Right Angle Header with Hood for Pin Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection headers for printed circuit boards (PCBs) have a tall profile, which increases device size and manufacturing complexity, and are prone to pin misalignment due to vibration and shock, as they lack effective alignment features that can withstand operational stresses.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile electrical connection header design featuring a connector shroud with orthogonal pins and a hood that extends beyond the pin bend points, combined with a pin alignment guide that secures to the PCB housing to prevent misalignment and protect pins from external interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the connector shroud extends beyond the pin bend point to allow tool access, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the length of the header increases
Solution Approach 1:
The header is divided into two separate components: the connector shroud and the hood. The shroud contains the pins and provides structural support, while the hood extends beyond the bend point to provide tool access. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between compact profile and manufacturing accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood acts as an intermediary element that provides tool access without requiring the main connector shroud to extend beyond the bend point. The hood is attached to the shroud and serves as the interface between the bending tool and the pins, allowing the shroud to maintain a compact profile while still enabling manufacturing operations.
2Reliability
If alignment features are added to prevent pin misalignment, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide is integrated with the hood, combining two functions (alignment and tool access) into a single component. The hood serves both as the element that provides tool access for bending and as the structure that contains the alignment guide features, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment guide features are designed to work passively with the PCB housing opening, using the housing itself as part of the alignment mechanism. The guide features engage with the housing to provide alignment, eliminating the need for additional active alignment mechanisms or complex adjustment systems.
3Volume of moving object
If the header profile is reduced to minimize space, then the volume is decreased, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to limited tool access
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the header into shroud and hood components, the main body (shroud) can be kept compact for minimal volume, while the attached hood can extend outward to provide tool access. This allows the header to maintain a small overall footprint while still enabling manufacturing operations on the pins.
4Manufacturing precision
If known alignment features are used, then pin alignment is provided, but they fail to withstand vibration and shock
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment guide is merged with the hood structure, creating a more robust integrated assembly. The hood and shroud work together as a unified structure that better resists vibration and shock, improving the durability of the alignment features compared to separate or weaker alignment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connection header for an electrical device and a method for assembling the same are disclosed herein. A connection header may include a plurality of electrical pins, each of which has a first portion and a second portion oriented generally orthogonal to each other. The pins may be inserted to a connector shroud which defines a plurality of apertures for receiving the first portions of the pins. A hood may be secured to the connector shroud such that the hood extends beyond a bend point of at least one of the pins.