Electrical Connector Floating Misalignment Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors for circuit boards face challenges in absorbing misalignment without increasing size or complicating terminal shapes, which can affect signal transmission speed and manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design includes connecting members with casing members that allow for both straight and angular displacement, featuring guiding surfaces and deformable portions that can easily deform in the sheet thickness direction, enabling independent displacement of terminals and secure fitting without increasing terminal length or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If terminals are made longer to increase elastic displacement for larger floating capability, then misalignment absorption is improved, but connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is divided into multiple functional portions: a held portion (clamped by holding member), a deformable portion (free to deform elastically), and a contact portion (engages with mating terminal). This segmentation allows the deformable portion to provide elastic displacement for floating capability without requiring the entire terminal to be longer, thus maintaining compact connector size while improving misalignment absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the sheet thickness direction (vertical dimension) for elastic deformation of the deformable portion, rather than relying solely on lateral displacement. By allowing the deformable portion to bend in the sheet thickness direction, the connector achieves floating capability without increasing the lateral length of the terminal, effectively using a different dimension to resolve the contradiction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If terminal shapes are made more complex to achieve larger floating, then misalignment absorption is improved, but manufacturing cost and signal transmission speed are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is segmented into distinct functional portions (held portion, deformable portion, contact portion) with simple geometric shapes. Each portion has a straightforward structure that is easy to manufacture, avoiding complex terminal shapes while still achieving the desired floating capability through the elastic deformation of the deformable portion in the sheet thickness direction.
3Stability of the object's composition
If terminals are held together at multiple positions to prevent tilting, then structural stability is improved, but floating capability in lateral direction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is divided into held portion, deformable portion, and contact portion. The holding member clamps only the held portion, leaving the deformable and contact portions free to displace laterally. This segmentation provides structural stability at the clamped position while maintaining lateral floating capability through the undeformed sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding member is designed to be movable in the lateral direction, allowing it to follow the lateral displacement of the terminal during floating. This dynamic characteristic enables the holding member to maintain its gripping function while permitting the terminal to float laterally, resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.
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 achieves large floating capability to manage misalignment while maintaining signal integrity and reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, ensuring reliable connection and high-speed signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
each of the terminals has a deformable portion, which can elastically deform in a sheet thickness direction thereof
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes connecting members arranged in an arrangement direction; and a housing member for accommodating the connecting members. The connecting member includes a terminal connected to the mating connector, and a holding member for holding the terminal. The terminals includes a connecting portion at one end in a longitudinal direction for connecting to a circuit portion of the circuit board, a contact portion at the other end in the longitudinal direction for contacting with a mating contact of the mating connector, and a held portion near the connecting portion in the longitudinal direction and held with the holding member. The housing member is be movable linearly or rotatable relative to the holding member. The housing member includes a guiding surface for guiding the mating terminal. The terminal includes a deformable portion opposite to the connecting portion. The deformable portion deforms when the guiding surface guides the mating terminal.