Conductive Terminal Floating Portion Offset Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vibration environments, unreliable electrical contact can occur between a conductive terminal and a mating terminal due to misalignment, leading to transient disconnections.
Innovation Solution
A conductive terminal design featuring a fixing portion mechanically and electrically connected to a circuit board, a floating portion elastically connected to the fixing portion, and an elastic clip with a clamping portion that adjusts to align with the mating terminal, ensuring reliable contact by moving under the mating terminal's insertion force to correct offset positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the conductive terminal uses a fixed rigid structure, then the manufacturing precision is high, but the reliability in vibration environments deteriorates due to misalignment with mating terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive terminal transitions from a fixed rigid structure to a dynamic structure with floating portion and elastic clip that can move and adjust their positions. The floating portion is elastically connected to the fixing portion, allowing it to move relative to the fixing portion when the mating terminal is inserted offset, thereby automatically aligning the clamping portion with the mating terminal to ensure reliable electrical contact in vibration environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal structure changes its physical state and position parameters dynamically. The floating portion changes its position relative to the fixing portion, and the elastic clip changes its clamping position, to adapt to misalignment conditions. This parameter adjustment ensures reliable electrical contact even when the mating terminal is inserted offset from the ideal position.
2Reliability
If the conductive terminal uses a floating elastic structure, then the reliability in vibration environments improves, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The floating portion and elastic clip form a self-aligning mechanism that automatically corrects misalignment without external intervention. When the mating terminal is inserted offset, the floating portion moves under the drive of the mating terminal to adjust the clamping portion to a position aligned with the mating terminal, eliminating the need for high-precision manual alignment during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic structure with floating portion and elastic clip provides inherent alignment capability through elastic deformation and relative movement, compensating for manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, thereby reducing the stringent alignment precision requirements compared to fixed rigid structures.
3Ease of operation
If the mating terminal is inserted offset, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to misalignment with clamping portion
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the terminal to adapt to offset insertion. The floating portion moves relative to the fixing portion when the mating terminal is inserted offset, and the elastic clip adjusts its clamping position accordingly, ensuring reliable electrical contact is maintained even when the ease of operation allows for offset insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-aligning mechanism automatically compensates for offset insertion without requiring precise user alignment. The floating portion and elastic clip self-adjust to align the clamping portion with the mating terminal, maintaining reliability while allowing easy offset insertion.
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 reliable electrical contact by adjusting the clamping portion to align with the mating terminal, even when initially offset, thereby preventing transient disconnections in vibration environments.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic clip connected to the floating portion and having a clamping portion clamping and electrically contacting a mating terminal inserted into the clamping portion. The floating portion is movable under a drive of the mating terminal when the mating terminal is inserted offset into the clamping portion
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive terminal includes a fixing portion mechanically fixing and electrically connecting to a circuit board, a floating portion elastically connected to the fixing portion and capable of moving relative to the fixing portion, and an elastic clip connected to the floating portion and having a clamping portion clamping and electrically contacting a mating terminal inserted into the clamping portion. The floating portion is movable under a drive of the mating terminal when the mating terminal is inserted offset into the clamping portion to adjust the clamping portion to a position aligned with the mating terminal.