Electrical Connector Integral Power Terminal Block for Grounding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors lack an effective integration of a power terminal block structure and a metallic shielding plate, which compromises their grounding and heat dissipation capabilities, especially when handling large currents.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring an insulative housing with upper and lower rows of conductive terminals, where the power terminals form an integral block structure extending along the thickness direction of the tongue portion, and a metallic shielding plate is clamped between these rows, enhancing grounding and heat dissipation by ensuring the power terminals' contacting sections are at least twice the thickness of the grounding terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power terminals are formed as separate individual structures, then the connector structure is simpler to manufacture, but the grounding effect and heat dissipation capabilities are insufficient when handling large currents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple power terminals into an integral block structure where adjacent power terminals are connected together to form a unified conductive block. This combining approach increases the effective grounding area and improves heat dissipation capabilities while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through stamping or molding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The power terminal block structure extends in the thickness direction of the tongue portion, creating a three-dimensional configuration rather than a planar arrangement. This dimensional extension increases the contacting section area and provides better thermal and electrical pathways without significantly increasing lateral footprint.
2Power
If the contacting section thickness of power terminals is increased, then the current handling capability and heat dissipation are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple power terminals into an integral block, the patent achieves a larger effective contacting section thickness and area. This merged structure provides better current handling and heat dissipation while the integral nature of the block reduces the number of separate precision-critical interfaces, as the block is formed as a single piece through stamping or molding.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a metallic shielding plate is added between the upper and lower rows of conductive terminals, then the electromagnetic shielding and grounding are improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic shielding plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electromagnetic shielding between the upper and lower terminal rows, acts as an additional grounding path, and structurally reinforces the tongue portion. This multi-functionality justifies the added component by delivering multiple benefits from a single element.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding plate is made of metallic material that matches the material properties of the terminal structures, creating a homogeneous electromagnetic environment. This material consistency ensures uniform shielding effectiveness and simplifies the manufacturing process, as the metal plate can be integrated using similar fabrication techniques as the terminals.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: a terminal module comprising an insulative housing having a base portion and a tongue portion, an upper and a lower rows of conductive terminals, and a metallic shielding plate clamped between the two rows of conductive terminals; each row of conductive terminals including plural grounding terminals located on both sides of the tongue portion, and plural power terminals located on the inside of the grounding terminals; each conductive terminal having a contacting section, a tail section, and a retaining section; wherein an upper power terminal and a corresponding lower power terminal are an integral block structure and extending along a thickness direction of the tongue portion in the tongue portion, a thickness of the contacting section of each power terminal is at least twice the thickness of the contacting section of each grounding terminal.