Electrical Connector Inner Shield Engaging Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with engaging grooves in the metallic outer shell compromise shielding effectiveness and are prone to damage during connector insertion, particularly affecting the structural integrity of the insulative housing's side wall.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a metallic inner shield with a planar portion adjacent to the insulative housing's side wall and bulging portions that, together with the metallic outer shell's latching portion, define an engaging groove, enhancing shielding and structural reinforcement while maintaining a reduced thickness that does not increase the overall connector thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an engaging groove is defined by the metallic outer shell and insulative housing side wall, then connector insertion is enabled, but shielding effectiveness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A metallic inner shield is introduced as an intermediary component between the insulative housing and the metallic outer shell. This inner shield has a planar portion adjacent to the side wall and bulging portions that, together with the latching portion of the outer shell, define the engaging groove. The inner shield acts as a mediator that maintains shielding effectiveness while enabling the engaging groove functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the metallic outer shell is spaced apart from the insulative housing side wall to form an engaging groove, then connector insertion is enabled, but the side wall becomes prone to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic inner shield serves as a protective intermediary between the insulative housing side wall and the engagement interface. The planar portion of the inner shield is adjacent to the side wall, providing structural reinforcement and preventing direct stress concentration on the insulative material during connector insertion and latching operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a metallic inner shield is added between the insulative housing and metallic outer shell, then shielding effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic inner shield is nested within the space between the insulative housing and the metallic outer shell. The inner shield's planar portion is positioned adjacent to the side wall while its bulging portions extend toward the outer shell, creating a nested configuration that improves shielding without requiring significant additional space or complex assembly procedures.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the metallic inner shield with bulging portions is used to define the engaging groove, then shielding effectiveness is maintained, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic inner shield features localized geometric variations: a planar portion adjacent to the side wall for shielding and positioning, and bulging portions at specific locations to define the engaging groove with the outer shell latching portion. This local quality differentiation allows the shield to perform multiple functions while maintaining manufacturability through focused precision requirements at critical interfaces only.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a mating slot; a contact module received in the insulative housing, a metallic outer shell enclosing the insulative housing and having a latching portion spaced apart from a side wall of the insulative housing, and a metallic inner shield secured between the insulative housing and the metallic outer shell, wherein the metallic inner shield has a planar portion adjacent to the side wall of the insulative housing and a pair of bulging portions at two opposite ends of the planar portion, and the latching portion of the metallic outer shell and the planar portion and the bulging portions of the metallic inner shield together define an engaging groove.