Elastic Center Contact Assembly for Stable Cable Insertion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connectors face challenges in achieving a stable electrical connection between a conducting wire and a center contact while facilitating easy insertion of a cable into the connector.

Innovation Solution

A cable assembly design featuring a center contact with a front and rear body, spaced apart from the conducting wire, and multiple contact arms that elastically deform to ensure a stable connection without interfering with cable insertion, allowing for simultaneous physical and electrical connection during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the center contact is designed to receive the conducting wire for stable electrical connection, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the cable insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidcable insertion ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact arms are designed as elastic components that can dynamically deform during cable insertion. When the cable is inserted, the contact arms are pushed outward by the conducting wire and then elastically deform to contact and secure the wire, providing both easy insertion and stable connection without requiring precise alignment or forceful insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the contact arms are positioned to contact the conducting wire for stable connection, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the cable insertion difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidconnector structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The center contact is segmented into multiple independent contact arms that are distributed around the conducting wire. Each contact arm can independently deform and contact the wire, providing multiple contact points for stable electrical connection while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that integrates seamlessly into the connector housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the center contact structure is designed for stable wire reception, then the electrical connection stability is improved, but the assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection stabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The contact arms are pre-positioned and pre-loaded in the holder structure before the conducting wire is inserted. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the cable is inserted, the contact arms are already in the correct position to be pushed outward and make contact with the wire, eliminating the need for separate adjustment or alignment steps during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The design enables a simplified assembly process with stable electrical connections and facilitates easy cable insertion, eliminating the need for separate connection processes.

Implementation Method 1

contact arms provided between the front body and the rear body, configured to be in contact with the conducting wire and pushed and elastically deformed outward by the conducting wire while the conducting wire is inserted into the center contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3965233B1Connector and connector assembly including the same
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP KOREA
  • EP3965233B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3965233B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3965233B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A connector connected to a cable (11) including a conducting wire (113) includes a shield (12) configured to receive the cable (11), a holder (13) mounted on the shield (12), and a center contact (14) provided inside the holder (13) and configured to receive the conducting wire (113) therein, wherein while the conducting wire is inserted thereinto, at least a portion of the center contact (14) is pressurized and elastically deformed by the conducting wire (113) and in contact with the conducting wire.