Press-In Pin Contact Assembly for IMS PCB Through-Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric contact assemblies for printed circuit boards, particularly those using IMS substrates, face challenges in achieving precise and cost-effective connections due to the inability to produce through-contacts with press-in pins, leading to complex and costly processes, especially when integrating with SMD production.
Innovation Solution
An electric contact assembly comprising an installation ring with a central opening and a press-in pin featuring a flexible and rigid zone, allowing for precise positioning and flexible configuration, which can be integrated into SMD production without special processes, using a press-in pin with a flexible zone for connection to another electronic component and a rigid zone for secure fit within the installation ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If press-in pins are used for electrical contacting on IMS printed circuit boards, then cost-effective and reliable connections are achieved, but through-contacts cannot be produced due to the insulation layer
Solution Approach 1:
The press-in pin is divided into multiple functional zones: a rigid zone for interference fit with the installation ring, a flexible zone for deformation during mounting, and a contact zone for electrical connection. This segmentation allows the pin to achieve through-contact functionality despite the insulation layer constraint on IMS boards.
Solution Approach 2:
The press-in pin incorporates a flexible zone that allows dynamic deformation during the mounting process. This flexibility enables the pin to adapt to the insulation layer and achieve proper contact, while the rigid zones maintain structural integrity and positioning accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If cable solutions are used to establish connections, then connections between IMS power electronics and other printed circuit boards are achieved, but complex contacting processes and large installation space are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of electrical connection from complex cable assemblies and replaces it with a simplified press-in pin system. The pin directly provides both mechanical support and electrical connection, eliminating the need for separate cable components and complex contacting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The press-in pin serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support, establishes electrical connection, and enables through-contact on IMS boards. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate cable solutions and reduces overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If SMD press-fit pins with templates are used, then electrical connections are established, but the production process is interrupted and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The press-in pin is designed to be self-positioning and self-aligning through its geometric features and interference fit mechanism. This eliminates the need for external templates or fixtures during mounting, allowing continuous SMD production without process interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The installation ring is pre-mounted on the printed circuit board before the press-in pin is inserted. This preliminary action prepares the mounting location with precise positioning features, enabling the press-in pin to be directly inserted without requiring templates or additional positioning steps during the production process.
4Reliability
If individual pins are pressed in, then electrical contacts are established, but large numbers of pins require high accuracy in pin positioning and board accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The installation ring acts as an intermediary component between the printed circuit board and the press-in pin. It provides a stable mounting base with precise positioning features, absorbing positioning tolerances and reducing the accuracy requirements for both the board and the pin.
Solution Approach 2:
The interference fit between the press-in pin and installation ring creates a self-centering effect that compensates for positioning variations. The flexible zone of the pin allows for slight deformations that accommodate tolerance variations, maintaining reliable electrical contact without requiring extremely tight positioning accuracy.
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 solution provides a cost-efficient, reliable, and space-efficient electrical contacting method that reduces production costs and time, enabling precise and flexible connections without the need for complex processes, allowing for ambient temperature joining and simple process management.
Implementation Method 1
The second, more rigid, zone is fitted in the opening of the installation pin by means of a first interference fit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric contact assembly for electrically contacting a printed circuit board or the like, comprising an installation ring (3) with an opening (3a), said installation ring (3) being designed to be fixed to the printed circuit board (11), and comprising a press-in pin (2) with a first zone (21) and a second zone (22), wherein the first zone (21) has a greater degree of mechanical flexibility than the second zone (22), and the first zone (21) is designed to be connected to another electronic component. The second zone (22) is assembled in the opening (3a) of the installation ring (3) by means of a first interference fit (4).