Electrical Connector Terminal Density via Elastic Arm Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in providing a high density of terminals while maintaining good electrical conductivity and facilitating easy replacement of damaged terminals, due to the large horizontal space required between adjacent terminals to prevent short-circuiting.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features conductive members with elastic arms extending along the long edges, allowing for a higher density of terminals by positioning them vertically and ensuring good contact with electronic components, while maintaining a small horizontal space between adjacent terminals for easy replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elastic arms are provided to extend forward along the short edges of the metal plate, then electrical conductivity between the elastic arms and the chip module is strengthened, but the horizontal space between adjacent terminals becomes large, resulting in fewer terminals that can be provided on the body
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arms are reoriented to extend along the long edges of the metal plate in the left-right direction rather than forward along the short edges. This dimensional change in the extension direction allows the contact portions to abut the chip module from the sides, maintaining electrical conductivity while significantly reducing the horizontal space between adjacent terminals in the front-rear direction, thereby enabling more terminals to be accommodated on the body.
2Reliability
If a big gap exists between adjacent terminals in the front-rear direction, then short-circuiting is prevented and replacement of damaged terminals is facilitated, but the horizontal space occupied by each terminal increases, reducing the number of terminals that can be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal arrangement utilizes asymmetric spacing where gaps between adjacent terminals are provided primarily in the left-right direction rather than uniformly in all directions. This asymmetric gap configuration maintains adequate separation for short-circuit prevention and easy replacement while minimizing the horizontal space footprint in the front-rear direction, allowing higher terminal density on the body.
3Reliability
If elastic arms extend forward to ensure sufficient length for elasticity, then contact reliability with the chip module is improved, but the space required for each terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arms extend along the long edges of the metal plate in the left-right direction rather than forward, changing the dimension of extension. This allows the contact portions to reach the chip module from the sides, maintaining sufficient elastic contact length and reliability while reducing the forward space occupation, thereby enabling more compact terminal arrangement.
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 design enhances electrical conductivity by increasing the number of contact points and reduces the space occupied by each terminal, enabling more terminals to be packed in a limited area while allowing for efficient individual replacement of damaged terminals.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic arm is formed by extending upward from an upper end of the flat plate portion... the contact portion is configured to be downward abutted by the electronic component and to move downward
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes a body provided with multiple accommodating holes running through the body vertically, and multiple terminals correspondingly accommodated in the accommodating holes. Each terminal includes a main body member and multiple conductive members. The main body member has two long edges extending in a front-rear direction and two short edges. The conductive members are arranged in the front-rear direction. Each conductive member has a base electrically connected to the main body member and an elastic arm. The base has a vertical flat plate portion downward covering the main body member. The elastic arm extends upward from an upper end of the flat plate portion. Each elastic arm has at least one contact portion located in front of the corresponding base to be downward abutted by the electronic component and to move downward. Two adjacent terminals in the front-rear direction are separately provided in the front-rear direction.