Electronic Component Assembly Structure With Delayed Terminal Fitting

Solution Overview

Problem

In electronic component assemblies, terminal portions with lower rigidity are prone to damage during fitting due to mixed rigidities of terminal portions with different materials or shapes, leading to deformation issues.

Innovation Solution

An electronic component assembly structure featuring a housing member with separate chambers for guiding the main body and holding terminal fittings, where the fitting timing of lower rigidity terminal portions is delayed by adjusting their positional relationships, ensuring proper alignment and protection during assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If terminal portions with different rigidities are fitted simultaneously to terminal fittings, then assembly efficiency is improved, but terminal portions with low rigidity are damaged or deformed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly efficiencyVSAvoidintegrity of terminal portions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by designing the fitting portions of terminal portions with different rigidities to have different fitting timings. Specifically, the fitting portion of a terminal portion with lower rigidity is configured to fit to the terminal fitting after the fitting portion of a terminal portion with higher rigidity has already been fitted. This sequential fitting approach prevents damage to the lower rigidity terminal portions while maintaining assembly efficiency, as the higher rigidity terminal portions provide structural support during the fitting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If terminal portions are made with different materials or shapes to achieve required electrical functions, then functional adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to mixed rigidities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional adaptability of terminal portionsVSAvoidcomplexity of assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different terminal portions to have different materials, shapes, and rigidities according to their specific functional requirements. Each terminal portion can be optimized for its particular electrical function while the overall assembly structure manages the complexity through the sequential fitting mechanism. This enables functional adaptability without requiring a completely standardized design for all terminal portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent manages the complexity of mixed rigidities by implementing a preliminary action in the design phase: configuring the fitting portions to have different fitting timings based on their rigidity characteristics. This predetermined sequencing approach simplifies the assembly process despite the diversity of terminal portion materials and shapes, as the fitting sequence is built into the structure itself rather than requiring complex external control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If fitting process is simplified for high rigidity terminal portions, then manufacturing ease is improved, but low rigidity terminal portions become more susceptible to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fitting processVSAvoiddamage to low rigidity terminal portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by designing the fitting portions of terminal portions with different rigidities to have different fitting timings. Specifically, the fitting portion of a terminal portion with lower rigidity is configured to fit to the terminal fitting after the fitting portion of a terminal portion with higher rigidity has already been fitted. This sequential fitting approach prevents damage to the lower rigidity terminal portions while maintaining assembly efficiency, as the higher rigidity terminal portions provide structural support during the fitting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9384914B2Electronic component assembly structure and electrical junction box

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 YAZAKI CORP

AI summary

An electronic component includes a main body section having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a plurality of terminal portions having different rigidities. A housing member includes a first housing chamber that guides and receives the main body section therein and a second housing chamber that receives and holds terminal fittings therein, the first housing chamber is formed by surrounding four sides thereof with a frame-like wall portion rising upright from a bottom portion, and the second housing chamber is formed outside the wall portion. Each terminal portion includes a base end and a fitting portion that extends from a protruding tip of the base end along a side surface of the main body section with a gap from the side surface and that is fitted to the corresponding terminal fitting.