Metallic Shell Stopping Portion for USB-C Connector Terminal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
USB Type-C electrical connectors are prone to terminal detachment from the circuit board due to excessive force or repeated impacts, affecting conduction functionality, as they rely on a plastic core for stopping, which is not robust enough.
Innovation Solution
An electrical receptacle connector design featuring a metallic shell with a stopping portion that disperses insertion force, replacing the plastic core as the stopping point, and incorporating a fixation block with hook structures and through holes to secure terminals and improve structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plastic core is used as the stopping point in the receptacle connector, then the connector structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the terminals are prone to detachment from the circuit board when subjected to excessive force or repeated impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining a metallic shell (outer layer) with a plastic core (inner layer). The metallic shell provides enhanced mechanical strength and impact resistance to prevent terminal detachment, while the plastic core maintains ease of manufacture and electrical insulation properties. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary strengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a curved stopping portion with a rounded surface that extends from the plastic core into the receptacle cavity. This curved structure distributes insertion forces more evenly across the terminal contacts, reducing stress concentration that could lead to detachment. The spherical/curved geometry enhances the stopping function while maintaining structural integrity under repeated impacts.
2Reliability
If the stopping portion extends deeply into the receptacle cavity to prevent terminal detachment, then the connector reliability improves, but the insertion force required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopping portion extends partially into the receptacle cavity rather than fully, providing just enough stopping depth to prevent terminal detachment during normal use. This partial extension achieves the necessary reliability while avoiding excessive insertion force that would result from a deeper stopping structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded surface of the stopping portion allows for smoother force distribution during insertion, reducing peak forces required to mate the connectors. The curved geometry enables the stopping function to be achieved with less insertion force compared to a sharp or flat stopping surface.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical receptacle connector includes an insulated housing, receptacle terminals, and a metallic shell. The insulated housing includes a base portion and a tongue portion outwardly extending from the base portion. The receptacle terminals are held in the base portion and disposed at the surface of the tongue portion. The metallic shell includes a receptacle cavity, the insulated housing is held in the receptacle cavity. An insertion opening is on a first end of the metallic shell, a stopping portion is inwardly bending on a second end of the metallic shell, and the stopping portion is extending to a surface of the base portion. When an electrical plug connector is inserted into the receptacle cavity, an end portion of the electrical plug connector is in contact with the stopping portion.