Connector With Pushing Member For Flexible Conductor Alignment
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for flexible conductors face difficulties in reliable connection due to movement of the flexible substrate during assembly, especially when the conductor width is shorter than the projection, leading to inconsistent electrical contact.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with recesses and pushing members that hold flexible conductors in place using cutouts and holding grooves, ensuring precise alignment and secure fixation to prevent movement during connection, thereby ensuring reliable electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flexible substrate is sandwiched between the projection and the contact during insertion, then electrical connection between the contact and the flexible conductor is achieved, but the flexible substrate readily moves relative to the projection, making the connection process difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductor is pre-positioned on the flexible substrate before the projection is inserted. The projection is then inserted together with the flexible substrate, and the flexible conductor is simultaneously positioned and pressed, achieving both easy insertion and reliable electrical connection in one action.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible conductor acts as an intermediary element that is pressed between the projection and the contact. This intermediary is compressed during insertion, ensuring firm contact between the projection and the contact while maintaining electrical connection reliability.
2Reliability
If the flexible conductor has a width shorter than that of the projection, then the projection and flexible conductor must be inserted while maintaining specific relative position, but this makes the connection process more difficult and reduces reliability if position shifts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductor is pre-positioned on the flexible substrate before insertion. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the projection is inserted, the flexible conductor is already in the correct location, eliminating the need for precise manual alignment during insertion and reducing the risk of position shifts.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 6~8
AI summary
A connector includes a pushing member including a projection and a pushing member-side flange formed at a root portion of the projection, and a contact having a projection accommodating portion, the pushing member-side flange including a pair of fixing portions separately arranged on opposite sides of the root portion of the projection across the projection, when the projection is inserted into the projection accommodating portion together with the flexible conductor with a part of the flexible conductor being laid along a lateral surface of the projection being fixed by the pair of fixing portions, the part of the flexible conductor laid along the lateral surface of the projection being sandwiched between the lateral surface of the projection and an inner surface of the projection accommodating portion to contact the inner surface of the projection accommodating portion, whereby the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor.