Floating Connector Contact Structure for Misalignment and Impedance Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors face challenges in aligning properly due to misalignment issues, which can lead to damaged contact portions and difficulties in achieving accurate characteristic impedance adjustment for high-speed transmission.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a fixed insulator with first fixing grooves and partition walls, and a movable insulator with second fixing grooves, where contacts have a first arm portion with a smaller width than a second arm portion, facilitating elastic deformation and improved flexibility to absorb misalignment and adjust characteristic impedance accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a contact is provided with a slit to improve flexibility and adjust characteristic impedance, then flexibility and impedance adjustment are improved, but the contact width is reduced which may affect mechanical strength
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is divided into multiple arm portions (first arm portion and second arm portion) by slits, creating segmented structures that can independently deform. This segmentation allows the contact to achieve flexibility through the movement of individual arm portions while maintaining overall structural integrity and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the contact are designed with different properties: the first arm portion has a larger width for strength and support, while the second arm portion has a smaller width for flexibility and impedance control. This local differentiation allows each region to optimize its function without compromising the entire contact structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If connectors are designed with fixed positions, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability to misalignment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connector design incorporates movable insulators that can shift position dynamically during mating operations. This dynamic capability allows the connector to adapt to misalignment while maintaining precise manufacturing tolerances for the base structure, combining both precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating connector structure automatically adjusts its position to accommodate misalignment without requiring external adjustment mechanisms. The movable insulators self-adjust during the mating process, enabling the connector to correct its own positioning errors.
3Ease of manufacture
If the first arm portion has the same width as the second arm portion, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but characteristic impedance control precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure employs different widths for different arm portions to achieve specific electrical characteristics. The first arm portion has a larger width for mechanical strength, while the second arm portion has a smaller width for precise characteristic impedance control, with each region optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The design varies the width parameter of different arm portions to control characteristic impedance. By changing the width of the second arm portion relative to the first arm portion, the characteristic impedance can be precisely adjusted for high-speed signal transmission while maintaining manufacturability.
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
The design enhances flexibility and accuracy in aligning connectors, reduces the risk of contact damage, and effectively adjusts characteristic impedance for high-speed transmission by allowing precise elastic deformation and stable electrostatic capacitance.
Implementation Method 1
facilitating elastic deformation and improved flexibility to absorb misalignment
Implementation Method 2
adjust characteristic impedance accurately... effectively adjusts characteristic impedance for high-speed transmission
Implementation Method 3
a movable insulator that is disposed on an inner side of the fixed insulator and is movable relative to the fixed insulator
Data Source
AI summary
A fixed insulator includes a plurality of first fixing grooves disposed along an arrangement direction in which a plurality of contacts are arranged, and partition walls each disposed between two adjacent contacts. A movable insulator includes a plurality of second fixing grooves disposed along the arrangement direction. The contacts each include a first base portion supported by a corresponding one of the first fixing grooves, a second base portion supported by a corresponding one of the second fixing grooves, a first arm portion connected to the first base portion and disposed between two corresponding adjacent ones of the partition walls, and a second arm portion connected to the first arm portion and the second base portion. A largest width of the first arm portion is smaller than a largest width of the second arm portion.