Reversible Contact Connector for Dual-Sided Flexible Conductors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors fail to establish electrical connections with flexible conductors when they are exposed on the top or bottom surface of a connection object.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with interchangeable contact postures, allowing the same connector to be attached to connection objects with flexible conductors on either surface by reversing the orientation of the contacts within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the connector is designed with contacts fixed in one orientation, then the structure is simple, but it cannot connect to flexible conductors exposed on different surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is designed with rotational freedom around its longitudinal axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation. The contact can rotate between a first posture where the connection portion faces upward and a second posture where it faces downward, enabling adaptation to different flexible conductor exposure surfaces without changing the connector housing structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact's orientation parameter is made variable through rotational movement. By changing the angular parameter of the contact's posture while maintaining its structural integrity, the connector can interface with flexible conductors on either the top or bottom surface of the connection object.
2Reliability
If the contact is made to contact the flexible conductor through a projection accommodating portion, then electrical connection is established, but it fails when the flexible conductor is on the opposite surface
Solution Approach 1:
The contact rotates around its longitudinal axis to change its facing direction. When the flexible conductor is exposed on the top surface, the contact rotates to face upward; when the conductor is on the bottom surface, the contact rotates to face downward, ensuring reliable electrical connection in both scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the connection portion fixed in one direction, the contact is designed to invert its orientation by rotating 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis, allowing the connection portion to face either upward or downward depending on where the flexible conductor is exposed.
3Ease of manufacture
If the contact structure is fixed in the housing, then manufacturing is simple, but it cannot adapt to different flexible conductor positions
Solution Approach 1:
The contact is retained in the housing with rotational freedom around its longitudinal axis. This simple retention structure allows the contact to dynamically adjust its orientation to match the flexible conductor's position, whether on the top or bottom surface, without requiring complex retention mechanisms.
Data Source
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.