Ignition Connector Terminal Noble Metal Coating Strategy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional internal combustion engine ignition coil connectors apply noble metal coatings to all external terminals, leading to increased costs and potential short circuits due to improper current handling.

Innovation Solution

A connector structure where only the external terminals carrying micro currents are coated with noble metal, while those carrying large currents are not, with specific terminal arrangements and integration methods to prevent short circuits and optimize metal usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If noble metal coat is applied to all external connection terminals, then electrical contact function is ensured, but production cost increases and short circuit faults may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact functionVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies noble metal coating selectively only to specific external connection terminals that require it for reliable electrical contact, rather than coating all terminals uniformly. This localized approach ensures electrical reliability where needed while avoiding unnecessary costs and short circuit risks on terminals that don't require the coating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If noble metal coat is applied to all external connection terminals, then electrical contact function is ensured, but production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical contact functionVSAvoidnoble metal material cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements selective noble metal coating on only those external connection terminals that require it for proper electrical contact performance. This eliminates waste of noble metal materials on terminals where the coating is unnecessary, directly reducing material costs while maintaining required electrical reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If noble metal coat is applied to all external connection terminals, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but short circuit faults occur due to improper terminal grouping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidshort circuit prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses selective noble metal coating as an additional differentiation method to distinguish between terminals carrying large currents and those carrying small currents. Combined with spatial arrangement, this local quality approach prevents short circuit faults by ensuring proper terminal identification and grouping, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a targeted coating process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of substance

If selective noble metal coating is applied only to specific terminals, then cost is reduced and short circuit prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoble metal material costVSAvoidcoating process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-marking or pre-positioning the external connection terminals that require noble metal coating before the coating process. This preparation step enables the selective coating to be performed efficiently and accurately, reducing manufacturing complexity despite the selective nature of the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach reduces production costs and prevents short circuits by accurately applying noble metal coatings only where needed, ensuring reliable current handling and efficient assembly.

Implementation Method 1

a transformer that generates a high voltage at a secondary coil by carrying or interrupting a primary current flowing through a primary coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

external connection terminals requiring the noble metal coat for a control circuit section

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS7287524B2Internal combustion engine ignition device

Publication Date: 2007.10.30 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC MOBILITY CORP

AI summary

An internal combustion engine ignition device is provided with a connector including first external connection terminal, and second external connection terminal. The first external connection terminals is formed with no noble metal coat, while the second external connection terminal is formed with a noble metal coat. The first external connection terminal is disposed on the outer side of terminal arrangement in the connector, and the second external connection terminal is disposed on the center side of terminal arrangement in the connector.