Electrical Connector with Removable Dust Covers for PCB Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for connecting disk drive units to printed circuit boards lack a mechanism for easy visual inspection of soldered connections and effective protection against dust and debris after soldering.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features a dielectric housing with an elongated vertically extending portion and a lateral base, retention posts, and alignment pins for secure mounting to the PCB, along with removable dust cover members that allow visual inspection of soldered connections and subsequent protection from dust and debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the electrical connector uses a closed housing structure, then protection against dust and debris is improved, but visual inspection of soldered connections becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a main body and a removable dust cover portion. The dust cover can be removed to allow visual inspection of the soldered connections, then reattached to provide dust protection. This segmentation allows the housing to serve both inspection and protection functions at different times.
Solution Approach 2:
The dust cover is designed to be removable and reattachable, transforming the housing from a static closed structure to a dynamic structure that can open for inspection and close for protection. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction between needing to inspect and needing to protect.
2Reliability
If the electrical connector includes retention posts and alignment pins, then mounting reliability to PCB is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention posts and alignment pins are integrated directly into the housing structure as built-in features rather than separate components. This merging approach provides reliable mounting functionality while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining multiple functions into a unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure itself provides the mounting features (retention posts and alignment pins) without requiring external fasteners or additional mounting components. The structure serves its own mounting needs, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the electrical connector uses a base extending laterally beyond the vertical portion, then mounting stability on PCB surface is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two distinct portions: a vertical portion for electrical connection and a lateral base portion for mounting stability. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the base can be designed for stable mounting while the vertical portion handles electrical functions, making manufacturing more manageable despite the extended geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector having a dielectric housing. The housing has an elongated, vertically extending portion and a base portion. The base portion extends laterally beyond the elongated, vertically extending portion. The connector includes a pair of retention posts disposed through a portion of a base of the connector. The base of the housing has an alignment pin deposed between the retention posts for extending into a hole in the surface of the printed circuit board. A pair of dust cover members is insertable into sidewalls of the housing.