PCB Connector Latch Structure for Shorter Insertion Stroke
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wire-end connectors face issues such as long insertion and extraction strokes, inconvenient housing designs, and difficulty in operation due to fasteners, limiting assembly direction and increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a molding piece with guiding inclined and arc surfaces, a latch mechanism, and a flexible plug terminal, allowing for easy rotation and alignment with a printed circuit board, along with a simple and cost-effective latch system for secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fasteners are used to fix the wire-end connector, then the connector will not fall off and cause abnormal signal transmission, but the insertion and extraction strokes become long and operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into separate functional components: a housing structure, a latch mechanism with independent moving parts (latch body, latch arm, latch spring), and contact elements. This segmentation allows the latch to provide secure fixation while enabling simple one-handed operation for insertion and extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using traditional fasteners that require complex manipulation, the patent employs a latch mechanism that operates by simple linear movement. The latch arm moves from a retracted position during insertion to an engaged position that secures the connector, inverting the conventional approach where fasteners require rotational or multi-step operations.
2Reliability
If fasteners are used to fix the wire-end connector, then the connector will not fall off and cause abnormal signal transmission, but the housing design becomes limited and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is integrated directly into the housing structure, with the latch body formed as part of the housing and the latch arm moving within dedicated slots. This merging eliminates the need for separate fastener components and simplifies the overall housing design while maintaining secure connector fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support, guides the latch arm movement through integrated slots, and secures the connector in place. The latch mechanism itself performs both locking and guiding functions, reducing the need for additional specialized components and simplifying the overall design.
3Ease of operation
If the housing compresses the fasteners to cause them to pop out or retract, then the fastener mechanism works, but the assembly direction of the housing is limited to only be perpendicular to the actuation direction of the fastener
Solution Approach 1:
The latch arm moves in a linear direction parallel to the housing's longitudinal axis, rather than requiring perpendicular compression. The latch spring provides the actuating force along this same axis, allowing the housing to be assembled in various orientations without being constrained by fastener actuation direction. This dimensional change in the actuation vector enables greater assembly flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector includes a molding piece, a protruding portion, a plurality of plug terminals, and a cable. The molding piece includes a front surface and a guiding inclined surface. The molding piece is flat-shaped. The front surface is connected to the guiding inclined surface. The protruding portion is disposed on the front surface. The protruding portion protrudes in a direction away from the molding piece. The plug terminals are retractably protrude from a bottom surface of the molding piece. The cable is electrically connected to the plug terminal in the molding piece.