Grounding Terminal Latch for Electrical Connector Shielding

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors lack efficient designs for large current conduction and require additional shielding plates, which complicate manufacturing and increase size.

Innovation Solution

The electrical connector features outermost grounding terminals with integrated side latches and widening portions, eliminating the need for a middle shielding plate and enhancing current conduction capabilities by increasing the cross-sectional area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a middle shielding plate is added between the two rows of terminals, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic shieldingVSAvoidconnector structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the grounding terminal and shielding plate into a single integrated component. The grounding terminal serves dual functions: electrical grounding and electromagnetic shielding. This eliminates the need for a separate middle shielding plate, reducing the number of parts while maintaining shielding effectiveness through the conductive grounding terminals positioned at both ends of each terminal row.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding terminal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing electrical ground connection and acting as an electromagnetic shield. By making the grounding terminal multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated shielding plates, simplifying the overall connector structure while achieving both grounding and shielding objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If the contacting section is widened for large current conduction, then current conduction capability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent conduction capabilityVSAvoidcontacting section formation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the grounding terminal and shielding plate into a single integrated component. The grounding terminal serves dual functions: electrical grounding and electromagnetic shielding. This eliminates the need for a separate middle shielding plate, reducing the number of parts while maintaining shielding effectiveness through the conductive grounding terminals positioned at both ends of each terminal row.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding terminal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing electrical ground connection and acting as an electromagnetic shield. By making the grounding terminal multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated shielding plates, simplifying the overall connector structure while achieving both grounding and shielding objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If additional shielding plates are added, then electromagnetic shielding is improved, but the connector size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic shieldingVSAvoidconnector size

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the grounding terminal and shielding plate into a single integrated component. The grounding terminal serves dual functions: electrical grounding and electromagnetic shielding. This eliminates the need for a separate middle shielding plate, reducing the number of parts while maintaining shielding effectiveness through the conductive grounding terminals positioned at both ends of each terminal row.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The grounding terminal is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing electrical ground connection and acting as an electromagnetic shield. By making the grounding terminal multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated shielding plates, simplifying the overall connector structure while achieving both grounding and shielding objectives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10063014B2Electrical connector having grounding terminals serving a latching function

Publication Date: 2018.08.28 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing including a base portion and a tongue portion; and an upper and lower rows of conductive terminals retained to the insulative housing, each row of conductive terminals including a pair of grounding terminals at two ends thereof, each conductive terminal having a contacting section exposed to a surface of the tongue portion, a tail section extending out of the base portion, and a retaining section between the contacting section and the tail section; wherein each grounding terminal has a latch extending sidewardly to expose to a side of the tongue portion.