Connector Slider Mechanism for Stability Amid Height Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction in connector height leads to a smaller contact area between terminals, compromising contact stability.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly with a slider mechanism that can be slid between locked and unlocked positions, ensuring engagement with a second connector, and featuring a retaining member to regulate movement and enhance contact stability, even with reduced contact area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the connector height is reduced to achieve miniaturized designs, then the connector size is improved, but the contact area of terminals becomes smaller and contact stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed as a plate-like member with its thickness direction oriented to the height direction (third direction) of the first housing. This dimensional reorientation allows the slider to effectively span the reduced height while maintaining sufficient contact area with terminals in the horizontal plane, thus preserving contact stability despite overall connector height reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider acts as an intermediary component between the first and second connectors. It mediates the connection by providing a stable engagement surface that compensates for the reduced contact area, ensuring reliable electrical contact while allowing the connectors to maintain a compact height profile.
2Length of moving object
If the connector height is reduced, then the connector size is improved, but the contact area of terminals becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The slider's plate-like structure with thickness in the height direction redistributes the contact geometry. By orienting the thickness direction to the height direction, the slider maintains a larger effective contact area in the horizontal plane where terminal contact occurs, decoupling the height reduction from contact area reduction.
3Reliability
If a slider mechanism is added to maintain contact stability, then contact stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slider is designed to be slidable in the first direction between locked and unlocked positions, providing dynamic adjustment capability. This allows the connector to transition between connected and disconnected states while maintaining contact stability during the connected state, achieving reliable contact without overly complex fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider serves multiple functions: it maintains contact stability between terminals, enables connection and disconnection through sliding motion, and accommodates the reduced connector height. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A through hole is formed in an end wall part of a first housing, and a slider is arranged in this through hole. The slider can be slid in the left-right direction between a locked position at which the slider is engaged with the second connector and an unlocked position at which the slider is separated from the second connector. The slider is a plate-like member arranged such that the thickness direction thereof is oriented in the height direction of the first housing.