Connector Ground Plate Cutouts and Insulator Projections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connectors with metal ground plates are prone to electric short-circuits due to foreign objects adhering to exposed contact portions, forming a conductive path between the contacts and the ground plate, which can damage connected electric circuits.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a metal ground plate with cutouts adjacent to source contacts, where the cutouts are filled with insulator projections, maintaining a separation distance to prevent foreign object accumulation and electrical paths, and a metal shell covering the insulator to suppress electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the ground plate is disposed adjacent to the contact to suppress electromagnetic interference, then the EMI protection is improved, but the risk of electric short-circuit between the contact and ground plate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plate is segmented by providing cutouts at positions adjacent to the contacts. This segmentation divides the continuous ground plate into separate regions, preventing foreign objects from bridging the gap between the contact and the ground plate, thus eliminating the electric path while maintaining EMI shielding effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator is used as an intermediary material to fill the cutouts of the ground plate. This insulator projection physically separates the contact from the ground plate, ensuring that even if a foreign object adheres to the contact, it cannot form a conductive path to the ground plate, thereby preventing electric short-circuits.
2Ease of operation
If the contact portion is exposed to allow counter-connector contact, then the electrical connection function is improved, but the accumulation of foreign objects that cause electric paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plate is segmented with cutouts positioned strategically near the exposed contact portions. This segmentation creates physical gaps that prevent foreign objects from accumulating in a continuous path between the contact and ground plate, while the contact portion remains exposed for proper electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator provides localized insulation by projecting into the cutouts of the ground plate only at specific positions adjacent to the contacts. This local quality approach maintains the exposed contact portions for electrical connection while providing targeted protection against foreign object accumulation at critical areas.
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
Effectively prevents electric short-circuits between source contacts and ground plates, enhancing connector reliability and reducing electromagnetic interference while allowing accurate signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a shell that covers an outer periphery of the insulator and is made of metal
Implementation Method 2
an insulator that holds the plurality of contacts and the ground plate
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes contacts arranged in a contact-arrangement plane and including a source contact and a signal contact, each of the contacts having a contact portion that comes into contact with a contact of a counter-connector, a ground plate made of metal disposed in parallel with the contact-arrangement plan, an insulator that holds the contacts and the ground plate, and a shell that covers an outer periphery of the insulator and is made of metal, the ground plate being disposed so as to face the contacts through a portion of the insulator with the contact portion of each contact being exposed, and having a cutout formed at an end of the ground plate adjacent to the contact portion of the source contact, and the insulator having a projection that fills the cutout of the ground plate.