Ribbon Cable Connector With Tuned Contact Force by Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors require different designs for various contact materials, making them costly and inefficient to use across multiple materials.
Innovation Solution
A plug connector with an insulating housing and resilient contact clips arranged in multiple configurations to apply predeterminable contact forces, accommodating different contact materials by adjusting the deflection paths of the clips, allowing for a single design to work with various contact types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different connectors are provided for each type of contact material, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single connector housing that can accommodate multiple types of contact materials (gold-plated, tin-plated, copper) through the use of contact clips with adjustable deflection paths. The contact clips can be configured in different arrangements (first arrangement for gold contacts requiring lower force, second arrangement for tin/copper contacts requiring higher force), allowing one connector design to serve multiple functions across different contact material types, thereby reducing the need for multiple specialized connectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different contact clips within the same connector to have different arrangements relative to the receiving direction. Each contact clip can be independently configured with its own deflection path characteristics, allowing localized adaptation to different contact materials while maintaining a unified overall connector structure. This means that while the housing is universal, the local contact characteristics can be optimized for specific contact materials.
2Reliability
If contact force is increased for certain contact materials, then electrical connection reliability improves, but wear on contacts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the deflection path of contact clips based on the contact material type. For gold-plated contacts, the contact clips are arranged to provide lower contact force (first arrangement), reducing wear on the softer gold material. For tin-plated or copper contacts, the contact clips are arranged to provide higher contact force (second arrangement), ensuring reliable connection without excessive wear. This dynamic adjustment of contact force parameters based on material properties resolves the contradiction between connection reliability and wear prevention.
3Device complexity
If a single connector design is used for multiple contact materials, then cost and complexity are reduced, but achieving optimal contact force for each material becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the contact clip arrangement adjustable or selectable based on the contact material being connected. The contact clips can be positioned in different configurations (first arrangement or second arrangement relative to the receiving direction) to dynamically adapt the contact force characteristics to match the specific contact material properties. This dynamic configurability allows a single connector design to achieve manufacturing precision appropriate for different materials without requiring multiple fixed designs.
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 connector reduces wear and ensures reliable electrical connections for multiple contact materials, including gold and tin, while being cost-effective and adaptable for different applications.
Implementation Method 1
a multiplicity of identical contact clips which are arranged next to one another and are electrically insulated from one another by the housing body and are resilient and which are designed in such a way as to electrically contact the contact region of the first component
Data Source
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AI summary
A connector (10), in particular for electrically connecting a first component (18), especially a ribbon cable, to a second component (20), especially a printed circuit board, is described. The connector (10) comprises: an insulating housing body (12) which has a contact receptacle (14) for receiving a contact area (KB) of the first component (18) along a receiving direction (AR), and a plurality of adjacent and electrically insulated and restorable contact lugs (16) which are configured to electrically contact the contact area (KB) of the first component (18) and to electrically connect the second component to the first component, wherein the plurality of contact lugs (16) are arranged in a first arrangement (A1) relative to the receiving direction (AR) and/or in a second arrangement (A2) relative to the receiving direction (AR).and wherein the contact receptacle (14) on the housing body (12) is positioned such that each of the plurality of contact clips (16) in the first arrangement (A1) exerts a first predetermined contact force (F1) on the contact area (KB) of the first component (18), and each of the plurality of contact clips (16) in the second arrangement (A2) exerts a second predetermined contact force (F2) on the contact area (KB) of the first component (18), wherein the first contact force (F1) is different from the second contact force (F2).