Connector with Cutting Protrusions for Flexible Conductor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors require a large amount of work to form multiple electric circuits by individually connecting metal plates to flexible conductors, as only one conductor portion is usable after piercing, leading to inefficiency in connecting multiple contacts.
Innovation Solution
A connector design that includes a housing and a base member with cutting protrusions and grooves, allowing multiple flexible conductors to be easily cut and connected to corresponding contacts, enabling simultaneous electrical connection of multiple contacts to multiple flexible conductor pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a piercing piece is used to connect a metal plate to a flexible conductor, then electrical connection is achieved, but only one conductor portion is usable while the other becomes useless
Solution Approach 1:
The base member is divided into multiple recesses, each capable of receiving and connecting to a flexible conductor. The housing is segmented into multiple regions, each accommodating contacts that can be independently connected to flexible conductors. This segmentation allows multiple conductor portions to be simultaneously utilized rather than wasting one portion per connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is designed with multiple contacts and multiple recesses that can simultaneously connect multiple flexible conductors to multiple contacts. This multi-functional design allows a single connector assembly to handle multiple electrical connections at once, maximizing the utilization of flexible conductor material and eliminating the waste of unused conductor portions.
2Reliability
If one metal plate is arranged for each flexible conductor to form electric circuits, then electrical connections are achieved, but a large amount of work is required
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple contacts are integrated into a single housing structure, and multiple recesses are combined in the base member. This merging allows multiple flexible conductors to be connected simultaneously in one assembly operation rather than requiring separate metal plates and separate assembly steps for each connection, significantly reducing the total work amount while maintaining reliable electrical circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, electrical insulation, contact accommodation, flexible conductor routing, and electrical connection. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate components and assembly operations into a single integrated unit, improving productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple contacts are connected to multiple flexible conductors individually, then electrical circuits are formed, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The housing and base member are pre-configured with multiple contacts and multiple recesses in predetermined positions. This preliminary arrangement allows flexible conductors to be quickly inserted and connected without requiring complex alignment or positioning during assembly, significantly reducing connection time while maintaining the ability to form multiple adaptable electrical circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
All recesses are designed with uniform structures and all contacts are standardized, allowing identical assembly procedures to be repeated for each connection. This homogeneity simplifies the connection process, making it faster and less complex while enabling versatile multi-circuit configurations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector includes a base member having two or more projections, two or more contacts, a housing holding the contacts and facing the base member, and a cutting portion for cutting the flexible conductor between a pair of contacts to divide the flexible conductor into a pair of flexible conductor pieces, when projections corresponding to the contacts are separately inserted into projection accommodating portions of the contacts together with the flexible conductor, the flexible conductor being arranged between the base member and the housing and extending over the contacts adjacent to each other, the flexible conductor pieces divided by the cutting portion being sandwiched between lateral surfaces of the projections and inner surfaces of the projection accommodating portions of the contacts and coming into contact with the inner surfaces of the projection accommodating portions of the contacts, whereby the contacts are electrically connected to the flexible conductor pieces.