Electrical Connector Contacts Sharing Soldering Leg

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of contacts in electrical connectors leads to a large number of soldering legs, causing space exhaustion and rigidity issues on mother printed circuit boards (PCBs).

Innovation Solution

The design includes different contacts sharing a common soldering leg, where the first set of contacts connects with the soldering leg for mounting onto the mother PCB, reducing the overall number of soldering legs and thus minimizing space exhaustion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If each contact corresponds to a separate soldering leg, then each contact can be independently connected to the mother PCB, but the number of soldering legs increases, causing space exhaustion and reduced rigidity of the mother PCB

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidPCB space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple contacts (first contact and second contact) to share a common soldering leg. The first contact connects to the soldering leg through a first connecting point, while the second contact connects through a second connecting point, allowing both contacts to be mounted on the same soldering leg structure. This merging approach reduces the total number of soldering legs required while maintaining independent electrical connections for each contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The soldering leg is designed to serve multiple functions by supporting both the first contact and the second contact simultaneously. A single soldering leg structure performs the role of multiple separate soldering legs, providing mechanical support and electrical connection for multiple contacts, thereby optimizing PCB space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If each contact corresponds to a separate soldering leg, then each contact can be independently connected to the mother PCB, but the number of soldering legs increases, weakening the rigidity of the mother PCB

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidPCB rigidity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple contacts (first contact and second contact) to share a common soldering leg. The first contact connects to the soldering leg through a first connecting point, while the second contact connects through a second connecting point, allowing both contacts to be mounted on the same soldering leg structure. This merging approach reduces the total number of soldering legs required while maintaining independent electrical connections for each contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The soldering leg is designed to serve multiple functions by supporting both the first contact and the second contact simultaneously. A single soldering leg structure performs the role of multiple separate soldering legs, providing mechanical support and electrical connection for multiple contacts, thereby optimizing PCB space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8708753B2Electrical connector with different contacts sharing a same soldering leg

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a tongue plate, a first set of contacts disposed upon the tongue plate, a second set of contacts disposed upon the tongue plate, and an inner PCB retained in the housing. The inner PCB defines at least one input connecting portion, at least one output connecting portion electrically connected with the at least one input connecting portion, and a first soldering leg connecting with the at least one output connecting portion. At least one of the first set of contacts connect with the first soldering leg, and at least one of the second set of contacts connect with the at least one input connecting portion to share the first soldering leg for mounting onto the mother PCB.