Connector Height Reduction via Forward-Extending Shell Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for circuit boards face challenges in reducing height while maintaining effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) reduction and electrical connectivity, as they often require a larger size in the upper-to-lower direction due to the arrangement of connected portions.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a receiving portion, housing, and shell with first and second connected portions that extend forward from the lower plate portion, allowing for reduced height by embedding the shell within the housing and arranging contacts perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, enabling secure mating with a mating connector and connection to a circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first connected portion is provided in the receiving portion, then the connector can be mated with a mating connector, but the height in the upper-to-lower direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the first connected portion from the receiving portion to the lower plate portion, changing its spatial dimension. This allows the connected portion to extend in the front-to-rear direction rather than occupying vertical space, thereby reducing the connector's height while maintaining mating functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The shell is divided into distinct functional portions: the lower plate portion containing the first connected portion for mating connection, and the receiving portion for receiving the mating connector. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently, with the first connected portion positioned to minimize overall height
2Length of stationary object
If the shell is embedded in the housing, then the height is reduced, but the arrangement of connected portions becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is embedded within the housing, with the first connected portion extending forward from the lower plate portion. This nested arrangement allows the shell to be integrated into the housing structure while maintaining accessible connected portions, achieving compactness without excessive structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The connected portions extend in the front-to-rear direction rather than vertically, changing the dimension in which complexity is managed. This allows the embedded shell structure to maintain functional connectivity while minimizing height
Data Source
AI summary
A connector is mountable on a circuit board and matable with a mating connector having a mating portion and a mating shell. The connector comprises a housing and a shell. The housing is formed with a receiving portion. The receiving portion is receives the mating portion of the mating connector when the mating portion is inserted into the connector. The shell has a plurality of first connected portions and a plurality of second connected portions. The first connected portions are configured to be connected to the mating shell of the mating connector when the connector and the mating connector are mated with each other. The second connected portions are configured to be connected to the circuit board when the connector is mounted on the circuit board. The first connected portions and the second connected portions extend forward of the receiving portion.