Electrical Connector Grounding and Contact Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for charging applications often require complex configurations and higher costs due to the need for full-fledged contact arrangements, which can be unnecessary for basic charging purposes.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring two rows of contacts with one outermost ground contact and one power contact each, along with a pair of separated grounding pieces, housed in an insulative housing and enclosed by a shielding shell, optimized for low-cost manufacturing and simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full-fledged contact arrangement is used in electrical connectors, then reliability and versatility are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential contacts needed for charging functionality (one ground contact and one power contact per row) from the full-fledged contact arrangement, removing unnecessary contacts while maintaining core charging capability. This reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while preserving reliability for the intended application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different contact configurations in different rows - each row has one ground contact and one power contact, optimized specifically for charging purposes. This localized optimization allows the connector to meet reliability requirements for charging while avoiding the complexity of a complete contact arrangement throughout.
2Ease of manufacture
If a simplified contact configuration is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but functionality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing only the minimum necessary contacts for charging functionality (one ground and one power contact per row) rather than a complete contact arrangement. This partial configuration achieves the essential charging function while significantly reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The simplified contact configuration with one ground contact and one power contact per row provides universal charging functionality that can handle various charging scenarios. The design achieves multi-functionality for charging purposes while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Reliability
If separated grounding pieces are used between contact rows, then grounding effectiveness is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grounding function by using separate grounding pieces positioned between the contact rows rather than a continuous ground structure. This segmentation improves grounding effectiveness by providing dedicated ground paths while the modular nature of the separated pieces helps manage structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a base and a tongue; an upper and lower rows of contacts secured in the insulative housing and exposed to two opposite surfaces of the tongue; a pair of grounding pieces separated from each other and mounted in the insulative housing between the upper row of contacts and the lower row of contacts; a shielding shell enclosing the insulative housing, wherein each row of the upper and lower rows of contacts consist of one outermost ground contact and one power contact.