Compact Connector Assembly With Side-Terminal Electrical Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connectors with large longitudinal dimensions pose challenges in specific application situations and limit their application range due to excessive length.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a pair of contact terminals with front and side contact parts, and connection terminals that expose from side openings, reducing the longitudinal length by allowing transverse sliding and electrical connection to an electrical connecting member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal length in the longitudinal direction is increased to ensure proper electrical contact and connection, then the electrical connection reliability is improved, but the overall connector length increases, limiting its application range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces side contact parts that extend in the transverse direction (width direction) rather than only in the longitudinal direction. The side contact parts protrude from the side surfaces of the terminal body, allowing electrical contact to be established in a different spatial dimension. This dimensional shift reduces the required longitudinal length while maintaining adequate electrical contact area and connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is segmented into distinct functional parts: front contact parts for mating connector connection, side contact parts for additional electrical contact, and connection terminals for busbar connection. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently, with the side contact parts providing electrical connectivity without requiring the entire terminal to be elongated in the longitudinal direction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the connector length is reduced to meet specific application requirements, then the adaptability to compact spaces is improved, but the electrical contact stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By adding side contact parts that extend in the transverse direction, the patent compensates for the reduced longitudinal length. The side contact parts provide additional contact area and stability without increasing the overall longitudinal dimension, thus maintaining electrical contact reliability while improving adaptability to compact spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The front contact parts and side contact parts work together as an integrated contact system. The side contact parts are electrically connected to the front contact parts through the terminal body, creating multiple parallel electrical pathways. This merging of contact mechanisms enhances electrical contact stability while keeping the connector compact in the longitudinal direction.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes an insulation shell, a pair of contact terminals, and a pair of connection terminals. The insulation shell has a front mating port and a rear opening, a pair of side openings, and two receiving chambers. The pair of contact terminals are each installed into one of two receiving chambers of the insulation shell and each have a front contact part and a side contact part. The pair of connection terminals are each inserted into one of the pair of side openings and each mate with one side contact part. Each front contact part is in the front mating port and electrically contacts a mating plug of a mating connector inserted into the front mating port. A part of each connection terminal is exposed from one side opening for electrical connection to an electrical connecting member.