Resilient Electrical Connector Terminal with Segmented Contact Portions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connector terminals experience unstable electrical contact and high contact resistance due to limited contact areas and single-point contact configurations, leading to displacement and poor conductive performance.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector terminal features a resilient contact end with multiple electrical contact portions along its longitudinal direction, ensuring stable contact with a mating terminal by utilizing a mechanical lever principle to distribute contact forces and prevent angular insertion or displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single electrical contact portion is used on each resilient cantilever, then the device complexity is reduced, but the electrical contact stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient contact end is divided into multiple electrical contact portions (first, second, and third contact portions) along the longitudinal direction, creating multiple discrete contact points that segment the contact function to improve stability without excessive complexity
2Manufacturing precision
If only one electrical contact portion per resilient cantilever is used, then the manufacturing precision requirement is reduced, but the contact area decreases leading to higher contact resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The contact surface is segmented into multiple electrical contact portions distributed along the longitudinal direction, increasing the total contact area and reducing contact resistance while maintaining reasonable manufacturing precision requirements for each individual contact portion
3Reliability
If multiple electrical contact portions are used along the longitudinal direction, then the electrical contact stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrical contact portions are merged into a single resilient contact end structure, integrating multiple contact functions into one component to improve stability while controlling overall device complexity
4Reliability
If multiple electrical contact portions are used, then the contact area is increased reducing contact resistance, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrical contact portions are formed as an integrated part of the resilient contact end through a single molding process, combining multiple contact features into one manufacturing step to improve conductive performance while maintaining manufacturing ease
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 enhances the stability and reliability of the electrical connection by increasing the contact area and distributing contact forces, thereby reducing contact resistance and improving conductive performance.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of opposite resilient cantilevers 10a, 10b each having only one electrical contact portion a, b
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a mechanical lever principle to distribute contact forces and prevent angular insertion or displacement
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector terminal comprises a resilient contact end) for electrically contacting with an insertion end of a mating electrical connector terminal. At least one side of the resilient contact end contacts with the insertion end at a plurality of electrical contact portions separated from each other in a longitudinal direction.