PCB Connector Boss Structure for Precise Receptacle Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connection members in electronic devices often result in assembly inefficiencies and potential damage due to improper insertion or alignment with receptacles, leading to defects.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a boss structure on the electrical connection member that protrudes beyond the head, featuring through-holes and screw threads, allowing for precise alignment and secure coupling with receptacles on a circuit board, thereby improving assembly efficiency and preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the cable length is made larger than the receptacle length to allow manual coupling, then the operator can couple heads to receptacles using tweezers or hands, but improper insertion or misalignment may cause damage to heads, receptacles, or defects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual coupling capabilityVSAvoiddamage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A guide structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the head and receptacle. This guide structure includes a guide protrusion on the cable assembly and a corresponding guide recess on the receptacle, which work together to align and guide the head into proper insertion position, preventing misalignment and damage during manual coupling operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If no alignment feature is provided, then the device structure remains simple, but assembly precision is poor and defects occur due to improper insertion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidassembly precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment function is segmented into separate components: a guide protrusion on the cable assembly and a corresponding guide recess on the receptacle. This segmentation allows the alignment feature to be added to the cable assembly without complicating the receptacle structure, maintaining overall structural simplicity while improving assembly precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide protrusion and guide recess are designed to perform preliminary alignment action before the actual coupling occurs. The guide structures pre-position the head relative to the receptacle, ensuring proper alignment is established before insertion forces are applied, thereby improving manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4447234B1Electronic device comprising electrical connection member
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4447234B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4447234B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4447234B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

An electronic device includes a printed circuit board having a first opening; at least one receptacle provided in the printed circuit board and adjacent to the first opening; an electrical connection member coupled to the at least one receptacle and configured to be separable from the at least one receptacle; and at least one boss structure provided in the first opening and protruding from the electrical connection member toward the printed circuit board.