Connector Terminal With Vertical Contact Piece For Narrow Pitch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors face challenges in achieving a narrower pitch without compromising contact reliability, as reducing the width of connection terminals leads to reduced rigidity and force for sandwiching printed circuit boards, resulting in deteriorated contact reliability, especially in applications like automobiles.
Innovation Solution
The terminal design includes a first contact part with a resilient contact piece and a support part, where the contact piece has a width smaller than the support part, and a second contact part with a width smaller than the support part, allowing for a reduced pitch by alternating their arrangement, enhancing contact reliability through increased rigidity and compressive force, and optionally incorporating a subsidiary spring and cover for additional support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the width of connection terminals is reduced to achieve a narrower pitch, then the pitch between terminals is improved, but the rigidity and force for sandwiching the printed circuit board are reduced, resulting in deteriorated contact reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-plane contact structure to a three-dimensional structure by extending the contact piece in the vertical direction (length dimension) beyond the support part. This allows the contact piece to reach the lower surface of the printed circuit board, enabling sandwiching contact without requiring wider terminal width, thus resolving the contradiction between narrow pitch and contact reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal structure is segmented into distinct functional parts: the support part (providing structural foundation), the connecting part (linking support to contact piece), and the contact piece (providing resilient contact). This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the support part can be wide for rigidity while the contact piece extends vertically for reliable sandwiching contact, enabling narrow pitch without sacrificing reliability.
2Quantity of substance
If the width of connection terminals is reduced to achieve a narrower pitch, then the density of terminals is improved, but the rigidity of terminals is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention compensates for reduced terminal width by adding vertical extension to the contact piece. The contact piece extends beyond the support part in the length direction, creating a three-dimensional structure that provides both narrow pitch capability and sufficient rigidity through the extended vertical profile.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is constructed as a composite structure with different functional sections: the support part provides structural rigidity, the connecting part provides flexibility, and the contact piece provides resilient contact force. This composite design allows the terminal to achieve both narrow pitch and adequate rigidity through optimized material distribution and structural configuration.
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 enables a higher density of terminals at a narrower pitch while maintaining adequate contact reliability, allowing for more connections on a printed circuit board with improved rigidity and compressive force, enhancing the terminal's ability to securely sandwich the board.
Implementation Method 1
a first contact part (310) making contact with a first contact area (51) formed at an upper surface of the printed circuit board (50), the first contact part (310) including a resilient contact piece (21) making contact with the first contact area (51)
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal connected to a printed circuit board by sandwiching the printed circuit board therebetween includes a first contact part making contact with an upper surface of the printed circuit board, and a second contact part making contact with a lower surface of the printed circuit board, the second contact part being in facing relation with the first contact part, the first contact part including a resilient contact piece making contact with the upper surface, and a support part for supporting the contact piece, the contact piece having a width smaller than a width of the support part, the second contact part having a width smaller than a width of the support part, the contact piece having a length greater than a length of the second contact part, the lengths being measured in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the printed circuit board.