Shielded PCB Socket Spring Strip Tolerance Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shielded PCB connectors often lack sufficient tolerance play for reliable shielding contact due to installation tolerances, leading to incomplete or deteriorated shielding connections.

Innovation Solution

The use of spring strips on a shielding plate, arranged in a cross-like manner, which can be inserted into corresponding channels in the contact carrier, providing both radial and axial alignment for improved tolerance compensation and secure contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shielding plates are used with rigid contact elements, then manufacturing is simple, but tolerance clearance is insufficient leading to contact failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshielding contact reliabilityVSAvoidtolerance clearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The contact elements are designed as spring strips that can elastically deform to accommodate tolerance variations. The spring strips bend and flex to maintain reliable electrical contact between the shielding plate and flange housing, dynamically adapting to assembly tolerances rather than requiring precise rigid alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The contact elements change their physical state from rigid to flexible by using spring strips with specific elastic properties. The spring strips can deflect and compress, changing their length and position parameters to compensate for tolerance variations in the assembly, ensuring continuous contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If spring strips are added to the shielding plate, then tolerance range is increased, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetolerance compensationVSAvoidcontact element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding plate is segmented into multiple functional components: the main shielding plate body and separate spring strip contact elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the shielding plate provides structural integrity while the spring strips provide flexible contact, simplifying the overall design despite the added functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spring strips function as flexible thin elements that can bend and deform to accommodate tolerance variations. These flexible contact elements replace rigid connectors, providing tolerance compensation through their elastic deformation capabilities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If multiple spring strips are arranged on the shielding plate, then contact reliability improves, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshielding contactVSAvoidassembly process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spring strip contact elements are merged into a single integrated shielding plate assembly. The spring strips are arranged and fixed on the shielding plate as a unified structure, allowing the entire assembly to be manufactured and pre-assembled together, reducing the number of separate manufacturing steps and simplifying the overall assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design significantly increases the tolerance range, ensuring flexible and reliable shielding contact by gripping areas in the flange housing, preventing interruptions and enhancing assembly reliability.

Implementation Method 1

spring strips arranged on a shielding plate, by means of contact elements designed as spring strips, a significantly larger tolerance range can be accessed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3048675B1Socket assembly comprising a shielded socket for printed circuit boards or boards

Publication Date: 2019.01.02 FILTEC FILTERTECH FUR DIE ELEKTRONIKIND

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a connector socket arrangement comprising a shielded connector socket (1) for printed circuit boards (2) integrated into a flange (3) or other housing geometry (4), wherein a contact carrier (5) designed as an insulating body is inserted into the flange (3), in which several electrically conductive contacts (6) are arranged and shielded by means of a shielding plate (7) provided in the contact carrier (5), which establishes contact with the flange (3) designed as a shield housing by means of contact elements. To provide contact for the shielding with a larger tolerance range, the invention proposes that the shielding plate (7), in the inserted state in the contact carrier (5), effect contact both radially and axially with the flange (3) by means of contact elements designed as spring strips (8) and (9).