Electrical Connector Flange with Bent Mating Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors lack an effective shielding structure that efficiently engages with device panels, as previous solutions like spring-biased EMI shrouds and single-piece EMI shrouds with discrete fingers do not provide adequate engagement or resilience.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing, a metallic shell with a flange that includes a mating sleeve with bent walls and a flexible mating flange portion, which engages with the panel resiliently, providing secure locking and positioning through guiding hooks and locking slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a spring-biased EMI shroud with discrete fingers is used, then shielding coverage is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the EMI shielding function with the mounting flange function into a single integrated structure. The flange is formed as one piece with the connector housing, eliminating the need for separate shielding components and discrete fingers, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining shielding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides EMI shielding, enables panel mounting through hole engagement, and offers mechanical support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate discrete fingers and simplifies the overall device structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a single-piece EMI shroud with discrete fingers is used, then shielding coverage is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The EMI shielding flange is integrated as a single piece with the connector housing, formed simultaneously in one molding process. This eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps for discrete fingers and assembly operations, significantly improving ease of manufacture.
3Reliability
If a flange with bent walls and flexible portions is used, then engagement reliability with panel is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange incorporates flexible portions that can deform elastically during insertion to engage with mounting holes, providing resilient engagement. This dynamic flexibility enhances reliability while the integrated single-piece construction keeps overall complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The flange design utilizes controlled flexibility parameters in specific portions to enable engagement with panel mounting holes. The bent walls and flexible portions are strategically designed to provide the necessary deformation capability for reliable engagement without requiring complex multi-component structures.
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 offers enhanced engagement and secure mounting of the electrical connector with the panel, ensuring reliable contact and shielding while allowing for flexible positioning of the flange relative to the shell, addressing the inadequacies of previous shielding structures.
Implementation Method 1
a third portion substantially perpendicular to and flexible relative to the first mating wall
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a shell covering the insulative housing, and a flange mounted to the shell. The insulative housing has a front face, a number of outer faces, and a receiving cavity extending through the front face for receiving a mating connector. The shell has a front wall and a number of outer walls covering the housing front and outer faces, respectively. The flange has a mating sleeve mounted to the shell and a mating flange portion for engaging a panel along a front-to-back direction. The mating sleeve is bent from a material band, and the mating flange portion is bent from the mating sleeve. The mating flange portion is substantially perpendicular to and resiliently flexible relative to the mating sleeve.