Floating Connector Housing for PCB Alignment Tolerance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connector designs that incorporate floating functions to accommodate misalignment of add-in cards and connectors on printed circuit boards result in complex and costly system architectures, lacking simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The development of a floating electrical connector with a movable housing and elastic positioning members that aligns with mating components, allowing self-adjustment and return to the initial position, enabling concise and cost-effective electronic assemblies without altering existing components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional electrical connector designs incorporate floating functions to accommodate misalignment, then alignment tolerance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to be movable relative to the frame along the insertion direction, allowing the connector to dynamically adjust its position to accommodate misalignment between the add-in card and the mainboard connector, eliminating the need for complex floating mechanisms
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional electrical connector designs incorporate floating functions, then alignment tolerance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable housing design allows the connector to self-adjust during insertion, accommodating misalignment without requiring expensive floating mechanisms or precision control systems, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining alignment tolerance
3Ease of operation
If the housing is made movable to allow self-adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but stability of the object's composition worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed to be movable only during the insertion process to accommodate misalignment, and once connected, the positioning members ensure stable positioning, thus providing both ease of operation during installation and stability during use
Solution Approach 2:
The connector performs self-adjustment during insertion through the movable housing, automatically compensating for misalignment without requiring external control systems or complex adjustment mechanisms
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 solution simplifies the assembly process, improves consistency in mass-produced products, and reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining effective interconnection between electronic assemblies and circuit boards, suppressing stub resonance and ensuring reliable signal integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic positioning member disposed between the housing and the frame... The housing may be movably arranged in the frame... allowing self-adjustment and return to the initial position
Data Source
AI summary
A floating connector is provided. The connector has a mating interface configured to move so as to align with a mating component. The connector has a housing having the mating interface. Conductors held by the housing may have mating contact portions adjacent the mating interface for connecting to the mating component when inserted into the mating interface. The connector may have a frame configured to be fixed to a board to which the connector is mounted. The housing is configured to be movable in the frame. The connector may have elastic positioning members disposed between the housing and the frame, such that the elastic positioning members enable the housing to move within the frame for properly aligning the mating interface with a mating component and bias the housing to return to an initial position when the mating component is removed.