Board-to-Board Connector Terminal Structure for Lower Mounting Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board-to-board connectors face challenges in managing terminal density, leading to increased mounting force and potential damage to conductive terminals due to constant contact between resilient arms, which affects the initial mounting force and reliability of the connection.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an insulating body with terminal accommodating grooves and conductive terminals featuring resilient arms with tabs and extension arms that engage when boards are mounted, allowing for reduced initial mounting force and improved contact reliability by forming a contact loop and reducing scraping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first free end is always in contact with the second free end to maintain continuous connection, then the connection reliability is improved, but the mounting force increases and the conductive terminals are easily crushed
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient arm is divided into multiple segments: fixed portion, elastic portion, and free end portion. The free end portion includes first and second free ends that can contact separately at different stages, segmenting the contact function to reduce simultaneous mounting force while maintaining connection reliability through sequential contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient arm transitions from a static continuous contact design to a dynamic design where the first and second free ends contact at different times during the mounting process. The elastic portion allows dynamic deformation to accommodate the sequential contact, reducing peak mounting force while ensuring final reliable connection.
2Productivity
If the terminal density is increased to meet higher density requirements, then the productivity is improved, but the mounting force increases and the conductive terminals are easily crushed
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the resilient arm into fixed, elastic, and free end portions with sequential contact capability, the design enables higher terminal density without proportionally increasing mounting force. Each terminal can be mounted independently with reduced force requirements, allowing denser arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient arm structure changes the force distribution parameters during mounting. The elastic portion's deformation characteristics and the sequential contact mechanism alter the force-time profile, reducing peak mounting force while maintaining adequate contact force for reliable connection at higher densities.
3Reliability
If the first resilient arm and second resilient arm scrape each other during mounting, then the contact reliability is improved by forming a contact loop, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scraping action merges the first and second resilient arms into a unified contact loop structure. This integration improves contact reliability by creating a redundant mechanical path while the arms remain part of the same conductive terminal component, limiting the increase in overall structural complexity.
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 reduces the initial mounting force on circuit boards and enhances contact reliability by allowing the resilient arms to scrape each other, forming a contact loop and improving the structural integrity of the connector.
Implementation Method 1
the first resilient arm includes a first connecting portion connected to the main body portion, a first elastic arm extending from the first connecting portion
Data Source
AI summary
A board-to-board connector includes an insulating body and a conductive terminal. The conductive terminal includes a mounting portion, a first resilient arm and a second resilient arm. The mounting portion includes a main body portion and at least one tab protruding from the main body portion. The first resilient arm includes a first connecting portion, a first elastic arm, a first contact portion, a first extension arm and a first end portion. The second resilient arm includes a second connecting portion, a second elastic arm, a second contact portion, a second extension arm and a second end portion. When the first circuit board and the second circuit board abut against the corresponding first contact portion and the second contact portion, the first extension arm is in contact with the second end portion and/or the second extension arm is in contact with the first end portion.