Electrical Connector Cage Structure for Accurate Slot Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connector cages suffer from assembly and manufacturing tolerances that prevent accurate positioning of slots with electrical connection sockets on a circuit board, leading to unreliable connections of electronic modules.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector cage design includes abutting portions on partition plates that maintain an identical height between adjacent slots by abutting against upper plates, using chamfers and rounded corners for smooth passage through lower plates, and engaging holes for secure connections, ensuring accurate slot positioning and reliable module connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional electrical connector cage assembly is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but slot positioning accuracy deteriorates due to assembly and manufacturing tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslot positioning accuracyVSAvoidcage structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plates are pre-assembled with the upper and lower plates to form integrated slot structures before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the slots are pre-positioned with high precision, eliminating positioning errors that would occur during final assembly. The abutting portions are also pre-formed on the partition plates to establish predetermined gap heights between adjacent slots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The abutting portions on the partition plates serve as intermediary elements that mediate the positioning relationship between adjacent slots. These abutting portions pass through through holes in the lower plates and abut against the upper plates of adjacent slots, acting as mechanical intermediaries that maintain identical gap heights and ensure accurate slot positioning relative to the circuit board.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If tight tolerances are applied to ensure accurate slot positioning, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The partition plates are pre-assembled with the upper and lower plates to form integrated slot structures before final assembly. This preliminary action ensures that the slots are pre-positioned with high precision, eliminating positioning errors that would occur during final assembly. The abutting portions are also pre-formed on the partition plates to establish predetermined gap heights between adjacent slots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The abutting portions on the partition plates self-align and self-position the adjacent slots during assembly. As the partition plate is inserted, the abutting portions automatically pass through the through holes and abut against the upper plates, self-regulating the gap height between slots without requiring external adjustment or complex fixture systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If gap height variation between adjacent slots is allowed, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but signal transmission stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission stabilityVSAvoidgap control mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The abutting portions on the partition plates serve as intermediary elements that mediate the positioning relationship between adjacent slots. These abutting portions pass through through holes in the lower plates and abut against the upper plates of adjacent slots, acting as mechanical intermediaries that maintain identical gap heights and ensure accurate slot positioning relative to the circuit board.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The abutting portions on the partition plates self-align and self-position the adjacent slots during assembly. As the partition plate is inserted, the abutting portions automatically pass through the through holes and abut against the upper plates, self-regulating the gap height between slots without requiring external adjustment or complex fixture systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250357697A1Electrical connector cage and electrical connector

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 ALL BEST PRECISION TECH CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector cage includes a plurality of slots stacked with each other. Each of the slots includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a partition plate. The partition plate connects the upper plate and the lower plate. The lower plate has a plurality of through holes. The partition plate has a plurality of abutting portions. The abutting portions of the partition plate of one of the slots pass through the through holes of the lower plate and abut against the upper plate of another one of the slots, so as to maintain an identical height of a gap between any two adjacent slots.