Electrical Connector Shielding Plate Embedding for Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors, such as those described in CN Patents 203859275U and 203859329U, face issues with damage after thousands of insertions due to the laminated assembly of terminal modules and shielding plates, and require additional tools for assembly and suffer from raised contact ends.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector design featuring a terminal module with an insulative housing, upper and lower contacts, and a shielding plate embedded within, utilizing two insert-molding processes to secure the components, with side latches and soldering sections to enhance stability and assembly efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the laminated assembly of terminal modules and shielding plate is used, then the assembly efficiency is improved, but the durability deteriorates after thousands of insertions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shielding plate with the insulative housing into a single integrated component. The shielding plate is embedded within the insulative housing structure, forming a unified assembly that is then molded with the terminal modules through insert-molding process. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps while ensuring the shielding plate maintains its positional stability and protective function throughout the connector's service life, resolving the contradiction between assembly efficiency and durability.
2Manufacturing precision
If terminal grooves are manufactured using extra tool and positioning method, then the assembly precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding plate is pre-positioned and embedded within the insulative housing before the terminal modules are molded. The insulative housing is designed with predetermined positions and structures that automatically locate and secure the shielding plate during the insert-molding process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate positioning tools and methods, achieving precise assembly without increasing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the upper contacts are separately disposed in terminal grooves, then the manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the assembly of upper contacts with the molding of the insulative housing into a single insert-molding operation. The upper contacts are placed in the mold cavity along with the insulative housing containing the embedded shielding plate, and all components are molded together in one process step. This eliminates separate assembly steps for positioning upper contacts in terminal grooves, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through the insert-molding technique.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a terminal module including an insulative housing, and upper contacts, lower contacts and a shielding plate embedded in the housing. The housing includes a base and a mating tongue extending from the base, the mating tongue defines an upper surface, a lower surface and a front face thereof. The upper and lower contacts includes contacting sections exposing to the upper and lower surfaces of the mating tongue and soldering sections out of the base and connecting section jointing the contacting sections and the soldering sections, respectively. The shielding plate is disposed between the upper and lower contacts and includes a pair of side latches. The housing includes an insulative sub-housing and an insulative coat, the whole upper surface and the whole front face of the mating tongue and part of the lower surface of the mating tongue are formed with the coat.