Connection Connector With Selective Detachment Section

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotary connector devices for vehicles face challenges in managing overcurrent issues due to noise in external devices like LEDs, which can damage electric circuits, and require additional components like resistance elements only when such overcurrent is anticipated, leading to increased part counts and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A connection connector design for flat cables with a busbar and holder configuration that includes an electronic component arrangement section and a selective detachment section, allowing for the arrangement of components like resistance elements to protect against overcurrent, and optionally detaching when not needed, ensuring compatibility regardless of component presence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an electronic component (e.g., resistance element) is arranged in the coupling section to prevent overcurrent, then circuit protection is improved, but device complexity and part count increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit protectionVSAvoidpart complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling section is divided into a first coupling section and a second coupling section, with the electronic component arranged in the first coupling section. This segmentation allows the protection function to be isolated to a specific region while maintaining a standardized overall connector structure that can be used with or without the electronic component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection connector is designed with a standardized structure that can accommodate both configurations: with electronic component protection and without. The holder and coupling section design allows the same basic connector type to serve multiple functions - providing circuit protection when needed while maintaining compatibility with standard connectors when protection is not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different connection connectors are prepared for devices that may generate overcurrent and those that may not, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and inventory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidpart variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single standardized connection connector design is created that can be universally applied to all external devices. The connector includes an electronic component arrangement section that can accommodate a resistance element for overcurrent protection, but the same connector structure works whether the electronic component is present or absent, eliminating the need for different connector types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The connector design allows dynamic configuration where the electronic component can be selectively added or removed based on the specific application requirements. The holder and coupling section structure remains constant, but the presence or absence of the electronic component in the first coupling section can be adjusted to match the needs of different external devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3432423B1Connection connector, connection connector-provided flat cable, and rotary connector device
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP3432423B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3432423B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3432423B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a connection connector that can be commonly used irrespective of whether an electronic component is arranged therein or not, a connection connector-provided flat cable including the connection connector at an end section thereof, and a rotary connector device including the connection connector-provided flat cable. A connection connector 10, which is arranged at an end section of an FFC 100 including strip-shaped conductors 101, includes a busbar 40 including a connection pin section 41 to be connected to another terminal, and a resin holder 20 configured to hold the busbar 40. The busbar 40 includes a conductor connection section 43 to be electrically connected to a strip-shaped conductor 101, and a longitudinal coupling section 42 coupling the connection pin section 41 with the conductor connection section 43. The longitudinal coupling section 42 includes a resistance element arrangement space 51 in which a resistance element 80 can be arranged, and a selective detachment section 54 configured to be selectively detached depending on an arrangement of the resistance element 80 in the resistance element arrangement space 51 and electrically separate the connection pin section 41 and the conductor connection section 43.