Hermaphroditic Electrical Connector Blind Mating Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical connector assemblies lack a hermaphroditic configuration capable of blind mating, which is essential for efficient board-to-board connections.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector assembly features a hermaphroditic configuration with male and female connectors having identical designs, each with housings, terminals, standoffs, and indentations arranged alternately for blind mating, where the standoffs of one connector align with the indentations of the other, ensuring secure contact and alignment during mating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional electrical connector assemblies are used, then basic electrical connection is achieved, but blind mating capability and alignment precision are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The connector incorporates pre-positioned standoffs and corresponding indentations that are预先 arranged in specific patterns. These features perform the alignment action in advance, guiding the mating connectors into proper alignment without requiring manual positioning or visual adjustment, thereby enabling blind mating while maintaining high alignment precision
Solution Approach 2:
The standoffs and indentations act as intermediary alignment features between the two mating connectors. The standoffs on one connector engage with the indentations on the other connector, serving as a mediating mechanism that ensures precise alignment and proper positioning during blind mating operations
2Ease of operation
If hermaphroditic configuration is implemented, then blind mating capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is designed with a hermaphroditic configuration where both connectors have identical structures with integrated standoffs and indentations. This universal design allows either connector to serve as male or female, enabling blind mating in either orientation. The multi-functional design achieves blind mating capability while minimizing complexity by using the same structure for both connectors rather than requiring different male and female configurations
3Reliability
If standoffs and indentations are arranged alternately, then alignment and contact reliability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: standoffs for alignment, indentations for engagement, and terminal areas for electrical contact. The standoffs and indentations are arranged in alternating patterns along the connector body, creating modular repeating units that simplify the manufacturing process by allowing standardized production of each segment type while achieving high contact reliability through the alternating arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector assembly includes a female connector (100) and a male connector (200) mating with each other. Each of the female connector and the male connector includes a housing (1, 4) and a number of terminals (2, 5) secured in the housing. The housing has a number of channels and a number of standoffs (13) arranged alternately along a lengthwise direction, and a number of indentations (14) each defined beside a corresponding standoff. Two adjacent standoffs are staggered. Each terminal has a contacting section. The contacting sections of the terminals of the female connector contact with those of the terminals of the male connector. The standoffs of the male connector engage with the indentations of the female connector.