Shielding Shell Stopping Portions for Connector Housing Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical connectors risk damaging their insulative housings when a mating connector is inserted, due to the design of stopping portions and shells that can cause stress and potential damage during the mating process.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a tongue portion with a thickened step and retaining slots, along with a shielding shell that includes upper and lower front stopping portions to prevent forward movement and a metal shell that secures the insulative housing, preventing damage by absorbing and distributing the insertion force effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If stopping portions are added to prevent forward movement of the insulative housing, then the insulative housing is protected from damage, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of insulative housingVSAvoidstructure of shielding shell

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into the shielding shell: it provides electromagnetic shielding, structural support, and incorporates stopping portions for positioning and protection. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than separate parts, the design protects the insulative housing while avoiding excessive complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding shell is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides electromagnetic interference shielding, mechanical support, positioning (through stopping portions), and protection. This universal design allows one component to fulfill multiple roles, reducing the need for additional separate parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the shielding shell extends forwardly into the mating cavity, then protection against excessive insertion is improved, but the available mating cavity space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against excessive insertionVSAvoidmating cavity space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shielding shell extends forwardly only in specific localized areas where protection is needed, rather than uniformly throughout the entire cavity. The stopping portions are positioned strategically at critical locations to prevent excessive insertion while minimizing the overall space occupied, allowing the mating cavity to retain sufficient volume for proper connector engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9912106B2Electrical connector having improved shielding shell

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

An electrical connector includes a housing defining a base portion and a tongue portion, two rows of terminals and a shielding shell. The tongue portion defines a thickened step at a root to the base portion, the base portion defines a front and a rear side, and an upper and a lower retaining slots. The shell is retained on the base portion and surrounding the tongue portion so as to define a mating cavity between the shell and the tongue portion. The shell defines an upper and a lower-front stopping portions inwardly received in corresponding retaining slots to prevent a forward movement of the housing. The upper and lower front stopping portions extend forwardly into the mating cavity across the front side of the base portion so as to prevent a mating connector from damaging the housing during the mating connector is inserted into the mating cavity.