Floating Sub-Connector Assembly for Accurate FPC Connector Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connector assemblies face issues where sub-connectors may be incorrectly attached to the housing due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to misalignment and improper positioning.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design featuring floatably held sub-connectors that are connected to branching end portions of a single FPC board, ensuring correct attachment to the housing by determining the order of sub-connectors during assembly, with key and definer mechanisms preventing incorrect positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sub-connectors are held floatably in the housing to accommodate manufacturing tolerances, then the connector assembly becomes more adaptable to misalignment, but the sub-connectors may be attached to incorrect positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by determining the attachment order of sub-connectors before the actual attachment process. The control unit stores the correct attachment sequence and uses it to guide the assembly process, ensuring that each sub-connector is attached to the correct position while maintaining the floatable structure's adaptability to manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a control unit that monitors and manages the attachment process. The control unit stores the correct attachment order and provides feedback guidance to ensure sub-connectors are attached in the proper sequence, preventing incorrect positioning while preserving the floatable structure's ability to accommodate misalignment
2Productivity
If multiple sub-connectors are attached to the housing simultaneously, then the assembly process becomes faster, but the risk of incorrect attachment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining and storing the correct attachment order of multiple sub-connectors in a control unit before the assembly process begins. This allows the system to manage complex multi-connector attachment while maintaining both speed and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit provides feedback control during the assembly process, monitoring which sub-connectors have been attached and guiding the remaining attachments in the correct sequence. This feedback mechanism enables fast simultaneous attachment of multiple sub-connectors while preventing incorrect positioning
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A connector assembly comprises a first connector and a second connector which are mateable with each other along a front-rear direction. The first connector comprises two or more sub-connectors and a housing. The sub-connectors are configured to be connected to two or more branching end portions of a single flexible printed circuits (FPC) board, respectively. The housing holds each of the sub-connectors. Each of the sub-connectors is floatable relative to the housing. The second connector comprises two or more mating portions which correspond to the sub-connectors, respectively. Each of the sub-connectors is mateable with a corresponding one of the mating portions.