Conductive Floating Connector for Vibration and Misalignment Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floating connectors fail to maintain stable electrical connections under conditions of shocking, vibration, or misalignment due to relative displacement of circuit boards, leading to power failures and unstable contact resistance.

Innovation Solution

A floating connector design featuring a connection body, contact body, and elastic members that allow relative movement, ensuring continuous electrical connection through a conductive floating gap and elastic members to accommodate displacement, with additional cover plates and elastic members for enhanced stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the first cover plate slides and floats relative to the connection body to accommodate relative displacement, then the connector can tolerate shocking, vibration or misalignment mating, but the first cover plate and the connection body may become completely out of contact, resulting in power failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance to shocking, vibration or misalignment matingVSAvoidelectrical connection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The first elastic member acts as an intermediary element between the first cover plate and the connection body. It maintains continuous electrical connection by deformable contact, allowing the cover plate to float relative to the connection body while ensuring they remain electrically connected through the elastic member's conductivity and elasticity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The first elastic member changes its physical state (deformation) in response to relative displacement between the cover plate and connection body. By utilizing elastic deformation, it maintains continuous contact and electrical connection while accommodating the floating motion required for tolerance to shocking and vibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the floating connector allows the first cover plate to float relative to the connection body, then it can accommodate relative displacement, but it cannot provide a stable floating force, resulting in unstable force during installation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloating capabilityVSAvoidfloating force stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The first elastic member provides dynamic adaptation by deforming in response to applied forces during installation. This dynamic response allows the floating connector to accommodate relative displacement while maintaining stable floating force through the elastic member's inherent elastic properties that automatically adjust to force variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the floating connector is designed with sliding cover plate, then it can accommodate misalignment mating, but it cannot provide a low contact resistance, which may generate excessive Joule heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment toleranceVSAvoidJoule heat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The first elastic member serves as a conductive intermediary that maintains low contact resistance between the floating cover plate and the connection body. Its elastic contact ensures consistent electrical connection with low resistance, preventing excessive Joule heat generation while still allowing the cover plate to float for misalignment tolerance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 ensures continuous electrical connection between circuit boards despite shocks, vibrations, or misalignment, preventing power failures and maintaining low contact resistance.

Implementation Method 1

One side of the first elastic member abuts against the connection body and the other side thereof abuts against the first cover plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12519260B2Floating connector

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 AMPHENOL TECH ZHUHAI

AI summary

A floating connector includes a connection body, a contact body, a first cover plate and a first elastic member. The connection body is provided with a floating hole, the contact body is arranged in the floating hole, a floating gap is formed between an outer side wall of the contact body and an inner side wall of the floating hole. The first cover plate is connected to an outer side wall of the contact body and is located at one side of the connection body. One side of the first elastic member abuts against the connection body and the other side thereof abuts against the first cover plate. The connection body, the contact body, the first cover plate and the first elastic member are all made of a conductive material.