Connector Terminals with Asymmetric Movable Portions for High Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for printed circuit boards face limitations in increasing the permissible current value due to the requirement for terminals to be elastically deformable in both the fore-and-aft and width directions, which results in a small cross-sectional area, making them inadequate for large current applications.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes first and second terminals with movable portions that are elastically deformable in the fore-and-aft and width directions, respectively, with the movable portion of the first terminal having a larger width dimension than thickness and the second terminal having a larger thickness dimension than width, allowing for increased cross-sectional area and current capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the movable portion of the terminal is formed with a small cross-sectional area to enable sufficient elastic deformation in both fore-and-aft and width directions, then the connector can absorb substrate position shifts, but the permissible current value of the terminal cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal structure is segmented into two separate connectors: the first connector handles fore-and-aft direction movement with its movable portion having larger width than thickness, while the second connector handles width direction movement with its movable portion having larger thickness than width. This segmentation allows each terminal to have optimized cross-sectional dimensions for its specific movement direction, enabling sufficient elastic deformation capability while maintaining larger cross-sectional area for higher current capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portions of the terminals are designed with asymmetric cross-sectional dimensions tailored to their specific deformation requirements. The first terminal's movable portion has width > thickness for fore-and-aft deformation, while the second terminal's movable portion has thickness > width for width direction deformation. This asymmetric design optimizes elastic deformation in the required direction while maximizing cross-sectional area for current conduction.
2Reliability
If the movable portion of the terminal is formed substantially square in cross section with small area, then elastic deformation is sufficient in both directions, but the connector becomes disadvantageous for large current applications
Solution Approach 1:
Each terminal's movable portion is designed with locally optimized cross-sectional dimensions according to its specific deformation requirements. The first terminal has width > thickness for fore-and-aft direction flexibility, while the second terminal has thickness > width for width direction flexibility. This local quality optimization ensures sufficient elastic deformation capability in the required direction while maintaining larger overall cross-sectional area for higher current capacity, avoiding the limitation of uniformly small square cross-sections.
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
This design enables an increase in the permissible current value of the terminals, making the connector suitable for large current applications while maintaining flexibility to absorb substrate position shifts.
Implementation Method 1
a first terminal that is provided with one end supported by the first movable housing and the other end supported by the first fixed housing, the first terminal including a movable portion that is elastically deformable in the fore-and-aft direction of the connector
Implementation Method 2
a second terminal that is provided with one end supported by the second movable housing and the other end supported by the second fixed housing, the second terminal including a movable portion that is elastically deformable in the width direction of the connector
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
It is an object to provide a connector capable of increasing a permissible value of current of a terminal even in a structure in which first and second connectors are mutually freely movable in a fore-and-aft direction and a width direction. The connector includes a first connector (10) provided with first terminals (13) each of which has a movable portion (13c) that is formed so that a dimension in its width direction is larger than a dimension in its thickness direction to be elastically deformed in a fore-and-aft direction (Y direction) of the connector, and a second connector (20) provided with second terminals (23) each of which has a movable portion (23f) that is formed so that a dimension in its thickness direction is larger than a dimension in its width direction to be elastically deformed in a width direction (X direction) of the connector. As a result, as compared with a terminal that is formed so as to be sufficiently elastically deformable in both of the fore-and-aft direction and the width direction of the connector, it is possible to increase a cross-sectional area of each of the movable portions (13c and 23f), so that a permissible value of current of each of the terminals (13 and 23) can be increased.