Electrical Connector Terminal Layout for Lower Insertion Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector assemblies experience insertion loss during signal transmission due to contact between terminals and plastic material sections, particularly when only one row of terminals is provided on each side, leading to inefficient signal transfer.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly design features plug and socket connectors with terminal arrays perpendicular to the mating connection direction, exposing lateral faces of both plug and socket terminals to minimize contact with plastic housing sections, and includes end supporting portions on the socket housing to stabilize the plug housing without additional contact, reducing insertion loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If terminals are entirely covered by plastic housing sections, then structural support and protection are improved, but insertion loss increases due to contact between terminals and plastic material
Solution Approach 1:
The socket housing is segmented into distinct functional zones: a terminal holding section that exposes lateral faces of socket terminals, and end supporting portions that provide structural support. This segmentation allows the terminal contact area to be separated from the supporting structure, enabling terminal exposure to reduce insertion loss while maintaining structural integrity through the end supporting portions.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the socket housing have different structural characteristics: the terminal holding section has an open lateral structure to expose terminal faces and minimize plastic contact, while the end supporting portions have a solid structure to provide mechanical support. This local differentiation of structural quality allows simultaneous optimization of signal transmission and structural strength.
2Loss of energy
If terminals are exposed to minimize plastic contact, then insertion loss is reduced, but structural support and protection are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The socket housing is divided into functional segments: the terminal holding section exposes terminals laterally to reduce insertion loss, while separate end supporting portions provide the necessary structural support. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functions to different spatial zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a fully enclosed terminal arrangement to a lateral exposure configuration, utilizing the lateral dimension for terminal access while maintaining structural support through end portions. This dimensional reorganization allows simultaneous achievement of reduced plastic contact and maintained structural integrity.
3Device complexity
If only one row of terminals is provided on each side, then device complexity is reduced, but contact pressure distribution becomes uneven leading to increased insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The socket housing provides localized structural support at the end supporting portions rather than along the entire terminal row. This localized support configuration works effectively with single-row terminal arrangements, ensuring adequate contact pressure at critical points while maintaining simplicity in terminal layout.
Data Source
AI summary
The socket terminals, whose lateral faces opposed in the connector width direction perpendicular both to the direction of mating connection and to the terminal array direction are exposed from within the socket housing over at least part of the extent, are enabled to make contact with the plug terminals using the faces proximate to the receiving space; the socket housing, along with having, on the opposite outer sides of the terminal array range in the terminal array direction, end supporting portions capable of supporting the plug housing toward the socket terminals in the connector width direction, has the receiving space open to the opposite side from the socket terminals in the connector width direction within the terminal array range in the terminal array direction; and the plug terminals have the lateral faces thereof opposed in the connector width direction exposed from within the plug housing over part of the extent.