Shield Connector Projection Part Stabilizes Inter-Terminal Distance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shield connectors experience impedance mismatching and communication quality degradation due to variations in the inter-terminal distance caused by positional changes and thermal effects during transport and use, which affect the characteristic impedance of the cylindrical structure formed by the inner and outer terminals.

Innovation Solution

The shield connector incorporates a projection part on the inner housing to maintain a predetermined inter-terminal distance, suppressing inclination and variations in characteristic impedance, and includes ribs with elongated protruding shapes to enhance stability and control the contact area, ensuring consistent communication quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the inner housing is allowed to move freely within the outer terminal, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the inter-terminal distance varies causing impedance mismatching and communication quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The projection part acts as an intermediary element between the inner housing and outer terminal. It provides a controlled contact interface that allows easy assembly while maintaining a fixed inter-terminal distance, thus preventing impedance mismatching and communication quality degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The projection part changes the physical parameter of inter-terminal distance from variable to fixed. By providing a predetermined distance, it ensures consistent characteristic impedance and reliable communication quality while maintaining ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the contact area between inner housing and outer terminal is increased, then the stability against thermal expansion and contraction is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability against thermal effectsVSAvoidcontact area precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the overall contact area, the projection part concentrates the contact at a specific local position. This localized contact point provides sufficient stability against thermal effects while avoiding the need for high manufacturing precision across a large contact area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3584891B1Shield connector and shield cable assembly with a terminal
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 YAZAKI CORP
  • EP3584891B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3584891B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3584891B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A shield connector is mounted on a terminal of a shield cable including a conductor core wire and a shield body surrounding the conductor core wire. The shield connector includes a conductive inner terminal connected to the conductor core wire, a conductive cylindrical outer terminal connected to the shield body, and an inner housing holding the inner terminal in a hollow part of the outer terminal. A projection part is formed on an outer surface of the inner housing to maintain a distance between an outer surface of the inner terminal and an inner surface of the outer terminal at a predetermined inter-terminal distance from a tip side of the shield connector to a base end side thereof.