Low-Profile Electrical Connector With Rear Biasing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors for circuit boards face challenges in achieving a low profile due to terminal protrusion, which affects contact pressure and displacement handling.

Innovation Solution

The design features connection elements with terminals that do not protrude from movable retainers, utilizing biasing members on one lateral face to apply contact pressure through adjacent elements, ensuring a low profile and effective contact without protrusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the terminal protrudes from the movable retainer toward the counterpart connector to ensure contact pressure, then the contact pressure is improved, but the connector height increases and a low profile cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact pressureVSAvoidconnector height

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of allowing the terminal to protrude forward to apply contact pressure, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the biasing member on the opposite side (rear side) of the movable retainer. The biasing member pushes the movable retainer forward, which in turn pushes the terminal against the counterpart terminal, achieving contact pressure without forward protrusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable retainer acts as an intermediary between the biasing member and the terminal. The biasing member applies force to the movable retainer, which then transmits this force to the terminal, enabling indirect force transmission that achieves contact pressure while maintaining a compact profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal protrudes from the movable retainer to handle displacement through lateral bending, then the floating capability is improved, but the connector height increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloating capabilityVSAvoidconnector height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional floating mechanism by applying force from the rear side through the biasing member rather than allowing forward protrusion. This reversed force application enables the flexible portion to handle displacement while maintaining a low profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The movable retainer and flexible portion are designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing them to deflect and adapt to displacement while the biasing member maintains continuous contact pressure. This dynamic design enables floating capability without requiring excessive protrusion length.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the terminal is secured between stationary and movable retainers with a flexible portion, then the floating capability is improved, but the connector height increases due to the required protrusion length

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloating capabilityVSAvoidconnector height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies force from the opposite side (rear side) using the biasing member, which pushes the movable retainer forward to apply contact pressure. This inverted force application eliminates the need for long terminal protrusion while maintaining the flexible portion's floating capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the force application parameter from forward protrusion to rear-side biasing. By applying force from the rear side through the movable retainer, the system achieves the same floating capability with a significantly reduced connector height.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 configuration allows for a low-profile connector that maintains contact pressure and enables floating capability while minimizing height, ensuring reliable connection and displacement handling.

Implementation Method 1

the above-mentioned biasing members apply pressure to other adjacent connection elements with a biasing force, as a result of which their reaction force causes the contact portions to come into contact with the counterpart terminals of the counterpart connector and apply a contact pressure thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9960511B2Electrical connector for circuit boards and electrical connector assembly for circuit boards

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 HIROSE ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

The connector has multiple connection elements arranged on a circuit board and supports which support the connection elements. The connection elements have terminals connected to counterpart terminals in a counterpart connector, as well as stationary retainers and movable retainers that secure the terminals in place. The terminals have connecting portions at one end of the terminals, and contact portions at the other end, and the contact portions are secured in place on one side of the movable retainers. Flexible portions are formed between the movable retainers and the stationary retainers. The movable retainers are provided with biasing members on the other side opposite to the side on which the contact portions are positioned.