Electrical Connector Grounding Extension for Stable Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors lack effective grounding mechanisms, particularly in dual-orientation configurations, where the outermost ground contacts do not ensure stable contact with grounding pieces, leading to potential electrical interference and instability.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector design features an insulative housing with upper and lower rows of contacts, including two outermost ground contacts with extensions that are exposed on the tongue's surface via a step, allowing for stable contact with a grounding piece of a mating connector, enhancing grounding efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional ground contacts are used without extensions, then the connector structure remains simple, but the grounding contact stability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrounding contact stabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground contact is segmented into two functional parts: the base contact portion and the extension portion. The extension protrudes from the tongue to create a dedicated grounding contact point, separating the grounding function from the signal contact function. This segmentation improves grounding stability without significantly complicating the overall connector structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extension adds a new spatial dimension to the ground contact by protruding outward from the tongue surface. This dimensional extension creates additional contact surface area and establishes a more reliable electrical connection path, transforming a two-dimensional contact plane into a three-dimensional contact structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If ground contacts are positioned within the tongue structure, then the connector maintains a compact design, but electrical interference protection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical interferenceVSAvoidtongue length

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The extension acts as an intermediary element between the tongue and the grounding piece. It provides a dedicated interface that facilitates reliable electrical connection for grounding purposes, mediating the interaction between the connector and mating component while enhancing interference protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10177502B2Electrical connector having a mating tongue and a ground contact with an extension exposed to the tongue

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a base and a tongue; an upper and lower rows of contacts secured to the housing and exposed respectively to an upper and lower surfaces of the tongue, each row of contacts including two outermost ground contacts; and a shielding shell enclosing the contact module; wherein at least one of the ground contacts in one or both rows of the contacts has an extension, and the tongue has on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces a step exposing the extension.