Conductive Screw and Nut Electrical Connection for Access Door PCBs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing access doors require additional holes for electrical connections, complicating production and risking damage to printed circuits during assembly due to mechanical contact pressures.

Innovation Solution

An access door design that uses a mechanical connection to fix plates on the door, which also forms an electrical connection between printed circuits without needing an additional hole, utilizing conductive screws and nuts with spring contacts to ensure secure mechanical and electrical contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional holes are drilled through the door leaf for electrical connections, then electrical connectivity between printed circuit boards is achieved, but the construction complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoiddoor construction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electrical connection function with the existing mechanical fastening structure by integrating conductive elements into the screw and nut assembly. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical connection holes and wiring, thereby reducing construction complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connectivity between the inner and outer printed circuit boards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The screw and nut assembly serves dual functions: mechanical fastening of the plates to the door leaf and electrical connection between the circuit boards. This multi-functionality is achieved by using electrically conductive materials for the fastening components, allowing a single structural element to fulfill both mechanical and electrical requirements without adding additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Strength

If the screw and nut are tightly fastened to ensure good mechanical contact, then mechanical stability is improved, but the risk of damaging the printed circuit board increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical connection strengthVSAvoidrisk of circuit board damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a distinct electrical connection element (such as a conductive spring or elastic contact piece) that is separate from the mechanical fastening components. This segmentation allows the mechanical fastening system to be tightened independently without transmitting excessive force to the electrical connection element, thereby protecting the printed circuit board from damage while maintaining both mechanical strength and electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an intermediary electrical connection element positioned between the screw/nut assembly and the printed circuit board. This intermediary component acts as a buffer that decouples the mechanical tightening force from the electrical contact pressure, allowing strong mechanical fastening while preventing damage to the delicate circuit board through controlled force distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the electrical connection uses a simple wire through the circuit board, then manufacturing is simpler, but the mechanical and electrical connections interfere with each other

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection manufacturingVSAvoidconnection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the electrical connection function with the mechanical fastening system by integrating conductive elements into the screw and nut assembly or by positioning electrical connection elements within the fastening structure. This integration eliminates the need for separate wire routing through the circuit board, simplifying manufacturing while avoiding the interference problems associated with separate mechanical and electrical connection paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Simplifies the production and assembly of access doors by eliminating the need for extra holes and reduces the risk of damaging printed circuits during assembly, as the mechanical and electrical connections are integrated and the force distribution is independent, ensuring reliable electrical contact.

Implementation Method 1

the contact itself is composed of several parts, including a spring and a conductive component connected to the wire

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3453818B1Access door to a building
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 COGELEC
  • EP3453818B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3453818B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

Access door to a building comprising: - an external printed circuit board (120) housed inside an external plate and an internal printed circuit board (110) housed inside an internal plate, - an electrical connection which electrically connects, through the thickness of a door leaf, the internal and external printed circuits, this electrical connection comprising: - a first electrical contact (130) which electrically connects an electrical track (132) of one of the external and internal printed circuits (110, 120) to a threaded rod (70) of a screw (64), - a second electrical contact (140) which electrically connects an electrical track of the other of the external and internal printed circuits (110, 120) to a nut (66), and - the screw (64) and the nut (66), the threaded rod (70) of the screw and the nut being made for this purpose of electrically conductive material.