Electrical Connector Detecting Contacts Segmented Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with detecting contacts have complex structures, making them difficult to produce and assemble efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an insulative housing with a base portion and tongue plate, featuring simplified receiving cavities and slots for contacts and detecting contacts, allowing for easier assembly and identification of USB and USB PD plug connectors through distinct detecting contact configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tongue plate includes multiple contact receiving slots recessed from the supporting face, then the detecting contacts can be received and positioned, but the structure of the tongue plate becomes complex and the insulative housing is difficult to produce
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the receiving space for detecting contacts into two separate components: the tongue plate provides a flat supporting face without recessed slots, while the base portion contains receiving cavities recessed from its upper surface. This segmentation moves the complex cavity structure from the tongue plate to the base portion, simplifying tongue plate manufacturing while maintaining detecting contact positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional supporting face with recessed slots to a three-dimensional configuration where receiving cavities extend vertically from the base portion's upper surface downwardly. The receiving cavities have through-holes that pass through the base portion in the upper-to-lower direction, creating a vertical dimension for detecting contact reception that eliminates the need for horizontal recesses in the tongue plate.
2Reliability
If the detecting contacts are mounted into the insulative housing with complex tongue plate structure, then the detecting contacts can be positioned, but the assembly process becomes more difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mounting function between the tongue plate's supporting face and the base portion's receiving cavities. The tongue plate's supporting face provides a simple flat mounting surface for contact engagement, while the base portion's receiving cavities with through-holes provide vertical reception and positioning. This segmentation simplifies the overall assembly process by eliminating complex recessed slot structures that would require precise alignment during assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If the base portion has receiving cavities extending through the base portion along upper to lower direction, then the detecting contacts can be easily received and positioned, but the base portion structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The base portion's receiving cavities serve multiple functions: they receive the detecting contacts, provide vertical positioning through through-holes, and integrate the resisting portion for forward support. This multi-functionality consolidates several structural requirements into a single integrated component design, making the increased structural complexity worthwhile by simplifying the overall assembly process and improving manufacturing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) and a plurality of detecting contacts (5) mounted into the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) includes a base portion (11) and a tongue plate (12) extending from the base portion (11). The detecting contacts (5) include two first detecting contacts (51). The base portion (11) defines a receiving cavity (1130) passing through the base portion along an upper to down direction. The base portion includes a resisting portion (1152) disposed behind the receiving cavity. Each of the first detecting contacts includes a first main portion (512) received in the receiving cavity and a first contacting portion (511) extending from the first main portion forwardly. The resisting portion (1152) supports the first main portion (512) forwardly to prevent the first detecting contact from being pushed and dropping from the electrical connector when a plug connector is inserted.