Floating Board Connector Layout for Vibration-Stable Signal Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing board-to-board connectors face challenges in maintaining stable electrical connections under complex and changing application scenarios, including high vibration, temperature extremes, and high-frequency signal transmission, leading to potential disconnection and damage.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector design features a floating and detachable connection between plug and socket connectors, with misaligned signal and power conductors, a grounding conductor for shielding, snap-mounted housings, and reinforcement legs for enhanced stability and vibration damping, ensuring reliable high-speed data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional rigid board-to-board connectors are used, then structural stability is maintained, but the connector cannot withstand complex vibrations and mounting errors, leading to connection failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection stabilityVSAvoidtolerance to vibration and mounting errors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a floating connection structure where the socket connector is not rigidly fixed to the circuit board but can move dynamically within a certain range. This dynamic design allows the connector to adapt to vibrations and mounting errors while maintaining reliable electrical contact, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and tolerance to environmental stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates damping structures and flexible elements in advance to cushion against upcoming vibrations and shocks. The floating socket housing includes vibration damping components that are pre-configured to absorb and mitigate the impact of complex vibrations before they can cause connection failure, enhancing both reliability and vibration tolerance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of manufacture

If conductors are arranged in a standard aligned manner, then manufacturing is simplified, but signal crosstalk increases and transmission speed decreases at high frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconductor arrangement simplicityVSAvoidsignal transmission quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs asymmetric and misaligned conductor arrangements where signal conductors are deliberately offset from standard positions. This asymmetric layout reduces electromagnetic coupling between adjacent conductors, minimizing signal crosstalk and enabling high-frequency transmission while maintaining manufacturability through the modular connector design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Manufacturing precision

If the connector uses a fixed rigid structure, then mounting precision is required, but the connector is damaged by thermal expansion and mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting accuracyVSAvoidresistance to thermal and mechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes materials and structures with different thermal expansion parameters to accommodate thermal stress. The floating connection structure allows for thermal expansion and contraction without generating excessive mechanical stress, while the snap-fit mounting provides sufficient holding force without requiring extreme mounting precision, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and stress resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If the connector design is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but vibration damping and stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidvibration resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates flexible elements and vibration damping structures within the housing design. The socket housing includes integrated damping features that provide vibration resistance without adding significant complexity to the manufacturing process, achieving a balance between manufacturing cost and vibration resistance through clever structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS12531372B2Electrical connector and in-vehicle electronic device

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 RESERCH ON ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES OF SHANGHAI ASTRONAUTICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes a plug connector and a socket connector that are connected in a detachable and floating manner, two sets of socket signal conductors being arranged in a misaligned manner, and a socket grounding conductor being fixed onto a lower socket housing and connected to part of socket signal conductor structures in each set of socket signal conductor. An upper socket housing is mounted onto the lower socket housing through an insertion connection. Two sets of plug signal conductors of the plug connector are arranged in a misaligned manner, and the plug signal conductor structures in the two sets of plug signal conductors and the socket signal conductor structures in the two sets of socket signal conductors are in one-to-one correspondence.