Signal Module Guide Projections Reduce Relative Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connector structures require additional metal tie bars to reduce relative movement between signal modules, increasing production and management costs, and do not adapt well to changes in the number of signal modules.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector structure incorporates guide projections and grooves on the signal modules to securely mount them in a housing without additional metal tie bars, using these features to guide and lock the modules into place, thereby reducing relative movement and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If metal tie bars are added to retain signal modules, then relative movement between signal modules is reduced, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the retention function directly into the signal module structure by adding guide projections and guide grooves to the insulating bodies. This merging eliminates the need for separate metal tie bars, reducing production cost while maintaining the ability to prevent relative movement between adjacent signal modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide projections on one signal module engage with guide grooves on adjacent signal modules, creating a self-retaining system. The signal modules themselves provide the retention mechanism through their own structural features, eliminating the need for external retention components.
2Stability of the object's composition
If metal tie bars are used to retain signal modules, then relative movement is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex and management costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retention function is merged into the signal module's insulating body structure. The guide projections and guide grooves are integral parts of the signal modules themselves, eliminating the need for separate metal tie bars and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the retention function from a separate component (metal tie bar) and integrates it directly into the signal module structure. This extraction and integration simplifies the system by reducing the number of discrete parts.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional metal tie bars are employed, then signal module positioning is improved, but assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide projections and guide grooves are pre-formed as integral parts of the signal modules during manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when signal modules are assembled, the positioning features are already in place, eliminating the need for additional positioning steps or separate tie bar installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is merged into the signal module structure itself. The guide projections and guide grooves provide automatic positioning during assembly, eliminating the need for separate positioning operations and reducing assembly time.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector structure includes a housing and signal modules mounted therein. Each signal module includes an insulating body, conductive terminals and a ground shield. The insulating body has a first side having a guide projection, and a second side opposite to the first side and having a guide groove. When a first signal module has been mounted in the housing, a second signal module is guided and moved to mount into the housing by the guide groove of the second signal module receiving the guide projection of the first signal module, or by the guide projection of the second signal module sliding into the guide groove of the first signal module, whereby reducing relative movement between signal modules in the housing. The signal modules may be mounted one by one in the housing, or may be stacked side by side and then mounted in the housing as a whole.