Electrical Connector Insulative Fins Arcing Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors face issues with arcing due to high voltage levels, which can be mitigated by spacing terminals, but this increases the connector's footprint, occupying valuable space on circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector system incorporates an insulative fin structure between electrical contacts, increasing the creepage distance without expanding the connector's footprint, making it touch-proof and capable of handling higher voltages while preventing arcing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If terminals are spaced farther apart to reduce arcing, then arcing is reduced, but the connector footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces insulative fins that extend downward from the housing in a direction perpendicular to the terminal spacing plane. This adds a vertical dimension (creepage distance) to the insulation strategy, allowing terminals to remain closely spaced horizontally while achieving adequate insulation through the vertical fin structure that contacts the substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulative fins act as intermediary elements between the electrical terminals and the substrate. These fins provide a physical barrier and increased creepage path, mediating the insulation requirement without requiring increased horizontal spacing between terminals. The fins contact the substrate to establish an alternative insulation pathway.
2Area of stationary object
If terminals are spaced closer together to reduce footprint, then space is saved, but arcing increases
Solution Approach 1:
By extending insulation into the vertical dimension through downward-projecting fins, the patent decouples the relationship between horizontal terminal spacing and insulation effectiveness. Terminals can be closely spaced in the horizontal plane while the vertical fin structure provides the necessary creepage distance and arcing protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulative fins provide localized insulation enhancement specifically at critical areas where arcing might occur between closely spaced terminals. Rather than uniformly increasing spacing everywhere, the fins concentrate insulation where needed, allowing close terminal spacing while maintaining reliability at vulnerable points.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An electrical connector can be configured to mate with at least one complementary electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a dielectric connector housing including a housing body that defines a mounting interface configured to be mounted onto a substrate and a mating interface configured to receive at least one complementary electrical connector along a mating direction. A plurality of electrical contacts are supported by the connector housing and spaced apart from each other along a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the mating direction. The electrical contacts include 1) a mating portion that is configured to mate with a complementary electrical contact of the complementary electrical connector, and 2) a mounting portion configured to electrically connect to the substrate. The electrical connector can further include at least one electrically insulative fin supported by the housing body.