Modular Pin Header Connector With Lateral Latching Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin header plug-and-socket connectors face issues with imprecise positioning due to lateral tilting of solder pins and wear of tool edges, leading to poor retention and increased costs from supplementary retaining parts.
Innovation Solution
A module-like plug-and-socket connector design where each module has a module housing with a plugging face section and a mounting contour receptacle, using latching or form-fitting elements to secure contact elements, eliminating the need for additional retaining parts and improving positioning accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If contact pins are pressed into housings with barbs, then mounting is simplified, but positioning precision deteriorates due to lateral tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element is divided into functionally distinct parts: a plug contact section for electrical connection and a solder pin section for mounting, with attachment bars positioned laterally to engage with the housing. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment bars extend laterally from the contact element in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, engaging with the housing from the sides rather than from the front. This dimensional change prevents lateral tilting during insertion while maintaining mounting simplicity.
2Reliability
If supplementary retaining parts are added to fix contact elements, then retention reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is merged with the retention function by integrating latching elements and form-fitting features directly into the housing walls. The contact element's attachment bars engage with these integrated features, eliminating the need for separate retaining parts while maintaining reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, guides insertion, and incorporates latching elements and form-fitting features for retention. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated retaining parts, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If barbs are used to retain contact pins, then initial retention is achieved, but retention deteriorates over time due to tool wear
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment bars are pre-formed as integral parts of the contact element during manufacturing, with precise geometry and dimensions. This preliminary action ensures consistent engagement with the housing features throughout the product lifecycle, eliminating the degradation associated with repeated tool pressing.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact element with its attachment bars is designed as a disposable component that is inserted and retained in a single action. The simple geometry of the attachment bars allows for cost-effective manufacturing while ensuring reliable retention throughout the intended service life without degradation from tool wear.
4Manufacturing precision
If contact elements are positioned during manufacturing with additional retaining parts, then positioning precision improves, but production automation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The contact element's attachment bars automatically engage with the housing's latching elements and form-fitting features during insertion, achieving precise positioning and retention in a single self-contained action. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for separate positioning and retaining operations, facilitating production automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A pin header plug-and-socket connector including a plurality of plug-and-socket connector modules lined up in a strip-like manner in a lining-up direction each including a module housing and a contact element. The module housings each have a plugging face section and a mounting contour receptacle containing an opening for inserting and mounting the contact element in at least one spatial direction into the module housing. Each contact element has a plug contact and solder pin, wherein the plug contact extends in a plugging direction perpendicular to the lining-up direction. The plug contact is arranged in the plugging face section where it is contactable and the solder pin protrudes out of the module housing such that it is able to be soldered onto a printed circuit board. The plug contact furthermore has one or two lateral attachment bars to retain the plug contact securely in a stationary and latching manner in the module housing by at least one corresponding latch of the module housing or in a form-fitting manner by at least one corresponding form-fitting element of a respectively lined-up adjacent module housing.