Shielded Cable-to-PCB Connector Assembly With Double Latch Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for connecting cables to printed circuit boards (PCBs) often face issues with secure and efficient electrical connections, noise interference, and stability during assembly, particularly in environments with high electrical noise.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly comprising a conductor terminal, shield terminals, a main body, a housing, a cover shield, and a base shield, which includes a double latch structure for secure coupling and a shield system to prevent noise interference, ensuring stable electrical connections and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a connector assembly uses a double latch structure for secure coupling, then the reliability of the connection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector assembly is divided into distinct functional modules: a housing module containing the latch mechanism, a terminal module with conductor and shield terminals, and a cable assembly module. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall connection reliability through their coordinated interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The double latch structure incorporates movable latch arms that can transition between locked and unlocked positions, providing dynamic securing capability. The latch arms engage with corresponding slots in the housing, creating a mechanically interlocked state that ensures reliable connection while allowing for controlled assembly and disassembly.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shield terminals and cover shields are used to prevent noise interference, then the noise resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding function is extracted as a separate component system consisting of shield terminals and cover shields, distinct from the basic electrical connection function. The shield terminals are separately disposed on the PCB and electrically connected to ground, while cover shields are positioned to cover cable portions, creating a dedicated noise protection system that can be optimized without affecting the core connection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Shielding is applied locally at critical points where noise interference is most likely to occur: shield terminals are positioned at the PCB interface and cover shields are placed over the cable portion. This localized shielding approach provides effective noise protection while minimizing the overall complexity compared to a complete enclosure shield.
3Ease of operation
If the housing is spaced apart from the PCB, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the stability of the connection may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The latch arms are pre-positioned in the housing to engage with slots that extend from the housing toward the PCB. This preliminary configuration allows the housing to be spaced apart from the PCB during assembly, enabling easy insertion and positioning, while the latch mechanism automatically engages to provide stable connection once assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch arms serve as intermediary elements between the housing and the PCB, transmitting and distributing mechanical forces. These latch arms engage with slots in both the housing and PCB, creating a force distribution system that maintains connection stability even when the housing is spaced apart from the PCB, thus mediating between the spacing requirement and stability requirement.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly includes a conductor terminal disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB), a plurality of shield terminals disposed on the PCB, a main body disposed on the PCB and accommodating the shield terminals, a cable, a housing, a cover shield connected to the housing and covering at least a portion of an end of the cable, and a base shield disposed on the PCB. The cable has an inner conductor supported by the conductor terminal, an insulator enclosing the inner conductor, a cable shield enclosing the insulator and supported by the shield terminals, and an outer jacket enclosing the cable shield. The housing is coupled to the main body, covers the cable, and is spaced apart from the PCB. The base shield is connected to the cover shield and provided in the main body to cover at least a portion of the end of the cable.