PCB Connection Unit With Spring Contacts for SMD Soldering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for connection devices in automation areas, particularly for printed circuit boards with SMD components, requires improved solutions for solderability, compact design, and easier handling, as existing technologies struggle to efficiently connect electrical conductors using SMD soldering processes.
Innovation Solution
A connection device with SMD-compatible contact geometry, featuring spring arms and a housing design that allows for easy alignment and soldering, maintaining a soldering gap and utilizing a compact structure with spring clips for secure conductor connection, while minimizing flux or solder paste displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connection devices are used for SMD soldering, then connection functionality is provided, but solderability is poor and flux or solder paste is removed or pushed away
Solution Approach 1:
The contact geometry features localized contact projections on the spring arms that make point contact with the contact surfaces. This local contact approach ensures that flux or solder paste is removed or pushed away only at the specific contact projection points, while the remaining contact surfaces retain their flux or solder paste coverage for proper soldering
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device divides the contact surface interaction into discrete contact projections rather than continuous line contact. Each contact projection acts as an independent segment that locally interacts with the contact surface, minimizing overall flux or solder paste disruption while maintaining reliable electrical contact
2Volume of moving object
If connection devices are designed for compact size, then space efficiency improves, but handling and alignment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device utilizes the depth dimension by extending spring arms downward from the housing to contact the printed circuit board surface. This vertical arrangement allows compact horizontal footprint while maintaining adequate spacing and accessibility for handling and alignment operations
3Reliability
If spring arms are used for contact, then electrical connection is established, but maintaining soldering gap precision is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spring arms are designed with specific geometric parameters including length, thickness, and contact projection dimensions that are optimized to maintain the required soldering gap. The contact projections are positioned at precise distances from the housing, ensuring consistent soldering gap maintenance while establishing reliable electrical contact
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
The solution enables efficient, compact, and easy-to-use connection of electrical conductors to printed circuit boards, ensuring reliable soldering and rapid assembly with reduced risk of flux or solder paste removal, thus addressing the need for improved solderability and handling in SMD environments.
Implementation Method 1
each with a spring arm with a respective contact projection... make it possible to maintain a required soldering gap between the contact surfaces of the printed circuit board and the respective spring arm
Implementation Method 2
a spring clip and a printed circuit board contact has a base plate with a first side wall and with a second side wall
Data Source
AI summary
A connection device (1) for connecting at least one electrical conductor (L) to at least one electrically conductive contact surface (6) of a printed circuit board (5) comprises a housing (1a), at least one first connection unit (2) and at least one second connection unit (3), wherein the connection device (1) has an SMD-compatible contact geometry. The SMD-compatible contact geometry has at least one first printed circuit board contact (4) and at least one second printed circuit board contact (4') each with a spring arm (18, 18') with a respective contact projection (20, 20').