Outer Conductor Terminal Lid Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outer conductor terminals in shield connectors face issues with impaired shielding properties and unreliable electrical connection reliability due to lock projections and holes, which can disrupt the flow of return currents during high-speed communication.
Innovation Solution
The outer conductor terminal features a body with a side surface lock and a lid that uses front and rear abutting portions to sandwich the lock, ensuring a resilient connection and maintaining the lid in a closed state, enhancing electrical connection reliability without compromising shielding properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lock projection and lock hole are formed by cutting and raising the outer conductor terminal body, then the lid can be locked to the body, but the shielding property is impaired due to the cut and raised lock projection and bored part
Solution Approach 1:
A separate lock member is introduced as an intermediary component between the outer conductor terminal body and the lid. This lock member includes a lock projection that engages with a lock hole in the lid, while the body-side lock contacts the lock member to provide locking force. This intermediary structure allows the locking function to be achieved without cutting or raising the outer conductor terminal body itself, thereby maintaining its shielding integrity.
2Reliability
If the lid is connected to the circuit board, then electrical connection is established, but the return current may not flow smoothly from the outer conductor terminal body to the lid unless the contact point between lock projection and lock hole is established reliably
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function and electrical connection function are merged into a single integrated structure. The lock member serves dual purposes: it provides mechanical locking through the lock projection and lock hole engagement, and simultaneously establishes electrical connection between the outer conductor terminal body and the lid. The body-side lock contacts the lock member to transmit both mechanical force and electrical current, eliminating the need for separate contact points and simplifying the overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the body-side lock is made simple in shape, then manufacturing is easier, but the connection reliability between body-side lock and rear abutting portion may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The body-side lock transitions from a two-dimensional flat structure to a three-dimensional structure by bending the rear end in the front-rear direction to form a contact portion. This dimensional change allows the contact portion to extend toward the rear abutting portion, ensuring reliable contact and force transmission while keeping the overall structure relatively simple and easy to manufacture from a single piece of conductive material.
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
This configuration improves the reliability of electrical connections between the lid and body, ensuring smooth return current flow and maintaining a good shielding property, making it suitable for high-speed communication applications.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the body-side lock and the rear abutting portion contact each other with a resilient force
Data Source
AI summary
An outer conductor terminal (22) includes a body (28) surrounding an outer periphery of an inner conductor terminal (21) and having a rear opening and a lid (29) for closing the opening of the body (28). Body-side locks (43) are provided on side surfaces of the body (28). The lid (29) has side portions (52) for covering the side surfaces of the body (28). The side portions (52) are provided with front abutting portions (54) contacting the body-side locks (43) from the front. The lid (29) has rear abutting portions (56) contacting the body-side locks (43) from behind to sandwich the body-side lock portions (43) between the front abutting portions (54) and the rear abutting portions (56) and to hold the lid (29). The body-side locks (43) include contact portions (45) that contact the rear abutting portions (56) with resilient forces.