Connection Terminal Contact Spring PCB Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection terminals require separate pins and significant assembly effort to establish contact with printed circuit boards, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A connection terminal with a contact spring that directly presses against the printed circuit board's conductive contact area, eliminating the need for separate pins and simplifying the assembly process, using a leaf spring design with a bent free end for reduced friction and secure contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate pins are used to establish contact between connection terminals and printed circuit boards, then reliable electrical contact is achieved, but device complexity and assembly effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the connection terminal housing with the contact spring into a single integrated component. The contact spring is directly formed as part of the housing structure, eliminating the need for separate pins while maintaining reliable electrical contact between the terminal and printed circuit board
Solution Approach 2:
The connection terminal housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, guides the contact spring, and directly establishes electrical contact with the printed circuit board through the integrated contact spring. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate pin components
2Reliability
If separate pins are used for contact establishment, then electrical connection is secure, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The contact spring and housing are merged into a single integrated component that can be manufactured as one piece using stamping or molding processes. This eliminates the need for separate pin manufacturing and assembly operations, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining secure electrical connection
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated contact spring automatically establishes electrical contact when the housing is positioned on the printed circuit board. The spring's elastic properties enable self-adjustment to ensure reliable contact without requiring additional fastening operations or separate pin components
3Ease of manufacture
If a straight contact spring is used, then manufacturing is simple, but friction with the contact surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The free end of the contact spring is bent into a curved or U-shaped configuration rather than remaining straight. This curvature reduces the contact area and friction between the spring and the printed circuit board surface while still maintaining reliable electrical contact
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 establishment of electrical contact with printed circuit boards, reducing costs and assembly effort while ensuring a secure and reliable connection, even with different relative positions.
Implementation Method 1
a contact spring (16), which is in the connection terminal housing (11) with the clamping contact (15) in an electrically conductive connection and which is guided through a first opening (12) in the connection terminal housing (11) to the outside of the connection terminal housing (11)
Implementation Method 2
the free end of the leaf spring is bent, in particular bent in a U-shape. By bending the free end of the leaf spring in this way, less friction can be achieved between the leaf spring and the contact surface of the printed circuit board
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a terminal block (10) with an insulating terminal block housing (11) and a clamping contact (15) arranged in the terminal block housing for connecting an electrical conductor, wherein a contact spring (16), which is in electrically conductive connection with the clamping contact in the terminal block housing, is guided through a first opening of the terminal block housing to the outside of the terminal block housing, wherein the contact spring is designed such that, when the terminal block is placed on a printed circuit board (20), it presses against a contact surface of the printed circuit board in order to establish an electrical contact between the printed circuit board and the clamping contact.