Free-Floating Backing Plate for Sealing Electrical Connectors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical connectors face challenges in forming a reliable seal with intermediate surfaces that have irregularities, leading to weakened seals and increased manufacturing complexity and cost due to the need for permanent fixtures, which can also disrupt shielding circuits.
Innovation Solution
A backing plate is designed to mount and seal electrical connectors to intermediate surfaces without requiring additional manufacturing steps or disrupting shielding circuits, using a 'free-floating' configuration with a thicker outer portion forming a cavity and attachment portions for the connector and intermediate surface, allowing for a seal to be formed without permanent fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent intermediate fixtures are used to strengthen the seal, then seal reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the intermediate surface and transfers it to the backing plate. The backing plate includes a sealing surface that directly seals against the intermediate surface, eliminating the need for separate permanent fixtures. This simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining seal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the backing plate: mounting the electrical connector, providing structural support, and creating the seal. By integrating these functions into a single component, the need for additional permanent fixtures is eliminated, reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Reliability
If permanent intermediate fixtures are used to strengthen the seal, then seal reliability is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backing plate is pre-configured with the sealing surface and connector mounting features during its manufacturing process. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for additional on-site assembly steps involving permanent fixtures, reducing manufacturing time while ensuring consistent seal quality.
3Strength
If permanent fixtures are attached to the intermediate surface, then seal strength is improved, but shielding circuit integrity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The backing plate acts as an intermediary between the intermediate surface and the electrical connector. It provides the sealing function without requiring direct attachment of permanent fixtures to the intermediate surface, thereby preserving the shielding circuit integrity while maintaining seal strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A backing plate, a corresponding electrical connector for mating with the backing plate, an electrical header, and an assembly thereof are described herein. The backing plate has an inner portion having a first thickness and an outer portion having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness. The outer portion surrounds a perimeter of the inner portion and forms a cavity within the backing plate for acceptance of the electrical header. The backing plate also contains a connector attachment portion configured to attach the backing plate to the electrical connector and an intermediate surface attachment portion configured to attach the backing plate to the intermediate surface.