Floatable Operating Member for Electrical Connector Contact Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connector assemblies face issues with inconsistent contact engagement between chip modules and terminals due to manufacturing tolerances and material hardness, leading to potential disconnection or damage during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly features a housing, operating member, and terminals with a floatably supported operating member and a C-shaped elastic portion that controls the length of the contact engaging portion, preventing damage and ensuring consistent contact with the chip module's solder balls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hard materials are used for housing and cover, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to limited tolerance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the operating member from rigid to elastic, allowing it to deform and adapt to tolerance variations in the hard housing and cover materials, thereby maintaining reliable contact engagement despite manufacturing imprecisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs different material properties in different components - hard materials for structural parts (housing, cover) and elastic materials for the operating member, creating a composite system that combines strength with tolerance compensation
2Productivity
If operating member is pressed downwardly, then assembly is completed, but contact engagement becomes non-uniform due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the operating member dynamic and flexible through elastic material, allowing it to adjust its position and deformation during assembly to compensate for tolerance variations, ensuring uniform contact engagement across all terminals
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic operating member changes its physical parameters (deformation, position) during assembly to adapt to the actual geometry of the terminals and housing, maintaining consistent contact pressure and engagement
3Reliability
If contact engaging portion protrudes too short, then electrical connection is lost, but if protrudes too long, then chip module is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic operating member dynamically adjusts the protrusion length of contact engaging portions during assembly, automatically finding the optimal position that ensures reliable electrical connection without excessive protrusion that could damage the chip module
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material allows the operating member to change its deformation parameter during assembly, adapting the contact engaging portion protrusion to the specific geometry of each terminal and chip module, ensuring reliable connection while preventing damage
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
This design ensures reliable and consistent electrical connections by maintaining the optimal length of the contact engaging portion, preventing damage to the chip module and ensuring proper engagement with the solder balls.
Implementation Method 1
a C-shaped elastic portion that controls the length of the contact engaging portion
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly (1) comprises a housing (10), an operating member (11), a cover (12) pivotally engaged in one side of the housing (10), a shaft (14) for connecting the cover (12) to the housing (10) and a plurality of terminals (13). The operating member (11) defines a number of receiving holes (110), and the housing (10) defines a plurality of passageways (100) corresponding to the receiving holes (110). The terminal (13) comprises a contact engaging portion (131) received in the housing (10) for contacting with the chip module (2), an retaining portion (132) received in the received hole (110), a tail (1) connecting to the printed circuit board and a neck portion (134) connecting the retaining portion (132) and the contact engaging portion (131). The operating member (11) is floatably supported by a first projection (1341) formed on the first connecting portion (134).