Male-Female Connector Contacts for Stable Point Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male-female mating type electrical connectors with one-point or two-point contact configurations face challenges in achieving reliable contact due to longer stab lengths, which can compromise connection stability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features conductive contacts with elongated plate members in a cantilevered configuration, where the contacting portions have arcuate or planar cross-sectional shapes to facilitate point contact when mated, enhancing contact reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a one-point contact configuration is used, then the contact structure is simpler, but the stab length becomes longer which reduces connection reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure is divided into multiple contact points (first contact point and second contact point) along the mating direction. This segmentation allows the stab length to be effectively reduced while maintaining connection reliability, as the contact force is distributed across multiple points rather than concentrated at a single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact interface transitions from a single-point contact to a multi-point contact arrangement along the mating direction. This dimensional extension of the contact interface allows for shorter stab lengths while ensuring reliable electrical connection through multiple contact points.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a two-point contact configuration is used, then connection stability is improved, but the contact points may vary in position which reduces contact reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The contacting portions are formed with spherical shapes, allowing them to make point contact with the abutting portions. This curvature ensures that even if there are positional deviations during mating, the spherical contacting portions can automatically adjust to achieve reliable point contact, maintaining both stability and reliability.
3Reliability
If the contacting portions are formed in spherical shape, then point contact is achieved improving contact reliability, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical contacting portion and the abutting portion are integrated into a single contact component structure. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the manufacturing process while still achieving the desired point contact functionality. The contact component is designed as a unified structure that combines both the spherical contacting surface and the abutting surface.
4Reliability
If spherical contacting portions are used, then point contact is achieved, but the connectors may deviate transversely during initial mating which reduces connection stability
Solution Approach 1:
The contact component features asymmetric geometry with a spherical contacting portion at one end and a planar abutting portion at the other end. This asymmetry ensures that during the initial mating stage, the spherical portion makes point contact first, guiding the connectors into proper alignment, while the abutting portion provides stable support. The asymmetric design prevents transverse deviation by establishing a clear mating sequence and alignment path.
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 allows for improved contact reliability by ensuring point contact between the contacting portions, reducing the impact of mating position deviations and stabilizing the connection.
Implementation Method 1
the contacting portions have arcuate or planar cross-sectional shapes to facilitate point contact when mated, enhancing contact reliability
Implementation Method 2
the first contacts are each composed of an elongated plate member supported in a cantilevered manner by the first retaining member
Data Source
AI summary
A male-female mating type electrical connector includes a plug connector PC retaining a plurality of plug-side signal contacts 80, and a receptacle connector RC retaining a plurality of receptacle-side signal contacts 50. The plug-side signal contacts 80 are each composed of an elongated plate member rectangular in cross section, and each have a plug-signal-side contacting portion 86 having a contacting face having an arcuate cross-sectional shape and protruding, and a plug-signal-side abutting portion 85 having a contacting face having an arcuate cross-sectional shape. The receptacle-side signal contacts 50 are each composed of an elongated plate member rectangular in cross section, and each have a receptacle-signal-side contacting portion 56 having a contacting face having a planar shape and protruding toward a side in which the receptacle-side signal contact 50 contacts a mating contact, and a receptacle-signal-side abutting portion 55 having a mating-contact contacting face having a planar shape.