Board-to-Board Connector Wiping Mechanism for Contact Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional board-to-board connectors fail to completely remove extraneous substances from contact surfaces, leading to loose electrical connections due to firmly attached contaminants.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features elastically deformable male contacts with protruding portions that interact with inclined surfaces on female contacts, allowing for two-dimensional wiping to remove substances, with the inclined surfaces being continuous and forming a slope between them to facilitate effective cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional board-to-board connectors use simple contact surfaces, then the device complexity is low, but extraneous substances cannot be completely removed leading to loose electrical connections
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is transformed from a simple flat plane to a three-dimensional structured surface with first and second inclined surfaces. This dimensional change creates a wedge-shaped geometry that enables the male contact to wedge against the female contact during insertion, generating sufficient contact pressure to remove firmly attached extraneous substances and ensure reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surfaces are designed with curved profiles rather than straight lines, creating a smooth transitional geometry. This curvature allows for gradual engagement and wiping action during insertion, enhancing the ability to remove contaminants while maintaining reliable contact pressure throughout the engagement process.
2Reliability
If the contact surface is made flat and simple, then the manufacturing precision requirement is low, but the wiping effect is insufficient to remove firmly attached substances
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing inclined surfaces that rise from the contact surface in the direction of insertion, the patent creates a wedge-shaped geometry that converts insertion force into contact pressure. This dimensional feature enables effective removal of firmly attached substances without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances, as the wedge action amplifies the cleaning effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surfaces are pre-configured on the female contact before assembly, so that during the insertion process, the male contact automatically engages the inclined surfaces and generates wiping action. This preliminary structuring ensures that the cleaning function is performed automatically during normal operation without requiring additional adjustment or precision during assembly.
3Reliability
If conventional connectors use simple contact surfaces, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the wiping mechanism cannot remove firmly attached extraneous materials
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is given a three-dimensional wedge shape with inclined surfaces instead of remaining flat. This dimensional change creates automatic wiping action during insertion, where the male contact is forced against the female contact by the inclined geometry, effectively removing firmly attached substances without requiring complex additional manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surfaces are formed with curved profiles that can be created using standard forming and molding techniques. This curvature provides smooth transitions and effective wiping action while remaining compatible with conventional manufacturing processes, balancing improved cleaning performance with ease of manufacture.
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 ensures the removal of firmly attached extraneous materials, enhancing the reliability of electrical connections by providing a more effective wiping mechanism compared to conventional connectors.
Implementation Method 1
The male contact comprises an elastically deformable projection portion at the end thereof
Implementation Method 2
the movable contact moves against the stationary contact with a certain load applied so that the male contact 12 can wipe the female contact 22 to remove extraneous substances attached thereto
Implementation Method 3
the male contact 12 can wipe the female contact 22 to remove extraneous substances attached thereto
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(B)
Figure 2
Figure 3(A)~3(B)
AI summary
A board to board connector according to the present invention comprises a male connector 10 and a female connector 20. The male connector 10 comprises a pair of male contacts 100A, 100b and the female connector 20 comprises a pair of female contacts 200A, 200B. The male contacts 100A, 100B comprise protruding portions 109A, 109B which are elastically deformable, and the female contacts 200A, 200B comprise contact portions 208A, 208B which contact the protruding portion 109A, 109B. The contact portion 208B comprises a first inclined surface 201 A which inclines in a direction perpendicular to another direction in which the protruding portion moves and a second inclined surface 210B.