Flat-Type Electrical Connector With Interior Contact Portions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrical connectors with flat-type conductors face challenges in maintaining connector size in the thickness direction when using two flat-type conductors in parallel, as they require increased thickness to ensure adequate contact pressure and creepage distance, leading to larger connector dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing and retainer system that positions contact portions on interior side faces of the flat-type conductors, creating a receiving space for counterpart terminals, which reduces the thickness of the connector by allowing contact pressure without increasing the thickness of the front end portions, and uses support protrusions to minimize resilient deformation and ensure contact pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness of the front end portion of the flat-type conductor is increased to ensure adequate contact pressure and creepage distance, then the contact reliability is improved, but the size of the connector in the thickness direction is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the contact portions from exterior side faces to interior side faces of the flat-type conductors, utilizing the internal space between the two conductors. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the counterpart terminals to contact the interior faces without requiring increased connector thickness, while the housing provides support to maintain adequate contact pressure.
2Force
If the stiffness of the front end portions of the flat-type conductors is increased to minimize resilient deformation, then the contact pressure is improved, but the thickness of the front end portions is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as an intermediary support structure that provides backing to the front end portions of the flat-type conductors. This external support mechanism eliminates the need to increase the thickness of the conductor front ends themselves, while still ensuring adequate contact pressure is maintained during connector operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If two flat-type conductors are disposed in parallel opposite each other, then the signal wiring capability is improved, but the creepage distance requirement increases the connector thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the space between the two parallel flat-type conductors by positioning the contact portions on interior side faces that face each other. The counterpart terminals are received in a receiving space formed between the conductors, effectively nesting the terminal structure within the gap between conductors rather than requiring additional external thickness.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an electrical connector with flat-type conductors, a counterpart electrical connector, and an electrical connector assembly, in which the size of the connector is not increased in the thickness direction of the flat-type conductors when using two flat-type conductors disposed in parallel opposite each other.