Integrated Latching Electrical Connector for IC Packages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connectors are complex to assemble and require additional space due to the cover and lever design, increasing manufacturing costs and making them difficult to integrate into printed circuit boards without sufficient space.
Innovation Solution
An electrical connector with a rectangular insulative housing featuring deflectable latches extending from the sides, allowing for easy molding and secure retention of IC packages, and a design where latching portions are integrated near corners, reducing complexity and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional electrical connector uses a cover and lever design for securing IC packages, then the IC package can be securely retained, but the device complexity increases and more space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cover and lever components into an integrated insulative housing with built-in latching portions. The latching portions are directly formed as part of the housing structure, eliminating the need for separate cover and lever assemblies while maintaining the secure retention function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the latching function from the separate cover and lever components and incorporates it directly into the insulative housing structure. This allows the housing itself to perform the retention function without requiring additional external components.
2Reliability
If a conventional electrical connector uses a cover and lever design, then the IC package can be secured, but the space required increases making it difficult to apply in compact printed circuit boards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (housing, cover, and lever) into a single integrated insulative housing structure. This consolidation reduces the overall space occupation while maintaining the secure retention capability through built-in latching portions.
3Reliability
If latches are defined above the region where terminals are received, then the IC package can be retained, but the latches become difficult to mold with the insulative housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the latching portions at the four corners of the insulative housing, which are naturally formed regions in the molding process. This asymmetric corner placement allows the latches to be easily integrated into the housing structure during molding, avoiding the difficulties associated with defining latches above terminal regions.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector, for electrically connecting an IC package to a printed circuit board, includes an insulative housing and a number of terminals received in the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a base portion and four peripheral walls extending upwardly from the base portion. The insulative housing has four corners and three of the four corners have a latching portion extending inwardly from a top end of corresponding corner, respectively, and the rest one corner is formed with an indentation. The latching portion guides and resists the IC package in the insulative housing. Thus, the latching portions of the connector are molded easily.