Low-Height Electrical Connector Terminals for High Contact Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with conductive terminals have limitations in density and elasticity due to their design, where the supporting portions and lateral beams are aligned in a left-right direction, leading to reduced height and impaired elastic deformation, which affects the contact quality between circuit components.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features conductive terminals with a connecting portion and elastic arms that can move and deform elastically, where the fixing portion and first elastic arm are located on different sides of the base, allowing for better elasticity and thinness, and are formed by punching and blanking for ease of manufacture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the supporting portion and upper and lower lateral beams are arranged in the left-right direction, then the height of each contact is reduced and the electrical connector becomes thinner, but the length of each contact in the left-right direction increases which reduces the density of contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the arrangement of the supporting portion and lateral beams from a left-right horizontal arrangement to a front-rear arrangement along the insertion direction. This dimensional change allows the contacts to be arranged more densely in the left-right direction while maintaining reduced height, thereby resolving the contradiction between thinness and contact density
2Stability of the object's composition
If the supporting portion and contact supporting portion are in interference fit and the lower lateral beam has a protrusion for interference fit, then the contact is fixed stably, but the elastic deformability of the upper and lower lateral beams is limited which affects contact quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different fixing mechanisms to different parts of the contact structure. The supporting portion uses interference fit with the insulating shell for stable positioning, while the lateral beams are designed without interference fit features, allowing them to maintain elastic deformability. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between fixing stability and elastic adaptability
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 enhances the elasticity and contact quality between electronic components, maintaining stability and density while reducing the overall height of the connector, allowing for larger movement ranges and improved manufacturing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the connecting portion, the first elastic arm and the second elastic arm are applied with forces and elastically deform altogether on a plane in a force applying direction
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes multiple conductive terminals respectively retained in multiple accommodating slots of an insulating body. Each conductive terminal includes a base portion, a connecting portion extending from one side of the base portion, a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm extending from the connecting portion toward a direction away from the same one side of the base portion, and at least one fixing portion extending from another side of the base portion. A width of the connecting portion is less than a width of the base portion and less than a width of a location of the first elastic arm near the connecting portion as well as a width of a location of the second elastic arm near the connecting portion. The fixing portion and the first elastic arm are respectively located at different sides of the base portion, thus achieving good elasticity and thinness.