Electrical Contact Interlocking Arrangement for Reliable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical contacts for burn-in test sockets have a weak interlock between upper and lower contact pins, leading to unreliable connections and inefficient signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an upper contact pin with longitudinal channels and a slot, and a lower contact pin with symmetrical elastic arms and locking protrusions that engage with the slot, providing a stable and secure coupling through a spring mechanism, ensuring reliable electrical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the upper contact pin and lower contact pin are coupled only by hooks interlocked to a rib portion, then the structure is simple, but the interlock is too weak to hold them together reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is divided into multiple independent locking elements: two elastic arms with first locking protrusions and two locking protrusions on the contact pin. This segmentation distributes the locking function across multiple points, enhancing overall reliability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the coupling structure have specialized functions: elastic arms provide flexibility and locking protrusions for secure engagement, while the rib portion with slots provides guiding and additional locking positions. This local differentiation optimizes each component for its specific role, achieving strong interlock without excessive complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If the upper contact pin and lower contact pin are coupled only by hooks interlocked to a rib portion, then the assembly is easy, but the electrical signal transmission is not satisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arms are pre-formed with locking protrusions that automatically engage with the slots on the contact pin during assembly. This preliminary configuration of locking features ensures proper alignment and secure coupling is achieved automatically, maintaining ease of assembly while ensuring reliable electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The rib portion acts as an intermediary element between the elastic arms and the contact pin, providing slots that guide and secure the locking protrusions. This intermediary structure facilitates easy assembly while ensuring the lower contact pin is firmly held, thereby guaranteeing satisfactory signal transmission.
3Device complexity
If the upper contact pin and lower contact pin are coupled only by hooks interlocked to a rib portion, then the structure is simple, but the contact pins can be readily popped out
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic arms provide dynamic flexibility to the coupling structure, allowing for assembly tolerance while maintaining strong holding strength. The elasticity enables the arms to flex during assembly and then lock firmly in place, preventing the contact pins from being popped out while keeping the structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure combines rigid elements (contact pin with locking protrusions, rib portion with slots) and flexible elements (elastic arms). This composite approach integrates materials or components with different mechanical properties to achieve both structural simplicity and strong holding strength, preventing unintentional separation.
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 configuration enhances the stability and reliability of the electrical connection, allowing for efficient signal transmission and easier assembly, while maintaining a low impedance contact.
Implementation Method 1
a spring enveloping over a predetermined area between the upper contact pin and the lower contact pin
Implementation Method 2
the elastic arm has a first locking protrusion and a second locking protrusion engaging with the slot of the upper contact pin respectively
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical contact comprises an upper contact pin, a lower contact pin and a spring enveloping between the upper contact pin and the lower contact pin. The upper contact pin has an upper contacting portion and a guiding portion, and the lower contact pin is coupled to the upper contact pin and has a lower contacting portion and a main portion extending from the contacting portion. The main portion of the lower contact pin includes two elastic arms, and each elastic arm has a first and a second locking protrusions engaging with a slot defined on the guiding portion of the upper contact pin respectively to reliably connect the upper contact pin and the lower contact pin.