Card Edge Connector U-Shaped Tower Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing card edge connectors with U-shaped end towers are prone to breaking during the insertion or withdrawal of daughter cards due to their thin structure.
Innovation Solution
A card edge connector design featuring insulative elongated housing with U-shaped end towers and metallic U-shaped reinforcing pieces that are assembled in a compliance manner to directly confront and support the daughter card's side edge, enhancing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the U-shaped structure of the end tower is made thin to reduce size, then the connector becomes more compact, but the structure becomes prone to breaking during insertion or withdrawal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulating housing material with a metallic reinforcing piece to create a composite structure. The metallic piece is embedded within or attached to the U-shaped structure, providing enhanced strength and rigidity while allowing the overall connector to maintain a compact form factor. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
2Quantity of substance
If the U-shaped structure is made thin to reduce material usage, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the structure becomes prone to breaking during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite construction where a metallic reinforcing piece is integrated into the U-shaped structure. This allows the majority of the structure to be made from less material while the metallic reinforcement provides the necessary strength and reliability. The result is a structure that uses material efficiently while maintaining high reliability during insertion and withdrawal operations.
3Strength
If reinforcement is added to the U-shaped structure, then structural strength increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reinforcement locally only where needed - specifically within the U-shaped structure of the end tower that experiences stress during insertion and withdrawal. The metallic reinforcing piece is positioned precisely to strengthen this critical area without adding complexity to other parts of the connector. This localized approach maintains overall device simplicity while providing targeted strength enhancement.
Data Source
AI summary
A card edge connector includes an insulative elongated housing with two opposite end towers in the longitudinal direction, two rows of contacts disposed in the housing and opposite to each other in the transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a pair of ejectors rotatably retained to the corresponding end towers, respectively. Each end tower unitarily forms a U-shaped structure for receiving a side edge region of the daughter card. A metallic U-shaped reinforcing piece is assembled upon each U-shaped structure in a compliance manner to directly confront the corresponding side edge of the daughter card in the longitudinal direction while being unexposed from the side edge region of the daughter card in the transverse direction.