Electrical Connector Contact Member Shortening via Fixing Piece Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors are elongated in the fit-in direction due to the alignment of fixing and electrode parts, making them larger and unable to meet the demand for reduced size.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design rearranges the fixing piece to overlap with the region where the electrode part of the mating connector slides over the contact member, shortening the contact member in the fit-in direction and reducing the overall size of the connector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the fixing piece and electrode part are arranged aligned along the fit-in direction, then the contact member structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the contact member becomes long in the fit-in direction increasing the connector size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by repositioning the fixing piece from a linear alignment along the fit-in direction to a spatial arrangement that overlaps with the sliding region in three-dimensional space. Specifically, the fixing piece is moved to a position where it occupies the same longitudinal space as the sliding region, transforming the arrangement from one-dimensional alignment to three-dimensional overlapping, thereby shortening the contact member length in the fit-in direction while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the fixing piece within or alongside the sliding region of the contact member. The fixing piece is positioned to occupy the same spatial envelope as the sliding region, effectively nesting the fixing function within the existing sliding space. This allows the contact member to be shortened in the fit-in direction while maintaining both fixing and sliding functions
2Length of moving object
If the contact member is shortened in the fit-in direction, then the connector size is reduced, but the fixing piece may interfere with the sliding motion of the electrode part
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by designing the fixing piece with specific local characteristics that allow it to occupy the sliding region space without interfering with the sliding motion. The fixing piece is given a compact structure with reduced cross-sectional dimensions in the directions perpendicular to the fit-in direction, allowing it to coexist with the sliding electrode part. The fixing piece may also be designed with cutouts, recesses, or reduced height in specific local areas to accommodate the sliding motion while maintaining its fixing function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the contact member into distinct functional regions: the sliding region where the electrode part moves, and the fixing piece region that provides mechanical attachment. By segmenting these functions spatialally and allowing them to overlap in the longitudinal direction while remaining distinct in other dimensions, the patent enables the fixing piece to occupy the sliding region space without interfering with the sliding motion. The fixing piece may be segmented into multiple smaller fixing elements distributed along the contact member
Data Source
AI summary
To shorten a contact member to a fit-in direction to allow a decrease size, a fixing piece 12c of a contact member 12 is arranged in a region Q where an electrode part 22a of a mating connector 20 slides over the contact member 12. Thus, the region Q where the electrode part 22a of the mating connector 20 slides over the contact member 12 and a region where the fixing piece 12c of the contact member 12 is arranged are in a state of overlapping each other in a direction of fitting in the mating connector 20, and the contact member 12 can be shortened to the direction of fitting in the mating connector 20.