Electrical Connector Contact Sequencing to Prevent Mating Arcs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Arc generation occurs between terminals of male and female electrical connectors during mating due to high electrical potential, potentially damaging the connectors.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design with power activation after mating, featuring an insulation structure with activating and detecting terminals that deform elastically to conduct high and low voltage sides after initial contact with power terminals, preventing arc generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If power supply is activated before mating is complete, then power transmission can begin earlier, but arc generation occurs between terminals causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical mating process is completed in advance before power activation. The connector design ensures that all terminal contacts are established prior to enabling power supply through the activating terminal, preventing arc generation while allowing early power transmission readiness
Solution Approach 2:
The structure prevents the harmful arc effect by ensuring power is not activated during the vulnerable mating phase. The activating terminal acts as a gate that only opens after complete mechanical engagement, preemptively avoiding the arc damage problem
2Reliability
If activating terminals are positioned to contact last, then power activation occurs after complete mating preventing arcs, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The activating terminal is positioned in a different spatial dimension or plane compared to the power terminals. This dimensional separation allows the activating terminal to naturally contact last during the insertion sequence without requiring complex timing mechanisms or additional control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The connector structure itself automatically ensures proper contact sequence through its geometric design. The activating terminal's position and orientation cause it to engage last during natural insertion, eliminating the need for external control systems or complex mechanical sequencing devices
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
Prevents arc generation by ensuring power supply activation only after complete mating, thus protecting the connector from damage.
Implementation Method 1
the first activating terminal deform elastically to contact the first detecting terminal to conduct a high voltage side to the first power terminals, and the second activating terminal deform elastically to contact the second detecting terminal to conduct a low voltage side to the second power terminals
Implementation Method 2
high electrical potential between the terminals will penetrate air to generate plasma, whereby an arc is generated between the terminals of the male electrical connector and the terminals of the female electrical connector
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector with power activation after mating, which includes an insulation structure, a plurality of first power terminals, a plurality of second power terminals, a first activating terminal, a second activating terminal, a first detection terminal and a second detection terminal. The first detecting terminal is arranged adjacent to the first activating terminal, and the second detecting terminal is arranged adjacent to the second activating terminal. A counterpart electrical connector contacts the first power terminals and the second power terminals prior to the first activating terminal and the second activating terminals. The first activating terminal and the second activating terminal are pressed to contact the first detecting terminal and the second detecting terminal, whereby a high voltage side is conducted to the first power terminals, and a low voltage side is conducted to the second power terminals.