Electrical Connector Terminal Arrangement for High Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB connectors are not designed to transfer large currents, and their terminal arrangements are not optimized for efficient power and grounding configurations, limiting their functionality.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features an insulative housing with a tongue portion having twelve terminal positions, with reversely-symmetrically arranged terminals including power, grounding, and detecting terminals, along with vacant spaces that can accommodate additional power terminals, optimizing terminal arrangements for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional USB connector terminal arrangements are used with only two power terminals, then the connector structure remains simple, but the power transfer capability is limited and cannot handle large currents
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal arrangement is segmented into different functional zones: traditional USB terminals (1-12) maintaining backward compatibility, and additional power terminals (13-16) in vacant spaces for enhanced power transfer. This segmentation allows the connector to handle large currents through multiple power terminals while preserving the simplicity of the original USB interface structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vacant spaces in the terminal arrangement (positions 2, 3, 10, 11) as an additional dimensional resource. By placing extra power terminals in these previously unused positions, the connector expands its power transfer capability without increasing the overall connector footprint or complicating the basic structural layout.
2Power
If additional power terminals are added to vacant spaces, then power transfer capability is improved, but the terminal arrangement becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal positions 1-12 maintain universal compatibility with standard USB connectors, while the same physical structure simultaneously supports additional power terminals in positions 13-16. This multi-functionality allows the connector to serve both traditional USB devices and high-power applications without requiring separate connector designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of power transfer capability by utilizing previously unused terminal positions. By transforming vacant spaces into functional power terminals, the system increases power capacity without fundamentally altering the connector's basic architecture, maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly.
3Reliability
If power terminals are positioned at fourth and ninth positions with grounding terminals at first and twelfth positions, then power and grounding configuration is optimized, but vacant spaces require strategic utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific functions to specific terminal positions: positions 1 and 12 for grounding, positions 4 and 9 for power, and previously vacant positions 2, 3, 10, 11 for additional power terminals. This localized functional assignment optimizes the power and grounding configuration while systematically utilizing all available spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal positions are pre-configured with predetermined functions during design, with vacant spaces intentionally reserved for future power terminal installation. This preliminary action ensures that when additional power terminals are added, the power and grounding configuration is already optimized, and the vacant spaces are strategically positioned for effective utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a tongue portion, the tongue portion defining two opposite surfaces, each surface of the tongue portion including twelve terminal positions; and two rows of terminals being reversely-symmetrically arranged at the two surfaces of the tongue portion, each terminal having a contact portion exposed on the tongue portion, each row of terminals comprising two grounding terminals respectively arranged at the first and the twelfth terminal positions of the twelve terminal positions, and two power terminals respectively arranged at the fourth and the ninth terminal positions of the twelve terminal positions, the second, third, tenth and eleventh terminal positions of the twelve terminal positions being defined as vacant spaces, one or more further power terminals being arranged at the vacant spaces.