Floating Connector With Integral Molding And Elastic Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating connectors for circuit boards face challenges in size reduction and productivity due to the need for separate assembly of fixed and movable housings via press fit, leading to variable product size and increased manufacturing time.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a fixed housing with integrally molded terminals and a movable housing that can displace relative to the fixed housing, utilizing elastic portions for alignment and contact, allowing for reduced size and streamlined manufacturing through a single molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate assembly of fixed and movable housings via press fit is used, then the connector can be manufactured with modular components, but the product size becomes variable and manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fixed housing and movable housing into a single integrated housing structure. The terminal is embedded within this unified housing, eliminating the need for separate press-fit assembly operations. This integration ensures consistent product dimensions while maintaining manufacturability, as the housing is produced as one piece rather than through multi-step assembly of separate components.
2Ease of manufacture
If separate assembly of fixed and movable housings via press fit is used, then the connector can be manufactured with modular components, but manufacturing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fixed housing and movable housing into a single integrated housing that is produced in one manufacturing operation. This eliminates the time-consuming separate assembly steps required for modular components, thereby improving productivity while maintaining the ease of manufacture through the simplified single-piece structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal is pre-embedded into the housing during the housing manufacturing process itself, rather than being assembled separately afterward. This preliminary action of embedding the terminal during housing production eliminates subsequent assembly steps, reducing overall manufacturing time while maintaining the modular benefits of having the terminal as a distinct component.
3Manufacturing precision
If integral molding of terminal in housing is used, then product size consistency is improved, but the ability to absorb displacement errors may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the terminal into distinct functional portions: a fixed portion embedded in the housing and a movable portion that can displace independently. This segmentation allows the terminal to maintain its precise positioning through integral molding while the movable portion absorbs displacement errors, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic characteristics to the terminal by creating a movable portion that can displace relative to the fixed housing. This dynamic design allows the terminal to adapt to displacement errors while the integral molding ensures consistent product dimensions. The movable portion acts as a flexible element that compensates for assembly or mounting errors.
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 solution enables a reduction in product size and an increase in manufacturing efficiency by eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and ensuring consistent product dimensions, while maintaining the ability to absorb displacement errors between connectors.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic portion between the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion, the elastic portion having elasticity that allows the movable housing to be displaced relative to the fixed housing
Implementation Method 2
a contact portion at an end of the second fixed portion, the contact portion having elasticity and being configured to contact the terminal of the counterpart connector mated with the movable housing
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a connector which includes: a fixed housing; a movable housing in the fixed housing which mates with a counterpart connector; and a plurality of terminals held by the fixed housing and the movable housing, the plurality of terminals being configured to contact terminals of the counterpart connector, in which each of the plurality of terminals includes: a first fixed portion buried by integral molding in the fixed housing; a second fixed portion buried by the integral molding in the movable housing; an elastic portion between the first fixed portion and the second fixed portion, the elastic portion having elasticity that allows the movable housing to be displaced relative to the fixed housing; and a contact portion at an end of the second fixed portion, the contact portion having elasticity and being configured to contact the terminal of the counterpart connector mated with the movable housing.