Pin Alignment Plate With Elastic PCB Contact for Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pin alignment plates in connectors, especially in the automotive sector, experience resonance vibrations due to their long, narrow geometry, leading to noise, wear, and potential loosening, which can cause damage and undesirable contact with printed circuit boards.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastic feature on the pin alignment plate that is elastically deformable normal to its surface, allowing it to contact the printed circuit board and reduce vibrations without hindering pin alignment, and this feature can be integral to the plate, shaped as an arch or cantilever, distributed to effectively suppress vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the pin alignment plate is made long and narrow to fit connector requirements, then it can fulfill the alignment function, but it becomes prone to resonance vibrations causing noise and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the pin alignment plate by adding an elastic feature that modifies its mechanical properties. The elastic feature alters the plate's stiffness and damping characteristics, transforming it from a rigid structure prone to resonance to a system with controlled vibration properties. This parameter change allows the long, narrow geometry to be maintained while suppressing harmful vibrations through the elastic element's energy dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin alignment plate becomes a composite structure combining a rigid base plate with an elastic feature. This composite design integrates two materials or structural characteristics with different mechanical properties - the rigid plate provides structural support and alignment precision, while the elastic feature provides vibration damping. The combination resolves the contradiction by allowing the rigid structure to maintain its shape while the elastic component absorbs vibrational energy.
2Reliability
If the pin alignment plate is firmly attached to the housing, then it remains stable, but the elastic feature must not impede proper contacting between pins and printed circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated structure where different parts of the pin alignment plate have different mechanical properties. The majority of the plate remains rigid for stable attachment and alignment, while the elastic feature localized in specific regions provides flexibility for vibration absorption. This local differentiation allows the plate to be firmly attached overall while maintaining contact capability in specific areas where pins interact with the printed circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic feature introduces dynamic characteristics to the otherwise static pin alignment plate. The elastic element can deform dynamically in response to vibrations and contact forces, providing adaptive behavior. This dynamic capability allows the plate to maintain firm attachment in its resting state while accommodating contact variations during operation, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of 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 elastic feature effectively reduces or eliminates vibrations and noise, preventing damage to the pin alignment plate, printed circuit board, and pins, while ensuring proper assembly and contact without additional manufacturing steps or redesigns.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic feature protruding from this surface is provided; the elastic feature is elastically deformable in a direction normal to the surface. The elastic deformation of the elastic feature normal to the surface reduces or even eliminates vibrations of the pin alignment plate
Data Source
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AI summary
A pin alignment plate (10) is fixed to a connector housing (101) at its circumference. An elastic feature (20) provided on a surface (13) of the pin alignment plate (10) bridges a gap (150) between the pin alignment plate (10) and a printed circuit board (200), thus avoiding vibrations of the pin alignment plate (10).