Connector Structure Height Reduction Using Elastic Engaging Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector structures face challenges in achieving a height reduction of the connecting portion to 1.0 mm or less and a pitch of 0.5 mm or less between terminals, while maintaining reliable assembly and retention force, especially under external impacts and vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A connector structure utilizing a flexible circuit board with female terminal portions and a male connector with engaging members, including a foil-like female-side engaging member with second through-holes and a frame-like male-side engaging member, allowing for elastic deformation and pressure contact to secure the connection, and optionally using an adhesive layer for bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional punching work using a die is used to manufacture female connector, then manufacturing process is simple, but height of connecting portion cannot be reduced to 1.0 mm or less and pitch between terminals cannot be narrowed to 0.5 mm or less
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the manufacturing method from conventional punching work to plating technique and photolithography technique, which are parameter changes in the manufacturing process. This enables the height of connecting portion to be reduced to 1.0 mm or less and pitch between terminals to be narrowed to 0.5 mm or less while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through precise control of plating thickness and photolithography patterns.
2Length of moving object
If connector size is further reduced and thinned, then space saving is improved, but product failures occur frequently, assembling workability is poor, and disconnection occurs under impact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an elastically deformable portion in the female-side engaging member that can dynamically adapt to external impacts. When impact occurs, the elastically deformable portion deforms to absorb shock and then returns to its original shape, maintaining reliable engagement between connectors while preventing disconnection, thus solving the reliability problem associated with thinned connector designs.
3Ease of operation
If female connector and male connector are assembled without engaging members, then structure is simple, but assembling workability is poor and retaining force is insufficient under external impact
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the connector structure by adding separate engaging members (female-side engaging member with male-side engaging member) that are distinct from the terminal portions. This segmentation allows the engaging members to be specifically designed for easy assembly through elastic deformation and snap-fit engagement, while the terminal portions maintain their simplified structure for electrical connection, thus improving assembling workability without excessive complexity.
4Area of stationary object
If pitch between terminals is narrowed to achieve space saving, then area is reduced, but manufacturing precision and assembly alignment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs self-alignment mechanisms where the elastically deformable portion and engaging members automatically guide and position the male and female connectors during assembly. The elastic deformation provides tactile feedback and mechanical guidance that ensures precise alignment of terminals even at narrow pitches, eliminating the need for high-precision manual alignment and enabling self-correcting assembly at reduced dimensions.
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
The solution enables a stable and reliable connection with improved assembly workability, maintaining a strong retaining force between the connectors, even under external impacts and vibrations, while achieving size reduction and space-saving design.
Implementation Method 1
a female-side engaging member which is a foil-like body fixedly arranged on the opposite face of the flexible circuit board from a formation face of the pad portions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
A connector structure which can realize height reduction of connecting portions and space saving and which prevents separation of a female connector and a male connector from each other due to an impact or vibrations, wherein a conduction structure is formed by bringing connecting pins (9) of a male connector (B2), which are inserted in female terminal portions installed in a flexible circuit board (B3) of a female connector (B1), into pressure contact with pad portions of the female terminal portions (3), and the female connector (B1) and the male connector (B2) are coupled with each other by inserting column-shaped projections (15) of the male connector (B2) into notch ring bodies (14) fixed on the flexible circuit board (B3) of the female connector (B1) and holding the column-shaped projections (15) by restoring force based on elastic deformation of the notch ring bodies (14).