Electrical Connector Contact Row Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in cost control due to complex assembly procedures and increased risk of cross-talk between contacts as the number of contacts increases, reducing the distance between neighboring tail portions.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with a mating tongue and retaining section, including terminal grooves and positioning slots, separates signal and grounding contacts into different rows to increase the distance between solder tails, preventing cross-talk, and eliminates the need for additional positioning elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of contacts increases, then the functionality and connectivity of the electrical connector is improved, but the distance between neighboring tail portions is reduced which results in cross-talk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-row arrangement to a multi-row arrangement of contacts on the printed circuit board. By distributing contacts across multiple rows with increased spacing within each row, the design accommodates more total contacts while maintaining adequate distance between neighboring tail portions to prevent cross-talk. This dimensional reorganization allows higher contact density without sacrificing signal integrity.
2Manufacturing precision
If a spacer is added to position tail portions, then the precision of tail portion positioning is improved, but the manufacturing procedure becomes more complex which is not advantageous for cost control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate spacer component from the assembly and integrates the positioning function directly into the printed circuit board through recesses. The recesses are formed as integral features of the PCB structure, eliminating the need for additional positioning elements and simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining precise positioning of tail portions.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function previously performed by a separate spacer component is merged into the printed circuit board structure itself. The recesses in the PCB serve dual purposes: providing mechanical support for tail portions and precisely positioning them during assembly. This integration eliminates the spacer component and reduces manufacturing complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional positioning elements are added, then the positioning accuracy of contacts is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates additional positioning elements by extracting the positioning function from separate components and embedding it directly into the printed circuit board structure through recesses. This approach maintains high positioning accuracy while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of parts and assembly steps.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and contacts received therein. The insulative housing defines a retaining section and a mating tongue projecting beyond the retaining section perpendicularly. A plurality of terminal grooves are defined on the mating tongue and extending along a front-to-rear direction. A plurality of positioning slots are defined on the retaining section and extending along a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction and in communication with the terminal grooves respectively. Each contact comprises a contact portion secured in the terminal groove on the mating tongue and a solder tail secured in the positioning slot on the retaining section. The contacts are divided into signal contacts and grounding contacts, solder tails of said signal contacts and grounding contacts are separately located at different rows alone in the front-to-rear direction.