Electrical Connector Assembly Lateral Alignment Organizer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF connectors with springs allow compression in both axial and lateral directions, leading to misalignment and potential damage during mating, and there is a need for a cost-effective and reliable connector assembly that can be safely and reliably mated.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector assembly with a housing and an organizer, where the organizer is coupled to the insert, and clips surrounding the shells of the electrical connectors, allowing for secure engagement and restricting lateral movement, enabling safe and reliable mating by compressing the clip to pass it rearward through the insert opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring is used to ensure connector engagement, then the connectors are pushed forward and contacts are engaged, but the connector allows compression in lateral directions causing misalignment and potential damage during mating
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into two separate functional components: an insert that provides axial engagement force, and an organizer that provides lateral positioning and alignment. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one aspect of connector engagement without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between reliable engagement and precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The organizer acts as an intermediary component between the insert and the electrical connectors. It receives the connectors laterally, positions them precisely, and then transfers them to the insert for axial engagement. This intermediary structure enables both lateral alignment precision and axial engagement force to be achieved separately and simultaneously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If both connectors are tilted off-center during mating, then there is a greater chance that contacts are not properly aligned, but the spring forces the connector in an undesired direction causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The organizer provides preliminary lateral positioning and alignment of the connectors before they engage with the insert. By pre-aligning the connectors in the lateral direction, the system prevents off-center tilting and misalignment during mating, thereby eliminating the harmful forces that could damage the contacts while still allowing for some mating tolerance.
3Device complexity
If the organizer is integrated with the insert, then the structure is simplified, but the clip cannot be accessed for removal of electrical connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into an insert and an organizer that are coupled but can be separated. The organizer is detachably coupled to the insert, allowing the organizer to be removed independently. This segmentation provides access to the clips on the insert for connector removal while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure when assembled.
4Manufacturing precision
If the organizer openings have a smaller diameter than insert openings, then lateral movement of electrical connectors is restricted, but the clip engagement with lips becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The organizer openings are designed with local quality variations: they have a smaller diameter than the insert openings to restrict lateral movement and provide precise positioning, but they are aligned with the insert openings to allow clips to engage with lips during the assembly process. This local differentiation in opening dimensions achieves both precise positioning and ease of assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical connector assembly (14) includes a housing that has an insert (222) and an organizer (224) separate from, and coupled to, the insert (222). The insert (222) and the organizer (224) have insert openings (314) and organizer openings (316) aligned with corresponding insert openings (314). The organizer openings (316) have a smaller diameter than the insert openings (314) and the insert openings (314) have a lip (380) that extends into the insert opening (314). Electrical connectors are received in the housing that have shells (230) and include clips (320) surrounding corresponding shells (230). The clips (320) engage the lips (380) of the insert openings (314) for securing the electrical connectors in the insert openings (314). The organizer openings (316) circumferentially surround the shells (230) and restrict lateral movement of the electrical connectors.