Electrical Connector Latching With Guide Pin Groove
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector latching systems are prone to assembly errors, especially in small or blind-mate applications, leading to potential electrical disconnects due to incomplete latching, which can be difficult to verify without visual inspection or tools.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector system employs a guide pin with a groove and a conductive shield featuring primary and secondary latches, allowing for tool-less, blind-mate assembly and secure engagement of both sides of the connector, ensuring reliable latching without the need for tools or visual alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side latches are used on both sides of the electrical connector, then latching reliability is improved, but assembly complexity increases and visual verification becomes difficult in small or blind-mate applications
Solution Approach 1:
The latching system is divided into two independent sides: a first side with a primary latch and a second side with a secondary latch. Each side operates independently with its own latching mechanism, allowing the connector to achieve reliable latching on both sides while simplifying the assembly process for each individual side.
Solution Approach 2:
The second latch is designed to automatically engage with the guide pin of the mating connector during the assembly process. The latch mechanism self-actuates through the natural insertion motion, eliminating the need for manual tool assistance or visual verification while ensuring proper engagement.
2Reliability
If traditional side latches are used, then latching function is provided, but visual verification of full engagement is difficult in small or blind-mate applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual indicators that change color or provide visual feedback when the latch is properly engaged. This allows installers to easily verify full latching engagement without requiring close visual inspection or special tools, even in small or blind-mate applications.
3Reliability
If tools are used to assemble or disassemble electrical connectors, then latching control is improved, but assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Both the primary and secondary latch mechanisms are designed to operate through the natural insertion and removal motions of the connector assembly. The latches self-engage and self-disengage without requiring external tools, maintaining reliable latching control while significantly simplifying the assembly and disassembly processes.
4Ease of operation
If guide pin is positioned at or near the second side opposite the first side, then mating guidance is improved, but latching coverage on both sides is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The latching system is segmented into two independent sides: the first side with a primary latch engaged in its latch pocket, and the second side with a secondary latch engaged with the guide pin. This segmentation allows the guide pin to be optimally positioned for mating guidance while maintaining comprehensive latching coverage through the distributed latch arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a contact holder holding a plurality of contacts and a housing having a chamber holding the contact holder. The housing has a latch pocket along a first side of the housing and a guide pin positioned at or near a second side of the housing. The guide pin has a groove therein. A primary latch is received in the latch pocket and has a deflectable latching beam at a distal end thereof. The latching beam is configured for latching engagement with the mating connector for latching of the first side of the housing to the mating connector. The guide pin is configured to guide mating of the electrical connector with the mating connector. The groove is configured to receive a secondary latch of the mating connector to facilitate latching of the second side of the housing to the mating connector.