Mini-Coaxial Shielding Contact With Elastic Crimp Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors, particularly in the automotive industry, face challenges in achieving high data transmission rates while maintaining a compact size and cost-effectiveness, especially for mini-coaxial shielding contacts, due to limitations in shielding quality and crimping mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A mini-coaxial shielding contact with a hollow cylindrical design featuring a crimping section that includes a spherical triangle-shaped slit, allowing for elastic closure during crimping, which enhances signal integrity and reduces dimensions, enabling higher data transmission rates without increasing installation space or resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If miniaturisation is applied to reduce dimensions of coaxial cables and connecting devices, then installation space is reduced and weight is saved, but shielding quality deteriorates and data transmission rates are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensions of shielding contactVSAvoidshielding quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding contact is divided into functionally distinct sections: a crimping section with a gaping opening for cable attachment, a transition section for gradual dimensional change, and a contact section for electrical connection. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the crimping section provides robust cable securing while the contact section maintains high shielding quality for data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the shielding contact have different cross-sectional dimensions and wall thicknesses tailored to their specific functions. The crimping section has larger dimensions for mechanical strength and cable grip, while the contact section has precisely controlled dimensions to maintain shielding effectiveness. The wall thickness varies along the length to provide adequate shielding where needed while minimizing overall size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional crimping flanges or wings are used, then cable mounting is straightforward, but device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable mountingVSAvoidcrimping mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The crimping section is integrated directly into the shielding contact body as a continuous hollow cylindrical structure, eliminating the need for separate crimping flanges, wings, or additional fastening components. The gaping opening in the crimping section allows the cable to be inserted and crimped in one operation, simplifying both the device structure and the manufacturing process while maintaining ease of cable mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow cylindrical shielding contact structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electromagnetic shielding, mechanical protection for the cable, a crimping interface for cable attachment, and a mounting interface for the contact section. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If standard coaxial cable dimensions are used, then shielding quality is maintained, but installation space and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshielding qualityVSAvoidcable diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding contact features a dynamic transition in cross-sectional dimensions along its length. The crimping section has larger dimensions to accommodate and secure the cable, while the contact section has reduced dimensions optimized for high-frequency signal transmission. This gradual dimensional transition, achieved through the transition section, maintains shielding effectiveness while enabling miniaturization and reducing overall cable diameter.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cross-sectional dimensions and wall thickness of the shielding contact are precisely controlled and varied along its length to optimize performance. The contact section has specific dimensional parameters that maintain shielding quality for high data transmission rates, while the overall size is reduced compared to standard coaxial cables. Material parameters are also optimized to achieve high performance in a compact form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The solution achieves higher signal integrity for high-speed data transmission, allowing mini-coaxial systems to reach transmission rates of 9 GHz with a diameter of 3.6 mm, compared to 6 GHz for standard coax systems with a 6 mm diameter, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective design.

Implementation Method 1

the crimping section is constructed in such a way that during a crimping process the gaping opening in the shielding contact can be closed to become a slit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic closure: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3340388B1Electric shielding contact, preferably mini-coaxial shielding contact
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3340388B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3340388B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3340388B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to an electric shielding contact (100), preferably mini-coaxial shielding contact (100) for an electrical contact device (10) and/or an electrical cable (40), in particular an electrical copper (40) and/or aluminium cable (40) for the automotive industry, wherein in a first aspect the shielding contact (100) is formed mainly in a hollow cylindrical manner and comprises at least a front contact section (110) for electrically contacting an electric counter contact and a rear crimping section (130) for crimping the shielding contact (100) on/at the electrical cable (40), and in at least a rear portion (131) of the crimping section (130), the crimping section (130) gapes from a material of the shielding contact (100), wherein the crimping section (130) is constructed in such a way that during a crimping process the gaping opening (133) in the shielding contact (100) can be closed to become a slit (134). Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrical contact device, preferably an electrical mini-contact device for an electrical cable, in particular an electrical coaxial cable for the automotive industry, comprising an electric contact means, wherein the contact device further comprises an inventive electric shielding contact (100).