Fine Pitch Electrical Connector With Integrated Contact Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with fine pitch contact arrangements face challenges in miniaturization due to the side arms of the conducting portion, which prevent neighboring contacts from being densely arranged, hindering the development of compact connectors.
Innovation Solution
The design features an insulative housing with parallel partitions and contact modules where contacts are integrally formed within an insulator, with opposite contacting arms that are linked during insert-molding and then separated, allowing for closer packing and assembly within the housing using assembling poles that engage with positioning grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If side arms of the conducting portion are used to connect neighboring contacts, then the contacts can be arranged in a grid pattern for structural stability, but the neighboring contacts cannot be densely arranged with fine pitch, preventing miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the strip connecting portion that links neighboring contacts in the transverse direction. By taking out this connecting structure, the contacts can be independently arranged with finer pitch without being constrained by the space required for side arms and connecting portions, thus enabling miniaturization of the connector while maintaining structural integrity through the housing's positioning holes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional grid arrangement with fixed pitch to a more flexible spatial arrangement where contacts can be positioned at different locations within positioning holes. The contacts are arranged in rows and columns but with variable spacing, allowing dense packing in the transverse direction while maintaining proper spacing for electrical connection, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently
2Area of moving object
If contacts are densely arranged with fine pitch, then miniaturization of the connector is achieved, but the side arms prevent neighboring contacts from being closely positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The strip connecting portion is removed entirely, eliminating the space requirement for side arms and their connecting structures. This extraction allows contacts to be positioned closer together in the transverse direction, reducing the overall area occupied by the contact array while maintaining electrical connectivity through alternative means (housing positioning holes and assembling poles)
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different regions: the contacts themselves maintain their conducting arms for electrical connection, while the spacing and positioning are optimized locally within each positioning hole. The housing provides localized support and positioning at each contact location, allowing dense overall arrangement while maintaining proper local spacing for electrical function
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing composed of a plurality of parallel partitions each extending in a longitudinal direction, and plural rows of contact modules each extending in the longitudinal direction and disposed in the housing. Each contact module includes a plurality of contacts integrally formed within an insulator/wafter which extends in a longitudinal direction. In each contact module, each contact includes a main body with opposite contacting arms on upper and lower sections. The contact modules are successively assembled downwardly in the housing by plural assembling poles each of which retainably extends through plural contact modules in the transverse direction and retained in the corresponding positioning grooves formed in the corresponding partitions, respectively.