Downward-Mounted Electrical Connector Elastic Arm Force Inversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors experience deformation and reduced service life due to the upward force applied by elastic arms during mating, which affects their performance and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector is designed with a downward mounting configuration on a circuit board, featuring ground and signal terminals with elastic arms that apply a downward force, counteracted by the circuit board's upward support, preventing deformation and enhancing the connector's service life. Additionally, a metal shell with abutting and contact elastic arms enhances shielding and high-frequency performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first elastic arm upward abuts the mating component, then the mating component is securely held, but the insulating body experiences bending deformation reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the force direction by mounting the connector downward on the circuit board, so the first elastic arm applies downward force on the mating component rather than upward force. This reverses the force transmission path, causing the force to be absorbed by the mating component structure rather than transmitting to the insulating body, thereby preventing deformation while maintaining secure holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The downward mounting configuration creates a counterbalancing effect where the rigid circuit board provides upward support force that counteracts the downward elastic arm force, preventing the insulating body from experiencing bending deformation while maintaining the necessary contact force for reliable mating.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the electrical connector is mounted downward on the circuit board, then deformation is prevented, but the force application mechanism must be redesigned
Solution Approach 1:
The downward mounting configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it prevents insulating body deformation, provides stable mechanical support through the circuit board, enables effective force transmission through the elastic arms, and simplifies the overall structure by eliminating the need for additional force-counterbalancing mechanisms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple ground terminals with elastic arms are used, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but the number of components and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ground terminals into a single integrated component that includes multiple elastic arms extending from a common base. This merging approach maintains the shielding effectiveness of multiple contact points while reducing assembly complexity, as the entire ground terminal assembly can be installed as one unit rather than multiple separate components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents deformation and prolongs the service life of the electrical connector by counteracting the downward force with upward support from the circuit board, while improving shielding and high-frequency performance through enhanced contact points.
Implementation Method 1
The first elastic arm has a first contact portion exposed downward from the mating slot to be in downward contact with the upper shielding member
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector is mounted downward on a circuit board to mate with a mating member. The electrical connector includes an insulating body having a front end surface, where the front end surface is backward concavely provided with a mating slot for the mating member to be inserted therein, and at least one ground terminal. Each ground terminal has a main body provided on the insulating body. A first elastic arm and a second elastic arm extend forward from the main body. The first elastic arm has a first contact portion in downward contact with an upper shielding member. The second elastic arm has a second contact portion in downward contact with the mating member. The first contact portion is located in front of the second contact portion. An acting force by the first elastic arm counteracts a supporting force by the circuit board, preventing the insulating body from deformation.