Ground Terminal Positioning for Stable Electrical Connector Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges with limited space in receiving holes, leading to restricted terminal width, unstable contact between shielding members and ground terminals, and increased assembly difficulty due to limited conductive paths and directional forces.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a positioning portion with a circular cross-section and three conductive portions forming a triangle, providing a larger area for current transmission and stable contact, while maintaining the volume of the receiving holes, and using an elastic portion and insulating block to ensure secure grounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the width of the terminal is increased to provide more current transmission paths, then the current transmission capability is improved, but the volume of the receiving hole must be increased which is not feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal is transformed from a flat plate shape to a three-dimensional structure with a positioning portion having a circular cross-section. This dimensional change allows the terminal to provide more current transmission paths (six paths) without increasing the receiving hole volume, as the circular cross-section efficiently utilizes the available space in three dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional shape parameter of the terminal is changed from flat to circular. This parameter change increases the area for current transmission while maintaining the same volume occupation in the receiving hole, thereby providing more current transmission paths without requiring additional space.
2Device complexity
If only one conductive portion is provided between the shielding member and ground terminal, then the assembly is simpler, but the contact stability is poor and gaps may exist
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly simplifying the structure, the patent applies multiple conductive portions (three or more) at specific locations around the circular cross-section. This local quality approach ensures stable contact at multiple points while maintaining overall structural efficiency, preventing gaps between the shielding member and ground terminal.
3Device complexity
If only one conductive portion is provided, then the structure is simpler, but the ground terminal cannot be stably fixed and easily rocks or deviates in shaking environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-point contact structure to a multi-point contact structure distributed around the circular cross-section. This dimensional distribution of contact points creates a stable triangular or polyhedral support structure that prevents rocking and deviation in shaking environments, significantly improving ground terminal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive portions are pre-positioned to form a stable geometric structure (triangle or polygon) that inherently prevents ground terminal movement. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures stability before any external forces are applied, preventing rocking and deviation in advance.
4Ease of manufacture
If the terminal is made with a flat plate shape, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the area for current transmission is limited due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal structure is changed from a two-dimensional flat plate to a three-dimensional form with a circular cross-section. This dimensional transformation increases the effective area for current transmission by utilizing the circular geometry, which provides six current transmission paths compared to the limited paths in a flat plate configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-sectional shape parameter is changed from flat to circular, which mathematically provides a larger area for the same perimeter constraint. This parameter change increases the current transmission area while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard forming processes.
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
This configuration enhances current transmission paths, ensures stable grounding by distributing forces in multiple directions, and simplifies assembly by maintaining terminal stability in shaking environments.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic portion pressed vertically to elastically deform
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector is used to be electrically connected to a mating component. The electrical connector includes one or more shielding members, forming multiple receiving holes; and multiple terminals, including at least one signal terminal and at least one ground terminal correspondingly accommodated in the receiving holes. The ground terminal has a mating portion upward abutting the mating component, an elastic portion pressed vertically to elastically deform, and a positioning portion having a cross-section in a circular shape. The positioning portion and the shielding members are conductively connected to each other by at least three conductive portions, and the three conductive portions are provided to form a triangle. An insulating block is between the signal terminal and a corresponding shielding member to be accommodated in a corresponding receiving hole. The positioning portion with a circular cross-section has a larger area when the volume of the receiving hole remains unchanged.