Lamellar Contact Elements With Matched Bending Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact element systems face challenges in achieving reliable mechanical and electrical performance, as they often require a compromise between contact force and electrical properties, which can lead to damage or inconsistent testing results due to varying contact point requirements for signal transmission and power supply.
Innovation Solution
The contact element system features contact elements with laminated intermediate regions having different cross-sectional areas, shapes, depths, and numbers of lamellae, allowing for the same flexural rigidity while offering varying electrical resistances, enabling optimized mechanical and electrical performance for specific test tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contact elements with different cross-sectional areas are used to optimize electrical properties for different test tasks, then electrical resistance can be tailored for power supply or signal transmission, but the contact force consistency across all contact points deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements are designed with different cross-sectional areas in specific local regions (intermediate regions) while maintaining uniform end regions for contacting. This allows the electrical properties to be tailored locally without affecting the mechanical contact force at the contact points, as the end regions remain consistent across all contact elements
Solution Approach 2:
The contact elements are segmented into distinct functional regions: end regions for mechanical contacting and intermediate regions for electrical conduction. The intermediate regions can have varying cross-sectional areas to optimize electrical properties for different test tasks, while the end regions maintain uniform dimensions to ensure consistent contact force
2Reliability
If higher contact force is applied to achieve more reliable contacting, then contact reliability improves, but damage to contact points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements utilize elastic deformation parameters to achieve reliable contact. By designing the intermediate regions with appropriate flexural rigidity and allowing elastic deflection, the system achieves sufficient contact force for reliable electrical connection while keeping the force within acceptable limits to prevent damage to the contact points
3Reliability
If contact elements are made more flexible to compensate for height differences of contact points, then contact reliability improves, but the contact force increases causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements exhibit different mechanical properties in different regions: the intermediate regions are designed with specific flexural rigidity to provide flexibility for compensating height differences, while the end regions maintain higher stiffness to ensure proper force transmission to the contact points without excessive deflection
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 design ensures consistent contact force across all contact points, minimizing damage and ensuring reliable testing while allowing for tailored electrical properties to suit different test tasks, such as power supply or signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
each of which can be deflected at least in an arc shape when subjected to a load in its longitudinal extension, overcoming its flexural rigidity
Implementation Method 2
electrically conductive contact elements of the same length, each of which has two end regions for electrical contacting of contact points
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a contact element system having a plurality of pin-type or needle-type and electrically conductive contact elements (4, 5) of equal length, which each have two end regions (4', 5', 4", 5") for electrically contacting contact positions and each have an intermediate region (12, 13) located between the end regions, wherein the contact elements (4, 5) can be elastically deflected in an arc in the intermediate region (12, 13) under longitudinal loading, overcoming their bending rigidity, and are designed with lamellar sections in the intermediate region (12, 13) such that they have at least two strips (14, 16) which are substantially parallel to each other and run at a distance from one another. According to the invention, at least two of the contact elements have different cross sectional surfaces and differently formed strips in the intermediate region (12, 13), wherein the forms of the strips (14, 16) are chosen such that the contact elements (4, 5) have the same or approximately the same bending rigidity.