Electric Connector With Variable Thickness Contact Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric connectors face challenges in maintaining a compact size while handling relatively large electric power, as reducing conductor resistance often requires increasing the number of contact members, leading to lengthening and heightening of the connector.
Innovation Solution
The electric connector is configured with thicker contact members arranged in a multipolar shape along the thickness direction, reducing conductor resistance and increasing contact pressure, thereby allowing for larger electric power handling without increasing the number of contact members, and preventing misalignment of the signal transmission medium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the number of contact members is increased to reduce conductor resistance for handling large electric power, then the conductor resistance decreases and heat generation is reduced, but the connector length and height increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making specific contact members thicker than others. The first and second contact members have a greater thickness than the third through sixth contact members. This localized thickening reduces conductor resistance and heat generation in critical power transmission paths without increasing the overall connector dimensions, thereby resolving the contradiction between reducing energy loss and maintaining compact size.
2Power
If the number of contact members is increased to handle large electric power, then the power handling capacity increases, but the connector height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by selectively increasing the thickness of specific contact members (first and second contact members) that carry higher current loads. This allows the connector to handle large electric power through targeted reinforcement rather than uniformly increasing all contact member dimensions, thereby maintaining compact connector height while improving power handling capacity.
3Temperature
If contact members are made thicker to reduce conductor resistance, then heat generation is reduced, but the connector size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by thickening only the contact members that require higher current carrying capacity (first and second contact members) while keeping other contact members at standard thickness. This selective approach reduces heat generation in critical areas without proportionally increasing the overall connector volume, thereby resolving the contradiction between temperature control and size maintenance.
4Reliability
If thicker contact members are used to increase contact pressure, then retention of signal transmission medium is improved, but the connector complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by varying the thickness of contact members based on their functional requirements. The first and second contact members are thicker to provide higher contact pressure and improved retention, while other contact members maintain standard dimensions. This differentiated design improves reliability where needed without unnecessarily increasing overall device 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 configuration enhances the retention and reliability of the signal transmission medium, prevents misalignment, and maintains a compact connector size even under high power supply, reducing the need for additional contact members and thus avoiding lengthening and heightening.
Implementation Method 1
Once each contact member is reduced in size and thickness so that the narrow-pitch contact member disposition is realized in this regard, the conductor resistance of the contact members increases and the resultant heat generation may lead to a rise in electric connector temperature
Implementation Method 2
clamping of a flat plate-shaped signal transmission medium is performed by a pair of contact portions disposed in the contact members being pressure-welded to both side surfaces of the flat plate-shaped signal transmission medium
Data Source
AI summary
To be capable of easily avoiding lengthening and heightening with a simple configuration even in a case where relatively large electric power is supplied.Provided is a configuration in which the conductor resistance of a plurality of contact members 13 and 14 is reduced in accordance with an increment in thickness and energization allowable electric power is increased by one of more of the contact members 13 and 14 being formed thicker than the rest so that an increase in the size of an electric connector such as lengthening and heightening is prevented even in a case where the supply electric power with respect to the electric connector is large and the retention of a flat plate-shaped signal transmission medium F is enhanced by contact portions of the thickness-increased contact members 13 and 14 being pressure-welded to the flat plate-shaped signal transmission medium F.