Connector Support Portion for Conductive Pin Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive pins in connectors can become permanently deformed when a header is inserted into a socket, leading to insufficient coupling force and stability issues.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring an insulating member with a support portion that extends into an opening to support the conductive pin, ensuring effective coupling length and preventing damage, including a fastening portion, a variable portion, and a connecting portion with a support surface that covers part of the opening, allowing for stable pin support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the connector is made compact to efficiently use PCB area, then the area occupied by the connector is reduced, but the coupling length and structural support for conductive pins are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion extends downward from the bottom surface of the insulating housing into the opening, utilizing the vertical dimension (thickness direction) to provide structural support. This allows the connector to maintain compact planar dimensions while achieving sufficient coupling length and pin support through vertical extension of the support portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating housing is segmented into distinct functional portions: the main body providing insulation and structural framework, and the support portion extending into the opening to specifically support the conductive pin. This segmentation allows each portion to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall compactness.
2Length of moving object
If the conductive pin is made longer to ensure effective coupling length, then the coupling stability is improved, but the risk of permanent deformation increases when header is inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion is positioned beforehand to provide cushioning support to the conductive pin at the location where it is most vulnerable to deformation during header insertion. This pre-positioned support prevents the pin from bending beyond its elastic limit, allowing the pin to maintain sufficient coupling length without risking permanent deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The support portion acts as an intermediary element between the insulating housing and the conductive pin. It provides mechanical support and force distribution to the pin, mediating the stresses applied during connector assembly and operation, thereby preventing direct transmission of deformation forces to the pin.
3Ease of operation
If the support portion is made thinner to reduce interference with header insertion, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the structural support capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support portion has a thickness that is locally optimized for its specific function of supporting the conductive pin, rather than being uniformly thick throughout the entire insulating housing. The thickness is sufficient to provide necessary support strength at the critical location where the pin requires support, while remaining thin enough to minimize interference with header insertion. Different regions of the insulating housing can have different thicknesses according to their specific functional requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a connector. The connector comprises: an insulation member including a first sidewall portion, a second sidewall portion facing the first sidewall portion, and a bottom portion connecting the first sidewall portion to the second sidewall portion and having an opening formed between the first sidewall portion and the second sidewall portion; and a conductive pin including a fastening portion arranged on the first sidewall portion, a variable portion facing the fastening portion, and a connecting portion connecting the fastening portion to the variable portion and arranged in the opening formed on the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion further includes a support portion extending inwardly of the opening to support the connecting portion, and the thickness of the support portion may be smaller than the thickness of the bottom portion. In addition, various embodiments understood from the specification can be implemented.