Connector Locking Structure for PCB Thickness Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors with lock portions on circuit boards tend to become loosely locked and inclined when the circuit board thickness falls within a certain tolerance range, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
The connector features a housing with multiple locking portions, each having a resiliently deformable leg and a locking body with surfaces at different heights, allowing for secure locking across varying circuit board thicknesses by adjusting the angle of inclination to ensure proper alignment and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single type of locking portion is used, then the structure is simple, but the housing becomes inclined when circuit board thickness varies within tolerance range
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portions are segmented into multiple types (first locking portions and second locking portions) with different locking surface heights. This segmentation allows each type to be optimally matched to different circuit board thickness conditions, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and housing stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The leg portion is designed to be resiliently deformable, allowing dynamic adjustment to accommodate variations in circuit board thickness. This dynamic capability enables the locking mechanism to maintain effective locking across different thickness conditions without requiring complex fixed structures.
2Ease of manufacture
If the locking surface is fixed at a single height, then manufacturing is simple, but reliable locking cannot be achieved across tolerance range of circuit board thickness
Solution Approach 1:
Different locking portions are assigned different local qualities (locking surface heights) to match different circuit board thickness conditions. The first locking portions have locking surfaces at one height while second locking portions have locking surfaces at another height, allowing each to reliably lock to the circuit board under specific thickness conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking surface height parameter is varied across different locking portion types to accommodate circuit board thickness variations. By changing this critical parameter, the invention maintains reliable locking across the tolerance range without complicating the overall manufacturing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If locking portions are rigid, then manufacturing precision is easier to control, but the connector cannot adapt to thickness variations and becomes loosely locked
Solution Approach 1:
The leg portion is designed as a flexible, resiliently deformable element rather than a rigid structure. This flexibility allows the locking portion to adapt to thickness variations in the circuit board while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled deformation and resilient return to the locked position.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses the inclination of the housing relative to the circuit board, maintaining a secure lock across the tolerance range, even when the board thickness changes, and prevents the connector from tilting forward.
Implementation Method 1
a resiliently deformable leg portion projecting from a front side to a back side of the circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
A connector 10 includes a housing 11 to be installed on a circuit board 80. The housing 11 includes a first locking portion 21 and a second locking portion 22. Each of the first and second locking portions 21, 22 includes a resiliently deformable leg portion 27, 28 projecting from a front side to a back side of the circuit board 80 and a locking body 31, 32 protruding from the leg portion 27, 28 in a direction intersecting a projecting direction of the leg portion 27, 28. The locking body 31, 32 has a locking surface 33, 34 lockable to the circuit board 80. The locking surfaces 33, 34 of the first and second locking portions 21, 22 are at different heights in the projecting direction.