Elastic Press-Fit Connector Assembly for Smart Clothing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for smart clothes are bulky and unreliable due to the need for separate connectors for electric wires and flexible conductors, leading to increased size and electric resistance.
Innovation Solution
A compact connector assembly that includes an insulator with a pressing portion that is elastically deformable, allowing the conductor portion of an electric wire to be securely connected to a contact portion on a sheet type connection object, ensuring high reliability and low resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate connectors are used for electric wires and flexible conductors, then connection reliability is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of connecting electric wires and flexible conductors into a single integrated connector. The connector includes a housing with a first connector portion for electric wires and a second connector portion for flexible conductors, eliminating the need for separate connectors and reducing overall device size while maintaining connection reliability through unified structural design
2Ease of manufacture
If flexible conductor is used for electric path, then connector attachment is simplified, but electric resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electric path into two parts: a rigid electric wire with low electric resistance for the main current transmission, and a flexible conductor for the final connection to the measurement site. The connector design accommodates both types, allowing the electric wire to carry current over longer distances with low resistance while the flexible conductor provides ease of attachment at the endpoint
3Reliability
If multiple separate connectors are used, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple connector functions into a single integrated housing structure that contains both the first connector portion for electric wires and the second connector portion for flexible conductors. This unified design reduces the number of separate components and assembly steps while maintaining reliable connections for both wire types through carefully designed contact structures within the single housing
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 connector assembly achieves a small size while ensuring high reliability and low electric resistance, effectively addressing the limitations of existing connectors for smart clothes.
Implementation Method 1
the pressing portion is elastically deformable in the direction orthogonal to the conductor-portion placement surface
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector includes an insulator forming a conductor-portion placement surface and a pressing portion being retained by the insulator to project from the conductor-portion placement surface in a direction orthogonal to the conductor-portion placement surface and extending toward a predetermined first direction along the conductor-portion placement surface, the pressing portion being elastically deformable in the direction orthogonal to the conductor-portion placement surface, a conductor portion of an electric wire extending from the first direction along the conductor-portion placement surface being disposed between the conductor-portion placement surface and the pressing portion, a connection object being sandwiched between the pressing portion passed through an opening portion of the connection object extending from a second direction opposite to the first direction along the conductor-portion placement surface and the conductor portion of the electric wire.