Circuit Board Assembly Terminal Positioning via Housing Geometry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit board assembly methods face challenges in ensuring positional accuracy and reducing the number of components, which leads to increased costs and defective products due to the use of terminal alignment plates, especially in horizontal type connectors where the L-shaped terminal's bending process is prone to displacement and blocking of soldering and antiseptic application.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board assembly where the contact is press-fitted into the housing from the side of the board insertion portion, eliminating the need for a terminal alignment plate, and featuring an oblique bar and engaging portion for improved positional accuracy and reduced component count, allowing for even antiseptic application and efficient soldering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a terminal alignment plate is provided to correct position variations, then positional accuracy of the board side end is improved, but the number of components increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the terminal alignment plate from the connector structure. By redesigning the housing to directly provide positioning functionality through its internal geometry, the separate alignment plate component is removed, reducing component count while maintaining positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function previously performed by a separate terminal alignment plate is merged into the housing structure itself. The housing's internal geometry is designed to directly position and guide the board side end, combining multiple functions into a single integrated component.
2Manufacturing precision
If a terminal alignment plate is provided to correct position variations, then positional accuracy of the board side end is improved, but work in assembling increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the terminal alignment plate component, the assembly process is simplified. Fewer parts mean fewer assembly steps, reduced labor requirements, and lower manufacturing costs while the housing's integrated geometry continues to provide accurate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to automatically position and guide the board side end through its internal geometry, eliminating the need for separate alignment plates and reducing assembly complexity. The structure serves its own positioning function without requiring additional components.
3Manufacturing precision
If a terminal alignment plate is provided to correct position variations, then positional accuracy of the board side end is improved, but soldering cannot be reliably performed due to blocking hot air
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating the terminal alignment plate, the obstruction to hot air flow during reflow soldering is removed. The open structure allows proper thermal access to the solder joints while the housing's integrated positioning features continue to ensure accurate board side end placement.
4Manufacturing precision
If a terminal alignment plate is provided to correct position variations, then positional accuracy of the board side end is improved, but antiseptic cannot be applied onto back side region
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the terminal alignment plate, the back side region becomes accessible for antiseptic application. The elimination of this blocking component allows complete access to all surfaces requiring treatment while the housing maintains its positioning function through alternative integrated features.
5Manufacturing precision
If molding accuracy of housing and terminal is increased to prevent displacement, then positional accuracy of board side end is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the terminal alignment plate and integrating positioning functionality into the housing, the patent reduces the need for extremely high molding accuracy in multiple components. The simplified structure with fewer parts allows for more practical and cost-effective manufacturing tolerances while maintaining adequate positioning accuracy.
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
This approach enhances positional accuracy, reduces the number of components, decreases the footprint on the circuit board, and minimizes defective products by ensuring precise alignment and soldering without blocking hot air or antiseptic application, while allowing for thicker, more rigid contacts.
Implementation Method 1
The terminal 2 is inserted into the housing 4 and then bent to cause springback, and this causes displacement of the board side end 2a of the terminal 2 in a Z direction in FIG. 7A.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention has an object to provide a circuit board assembly, a board device, and a method for assembling the circuit board assembly that can further increase positional accuracy of a terminal. A contact (25) press-fitted into a holding hole (22) of a housing (21) is held by a press-fitting holding portion (40) formed in the holding hole (22). Friction between a contact press-fitting portion (42) in the press-fitting holding portion (40) and a press-fitted portion (50) of the contact (25) secures the contact (25) to the contact press-fitting portion (42), prevents the contact (25) from dropping off the holding hole (22), and prevents displacement of the press-fitted contact (25) in an extending direction of the holding hole (22) (Z direction) and a direction perpendicular to the holding hole (22) (Y direction and X direction). Further, the contact (25) is press-fitted into the holding hole (22) from a side of a surface (23a) of a contact holding plate (23) where one end (25a) to be inserted into a through hole (31) in a circuit board (30) is located.