Conductive Polymer Snap Socket for Stable Electrode Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-mechanic assemblies for detachably connecting electrodes and telemetric devices through snap connectors face challenges such as electrical noise due to movement, instability during strenuous activities, and deterioration over time due to wear and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A female snap connector with a base and cap, featuring a socket that deforms elastically to accommodate the stud of a male snap connector, is integrated with a conductive passageway for secure electrical and mechanical connections. The connector is made from conductive polymer materials to enhance reliability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard snap connector is used to detachably connect the electrode and telemetric device, then the connection can be easily assembled and disassembled, but the male stud moves within the snap creating electrical noise and measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The snap connector is constructed with a flexible elastomeric material that forms a compliant socket. This flexible structure allows the socket to deform elastically during assembly and disassembly while maintaining continuous contact with the male stud, preventing movement-induced electrical noise while preserving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket is designed with specific geometric parameters including a relieved entrance surface, a pinch defining the narrowest opening, and a rim on the internal side. These parameter changes create an optimized path for the male stud that ensures stable electrical contact while allowing easy insertion and removal.
2Device complexity
If the snap connector depth is decreased to simplify the structure, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the forces required to ensure a reliably stable connection significantly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The snap connector combines an elastomeric material for the socket portion with a rigid or semi-rigid material for the base. This composite construction allows the socket to be shallow while the elastomeric material provides the necessary compliance and contact pressure, reducing the force required for stable connection while maintaining simple structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket is designed to be dynamically compliant rather than statically rigid. The elastomeric material allows the socket to adapt its shape and pressure in response to the male stud, maintaining reliable connection with minimal force while keeping the overall structure simple.
3Ease of manufacture
If standard materials are used in the snap connector, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the contact between the snap and electrode deteriorates over time due to wear and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The snap connector uses an elastomeric material that is resistant to wear and corrosion while maintaining electrical conductivity. This material choice preserves manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving the durability and reliability of the electrical contact over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical and mechanical parameters of the elastomeric material are optimized to provide both conductivity and wear resistance. By changing the material parameters rather than using complex multi-component structures, the connector achieves high reliability without大幅增加 manufacturing cost.
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 solution provides a secure, reliable, and durable electrical connection with reduced points of discontinuity, ensuring stable data transmission even during strenuous activities, while also minimizing wear and corrosion.
Implementation Method 1
The socket is set to deform elastically for complying to the passage of the complementary shape of the stud within the socket during insertion and removal of the stud in the depth dimension of the female snap connector
Implementation Method 2
The connector is made from conductive polymer materials to enhance reliability and durability
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a female snap connector with a base and a cap which opposes the base and forms a depth for the snap connector. The female snap connector further includes a socket that is formed into the cap for receiving the stud of a co-operational male snap connector. The base material of the female snap connector is or comprises a conductive polymer. The socket is set to deform elastically for complying to the passage of the complementary shape of the stud within the socket during insertion and removal of the stud in the depth dimension of the female snap connector.