Shielded Connector Assembly for Visible Contact Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connectors for electrical and data signal transmission lack effective means to ensure correct alignment and positioning of central contacts during assembly, particularly in applications like automotive connectors, where precise measurement and visualization of contact position are challenging, leading to potential misalignment and deformation issues that can affect connector performance.
Innovation Solution
A connector subassembly design featuring an electrical insulating block with viewing openings and a conductive shielding body, where the front portion of the insulating block projects beyond the shielding body, allowing optical measurement of the central contact's position relative to the insulating block, enabling visualization from the outside before and after reaching the reference position, and ensuring correct assembly and positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a viewing window is added to allow visualization of central contact position, then measurement capability is improved, but electromagnetic shielding is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The viewing window is segmented into multiple small openings rather than one large opening, reducing electromagnetic interference while maintaining measurement capability. The window is divided into first and second viewing windows that can be selectively used depending on the measurement stage.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-conductive block is introduced as an intermediary material to create the viewing window opening in the conductive shielding body. This non-conductive material allows optical passage while the surrounding conductive structure maintains electromagnetic shielding, resolving the contradiction between visibility and shielding.
2Measurement precision
If the insulating block front portion projects beyond the shielding body, then measurement access is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulating block serves multiple functions: it provides electrical insulation for the central contacts, creates the viewing window opening, and its front portion projection provides measurement access. By merging these functions into a single component, structural complexity is minimized while achieving measurement accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating block front portion projects in the longitudinal dimension beyond the shielding body, creating a three-dimensional structure that allows optical measurement from the front. This dimensional extension provides measurement access without adding separate components.
3Measurement precision
If viewing openings are made larger to improve visualization, then measurement capability is improved, but electromagnetic shielding performance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The viewing window is divided into multiple small openings (first viewing window and second viewing window) rather than one large opening. This segmentation reduces the total area of conductive material discontinuity, maintaining electromagnetic shielding while providing sufficient optical access for measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The viewing openings are strategically positioned and sized to provide only the minimum necessary optical access for measurement. The local quality of the shielding body is modified only where absolutely necessary for measurement, while the rest of the shielding remains intact to maintain electromagnetic performance.
Data Source
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Figure 4A~5
AI summary
The invention essentially consists of a sub-assembly of an electrically insulating block connector and external shielding body comprising superimposed openings arranged relatively to visualize from the outside not only whether a central contact has correctly reached the plugged-in reference position but also to visualize its progress inside the block during plugging.