Connector Shielding Component With Edge-Guided Orientation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The formation of guide ribs on shielding components increases manufacturing difficulty and costs due to the need for precise orientation alignment with the housing socket.

Innovation Solution

A shielding component with overlapping side edge portions that mate with a guide groove in the housing socket, eliminating the need for separate orientation structures on the component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a guide rib is formed on the shielding component to ensure correct insertion orientation, then the orientation accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion orientation accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the orientation function with the side edge portions of the cylindrical body by stacking the first side edge portion on the second side edge portion. This integration eliminates the need for separate guide ribs while maintaining precise insertion orientation through the guide groove engagement, thereby reducing manufacturing steps and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding a protruding guide rib to indicate orientation, the patent uses the recessed guide groove in the housing to receive the side edge portions. This inverted approach places the orientation-receiving feature in the housing rather than the shielding component, simplifying the component's structure while achieving the same orientation function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Manufacturing precision

If a guide rib is formed on the shielding component to ensure correct insertion orientation, then the orientation accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion orientation accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional orientation structures are added to the shielding component, then the insertion reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stacked side edge portions serve multiple functions: they provide structural integrity to the cylindrical body, define the outer peripheral surface, and simultaneously engage with the guide groove to ensure correct insertion orientation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate orientation structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining insertion reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250300407A1Shielding Component and Connector

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 TYCO ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO LTD

AI summary

A shielding component insertable into a socket of a connector housing includes a cylindrical body having a peripheral wall enclosing an inner cavity. The peripheral wall has a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion extending along an axial direction of the cylindrical body. The first side edge portion is stacked on an outer side of the second side edge portion and connected to the second side edge portion. The first side edge portion protrudes from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body and is matable with a guide groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of the socket of the connector housing to ensure that the shielding component is inserted into the socket in a correct orientation.