Sealed Flexible Circuit Connector With Locking Cover And Gasket
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connectors for flexible and printed circuit boards are prone to damage during assembly, require complex procedures, and lack water resistance, making them unreliable for portable electronic devices that may be subjected to physical shocks and moisture exposure.
Innovation Solution
A connector design featuring a housing with alignment features, a cover that securely locks the flexible circuit board in place using tabs and prongs, and gaskets for moisture resistance, allowing easy connection and disconnection while withstanding physical shocks and environmental exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional connectors are used to connect flexible circuit board to printed circuit board, then connections can be established, but component damage can occur during assembly requiring rework or scrap
Solution Approach 1:
The connector housing includes pre-formed alignment features (protrusions) that correspond to cutouts in the flexible circuit board. These alignment features are prepared in advance during manufacturing, enabling accurate positioning and preventing misalignment damage during assembly. The contacts are pre-positioned within the housing to ensure proper engagement with the flexible circuit board contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The connector is divided into distinct functional components: a housing containing rigid contacts, a flexible circuit board with flexible contacts, and a cover with locking mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with optimized features, then assembled together to achieve both reliability and ease of manufacture.
2Stability of the object's composition
If secure connection is provided to prevent accidental disconnections, then connection stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with movable tabs that can transition between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the housing prongs. This dynamic feature allows the connector to be easily assembled by simply moving the cover, while still providing secure locking when engaged. The locking mechanism is simple yet effective, preventing accidental disconnections without requiring complex components.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to accurately position flexible circuit board, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features utilize asymmetric geometry: protrusions on the housing with specific shapes that correspond to matching cutouts in the flexible circuit board. This asymmetric design provides unique, unambiguous alignment in multiple directions, ensuring precise positioning. The simple asymmetric shapes are easy to manufacture and do not significantly increase connector complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Connectors for connecting traces on one or more flexible circuit boards to traces on a printed circuit board. These connectors can include gaskets, potting material, and other structures or materials to seal electrical connections in the connector from moisture ingress to prevent damage. The connectors can be locked to secure the one or more flexible circuit board in place in the connector. The connectors can be unlocked and then opened to remove the flexible circuit boards to remove components or to rework the electronic device.