Connector With Longitudinal Hooks For Compact Sensor Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for planar sensor elements require wide spacing of contact fittings due to orthogonal hooks, leading to increased housing and connector size, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features long, narrow contact fittings formed by bending a die-cut metal plate, with a metal piece folded to form a hook retained by the housing, reducing the arrangement width and overall connector size, and includes regulating members to maintain electrical contact and clamping pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hooks are arranged orthogonal to the length of contact fittings and bend outward, then the contact fittings can be retained by the housing, but the arrangement width increases and the connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal piece is folded to be accommodated within a region directly above the metal plate portion, creating a nested structure where the retention element is contained within the footprint of the contact fitting itself, eliminating the need for additional lateral space
Solution Approach 2:
The hook is formed by bending the metal piece along the length of the metal plate portion rather than extending orthogonal to it, changing the spatial orientation of the retention element from a lateral extension to a longitudinal feature that utilizes the length dimension instead of the width dimension
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 design reduces the size of the connector while ensuring reliable electrical contact and clamping of the sensor element, even under excessive pressure, extending the connector's lifespan and maintaining contact integrity in vibrating environments.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the contact fittings is obtained by bending a die-cut member having a metal plate portion of substantially rectangular shape and a metal piece connecting to a long side of the metal plate portion. The metal piece is folded to be accommodated within a region directly above a surface of the metal plate portion opposite a surface in contact with the front-surface electrode or the back-surface electrode. Then, the metal piece is bent along the length of the metal plate portion to form a hook to be retained by the first housing or the second housing.
Implementation Method 2
clamp and secure the sensor element with pressing force generated by elastic deformation of the conducting portions of the contact fittings on the first housing and the conducting portions of the contact fittings on the second housing
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Each of contact fittings 71 is obtained by bending a die-cut member having a metal plate portion of substantially rectangular shape and a metal piece connecting to a long side of the metal plate portion. The metal piece is folded to be accommodated within a region directly above a surface of the metal plate portion opposite a surface in contact with a front-surface electrode 21a or a back-surface electrode 21b. Then, the metal piece is bent along the length of the metal plate portion to form a hook 71e to be retained by a first housing 51a or a second housing 51b. Therefore, as compared to a structure in which hooks are orthogonal to the length of metal plate portions and bend outward from contact fittings, the arrangement width of the contact fittings 71 arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the length of the contact fittings 71 can be reduced, so that the size of the first housing 51a and the second housing 51b can be reduced. This means that it is possible to reduce the size of the connector 50.