Flat Cable Connector With Cantilever Spring Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors attached to flexible flat cables (FFC/FPC) face challenges in workability due to the need for precise coplanarity during soldering, which complicates the connection process.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with a plate-shaped portion and a terminal accommodating portion, including a socket terminal with a cantilever spring portion that separates to accommodate the flat cable, providing a stable contact point and leveraging force transmission through a protrusion within the accommodating hole, allowing easy attachment and electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soldering is used to connect plug terminals to FPC terminals, then electrical connection is achieved, but coplanarity precision requirements increase and workability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the soldering process with a mechanical pressing system. The pressing member applies downward force to press the flat cable's electrical contact against the socket terminal's contact portion, establishing electrical connection through mechanical contact rather than thermal bonding. This eliminates the need for coplanarity precision during soldering while maintaining reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing member acts as an intermediary between the housing and the electrical contact components. It transmits the pressing force from the housing to the socket terminal and flat cable assembly, enabling controlled mechanical contact that achieves reliable electrical connection without requiring precise coplanarity alignment during assembly.
2Reliability
If soldering process is used for connecting terminals, then electrical connection is established, but connection complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the multi-step soldering process (heating, applying solder, cooling, inspection) with a single mechanical pressing operation. The pressing member is simply pressed down to establish electrical contact, dramatically reducing connection time and improving productivity while maintaining reliable electrical connection through the mechanical contact mechanism.
3Reliability
If coupling parts are soldered to FPC terminals, then electrical connection is achieved, but coplanarity control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the soldering-based electrical connection with a mechanical pressing system. The pressing member applies force to press the flat cable's electrical contact against the socket terminal's contact portion, achieving reliable electrical connection through controlled mechanical contact. This eliminates the need for coplanarity control during manufacturing, significantly improving ease of manufacture.
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
Enables simple and reliable attachment of the connector to a flat cable with improved workability and stability, ensuring effective electrical contact without the need for complex soldering processes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring portion (52) having a cantilever shape and extending from the box part (51) onto the plate-shaped part (41)
Implementation Method 2
make contact with the terminal accommodating portion (42) to transmit to the terminal accommodating portion (42) part of force that the spring portion (52) receives from the end of the flat cable
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A connector that is attachable to an end of a flat cable and is connectable to a counterpart connector includes a housing having a plate-shaped portion and a terminal accommodating portion, and a socket terminal housed in the terminal accommodating portion. The socket terminal has a box portion in which a pin terminal of the counterpart connector is to be inserted, and a spring portion having a cantilever shape, the spring portion extending from the box portion and protruding onto the plate-shaped portion. The end of the flat cable is to be interposed between the plate-shaped portion and the spring portion of the socket terminal. The terminal accommodating portion receives part of force that the spring portion receives from the flat cable.