Shielding Plate Stabilization via Integrated Barbed Notches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors with metallic shielding plates tend to tilt during mating due to the barbed structures being far away from the spring tangs, leading to instability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a metallic shielding plate with a pair of spring fingers extending into the mating cavity and barbed structures within notches that grasp corresponding ribs of the housing to stabilize the plate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If barbed structures are placed far away from spring tangs on the shielding plate, then the shielding plate can be easily retained in the housing, but the shielding plate tends to tilt during mating with the plug connector
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by adding notches that extend in the lateral direction (width dimension) of the shielding plate, perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. This creates multiple retention points across the width of the plate, preventing tilting by distributing the retention force across multiple dimensions rather than relying on a single rearward retention point.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding plate is segmented into multiple retention zones by introducing notches at different locations (front, middle, and rear positions) across the width of the plate. Each notch with its barbed structure creates an independent retention point, dividing the single retention function into multiple distributed retention functions that work together to prevent tilting.
2Ease of manufacture
If barbed structures are located far from spring tangs, then the shielding plate can be retained in the housing, but positioning precision during mating deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the shielding plate are given different local qualities through the strategic placement of notches with barbed structures. The front notches provide early positioning and guidance, the middle notches provide intermediate stabilization, and the rear notches provide final retention. Each local region contributes a specific quality to the overall positioning precision, with front notches emphasizing guidance and rear notches emphasizing secure retention.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple notches with barbed structures are added to the shielding plate, then positioning stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions are merged into a single integrated shielding plate structure. The notches with barbed structures are directly formed as part of the shielding plate itself rather than being separate components. This merging approach achieves enhanced positioning stability through multiple retention points while avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple separate retention mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding plate serves its own retention and positioning functions through the integrated notches and barbed structures formed directly on it. The plate does not require separate retention mechanisms or additional components to achieve stable positioning; the barbed structures on the plate itself engage with the housing ribs to provide self-retention and anti-tilting capabilities.
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 ensures a stable positioning of the shielding plate during mating, preventing tilting and enhancing the connector's structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of spring fingers 31 extending from the front edge into the mating cavity in front of the shielding plate
Implementation Method 2
barbed structure extending into the notches so as to grasp the corresponding ribs of the housing so as to stabilize the whole shielding plate in the housing
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and two rows of contacts retained in the housing, and a metallic shielding plate assembled in the housing and located between the two rows of contacts wherein the shielding plate includes a pair of spring fingers extending from the front edge into the mating cavity in front of the shielding plate, and a plurality of notches located around the pair of spring fingers and equipped with barbed structures extending into the notches so as to grasp the corresponding ribs of the housing so as to stabilize the whole shielding plate in the housing.