Connector Contact Element with Segmented Resilient Tongues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in providing mechanical robustness and effective electromagnetic shielding while maintaining low contact resistance and high-frequency transmission capabilities, often compromising between easy insertion and mechanical holding force, and struggling with orthogonal forces and limited frequency transmission.
Innovation Solution
A contact element with a partially electrically conductive housing and resilient tongues arranged in two groups, where the free ends of one group face towards and the other group away from the insertion direction, ensuring direct current paths and robustness, along with a conductive contact sleeve for enhanced stability and shielding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If resilient tongues or spring lamellas are used to ensure low contact resistance and mechanical stability, then electrical connection quality is improved, but electromagnetic shielding is compromised and structural stability is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is divided into functionally distinct segments: a housing forming the outer conductor sleeve for electromagnetic shielding, and separate resilient tongue elements for electrical contact. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tongue elements are extracted as separate components from the housing structure. The housing maintains its closed, shielded form while the resilient tongues are positioned within it to make contact with the inner conductor, thereby preserving electromagnetic shielding while enabling reliable electrical connection.
2Force
If resilient tongues or spring lamellas are formed from the housing or outer conductor sleeve, then mechanical holding force is increased, but structural stability is impaired and electromagnetic shielding is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is divided into functionally distinct segments: a housing forming the outer conductor sleeve for electromagnetic shielding, and separate resilient tongue elements for electrical contact. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
3Ease of operation
If the contact element is designed for easy insertion, then ease of operation is improved, but resistance to orthogonal forces is reduced making it easily bent
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the contact element have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions: the housing is made rigid to resist orthogonal forces and maintain structural stability, while the resilient tongues are made flexible to enable easy insertion and provide compliant electrical contact.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a closed housing is used to provide electromagnetic shielding, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but insertion forces become large
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the contact element have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions: the housing is made rigid to resist orthogonal forces and maintain structural stability, while the resilient tongues are made flexible to enable easy insertion and provide compliant electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient tongues are designed to deform dynamically during insertion, allowing the contact element to be inserted into a closed housing with reduced force. The tongues flex to accommodate the insertion motion and then maintain stable contact pressure, enabling both electromagnetic shielding and easy insertion.
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 high-quality electrical contacting suitable for high-frequency applications, increasing transmission frequency up to 9 GHz, while maintaining mechanical stability and reducing the risk of damage from orthogonal forces, with improved ease of insertion and holding force.
Implementation Method 1
resilient tongues, wherein the resilient tongues are each secured movably at a first free end, and immovably at a second end
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a contact element (1) for a connector (2), having: an at least partially electrically conductive housing (3) for connection to an earth conductor (4.2) of an electrical cable (4), and at least one inner conductor part (6) for connection to at least one signal lead (4.4) of the electrical cable (4). In a contact region (9) of the housing (3) at the front in the insertion direction, there are at least two resilient tongues (10, 11), wherein the resilient tongues (10, 11) are each secured movably at a first, free end (10.1, 11.1) and immovably at a second end (10.2, 11.2). There are two groups of resilient tongues (10, 11), wherein the resilient tongues (10) of a first group are arranged such that the free ends (10.1) thereof face a front end (9.1) of the contact region (9), and the resilient tongues (11) of a second group are arranged such that the free ends (11.1) thereof face away from the front end (9.1) of the contact region (9).