Electric Connector Terminal Arm Orientation for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric connectors with a housing-terminal-housing three-layer structure face challenges in reducing thickness due to the housing's need to restrict contact piece displacement, leading to potential buckling issues during insertion or removal of partner connectors.
Innovation Solution
The electric connector design omits the housing for contact pieces, using a terminal with a mounting portion and arm portions formed from a plate-shaped member, where the arm portions' plate thickness direction is perpendicular to the mounting portion's, allowing for increased contact piece length and reduced displacement, thereby eliminating the need for a housing to restrict movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is provided on both sides of the contact pieces in the fitting direction to restrict displacement, then the contact pieces are supported and displacement is reduced, but the thickness of the electric connector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the housing structure from the connector design. Instead of using a housing to hold and restrict the contact pieces, the contact pieces are directly mounted on the terminal body, which itself is held on the housing. This removal of the intermediate housing structure reduces the connector thickness while maintaining the necessary support and displacement restriction functions through the terminal body's own structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of the housing and terminal body. The terminal body directly holds the contact pieces and is itself held on the housing, combining what were previously separate components (housing for contact pieces + terminal body) into an integrated structure. This merging eliminates redundant structures and reduces overall thickness.
2Strength
If the contact pieces are made longer to reduce buckling, then the contact pressure and elasticity are improved, but the displacement restriction becomes more difficult without housing support
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the mounting orientation of the contact pieces from the fitting direction to the lateral direction. By mounting contact pieces on the side surfaces of the terminal body rather than on top/bottom surfaces, the contact pieces extend in the lateral direction instead of the fitting direction. This dimensional change allows longer contact pieces without requiring additional housing support in the fitting direction, as the terminal body's lateral structure provides the necessary restraint.
3Length of stationary object
If the housing is removed to reduce thickness, then the connector becomes more compact, but the contact pieces may displace or buckle during insertion or removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary action by providing mounting portions on the terminal body before the contact pieces are installed. These mounting portions are pre-formed structures that provide support and positioning for the contact pieces. By having these support structures in place beforehand, the contact pieces are pre-restrained against displacement and buckling, eliminating the need for additional housing support while maintaining stability.
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 thickness of the electric connector, minimizes buckling, and allows for a more compact design without compromising the electrical connection, as the arm portions provide the necessary contact pressure and elasticity.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting portion and the pair of arm portions are formed by bending a plate-shaped member
Implementation Method 2
the arm portions provide the necessary contact pressure and elasticity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electric connector including: a terminal; and a housing holding the terminal. The terminal has a mounting portion and a pair of arm portions. The pair of arm portions is coupled to the mounting portion, extends in a lateral direction of the electric connector from the mounting portion, and is configured such that a terminal of a partner connector is inserted into between one and other arm portions of the pair of arm portions. Each of the one arm portion and the other arm portion has a holding target portion and a contact piece, the holding target portion is held on the housing, and the contact piece is coupled to the holding target portion and is configured to contact the terminal of the partner connector. A plate thickness direction of the pair of arm portions is substantially perpendicular to a plate thickness direction of the mounting portion.