Movable Connector Bumper Design for Compact Footprint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable connectors are large due to projections on the side walls that stop the displacement of the movable housing, which increases the size of the connector and can lead to damage during displacement.
Innovation Solution
A movable connector design where the bumper portions are integrated into the top and upper walls, allowing the second housing to stop displacement without projecting from the side walls, using a projection and recess configuration that allows for efficient use of internal space and reduces the need for additional components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If projections with recesses are provided on the side walls to stop displacement, then the displacement stopping function is achieved, but the connector size becomes large in the direction of terminal arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper portions are repositioned from the side walls to the top and upper walls, changing the spatial dimension where displacement stopping occurs. This dimensional shift allows the connector to stop displacement without increasing size in the terminal arrangement direction, as the bumping action now occurs in the vertical direction between the top wall and upper wall.
2Reliability
If projections are provided on side walls to prevent excessive movement, then displacement control is achieved, but the connector requires additional space and becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper portions are integrated into the existing wall structures of the housings rather than being separate additional components. The first bumper portion is formed on the top wall and the second bumper portion on the upper wall, merging the displacement stopping function into the housing walls themselves, which eliminates the need for separate side wall projections and reduces overall connector footprint.
3Reliability
If bumper portions are positioned on side walls, then displacement stopping is effective, but damage may occur during displacement forces
Solution Approach 1:
The bumper portions are strategically positioned on the top and upper walls where they can effectively stop displacement through a projection-recess configuration. The first bumper portion has a projection shape and the second bumper portion has a recess shape, creating localized interaction points that stop displacement without requiring the entire side wall structure to bear the displacement forces, thereby reducing damage risk.
4Length of moving object
If the connector size is reduced by removing side wall projections, then compactness is improved, but displacement stopping capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement stopping mechanism is relocated from the horizontal side wall dimension to the vertical dimension involving the top and upper walls. This dimensional change allows the connector to maintain a compact footprint while preserving full displacement stopping capability through the projection-recess interaction between bumper portions positioned in the vertical arrangement.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a small movable connector. A movable connector includes a fixed housing mounted on a substrate, a movable housing movable with respect to the fixed housing, and terminals. The terminals each include a movable spring part supporting the movable housing movably, and a contact portion coming into conductive contact with a pin terminal. The fixed housing includes a top wall, and a bumper projection provided on the top wall. The movable housing includes an upper wall, and a bumper recess provided in the upper wall. The bumper projection and the bumper recess stop a displacement of the movable housing when the bumper recess bumps against the bumper projection. The movable connector can have a smaller size than in a case where elements that stop the displacement of the movable housing project from the side walls of the fixed housing and the end walls of the movable housing.