Press-fit Contact Pin With Dual Transverse Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing production of printed circuit boards with press-fit contact pins requires multiple lengths of pins to accommodate different heights of protrusion, leading to increased costs due to the need for various pin types.

Innovation Solution

A printed circuit board design featuring a distal press-fit section and a proximal press-fit section of different transverse extents, allowing a single type of press-fit contact pin to achieve multiple protrusion heights, enabling various functions such as initial grounding and contact verification while reducing production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If press-in contact pins of different lengths are used to achieve different protrusion heights, then multiple plug-in functions can be realized, but production costs increase due to the need for multiple pin types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple plug-in functionsVSAvoidproduction costs
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single press-in contact pin design is created that can perform multiple functions by achieving different protrusion heights through controlled deformation during insertion, eliminating the need for multiple pin types with different lengths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion height of the press-in contact pin is dynamically adjusted through parameter changes during the insertion process - specifically, the pin deforms elastically to achieve different final heights based on the insertion depth and force applied, allowing one pin type to serve multiple height requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a single type of press-in contact pin is used, then production costs are reduced, but different protrusion heights cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costsVSAvoiddifferent protrusion heights
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The press-in contact pin transitions from a static fixed-length component to a dynamic component that changes its effective length during operation. The pin is designed to deform elastically during insertion, with the degree of deformation controlled by insertion parameters, thereby achieving different protrusion heights from a single pin type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The physical state and dimensions of the press-in contact pin are changed during the insertion process through controlled deformation. By varying insertion force and depth, the pin achieves different final protrusion heights, transforming a static component into one with variable dimensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3471214B1Printed circuit board method for loading a printed circuit board with a number of plug-in pins
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 MARELLI GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3471214B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3471214B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3471214B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A press-fit contact pin (2) is proposed for placement in a first via of a printed circuit board. A distal press-fit section (4) has a first transverse dimension (D1) for insertion into the first via. A proximal press-fit section (8) has a second transverse dimension (D2) for insertion into a second via, which is larger than the first transverse dimension (D1).