Electric Connector Shorting Terminal Height Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in miniaturizing the shorting terminal while maintaining insulation performance, as resilient contact pieces deform significantly in height direction, potentially causing electrical shorts between terminal fittings.
Innovation Solution
The connector design includes first and second cavities for terminal fittings, a shorting terminal with resilient contact pieces, and escaping portions on the partition wall to allow deformation and prevent electrical shorts, along with an insulating front holder to ensure insulation between contact pieces and second terminal fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the resilient contact pieces are made resiliently deformable in height direction to enable short releasing, then the shorting terminal can be miniaturized, but the contact pieces may contact the wall of the shorting terminal accommodating chamber causing electrical shorts
Solution Approach 1:
The shorting terminal accommodating chamber is segmented from the second cavities by a partition wall with an escaping portion. This segmentation allows the resilient contact pieces to deform into the escaping portion without contacting the chamber wall, preventing electrical shorts while enabling miniaturization of the shorting terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The escaping portion acts as an intermediary space between the shorting terminal accommodating chamber and the second cavities. It provides a controlled path for the resilient contact pieces to deform into, preventing direct contact with the chamber wall and eliminating the risk of electrical shorts.
2Ease of operation
If the guide length is increased to fully guide the short releasing portion, then the guiding function is improved, but the height of the shorting terminal must be increased preventing miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient contact pieces are designed to deform not only in the height direction but also laterally into the escaping portion. This dimensional change allows the guiding function to be achieved with a shorter guide length, as the contact pieces can escape horizontally rather than requiring a long vertical guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding function is segmented between the guide portion and the escaping portion. The guide portion provides initial guidance, while the escaping portion completes the deformation path, allowing the guide to be shorter while maintaining full guiding functionality.
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 reduces the height of the shorting terminal and prevents electrical shorts, achieving miniaturization and improved insulation performance by allowing resilient contact pieces to deform into escaping portions and using insulating portions to prevent contact with second terminal fittings.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient contact pieces are formed to be resiliently deformable in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one insulating portion for insulating between the resilient contact pieces and the second terminal fittings
Data Source
AI summary
Cavities (13A) in which first terminal fittings (30A) are accommodated are at one side of shorting terminal accommodating chambers (17) arranged between cavities (13) in a height direction. Second cavities (13B) in which second terminal fittings (30B) are at the other side in the height direction. An escaping portion (23) is formed on a partition wall (22) between the shorting terminal accommodating chamber (17) and the second cavities (13B) in which the second terminal fittings (30B) are accommodated and allows resilient contact pieces (41) deformed by a short releasing portion (84) to escape. A front holder (70) is mounted on the front surface of a housing (10) and includes insulating portions (75) for insulating between the resilient contact pieces (41) and the second terminal fittings (30B) by being located at the side of the second cavities (13B) at the other side of the escaping portions (23) in the height direction.