Electrical Connector Cage Securing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with a considerable height difference between the cage and the circuit board face challenges in securely attaching the cage due to limited soldering arm length, leading to deformation and shifting issues, especially when inserting and removing mating cable connectors.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector employs a securing part with locking arms and a base plate equipped with step portions and grooves, allowing the cage to be locked to the insulating seat and securely attached to the circuit board, even with significant height differences, using a securing part that extends beyond the limitations of traditional soldering arms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If traditional soldering arms are used to attach the cage to the circuit board, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the soldering arm length is limited which prevents secure attachment when there is a considerable height difference between the cage and the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment function is segmented into two independent parts: locking arms that secure the cage to the insulating seat, and a separate securing part with extended soldering portions that attach the insulating seat to the circuit board. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently, enabling the soldering portions to extend sufficiently long without complicating the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating seat serves as an intermediary component between the cage and the circuit board. The securing part attaches to the insulating seat rather than directly to the cage, allowing the soldering portions to extend downward past the locking arms to reach the circuit board. This intermediary approach resolves the length limitation problem without requiring direct attachment from the cage to the circuit board.
2Length of moving object
If the soldering arm length is extended to accommodate height differences, then secure attachment is possible, but the bottom wall of the cage requires a larger opening which conflicts with the port size limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is divided into locking arms extending from the cage and a separate securing part with soldering portions. This segmentation eliminates the need for a large opening in the cage's bottom wall, as the extended attachment elements come from the securing part rather than requiring space in the cage structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating seat acts as a mediator that carries the securing part with extended soldering portions. This allows the soldering portions to extend downward without requiring openings in the cage's bottom wall, thus preserving the port size while achieving the necessary attachment length.
3Reliability
If locking arms are added to lock the cage to the insulating seat, then the cage is securely attached and resistant to deformation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arms and the securing part with soldering portions are merged into a single integrated component. This combining approach provides both the locking function (through the locking arms engaging with the insulating seat) and the attachment function (through the soldering portions connecting to the circuit board) without requiring separate components, thus minimizing structural complexity while maximizing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector comprises an insulating seat, a plurality of conductive terminals inserted on the insulating seat, and a cage covering on the insulating seat. The insulating seat comprises a body, a tongue plate projecting forward from the body for the arrangement of the conductive terminals, and a bottom plate extending along from the body under the tongue plate. The cage includes a bottom wall located between the tongue plate and the bottom plate of the insulating seat. The electrical connector further comprises a securing part for securing the insulating seat. The securing part comprises a main body abutting above the bottom plate of the insulating seat and two soldering parts bend downwards and extending from two ends of the main body respectively.