Signal Connector Latch Locking for Tolerance-Stable Conductor Mating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detachable connection systems for electrical and optical signal conductors face instability due to large tolerance fluctuations, particularly when high signal rates are transmitted, as the primary connection is often made through the housing of the plug connectors, leading to unreliable connections.
Innovation Solution
A connection system featuring a plug connector, a mating plug connector, and a locking unit with a latch, where the contact carriers are secured within the housings using snap connections and a secondary lock, allowing for a conductive connection between signal conductors while minimizing the impact of housing tolerances through aligned through openings and a spring-biased latch mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the primary connection is made through the housing of the plug connectors, then the connection is mechanically robust, but large tolerance fluctuations are introduced leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is divided into two independent connection paths: a mechanical connection through the housing and an electrical connection through the contact carriers. This segmentation allows each connection type to be optimized independently - the housing provides mechanical strength while the contact carriers ensure electrical stability with minimized tolerance accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact carriers serve as intermediary elements that directly connect the signal conductors of the plug connector and mating plug connector. By introducing this intermediate connection path, the system bypasses the tolerance accumulation issue of the housing connection for the critical electrical signal transmission.
2Ease of manufacture
If the contact carriers are detachably fastened in the housings using snap connections, then assembly effort is reduced, but additional positional tolerances are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into a primary snap connection for easy assembly and a secondary locking mechanism for precision positioning. This allows the contact carriers to be quickly inserted via snap connection while the secondary lock ensures minimal positional tolerance for reliable electrical connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap connection performs the preliminary action of securing the contact carrier in the housing, enabling easy assembly. The secondary locking mechanism then performs the precision positioning action, ensuring minimal positional tolerance. This two-stage approach separates the assembly ease function from the precision positioning function.
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 solution provides a stable, positive, and detachable connection between signal conductors, reducing the influence of housing tolerances and allowing for variable usage with additional functions like coding, while maintaining low component count and assembly effort.
Implementation Method 1
The latch can be biased towards the locking position by means of a spring element
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a connection system (1) comprising a connector (2), a mating connector (3), and a locking unit (4) arranged on the connector (2) and comprising a latch (5). The connector (2) and the mating connector (3) each have a housing (6.1; 6.2) and a contact carrier (7.1; 7.2) arranged in the housing (6.1; 6.2). The contact carriers (7.1; 7.2) are each connected to at least one signal conductor (8.1; 8.2). The connector (2) is movable in a mating direction (x) into a connection position with the mating connector (3). In the connection position, the signal conductor (8.1) of the connector (2) is conductively connected to the signal conductor (8.2) of the mating connector (3). The contact carriers (7.1; 7.2) each have at least one through-opening (9.1; 9.2) arranged transversely to the insertion direction (x). In the connected position, the through-openings (9.1; 9.2) of the contact carriers (7.1; 7.2) are arranged in alignment with each other. The bolt (5) is movable in the connecting position between a locking position, in which the bolt (5) is arranged in the through-openings (9.1; 9.2) of both contact carriers (7.1; 7.2) and an unlocking position, in which the bolt (5) is arranged outside the through-opening (9.1; 9.2) of at least one contact carrier (7.1; 7.2).