Electrical Connector Metallic Supporting Member Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors lack a supporting mechanism that enhances their stability and resistance to mechanical stress, particularly when mounted on printed circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
A high-profile electrical connector design incorporating a metallic supporting member with a supporting plate and extending legs that provides additional stability and shock resistance by spacing the connector's lower face from the printed circuit board, while being securely mounted with a metallic shell and conductive terminals within an insulative housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrical connector is mounted directly to the printed circuit board, then the installation is simple, but the connector is vulnerable to mechanical stress and shaking damage
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector is divided into separate functional components: a terminal module, a metallic shell, and a supporting member. The supporting member is further segmented into a supporting plate and mounting legs, allowing independent optimization of each part's function and reducing overall structural complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A metallic supporting member is introduced as an intermediary component between the electrical connector and the printed circuit board. This supporting member absorbs mechanical stress and shaking forces, protecting the connector while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the metallic mating portion is spaced from the printed circuit board, then the connector resistance to shaking improves, but the mounting stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member extends in multiple dimensions: vertically upward to support the metallic mating portion (providing shaking resistance) and downward via mounting legs to attach to the printed circuit board (providing mounting stability). This multi-dimensional structure resolves the contradiction by operating in different spatial directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting member is pre-installed on the printed circuit board before mounting the electrical connector. This preliminary action establishes a stable foundation that prevents shaking damage to the connector while maintaining firm mounting stability from the outset.
3Strength
If a supporting member is added to improve stability, then the shock resistance increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting member combines multiple functions in a single integrated component: it provides shock resistance through its rigid structure, offers mounting attachment via integrated legs, and maintains spacing between the connector and board. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while achieving multiple protective functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic supporting member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: structural support, shock absorption, mounting attachment, and spacing maintenance. This multi-functionality increases shock resistance without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component performs several critical functions.
Data Source
AI summary
A high-profile electrical connector includes a terminal module, a metallic shell and a metallic supporting member. The terminal module has an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals. The insulative housing has a base portion provided with a mounting face and an insulative mating portion. The conductive terminals have contacting portions and connecting legs. The metallic shell shielding around the terminal module has a metallic mating portion surrounding around the insulative mating portion and a plurality of printed circuit board mounting legs. The metallic mating portion has a lower face which is higher than the mounting face. The metallic supporting member has a supporting plate used for supporting the lower face and at least a supporting leg extending downwardly. The supporting plate is higher than the mounting face so that the supporting plate is spaced from an upper surface of the printed circuit board.