Relay Terminal Lateral Protrusion for Compact Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic components with protruding terminals require significant housing space due to the height of both the component main body and the holding member, leading to increased dimensions in the fitting direction, which is inefficient in terms of space utilization.
Innovation Solution
The terminals protrude from the lateral faces of the electronic component main body and bend perpendicularly, allowing them to face at least two lateral faces, thereby reducing the space needed for housing and allowing the resin member to support and secure the terminals within the component, minimizing deformation during insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If terminals protrude from the bottom face of the electronic component main body, then the connection structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the housing space required in the fitting direction becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the protrusion direction of terminals from the bottom face to the lateral faces of the electronic component main body. This dimensional change allows terminals to extend in directions perpendicular to the fitting direction, reducing the required housing space in the fitting direction while maintaining connection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having terminals protrude from the bottom face in the conventional manner, the patent inverts the approach by having terminals protrude from lateral faces and bend perpendicularly. This inversion of the terminal configuration resolves the space issue while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If the holding member is designed to accommodate both the electronic component main body and protruding terminals, then terminal support is provided, but the overall height of the housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holding member is designed with receiving portions that accommodate terminals protruding from lateral faces rather than from the bottom. This dimensional change in terminal reception allows the holding member to support terminals without increasing the overall height in the fitting direction, as terminals now extend perpendicular to this direction.
3Reliability
If terminals are made long to reach terminal fittings, then connection reliability is improved, but the space required for housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
Terminals are configured to protrude from lateral faces and bend perpendicularly toward the bottom face, changing the spatial arrangement from linear extension in the fitting direction to L-shaped configuration. This allows terminals to reach terminal fittings with shorter overall length while maintaining connection reliability, thereby reducing housing space requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Provided is an electronic component that can reduce housing space in the fitting direction of terminals and terminal fittings. A relay (1A) has a relay main body (2) of which the outer shape is a rectangular solid, and a plurality of plate-shaped terminals (3) that protrudes from the relay main body (2) and that is fitted in the terminal fittings. The relay main body (2) has a top surface (2a) and a bottom surface (2b) opposite the top surface, opposite lateral surfaces (2c) and (2d), and opposite lateral surfaces (2e) and (2f). The terminals of the relay are four terminals (3), with two protruding from the lateral surface (2c) and two protruding from the opposite lateral surface (2d). Specifically, the terminals (3) protrude from the lateral surfaces (2c, 2d) parallel to the fitting direction (arrow K) of the terminal fittings (4) and the terminals (3) in the relay main body (2). These terminals (3) protrude from the lateral surfaces (2c, 2d) and bend perpendicularly toward the bottom surface (2b).