Reversible Contact Connector for Flexible Conductor Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors fail to establish an electrical connection with flexible conductors when they are exposed on the top surface rather than the bottom surface of a connection object.
Innovation Solution
A connector design that allows for temporary retention of contacts in a housing with adjustable posture, enabling electrical connection to flexible conductors regardless of their surface exposure, by using a combination of insulating members and contacts with specific geometries to accommodate different orientations of the connection object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is designed with contacts retained in a fixed orientation within the housing, then the manufacturing and assembly process is simplified, but the connector cannot establish electrical connection with flexible conductors exposed on different surfaces (top or bottom)
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is designed with rotational freedom within the housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The contact can rotate about its longitudinal axis to change from a first posture to a second posture, enabling adaptation to different surface configurations without requiring multiple connector variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The single connector design serves multiple functions by accommodating both top-surface and bottom-surface conductor exposures. The contact's ability to assume different postures within the same housing structure enables the connector to universally interface with various connection object configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the contact is allowed to rotate freely within the housing to adapt to different orientations, then compatibility with various surface configurations is achieved, but the contact retention and positioning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing contains specific localized structures (such as retention protrusions or guiding features) that provide controlled rotational freedom. These local features allow the contact to rotate to the required orientation while preventing excessive movement, balancing adaptability with manufacturability.
3Reliability
If the connector uses a single fixed contact orientation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of electrical connection is compromised when conductor exposure surface varies
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is designed with rotational freedom within the housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The contact can rotate about its longitudinal axis to change from a first posture to a second posture, enabling adaptation to different surface configurations without requiring multiple connector variants.
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector includes a contact retained in a housing selectively in one of a first posture and a second posture inverted 180 degrees around a fitting direction, the contact including a contact portion to be contacted with a contact of a counter connector and a connection portion to be connected to a flexible conductor of a connection object, between a case where the contact is retained in the housing in the first posture and a case where the contact is retained in the housing in the second posture, the contact portion is situated at a same position with respect to the housing and the connection portion is situated at a different position with respect to the housing, the contact being retained in the housing in, of the first posture and the second posture, a posture corresponding to an orientation of a flexible conductor exposed surface of the connection object.