Shielded Connector Structure for Stable Grounding and Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted connectors lack effective sealing performance, which can lead to water intrusion and instability in electromagnetic shielding, particularly due to the sliding contact between the connector's shield shell and the unit's inner peripheral surface.
Innovation Solution
A connector connection structure featuring a first connector with a terminal portion, a housing, an electric wire, and a shield shell with a contact portion that abuts the inner peripheral surface of a unit's hole portion, where the radius of the first portion is larger than the distance from the central axis to the contact part, preventing sliding contact and ensuring a stable ground connection and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the connector is configured with a shield shell and contact portion to achieve ground connection, then electromagnetic shielding performance is improved, but the contact portion may slide on the inner peripheral surface causing instability in ground connection
Solution Approach 1:
The contact portion is designed with a curved surface that matches the curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the hole portion. This spherical contact geometry ensures point contact rather than sliding contact, maintaining stable ground connection even when the connector moves within the hole portion. The curved contact surface adapts to positional variations while preserving electrical contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact portion is designed to extend beyond the minimum required depth to ensure continuous contact with the inner peripheral surface. This excessive action ensures that even with manufacturing tolerances or positional variations, the ground connection remains stable and reliable throughout the connector's operational range.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the connector uses a rubber plug to seal the gap between housing and electric wire, then sealing performance is improved, but water may still intrude through the gap between the connector and unit
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is merged from the rubber plug alone to a combined system involving the seal member, the protruding first portion of the hole portion, and the housing. The first portion acts as a sealing protrusion that works together with the seal member to create a dual sealing mechanism, blocking water intrusion paths both at the wire gap and at the connector-unit interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The first portion of the hole portion serves as an intermediary sealing element between the housing and the unit. This protruding structure creates a mechanical barrier that prevents water from reaching the gap between the connector and unit, while the seal member provides the actual sealing contact. The intermediary first portion distributes and redirects water pressure away from critical sealing points.
3Reliability
If the radius of the first portion is made larger than the distance from central axis to contact part, then sliding contact is prevented and ground connection stability is improved, but the connector structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The first portion of the hole portion serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a sealing protrusion to prevent water intrusion, a positioning element to guide connector insertion, and a ground connection stabilizer through its curved inner peripheral surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving multiple protective functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides excellent sealing and shielding performance by preventing sliding contact between the connector's contact portion and the unit's inner surface, maintaining a stable conduction state and reducing the risk of water intrusion and electromagnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
a seal member (28) configured to seal a gap between the housing (21) and the unit (5)
Implementation Method 2
the contact part of the contact portion (25) abuts the inner peripheral surface of the second portion (42), so that a ground connection between the shield member (33) and the unit (5) is established
Data Source
AI summary
A connector connection structure includes: a first connector; a second connector electrically connected to the first connector; a unit to which the first connector is ground-connected; and a seal member sealing a gap between the first connector and the unit. The unit has a hole portion that includes a first portion and a second portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first portion. The first connector includes shield shell provided with a contact portion having a contact part that is to abut an inner peripheral surface. A radius of the first portion is larger than a distance from a central axis of an electric wire of the first connector to a contact part in a neutral state. A core wire of the electric wire is electrically connected to a terminal portion of the second connector via a terminal portion of the first connector.