge of the fixing portion and is retained in the buckling recess when the fixing portions are retained in the retaining slots.