FPC Connector Terminal Check Structure to Prevent Contact Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing connector terminal check methods cause deformation, damage, or wear due to direct contact with probes, leading to accuracy issues and high equipment costs, and existing solutions like Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1353925 degrade check accuracy by not directly contacting the terminal and exposing continuity check projections.

Innovation Solution

A connector design with terminals featuring a check portion extending away from the contact surface, allowing probe contact without direct contact to the contact surface, and using elastically deformable connection portions to minimize force and prevent damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a probe directly contacts the terminal contact surface for checking, then check accuracy is improved, but terminal deformation and contact surface damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecheck accuracyVSAvoidterminal deformation and contact surface damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is segmented into distinct functional portions: a contact portion for FPC connection and a check portion for probe checking. This segmentation allows the check portion to bear the probe contact load while the contact portion remains protected, resolving the contradiction between check accuracy and terminal damage prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The check portion acts as an intermediary element between the probe and the terminal's contact surface. By providing a dedicated check portion that extends from the terminal body, the probe contacts this intermediary structure rather than directly contacting the critical contact surface, enabling accurate checking while preventing damage to the contact portion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a continuity check projection is exposed to the outside of the connector for checking, then check access is improved, but connector structure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecheck accessVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The check portion serves multiple functions: it provides a contact surface for probe checking, maintains structural integration with the terminal, and requires no additional external access points. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling check access while avoiding increased connector structure complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The check portion is nested within the terminal structure itself, extending from the terminal body rather than being a separate external component. This nesting approach allows check access to be achieved while maintaining a compact, integrated connector structure without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If check equipment with lower strength probe material is used, then terminal damage is reduced, but equipment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal damageVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal structure itself provides the damage prevention function through its dedicated check portion design. The check portion is configured to receive probe contact with appropriate force distribution, making the terminal self-protecting against damage. This eliminates the need for specialized low-strength probe materials in the checking equipment, resolving the contradiction between terminal damage reduction and equipment cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the terminal by adding a check portion with specific geometric characteristics (extension direction, surface orientation). This parameter change allows standard probe equipment to be used effectively without requiring changes to probe material strength, thereby reducing equipment costs while still preventing terminal damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances check accuracy while reducing terminal damage and equipment costs by performing checks through a check portion that protrudes from the contact surface, using existing probes without needing strength-reduced equipment.

Implementation Method 1

the connection portion may connect the contact portion and the check portion to the fixing portion, and the connection portion may be elastically deformable relative to the fixing portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250273887A1Connector and connector assembly including same

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 MOLEX INC

AI summary

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a connector may include: a housing which has an opening formed in one end thereof to receive an FPC, and a plurality of slots formed in the other end thereof to receive terminals; and a plurality of terminals which are coupled to the plurality of slots, respectively, and the plurality of terminals may include a check portion extending and protruding in a direction away from a contact portion formed at one end thereof to contact the FPC.