Terminal-Guided Connector Structure to Prevent Mating Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Connectors mounted on rigid circuit boards tend to buckle when mated with mating connectors due to increased contact pressure, which is not effectively addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes a terminal with a resilient supporting portion, a contact portion oriented perpendicular to the up-down direction, and a guiding portion that positions the fulcrum beyond a reference point, ensuring the moment produced during mating is directed in a way that prevents increased contact pressure and buckling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the connector is mounted on a rigid circuit board, then the connector can be firmly fixed, but the terminal may buckle when mated with a mating connector due to increased contact pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding portion is designed to preliminarily guide the mating terminal along a predetermined path before the actual mating occurs. This preliminary action ensures that the mating terminal approaches the contact portion in the correct orientation and position, preventing misalignment that could cause buckling during mating while maintaining firm fixation on the rigid circuit board
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding portion acts as an intermediary element between the rigid circuit board mounting structure and the terminal. It mediates the interaction by providing a guided path that accommodates the rigid mounting while protecting the terminal from buckling forces, allowing the terminal to move smoothly during mating without direct harmful contact with rigid structures
2Reliability
If the contact pressure between mating terminal and terminal is increased, then the electrical connection is improved, but the supporting portion may buckle
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting portion is designed with specific resilient properties and dimensional parameters that allow it to flexibly accommodate contact pressure during mating. By optimizing the thickness, length, and material properties of the supporting portion, the design enables sufficient electrical contact pressure while preventing buckling through controlled elastic deformation
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting portion is designed to dynamically respond to mating forces by elastically deforming during the mating process. This dynamic flexibility allows the terminal to absorb contact pressure shocks and maintain reliable electrical connection without rigid resistance that would cause buckling, adapting its shape temporarily during mating then returning to its original form
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 ensures that the orientation of the contact portion coincides with the moment produced, preventing buckling of the terminal during mating and maintaining optimal contact pressure.
Implementation Method 1
The guiding portion receives, at the specific contact location, a frictional force caused by friction between the mating terminal and the guiding portion upon movement of the mating terminal on the guiding portion
Implementation Method 2
The supporting portion has a resilient property
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector is mounted on a circuit board when used. The connector has a housing and a terminal which has a held portion, a supporting portion, a coupling portion, a contact portion and a guiding portion. The coupling portion has a fulcrum. The guiding portion receives a vertical force from a mating terminal at a specific contact location. The guiding portion receives, at the specific contact location, a frictional force caused by friction between the mating terminal and the guiding portion upon movement of the mating terminal on the guiding portion. An action line of a combined force of the vertical force and the frictional force intersects with one of the circuit board and the housing at a reference point. The fulcrum is positioned beyond the reference point in a first orientation of a first horizontal direction.