Connector Assembly With Lateral Elastic Support for Contact Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic components on printed circuit boards become denser, reducing the size of connectors leads to a decrease in the elastic force of spring portions, making it difficult to maintain sufficient contact pressure and ensure electric connections, especially after repeated detachment and attachment.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a terminal with a first mount portion, first leg portion, top portion, second leg portion, bottom portion, and an elastic portion, where the elastic portion is elastically deformable in the lateral direction, and a housing with a side wall portion that contacts the elastic portion, allowing both to deform together and provide consistent contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If connector size is reduced to accommodate denser electronic components, then device miniaturization is achieved, but elastic force of spring portions decreases making it difficult to maintain sufficient contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a conventional single-spring vertical deformation mechanism to a dual-component system where both the elastic portion and housing side wall portion deform laterally in the width direction. This dimensional shift allows the housing structure to actively participate in providing contact force, compensating for the reduced elastic force in miniaturized connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the elastic portion with the housing side wall portion into a coordinated deformation system. Both components work together to provide contact force, with the side wall portion acting as an additional elastic element that supplements the reduced spring force, effectively combining terminal and housing functions for force provision.
2Productivity
If connector size is reduced, then productivity and component density are improved, but reliability of electric connection deteriorates due to insufficient contact pressure after repeated detachment and attachment
Solution Approach 1:
By shifting from vertical spring deformation to lateral deformation of both elastic portion and side wall portion, the invention creates a more effective contact force mechanism that maintains connection reliability even in miniaturized connectors subjected to repeated mating cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined deformation of elastic portion and side wall portion creates a synergistic effect where both components contribute to contact force, ensuring stable electric connection reliability despite connector miniaturization and repeated use.
3Length of moving object
If spring portion size is reduced in miniaturized connectors, then connector miniaturization is achieved, but contact pressure becomes insufficient to ensure reliable electric connections
Solution Approach 1:
The housing side wall portion acts as an intermediary elastic element that supplements the reduced spring portion. When the partner terminal is inserted, the side wall portion deforms laterally to provide additional contact force, mediating between the reduced spring force and the required contact pressure for reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces lateral deformation of the side wall portion as an additional dimension of elastic deformation, compensating for the reduced vertical spring force and maintaining sufficient contact pressure in miniaturized connectors.
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
Ensures proper contact pressure is maintained even with reduced connector size, ensuring reliable electric connections between terminals, even after repeated use.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic portion (17) formed continuously to the bottom portion (16), extends in the upper direction Z1 from the bottom portion (16), and is elastically deformable in the lateral direction X
Implementation Method 2
The elastic portion (17) of the terminal (10) and the side wall portion (31) of the housing (30) are elastically deformed together in the lateral direction X when the terminal (10) of the partner connector (2b) is inserted into the fitting recessed portion (19) of the terminal (10)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a connector including a terminal and a housing, wherein the terminal includes a first mount portion, a first leg portion, a top portion, a second leg portion, a bottom portion, and an elastic portion, the terminal is configured to house a terminal of a partner connector in a fitting recessed portion formed by the second leg portion, the bottom portion, and the elastic portion, and the second leg portion and the elastic portion contact the terminal of the partner connector, a side wall portion of the housing extends in the fitting direction, and contacts or is provided close to the elastic portion of the terminal, the elastic portion of the terminal and the side wall portion of the housing are elastically deformed together in a lateral direction of the connector when the terminal of the partner connector is inserted into the fitting recessed portion of the terminal.