Flippable Electrical Connector Shielding Plate Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flippable plug connectors for super speed signaling require costly MUX integration, leading to signal degradation and increased costs, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective electrical connector solution for future USB applications.

Innovation Solution

A receptacle connector assembly with an insulative or metallic die-cast housing, a terminal module featuring a shielding plate with notches for locking with a complementary plug connector, and contacts arranged for symmetrical exposure to ensure reliable and efficient signal transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a MUX (or SS switch) is built into the silicon for super speed signaling, then the connector can support super speed signaling, but the cost increases and signal degradation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrityVSAvoidMUX integration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the MUX functionality from the silicon connector and relocates it to the cable assembly end. This is achieved by providing different contact configurations at the cable end connector versus the host connector, eliminating the need for expensive MUX integration in the silicon while maintaining super speed signaling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of integrating MUX in the traditional location (silicon connector), the patent inverts the approach by implementing the switching functionality at the cable end through physical contact configuration differences. This reverses the conventional architecture and achieves the same functional result with lower cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If contacts are exposed on the mating tongue for flippable functionality, then dual orientation insertion is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual orientation insertionVSAvoidcontact arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetry by providing different contact configurations on opposite sides of the mating tongue. One side has contacts exposed for insertion, while the other side has contacts recessed or differently positioned. This asymmetric design enables flippable functionality while simplifying manufacturing compared to fully symmetric dual-orientation designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS10312646B2Flippable electrical connector

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

A receptacle connector assembly includes an outer housing and a terminal module. The terminals module includes an insulator having a base and a mating tongue extending from the base and equipped with a plurality of contacts and a shielding plate. The contacts include front contacting sections exposed upon the mating tongue and tail sections extending out of the base. The shielding plate is embedded within the mating tongue and includes a pair of rigid notches in two opposite lateral sides for locking to a pair of corresponding latches of a complementary plug connector. The outer housing is of an insulative molding part or a metallic die cast, the terminal module is assembled in the outer housing, and thus a mating cavity is directly defined between the mating tongue and the outer housing.