Circuit Board Assembly Vertical Connector Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circuit board connection methods, particularly with long connectors like Intel's QuickPath Interconnect, often result in damage due to misalignment and require excessive force for connection and disconnection, reducing the service life and complicating user operations.
Innovation Solution
A circuit board assembly with a bracket lifting and lowering apparatus that uses a rotary rod and sliding elements with curved and linear guiding grooves to vertically align and misalignment-proof connectors, allowing for tool-less connection and disconnection with reduced force requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the male connector and female connector are of great length, then the connection capability is improved, but the chance of damaging the assemblies during jointing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide pins that perform preliminary alignment action before the main connector engagement. The guide pins protrude from both male and female connectors and engage first to establish proper alignment, preventing misalignment damage during the subsequent main connector insertion. This preliminary alignment action resolves the contradiction by enabling long connectors to be connected safely without increasing damage risk.
2Force
If a large mating force is applied to connect the male connector and female connector, then the connection is achieved, but the operation becomes difficult and may damage the assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins perform preliminary engagement to establish alignment before the main connector bodies engage. This preliminary action eliminates the need for high mating forces during the main connection, as the guide pins have already positioned the connectors correctly. The main connector can then engage with minimal force, greatly improving ease of operation while preventing damage from excessive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pins act as intermediary elements between the male and female connectors. Instead of the main connector bodies directly engaging and requiring high forces, the guide pins serve as intermediaries that facilitate gentle, aligned engagement. This intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling connection with reduced force requirements.
3Force
If a large unmating force is applied to disconnect the male connector and female connector, then the connection is broken, but the operation becomes difficult and may damage the assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins engage first during connection and can be designed to disengage first during disconnecting. This preliminary disengagement action allows the main connector to be separated with minimal unmating force, improving ease of operation while preventing damage from excessive force. The guide pins facilitate a gentle unplugging process.
4Ease of operation
If the pins of the male connector are not accurately aligned with the pins of the female connector before insertion, then the connection process is simplified, but the assemblies are likely to be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The guide pins perform preliminary alignment action before the main connector pins engage. The guide pins are positioned to engage first and establish proper alignment between the male and female connectors. This preliminary alignment enables the main connector pins to follow correctly without requiring precise manual alignment from the operator, thus maintaining ease of operation while preventing misalignment damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide pins serve as intermediary alignment elements that mediate between the operator's rough positioning and the precise alignment required for main connector engagement. These intermediaries automatically establish correct alignment through their geometry and engagement sequence, resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and alignment precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit board assembly is provided. The circuit board assembly includes: a first circuit board; a second circuit board; a bracket for supporting the second circuit board; and an interconnect apparatus for a connection and a disconnection of the first circuit board and the second circuit board, wherein the interconnect apparatus includes a first connector disposed on the first circuit board and a second connector disposed on the second circuit board (one is a male connector and the other is a female connector). The circuit board assembly includes a lifting and lowering apparatus for vertically lifting or lowering the bracket so that after the connection the second connector is vertically disconnected from the first connector and after the disconnection the second connector is vertically connected to the first connector. An electronic device having the circuit board assembly is further provided.