Electrical Connector Terminal Elastic Abutment Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors used to connect perpendicular circuit boards often have insufficient contact force, making them unsuitable for applications requiring higher contact pressures.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features an insulative housing with conductive terminals that include upper and lower elastic portions with specific arm configurations, allowing for increased contact force by abutting against abutted structures in the terminal grooves, thereby enhancing the stability of compression contact between the terminals and circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a single cantilevered arm compression contact manner is used, then the structure is simple, but the contact force is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is divided into multiple independent arms (first arm portion and second arm portion) instead of using a single cantilevered arm. Each arm can independently contact the circuit board, distributing the contact force and increasing the overall contact force while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal structure transitions from a single-dimensional cantilevered arm to a multi-dimensional configuration with arms extending in different directions. The first arm portion contacts the first circuit board while the second arm portion contacts the second circuit board, creating a three-dimensional contact architecture that increases contact force
2Reliability
If a single cantilevered arm is used for each terminal, then the manufacturing is easy, but the contact force in strict requirement applications is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is segmented into multiple arms that can be formed through stamping or molding processes. This segmentation allows each arm to be optimized for its specific contact function while maintaining manufacturability through standard fabrication techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal structure changes from a rigid single arm to a configuration with multiple arms having different orientations and contact points. This parameter change in structural configuration increases contact reliability while the arms can still be manufactured using conventional metal forming processes
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
The design increases the contact force between the conductive terminals and circuit boards, ensuring a more stable electrical connection, particularly in applications requiring higher contact pressures.
Implementation Method 1
Each conductive terminal has a fixed portion fixed to the insulative housing, an upper elastic portion extending from a top end of the fixed portion and a lower elastic portion extending from a bottom end of the fixed portion
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing and a plurality of conductive terminals. The terminals are respectively provided in grooves of the housing. Each terminal has a portion fixed to the housing, an upper elastic portion extending from a top end of the fixed portion and a lower elastic portion extending from a bottom end of the fixed portion. The upper portion has a first arm extending from the fixed portion, a first contact section extending from the first arm, extending out of a top surface of the housing and bending, and a second arm extending from the first section, and a distal end of the second arm abuts against abutted structures in the corresponding groove when the first section is pressed down.