Connector Outer Conductor Ring Design for Insertion Force Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

State-of-the-art connectors face a trade-off between EMC tightness, insertion forces, and stability in high-frequency ranges, where optimizing one parameter often contradicts the others, leading to increased insertion forces and potential damage from mechanical forces.

Innovation Solution

An outer conductor arrangement with a closed entry design featuring a flexible outer conductor ring and bulges or indentations, manufactured using a punching-bending process to create diameter jumps, which reduces insertion forces while maintaining stability and EMC performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a closed entry structure is used in the outer conductor, then EMC tightness is improved, but insertion forces increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveEMC tightnessVSAvoidinsertion forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The outer conductor is segmented into a base body with contact tabs and a separate outer conductor ring. The ring is attached to the base body to form a closed entry structure, but the segmentation allows the contact tabs to remain flexible while achieving EMC shielding through the closed ring structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer conductor ring is designed with at least one bulge or indentation that provides flexibility. This flexible structure allows the ring to deform during insertion, reducing insertion forces while maintaining the closed entry configuration for EMC tightness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If a closed entry structure is used, then protection from mechanical forces is improved, but insertion forces increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from mechanical forcesVSAvoidinsertion forces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The outer conductor is divided into a base body and a separate ring structure. The ring provides protective enclosure for the contact tabs while the segmentation allows the contact tabs to flex independently, reducing insertion forces despite the closed protective structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer conductor ring incorporates bulges or indentations that create flexible regions. These flexible regions allow the ring to deform during insertion, reducing insertion forces while the closed ring structure continues to provide mechanical protection for the contact tabs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If contact tabs are made flexible to reduce insertion forces, then ease of operation is improved, but stability in high frequency range may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion forcesVSAvoidstability in high frequency range
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The outer conductor is segmented into flexible contact tabs on a base body and a separate outer conductor ring. This segmentation allows the contact tabs to be flexible for easy insertion while the complete closed ring structure provides stability for high-frequency performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer conductor ring with bulges or indentations acts as a flexible shell that can deform during insertion, reducing insertion forces. Once assembled, the ring maintains its structure to provide stability for high-frequency applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The solution effectively reduces insertion forces and enhances stability while ensuring a closed entry structure protects contact tabs from mechanical forces, improving the overall performance of connectors in high-frequency applications.

Implementation Method 1

In order to ensure sufficient flexibility of the outer conductor ring, it has at least one bulge or indentation, which can deform resiliently during insertion.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

producing an outer conductor base body with a plurality of contact tabs and with at least one holding tab by means of a punching-bending process, in which the holding tab is unrolled in the punching-bending process in such a way that there is one between the contact tabs and the holding tab Diameter jump occurs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlasticity: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3396791B1External conductor arrangement
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 ROSENBERGER HOCHFREQUENZTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3396791B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3396791B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3396791B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8

AI summary

The present invention relates to an outer conductor arrangement for a connector comprising an outer conductor body and an outer conductor ring, wherein the outer conductor body has several contact tabs, wherein the outer conductor ring is attached to an interface-side end of the outer conductor body, has at least one protrusion or indentation, and is of a closed structure, wherein the outer conductor ring is configured to protect the contact tabs from mechanical forces. The present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing it.