Electrical Connector Shield Elastic Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in achieving optimal shielding efficiency and secure mechanical connection at the interface between the connector and its mating connector, as they often fail to maintain effective electromagnetic interference protection and secure assembly.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inner housing with an abutment surface, a folded conductive shield with extensions that elastically bias the inner and outer housings together, ensuring secure mechanical contact and enhanced shielding through the cooperation of abutment surfaces and elastic deformation of the shield extensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield is provided to reduce electromagnetic wave emission and prevent surrounding waves from influencing the carried signal, then shielding efficiency is improved, but mechanical connection security at the interface between connector and mating connector deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into distinct components: an inner housing containing the shield and electrical contacts, and an outer housing providing structural support. This segmentation allows the shield to be optimized for electromagnetic protection while the outer housing ensures secure mechanical connection through its own abutment surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield is nested within the inner housing, which itself is nested within the outer housing. This nested structure allows the shield to provide electromagnetic protection without compromising the mechanical connection, as each nested component has its own abutment surfaces that ensure secure assembly at its interface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shield is surrounded by an outer housing, then shielding efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the connector, ensures secure mechanical connection through its abutment surface, and maintains the shielding effectiveness by surrounding the shield. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer housing combines the functions of structural support and shielding protection into a single component. By merging these functions, the design avoids the need for separate structural and shielding elements, thus reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both mechanical security and electromagnetic protection.
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 provides improved mechanical contact and shielding efficiency by maintaining the inner and outer housings in secure alignment, effectively preventing electromagnetic interference and ensuring reliable electrical connections.
Implementation Method 1
The shield comprises extensions extending continuous with a respective lateral side, and folded over the back side. The extensions press on the support surface to elastically bias the shield and the inner housing together along the assembly direction until the abutment surfaces come in contact.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an electrical connector which comprises: an inner housing (16), a shield (17), an outer housing (25), surrounding the shield (17). An abutment surface of the inner housing (16) and an abutment surface of the outer housing (25) cooperate to prevent relative movement of the inner housing (16) and the outer housing (25) along an assembly direction (X). The shield (17) comprises extensions (31b) which press on the outer housing (25) to elastically bias the shield (17) and the inner housing (16) together.