Offset Contact Terminals Prevent Scuffing in Card Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic card connectors are prone to damage from scuffing due to the alignment and design of their contacting portions during card insertion and ejection.

Innovation Solution

The electronic card connector features a design with first and second contacts arranged in specific configurations to prevent scuffing, including offset contacting portions and affixed portions that define different transverse distances, ensuring proper alignment and reduced stress on the contacts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If contacting portions are arranged in a straight line along the insertion direction, then the card connector achieves simple structure and easy manufacturing, but the contacting portions are prone to scuffing damage during card insertion and ejection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of contact arrangementVSAvoidresistance to scuffing damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by offsetting the contacting portions of neighboring contacts along the insertion direction, breaking the symmetric straight-line arrangement. This asymmetric offset configuration changes the way card pads interact with contacts during insertion and ejection, reducing scuffing damage while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimensional arrangement by offsetting contacting portions along the insertion direction in addition to their transverse positioning. This creates a two-dimensional contact pattern rather than a simple linear arrangement, distributing stress more effectively and reducing scuffing while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If contacting portions are offset alternately in neighboring contacts, then scuffing damage is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex and manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresistance to scuffing damageVSAvoidprecision of contact offset arrangement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial offsetting where only neighboring contacts in the same row are offset along the insertion direction, while maintaining regular transverse arrangement. This partial application of offsetting achieves scuffing protection without requiring complete reconfiguration of all contact dimensions, thus balancing precision requirements with manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10176410B2Electronic card connector assembly having improved terminals to avoid scuffing

Publication Date: 2019.01.08 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

An electronic card connector, defining an insertion direction, an ejection direction, and a transverse direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, includes an insulative housing and a number of terminals retained in the insulative housing. The terminals include a row of first contacts disposed along the insertion direction. Each first contact has a first affixed portion and a first contacting portion located at a peak therein. Each of the first contacts extends along the transverse direction. The first contacting portions of the neighboring first contacts are located offset along the insertion direction. The first contacting portions and associated first affixed portions of the first contacts are distanced differently in the transverse direction.