Multi-Directional Receptacle Terminal Spring for Contact Followability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing receptacle contacts are primarily designed for lateral movement in the X-axis direction and are not effectively deformable in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions, limiting the followability with other terminals.
Innovation Solution
A terminal design featuring a conductive material with a substrate connection portion, a contact portion, and a first elastic portion that includes a first spring portion and a second spring portion, allowing deformation in multiple directions to enhance followability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the spring member is designed to be elastically deformable mainly in the X-axis direction, then the contact member can follow lateral movement, but the followability is limited because deformation in Y-axis and Z-axis directions is minimal
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is designed with multiple spring portions (first spring portion deformable in X-axis direction, second spring portion deformable in Y-axis direction, and third spring portion deformable in Z-axis direction) that enable elastic deformation in three-dimensional space. This multi-directional spring structure allows the contact portion to follow movements of the other terminal in lateral directions (X and Y axes) and insertion/extraction direction (Z axis), significantly improving followability beyond the single-axis limitation of conventional designs
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single-direction spring mechanism is used, then the structure remains simple, but the contact portion cannot adequately follow movements in multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member is segmented into multiple independent spring portions, each responsible for deformation in a specific direction. The first spring portion handles X-axis lateral movement, the second spring portion handles Y-axis lateral movement, and the third spring portion handles Z-axis insertion/extraction movement. This segmentation allows each spring portion to independently absorb movements in its respective direction, ensuring reliable contact maintenance throughout the connector assembly process
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
The terminal achieves improved followability with other terminals by allowing relative position deviations in multiple directions, ensuring effective contact and signal transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring portion that is provided along a first side surface being a part of side surfaces of a virtual solid having, as a plane surface or a bottom, a planar figure containing the contact portion when viewed from the introduction-extraction direction, and that is deformable with respect to the first side surface, and a second spring portion that is provided along a second side surface being a part of the side surfaces of the solid, being connected to the first side surface, and having a different normal direction from the first side surface, and that is deformable with respect to the second side surface
Data Source
AI summary
A first receptacle elastic portion connects the receptacle substrate connection portion and the receptacle contact portion. The first receptacle elastic portion includes a first receptacle spring portion and a second receptacle spring portion. The first receptacle spring portion is provided along a first receptacle side surface being a part of side surfaces of a virtual second solid having, as a plane surface, a receptacle planar figure containing the receptacle contact portion when viewed from the introduction-extraction direction, and is deformable with respect to the first receptacle side surface. The second receptacle spring portion is provided along a second receptacle side surface being a part of the side surfaces of the second solid, being connected to the first receptacle side surface, and having a different normal direction from the first receptacle side surface, and is deformable with respect to the second receptacle side surface.