Connector Contact Point Movement Perpendicular to Mating Direction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors face challenges in increasing the moving distances of contact points while preventing unnecessary contact between the contact points and other portions during mating, as they tend to come into contact at multiple points, leading to instability and potential disconnection.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a housing with a holding portion, a pressed portion, and a contact point that is moved in a perpendicular direction under a mated state, where the pressed portion is pressed against a stop portion, allowing for increased contact point movement and preventing unnecessary contact with the mating connector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the contact point is allowed to move freely in the second direction, then the moving distance of the contact point is increased, but the contact point may come into unnecessary contact with other portions of the mating connector

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoving distance of contact pointVSAvoidcontact reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pressed portion acts as an intermediary element between the contact point and the stop portion. It controls the movement of the contact point by being pressed against the stop portion, thereby preventing the contact point from moving excessively in the second direction and coming into unnecessary contact with other portions of the mating connector, while still allowing sufficient movement distance for reliable contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Length of moving object

If the contact point moves in the second direction under mated state, then the moving distance is increased, but the connector may become unstable and disconnect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoving distance of contact pointVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pressed portion serves as a mediator that enables controlled movement of the contact point while maintaining connection stability. By being pressed against the stop portion, it allows the contact point to move in the second direction under the mated state without compromising the overall stability of the connector assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the movement parameters of the contact point by allowing it to move in the second direction (perpendicular to the mating direction) while maintaining its position in the first direction (mating direction). This parameter change enables increased moving distance while preserving connection stability through the controlled movement mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9048601B2Connector

Publication Date: 2015.06.02 JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD

AI summary

A connector is mateable with a mating connector along a first direction. The mating connector has a mating contact portion. The connector comprises a housing and a contact. The housing has a holding portion and a stop portion. The contact has a held portion, a pressed portion and a contact point. The held portion is held by the holding portion. The pressed portion is provided between the held portion and the contact point. The contact point is located between the held portion and the pressed portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The contact point is brought into contact with the mating contact portion and moved in the second direction under a mated state of the connector with the mating connector. The pressed portion is pressed against the stop portion when the contact point is brought into contact with the mating contact portion.