Electrical Connector Terminal Module Retention via Insulator Ring Rib
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors, such as the car Ethernet connector disclosed in China Patent No. CN214542783U, do not meet the requirements for higher speed transmission performance, particularly in terms of shielding and dielectric properties.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features a terminal module with an insulator and terminals, where the insulator has a horizontal and upright portion, and the terminals have a contacting and leg portion, with a ring rib interference fit within the housing to enhance retention and reduce dielectric constant, ensuring higher shielding performance for high-speed transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the insulator is retained in the housing by traditional methods, then the assembly is simple, but the retention and shielding performance are insufficient for high-speed transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator is divided into a horizontal portion and an upright portion with distinct functions. The horizontal portion contains a ring rib for interference fit with the housing to provide retention and shielding, while the upright portion supports the terminals. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function without increasing overall assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring rib on the horizontal portion of the insulator utilizes the radial dimension by extending outward to interfere with the inner wall of the housing's receiving cavity. This dimensional approach creates a secure interference fit that enhances both retention and shielding performance without requiring additional fastening components.
2Speed
If the dielectric constant is reduced for high-speed transmission, then the transmission performance improves, but the insulator material selection and design become more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal portion of the insulator, which is closest to the signal transmission path, is designed with specific geometric features (ring rib, reduced material volume) that locally reduce the dielectric constant in the critical area. This allows the insulator to maintain low dielectric constant where it matters most for high-speed transmission while using standard materials overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the insulator design, specifically creating a ring rib structure and separating the horizontal portion from the housing front face. These parameter changes reduce the effective dielectric volume in the signal path, lowering the overall dielectric constant to enable higher-speed transmission while maintaining material versatility.
3Reliability
If the terminal module is securely retained in the receiving cavity, then the connection reliability improves, but the assembly and disassembly become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is extracted from a separate fastening mechanism and integrated directly into the insulator structure itself through the ring rib. The ring rib provides the interference fit retention inherently as part of the insulator design, eliminating the need for additional retention components while maintaining ease of assembly through a single insertion motion.
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 solution provides improved retention and shielding performance, enabling higher speed transmission by reducing the dielectric constant and ensuring secure assembly, thus addressing the limitations of existing connectors.
Implementation Method 1
the ring rib of the horizontal portion is interference fit with an inside of the receiving cavity of the housing
Implementation Method 2
the upright portion presses forward against the housing to limit a forward-movement of the terminal module
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: a housing defining a mating cavity opening forwards and a receiving cavity opening rearwards; a terminal module including an insulator and a pair of terminals, the insulator including an upright portion and a horizontal portion; the terminal including a contacting portion extending from the insulator, a leg portion, and a middle portion, the middle portion including an horizontal section embedded in the insulator and an upright section bending from the horizontal section, the insulator being received in the receiving cavity, the contacting portions of the terminals protruding into the mating cavity; wherein the ring rib is interference fit with an inside of the receiving cavity and the upright portion presses forward against the housing to limit a forward-movement of the terminal module so that the terminal module is retained in the receiving cavity, and a front face of the horizontal portion is separated from the housing.