Electric Connector With Rear Spring For Miniaturization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric connectors for small electronic devices, such as mobile phones, require a large lateral dimension when aligned due to the need for spring members on both sides, hindering miniaturization efforts as they must absorb lateral forces from offset plug terminals without separating from the substrate.

Innovation Solution

An electric connector design featuring a soldering portion, a rising portion, an elastic portion with bending parts, and a U-shaped receiving portion with contact pieces, allowing for lateral displacement and absorption of offset plug terminals through elastic deformation, thereby reducing the overall width and enabling closer alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spring members are provided on both lateral external sides of the plug receiving portion to absorb lateral forces, then the reliability of electrical connection is improved, but the lateral dimension of the connector is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidlateral dimension of connector
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the spring member from the lateral external sides of the plug receiving portion and relocates it to the rear end of the soldering portion. This extraction from the critical lateral space allows the plug receiving portion to have a reduced lateral dimension while the spring member continues to provide lateral force absorption through its position at the soldering portion rear end.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring member is repositioned from a lateral arrangement (both sides of plug receiving portion) to a longitudinal arrangement (rear end of soldering portion). This dimensional change in the spring member's location allows the lateral dimension of the connector to be reduced while maintaining the spring member's force absorption function in the longitudinal direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lateral dimension of the plug receiving portion is increased to accommodate spring members on both sides, then the ability to absorb lateral offsets is improved, but the overall width of the connector is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to absorb lateral offsetsVSAvoidoverall width of connector
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring member is extracted from the lateral sides of the plug receiving portion and relocated to the rear end of the soldering portion. This extraction eliminates the need for increased lateral dimension of the plug receiving portion while maintaining the lateral offset absorption capability through the spring member's elastic deformation at its new location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring member's position is changed from lateral (both sides of plug receiving portion) to longitudinal (rear end of soldering portion). This dimensional relocation allows the connector width to be reduced while the spring member continues to provide adaptability for lateral offsets through its elastic properties at the new position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If spring members are integrated with the plug receiving portion on both lateral sides, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the lateral dimension is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegration of spring memberVSAvoidlateral dimension
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The spring member is extracted from the lateral sides of the plug receiving portion and repositioned to the rear end of the soldering portion. This extraction maintains the integrated manufacture advantage (the spring member remains integrally formed with the base member) while eliminating the lateral dimension increase that would result from having spring members on both lateral sides.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring member is relocated from a lateral configuration to a longitudinal configuration at the soldering portion rear end. This dimensional change allows the connector to maintain ease of manufacture through integral formation while achieving a reduced lateral dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 effectively absorbs lateral offsets of plug terminals, preventing separation from the substrate and allowing for miniaturization of electronic equipment by reducing the lateral dimension of the connector, enabling closer alignment without compromising electrical connection reliability.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic portion, one end of which is connected to the other end of the rising portion, and including at least one bending part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2019456B1Electric connector
Publication Date: 2010.08.11 YOKOWO CO LTD
  • EP2019456B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2019456B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP2019456B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An electric connector includes: a soldering portion, to be soldered to a substrate, and extending in a first direction; a rising portion, one end of which is connected to one end of the soldering portion, and extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an elastic portion, one end of which is connected to the other end of the rising portion, and including at least one bending part; and a receiving portion, adapted to receive a plug, and having a U-shape including an open end and a closed end, the open end provided with contact parts which are opposed to each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, the closed end connected to the elastic portion. The soldering portion, the rising portion, the elastic portion and the receiving portion are integrally formed with each other.