Insulation Displacement Connector Piercing Cable Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) face challenges in efficiently connecting electrical cables to printed circuit boards without stripping the insulation, as they often require complex assembly processes and may not securely hold the cables in place.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a mounting portion with first and second arms that define insulation displacement slots, allowing the IDC to pierce the cable insulation and contact the conductor, with a flexible structure that securely attaches to the printed circuit board, enabling easy cable insertion and secure electrical communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing insulation displacement connectors are used to connect electrical cables to printed circuit boards without stripping insulation, then the connection process avoids insulation removal, but the assembly process becomes complex and cable retention is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The IDC is divided into distinct functional segments: a mounting portion for PCB attachment, a body portion containing insulation displacement slots, and arms with piercing members. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining manufacturing ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The piercing members automatically pierce the cable insulation and establish electrical contact when the cable is inserted into the insulation displacement slots. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual insulation stripping or complex assembly tools, reducing assembly complexity while preserving ease of cable connection.
2Ease of manufacture
If existing insulation displacement connectors are used to connect electrical cables without stripping insulation, then insulation removal is avoided, but secure cable retention is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion and body portion are merged into an integrated structure where the mounting portion securely attaches to the PCB while the body portion retains the cable. This merging ensures that both the electrical connection and cable retention functions work together reliably, preventing cable dislodgement while maintaining ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation displacement slots and piercing members are designed with curved surfaces that conform to the cylindrical shape of the cable. This curvature allows the slots to securely grip the cable while the piercing members effectively penetrate the insulation, achieving reliable cable retention without compromising the ease of cable insertion.
3Ease of operation
If a flexible structure is used to attach the IDC to the printed circuit board, then easy assembly is enabled, but structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting portion utilizes elastic deformation of the arms to achieve flexible attachment to the PCB. By controlling the material properties and geometric parameters of the arms, the structure becomes sufficiently compliant during assembly to enable easy operation, while maintaining adequate structural stability during use through proper design of the elastic elements.
Data Source
AI summary
An insulation displacement contact includes a monolithic electrically conductive contact body that includes mating portion and a mounting portion. The mating portion defines a pair of insulation displacement slots configured to receive an electrical cable delivered by a connector housing.