Electrical Connector Fixing Metal Member Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors face challenges in reducing size while securely attaching to electrical circuit boards and preventing flat conductive members from dislodging, particularly due to the complexity and size increase caused by locking mechanisms and dense terminal arrangements.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design incorporates a housing with movable and fixing metal members, where the fixing metal member is bent perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, allowing for secure attachment to the circuit board and minimizing component count, enabling easier assembly and reduced size in the terminal arrangement direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional locking mechanism is used to secure the flat conductive member, then the flat conductive member is prevented from dislodging, but the connector size increases and assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the locking function from a separate locking mechanism and integrates it into the fixing metal member itself. The fixing metal member includes a locking portion that directly engages with the flat conductive member, eliminating the need for additional locking components and simplifying the overall structure while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the fixing metal member: it serves as both the attachment element to the circuit board and the locking element for the flat conductive member. The fixing metal member integrates the locking portion, engagement portion, and attachment portion into a single component, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable security.
2Length of moving object
If the fixing metal member is bent perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction, then the connector size in the terminal arrangement direction is reduced, but the attachment security to the circuit board must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the fixing metal member from being parallel to the terminal arrangement direction to being bent perpendicular to it. This dimensional change allows the connector to achieve a more compact form factor in the terminal arrangement direction while the engagement portion extends in the width direction to maintain secure attachment to the circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing metal member is designed with an asymmetric configuration where different portions serve different functions: the engagement portion extends in the width direction for circuit board attachment, while the locking portion is positioned to engage the flat conductive member. This asymmetric design optimizes both size reduction and attachment security.
3Reliability
If the fixing metal member includes multiple portions (engagement, locking, attachment), then secure attachment and locking are achieved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the engagement portion, locking portion, and attachment portion into a single fixing metal member component. This integration eliminates the need for separate locking mechanisms and attachment elements, reducing the number of components while maintaining all necessary functions for secure attachment and locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing metal member is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides engagement with the circuit board, locking of the flat conductive member, and attachment to the connector housing. This universal design reduces component count while ensuring reliable performance of multiple functions.
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
This design effectively secures the flat conductive member to the electrical connector, allows for easy insertion and removal, and significantly reduces the connector's size in the terminal arrangement direction, addressing the size and security issues of conventional connectors.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing metal member is bent perpendicular to the terminal arrangement direction
Implementation Method 2
The locking portion is configured to elastically deform
Implementation Method 3
The engaging section is formed in a saw shape having an inclined surface and an engaging edge portion. The inclined surface is formed to incline upwardly toward the inserting direction, so that the inclined surface can guide the flat conductive member
Implementation Method 4
The electrical circuit board attaching portion is mounted on and held with the electrical circuit board with solder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(C)
AI summary
An electrical connector (1) includes a housing (10) including a receiving portion (11) for inserting a flat conductive member (C); a plurality of terminals (20) arranged in a terminal arrangement direction; a movable member (50); and a fixing metal member (40). The movable member (50) includes a supported portion and an engaging portion (55C). The supported portion is supported on the housing (10) to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The engaging portion (55C) engages with the flat conductive member when the movable member (50) is situated at the closed position. The fixing metal member (40) includes a fixing portion (42A, 43A) to be fixed to an electrical circuit board; a regulating portion (44A) for restricting the movable member (50); and an engaging section (45A) for engaging with the movable member (50). The fixing metal member (40) includes leg portions (42) extending toward the electrical circuit board. The fixing portion (42A, 43A), the regulating portion (44A), and the engaging portion are disposed on the leg portions (42).