Receptacle Connector Shielding and Latch Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing receptacle connectors lack full electrical and mechanical shielding due to an exposed long side plate, compromising both shielding and reinforcement, especially when engaging with plug connectors.
Innovation Solution
A receptacle connector design featuring an insulative housing with a primary and secondary space, where an inner metallic shield separates these spaces and optionally includes a cutout for the latch mechanism, ensuring complete shielding and mechanical reinforcement while maintaining latching functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If only three sides of the housing are covered by the shield, then the latching mechanism can be received within the shield space, but the long side of the housing is exposed without proper electrical shielding or mechanical reinforcement
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is divided into two distinct spaces: a first space that intimately covers three sides of the housing for electrical shielding and mechanical reinforcement, and a second space communicatively connected to the first space that receives the latch mechanism. This segmentation allows the shield to simultaneously provide full housing coverage while accommodating the latching mechanism's operational requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the shield fully encloses the housing, then electrical shielding and mechanical reinforcement are improved, but the latching mechanism cannot be properly received within the shield structure
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is nested within the second space of the shield structure, which is itself contained within the overall shield assembly. The housing is nested within the first space of the shield. This nested arrangement allows the latch mechanism to be received within the shield structure while the shield maintains its full enclosing capability for electrical shielding and mechanical reinforcement.
3Strength
If the shield fully encloses the housing, then mechanical reinforcement is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to accommodate both shielding and latching functions
Solution Approach 1:
The shield structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical shielding for the housing, offers mechanical reinforcement to the connector assembly, and accommodates the latch mechanism within its second space. By integrating these multiple functions into a single shield component with two communicatively connected spaces, the design achieves full shielding and reinforcement without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A receptacle connector for mating with a plug connector having a mating tongue and a latch thereof, includes an insulative housing defining a mating slot extending along a longitudinal direction to receive the mating tongue of the plug connector, and an outer metallic shield defining a primary space to receive the housing and a secondary space communicatively beside the primary space to receive the latch of the plug connector. A plurality of contacts are disposed in the housing to mechanically and electrically connect to the mating tongue. An inner metallic shield is attached upon a long side of the housing to separate the primary space and the secondary space from each other in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.