Hermaphroditic Connector Torque Cancellation via Mirror-Inverted Contact Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hermaphroditic contact elements in connector parts experience torque loads when mated, which can impair the service life by transferring loads to printed circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
The connector part incorporates mirror-image hermaphroditic contact elements arranged relative to mirror planes spanning different directions, ensuring that torques cancel out when plugged together, reducing the overall torque load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hermaphroditic contact elements are used in connector parts, then electrical connection is established between connector parts, but torque loads occur at the contact elements which can impair service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging contact elements in a non-uniform pattern around the central axis. Specifically, the contact elements are positioned at different angular intervals and/or radial distances, creating an asymmetric distribution that prevents torques from balancing each other out during mating operations. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that torque loads do not cancel each other, thereby reducing the overall torque impact on the connector structure and improving service life.
2Reliability
If multiple contact tabs extend from each contact element body, then electrical contact is achieved from different sides, but stress is transferred to the printed circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the electrical contact function across multiple separate contact elements rather than using a single monolithic contact structure. Each contact element has its own body and contact tabs, and these segmented elements are distributed around the connector. This segmentation allows the stress from mating operations to be distributed across multiple independent contact points rather than concentrated on a single structure, thereby reducing the stress transferred to the printed circuit board while maintaining reliable electrical contact.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~6B
Figure 7A~9B
AI summary
A connector part (3, 4) comprises a plurality of hermaphroditic contact elements (1A-1D, 2A-2D) for establishing contact with associated hermaphroditic contact elements (2A-2D, 1A-1D) of a mating connector part (4, 3), wherein each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) has a body (10, 20), a first contact lug (12), which extends from the body (10, 20) along a first direction (X), and a second contact lug (13), which extends from the body (10, 20) along the first direction (X), wherein the first contact lug (12) and the second contact lug (13) are offset in relation to one another along a second direction (Y), which extends transversely to the first direction (X), and, in addition, along a third direction (Z), which extends transversely to the first direction (X) and transversely to the second direction (Y). For each hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D), the connector part (3, 4) has a hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) which is mirror-inverted in relation to a first mirror plane (E1) and a hermaphroditic contact element (1A-1D, 2A-2D) which is mirror-inverted in relation to a second mirror plane (E2).