Connector Probe Flange Recess for Alignment Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing probes for connector inspection face challenges in maintaining accuracy due to potential misalignment between probe pins and terminals, leading to deteriorated inspection results.
Innovation Solution
A probe design featuring a flange with a through hole and a cylindrical housing with an increased diameter portion that fits into the flange, allowing for improved verticality and positional accuracy through a recessed portion that guides the housing back to its original position, ensuring precise contact with connector terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple probe pins are used to simultaneously contact multiple terminals, then inspection efficiency is improved, but alignment accuracy between probe pins and terminals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The probe is divided into multiple independent probe pins, each capable of contacting a separate terminal. This segmentation allows simultaneous inspection of multiple terminals while maintaining individual alignment capability for each pin, resolving the contradiction between inspection efficiency and alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
A positioning mechanism serves as an intermediary between the probe pins and terminals, providing precise alignment guidance. This mediator ensures that each probe pin accurately contacts its corresponding terminal while maintaining the capability for simultaneous multi-point inspection.
2Reliability
If probe pins are made rigid for stable contact, then contact reliability is improved, but adaptability to position variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The probe pins incorporate elastic elements that provide dynamic compliance. The elastic components allow the rigid probe pin structure to adapt to position variations through controlled deformation, maintaining reliable contact while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and terminal position variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameter of the probe pin is optimized to balance rigidity and compliance. By carefully selecting material properties and geometric dimensions, the probe pin maintains sufficient rigidity for stable contact while having enough compliance to adapt to position variations, resolving the contradiction between contact reliability and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A probe for characteristic inspection of a connector includes a plunger, a coaxial cable, a flange, and a housing having an end portion on one side including an increased diameter portion. A recessed portion which receives the increased diameter portion is in an upper surface of the flange. The increased diameter portion has side walls in contact with or facing respective inner side surfaces of the flange partly, with the inner side surfaces forming the recessed portion, and a bottom wall in contact with an upper recessed surface of the flange that forms the recessed portion. The increased diameter portion has connection surfaces connecting the bottom and side walls and inclined inward from one of the side walls toward the bottom wall. Alternatively, the inner side surfaces each have a first surface inclined downward, and a vertical surface extending downward from the first surface to the upper recessed surface.