PCB Plug Connector Contact Element With Flexible Narrow-Side Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing contact elements for printed circuit board plug connectors require significant spatial resources and have limited adjustability of mating forces due to their design, which affects their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The contact elements are designed with opposing narrow and broad sides, featuring a contact crest on the narrow side and a flexible region that allows elastic deformation in the plane of the element for secure connection, along with a rigid region and a flexible tip for enhanced adjustability and defined contact surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contacts are aligned in a linear arrangement with broad sides facing each other, then electrical connection is established, but spatial requirements increase particularly in width
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements utilize their narrow sides for contact instead of broad sides, creating an asymmetric contact configuration. This asymmetric design allows contacts to be arranged more compactly in width while maintaining electrical connection reliability, directly resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and spatial width requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The contact elements are designed with out-of-plane bending capability, transitioning the contact mechanism from a purely planar arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration. This allows the narrow sides to contact each other with flexible engagement, reducing the required width while ensuring reliable electrical connection through the bending action
2Ease of manufacture
If contacts are designed with fixed alignment, then manufacturing is simplified, but adjustability of mating forces is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The contact elements incorporate a flexible region that enables dynamic out-of-plane bending during the mating process. This dynamic capability allows the contact force to self-adjust based on the insertion force and alignment tolerance, providing adaptability in mating forces while maintaining a relatively simple fixed design for manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible region allows the contact element to change its geometric parameters (bending angle, contact point position) during engagement. This parameter change enables the mating force to be adjusted according to the specific insertion conditions, resolving the contradiction between fixed manufacturing design and adjustable mating forces
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 design provides a space-saving, cost-effective, and reliable connection solution with improved adjustability and signal integrity, suitable for high-frequency data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the contact element is shaped in such a way that the contact element is substantially elastically deformed in this plane in order to establish contact with an at least similarly formed contact element
Data Source
AI summary
An electric contact element for use in a printed circuit board plug connector is formed with at least two opposing narrow faces and at least two opposing wide faces. At least one narrow face is designed to be used as a contact surface in order to be brought into an electrically conductive connection with a counter contact element. At least the contact surface of the contact element and of the counter contact element are designed to have identical structures, and the wide face has at least one rigid region and a flexible region.