Insulated Contact Assembly to Prevent Multiple Current Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric connectors with separate contact main bodies and contacting members create multiple current paths, leading to errors in thermoelectric force or voltage measurements, thereby reducing the accuracy of temperature measurements.
Innovation Solution
A contact combination featuring a contact main body with a wire fixing portion and a contacting member formed separately, where the contacting member has a fixing portion and an extension portion with an insulation layer on the contact main body to prevent multiple current paths from forming, ensuring insulation between the contacting member and the contact main body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the contact main body and contacting member are formed as separate members, then the ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but multiple current paths are created causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is divided into two separate members: a contact main body and a contacting member. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's manufacturing process while maintaining electrical functionality, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and measurement precision by enabling separate production and assembly of the components.
Solution Approach 2:
An insulating member is introduced as an intermediary element between the contact main body and contacting member. This insulating member prevents unwanted electrical contact while allowing mechanical connection, thereby eliminating multiple current paths and measurement errors while preserving the benefits of separate component construction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the contact main body and contacting member are formed as separate members, then the adaptability and assembly flexibility is improved, but the reliability of electrical connection is worsened due to multiple current paths
Solution Approach 1:
The contact structure is segmented into a contact main body and a contacting member that can be assembled separately. This segmentation provides adaptability for different assembly scenarios while the insulating member ensures reliable electrical connection by preventing unintended current paths, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating member acts as a mediator that ensures reliable electrical connection between separate components. It prevents stray current paths while allowing the contacting member to make proper contact, thereby maintaining high reliability despite the segmented structure that provides adaptability.
3Measurement precision
If insulation is added between the contacting member and contact main body, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An insulating member is introduced as a simple intermediary element between the contact main body and contacting member. This single component effectively prevents multiple current paths and improves measurement accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity, as the insulating member integrates seamlessly into the existing contact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Insulation is applied locally only where needed - specifically between the contact main body and contacting member - rather than throughout the entire device. This localized approach improves measurement precision by eliminating stray current paths at the critical interface while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A contact (20) provided with a contact main body (30) having a wire fixing portion (39) to which a wire (W1) is fixed, and a contacting member (50) formed separately from the contact main body (30), configured to be connected to the wire (W1) and contact with a mating contact (120). A portion of the contact main body (30) contacting with the contacting member (50) is provided with an insulation layer (40). The contact (20) prevents a plurality of current paths joining together and can advantageously be used in thermoelectric temperature measurement systems.