Interface Connector Locator Structure for Contact Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interface connectors face challenges in controlling the positional displacement of front end parts of auxiliary contacts, leading to increased impedance and difficulty in manufacturing due to the need for complex groove formations in the insulating member.
Innovation Solution
An interface connector design featuring a housing, contact assembly, insulating member, and locator that includes partition walls to correct positional displacement of second electric contacts, reducing impedance while allowing for easy manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If grooves are formed on both surfaces of the partition walls in the insulating member to press-fit widened parts of auxiliary contacts, then impedance of contacts is reduced, but the thickness of parts between grooves becomes small making it difficult to manufacture the insulating member
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the insulating member into two separate components: the insulating member itself and a locator component. The locator contains the partition walls with grooves for press-fitting contacts, while the insulating member provides structural support. This segmentation allows the insulating member to be manufactured without complex grooves, solving the manufacturing difficulty while maintaining contact impedance control through the locator's structured partition walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The locator acts as an intermediary component between the insulating member and the contacts. It provides the structured partition walls with grooves that control contact positioning and impedance, while the insulating member simply provides mechanical support. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by transferring the complex groove-forming requirement from the insulating member to a dedicated locator component.
2Manufacturing precision
If partition walls are disposed between all contacts including middle parts exposed from the insulating member, then positional displacement of contacts is controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partition walls locally only where needed - specifically between front end parts of contacts that require positional control, while omitting them from middle parts that are already adequately positioned by the insulating member structure. This selective application of partition walls achieves necessary contact alignment without the complexity of a complete partition wall system throughout the entire contact assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing partition walls between all contacts throughout their entire length, the patent provides partial coverage only at the critical front end regions where positional displacement occurs. This partial action approach achieves the necessary positional control function with reduced structural complexity compared to a complete partition wall system.
Data Source
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AI summary
An interface connector that can reduce impedance of contacts while controlling a positional displacement of front end parts of the contacts and can be easily manufactured is provided. An interface connector (1) according to the present disclosure includes a housing (11) and a contact assembly (13) held by the housing (11). The contact assembly (13) includes contacts including first electric contacts and second electric contacts, an insulating member (24) that holds the contacts, and a locator (25) that corrects a positional displacement of the second electric contacts in a width direction. The locator (25) includes partition walls (25b) disposed between the contacts. At least some of the partition walls (25b) partition front end parts of at least some of the contacts, and are not disposed between middle parts of the at least some of the contacts.