Electromagnetic Shielding Frame With Bending Portions For Connectors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional connectors with frames that have cutouts, such as punched holes, suffer from deteriorated shielding properties and strength due to the cutting and bending process, which affects their electromagnetic shielding effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A connector design featuring a frame with bending portions instead of cutouts, where the end portion on the board side is fixed with solder along the entire periphery, and the bending portions are bent towards the housing, eliminating the need for cutouts and enhancing electromagnetic shielding without compromising the frame's properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If punched holes are provided in the frame to form protrusions, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the electromagnetic shielding property and strength of the frame deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidelectromagnetic shielding property

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple protrusions that extend from the rear surface, with each protrusion formed by bending a specific portion of the frame. This segmentation allows the frame to be formed from a single sheet metal piece without requiring punched holes, thereby maintaining electromagnetic shielding continuity while enabling easy formation through localized bending operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of removing material through punched holes to form protrusions, the invention inverts the approach by adding material configuration through bending. The protrusions are formed by bending portions of the frame toward the front surface, converting a subtractive manufacturing process into an additive formative process that preserves the frame's shielding integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If punched holes are provided in the frame to form protrusions, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the strength of the frame deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstrength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the manufacturing parameter from material removal (punched holes) to material deformation (bending). By bending portions of the frame to form protrusions, the material structure remains intact without creating holes, thereby maintaining both the strength and electromagnetic shielding properties while still allowing for easy manufacture through forming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If solder is provided along the entire periphery of the frame, then the electromagnetic shielding property is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic shielding propertyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is designed with protrusions that extend from the rear surface toward the front surface, creating a structure that naturally guides and contains solder along the periphery during the soldering process. This preliminary structural design ensures complete solder coverage for enhanced electromagnetic shielding without requiring complex additional manufacturing steps or tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 improves the electromagnetic shielding properties of the frame, stabilizing the operation of circuits and preventing electromagnetic wave interference, especially in high-frequency bands, by eliminating gaps and filling them with solder, thus maintaining the frame's structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the frame is an electromagnetic shielding frame having an electrical potential set to a ground potential... the electromagnetic shielding property of the frame is improved... preventing electromagnetic wave interference

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic shielding: Faraday Cage

Implementation Method 2

the frame may be fixed to the board with solder along an entire periphery of the frame... minute gaps and the like present in the vicinity of the bending portion of the frame can be filled with solder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSoldering: Soldering

Data Source

PatentUS11563288B2Electrical connector assembly with electromagnetic shielding frame surrounding plurality of terminals and connector housing

Publication Date: 2023.01.24 JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS IND LTD

AI summary

Provided is a connector in which a frame is provided with a bending portion while the properties of the frame are maintained. The connector includes a housing to which contacts are attached and a frame which has an end in the first direction fixed to a board and which surrounds the housing. Of the frame, an end portion on a board side in the first direction is provided with a bending portion bent in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction, and a pair of adjacent surfaces adjacent to opposite end surfaces of the bending portion in a third direction, the third direction intersecting each of the first direction and the second direction.