Connector Body Segmentation for Contact Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors with divided bodies face challenges in maintaining accurate positioning of contacts within a shield case, leading to potential misalignment and distortion, especially when downsized for surface mount technology applications.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring first and second bodies embedded with contacts in separate rows, utilizing a shield case with an abutting stop surface and lock pieces to securely sandwich the bodies, ensuring accurate positioning and reduced pitch variation, and incorporating fitting protrusions and recesses for stable alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If contacts are embedded in a single body by insert molding, then manufacturing workability and positioning accuracy are improved, but sufficient body thickness cannot be reserved for downsized connectors with two rows of contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The connector body is divided into first and second bodies that are combined together. Each body embeds one row of contacts (first row in first body, second row in second body), allowing sufficient thickness to be reserved in each individual body while accommodating two rows of contacts overall. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the contact rows across separate body segments.
2Volume of moving object
If the body is divided into first and second bodies, then sufficient body thickness is reserved, but positioning accuracy of contacts deteriorates due to difficulty in fixing the combined bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second bodies are nested together to form a combined structure that fits within the shield case. The bodies are positioned and fixed relative to each other through this nesting arrangement, maintaining positioning accuracy while allowing each body to have sufficient thickness for its embedded contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
A shield case serves as an intermediary structure that contains and fixes the combined first and second bodies. The shield case provides a reference frame that ensures the bodies are held in the correct positions, preventing displacement and maintaining contact positioning accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If contacts are arranged in two rows at the same height for SMT mounting, then adaptability to surface mount technology is improved, but insert molding becomes extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The two rows of contacts are segregated into separate bodies (first row in first body, second row in second body), making insert molding feasible for each row independently. The bodies are then combined and mounted as a unit suitable for SMT, resolving the contradiction by making insert molding possible through segmentation while maintaining SMT adaptability through the combined structure.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a connector including a shield case having a body containing portion; first and second bodies, contained in the body containing portion and combined; first contacts, embedded in the first body and arranged in a row; and second contacts, embedded in the second body and arranged in a different row. The body containing portion includes a top plate, a bottom plate and a pair of side plates. At least one plate of the top plate, the bottom plate and the side plates is smaller in length than the other plates, and a back surface of the one plate functions as an abutting stop surface on which the first body abuts. A back surface of at least one of the other plates is provided with a lock piece, and the first and second bodies are sandwiched between the abutting stop surface and the lock piece.