Sliding Connector Assembly with Shielded Signal Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connector assemblies are limited in miniaturization due to their height and lack effective electromagnetic shielding, making it difficult to connect multiple cables and circuit boards simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A connector assembly design where the plug connector is slidably inserted into the receptacle connector, featuring a signal pin with a shield can, insulating members, and a metal shell for improved electromagnetic shielding, allowing parallel copper wire coupling and simultaneous connection of multiple cables and circuit boards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a plug connector is vertically coupled to a receptacle connector on a circuit board, then the connection is simple to implement, but the height of the connector assembly increases and miniaturization becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical coupling arrangement to a horizontal sliding insertion arrangement. The plug connector is inserted horizontally into the receptacle connector along the circuit board plane, changing the coupling dimension from vertical (Z-axis) to horizontal (X-Y plane), thereby reducing the overall height of the connector assembly while maintaining connection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The plug connector is nested within the receptacle connector housing. The plug connector body is received inside the receptacle connector's shell structure, with the signal pins inserted into corresponding receptacles. This nesting arrangement allows the plug connector to be accommodated within the receptacle connector's footprint, minimizing the vertical height requirement.
2Device complexity
If a conventional vertical coupling structure is used, then the assembly is simple, but electromagnetic wave shielding is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The signal pin is nested within the shield can structure. The shield can completely encloses the signal pin along its length, with the signal pin positioned centrally within the shield can's interior space. This nested configuration ensures that the signal pin is fully surrounded by the conductive shielding material, effectively blocking electromagnetic wave interference while maintaining a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The shield can provides localized electromagnetic shielding specifically around the signal pin, which is the most vulnerable component to electromagnetic interference. The shielding is concentrated where needed (around the signal transmission path) rather than requiring comprehensive shielding of the entire connector assembly, thus providing effective EMI protection with minimal added complexity.
3Device complexity
If a conventional connector assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to simultaneously connect multiple cables and circuit boards
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle connector is designed with a modular structure that can accommodate multiple plug connectors simultaneously. The receptacle connector's shell and base structure provide multiple insertion positions and corresponding signal pin receptacles, enabling a single receptacle connector unit to connect multiple cables and circuit boards through parallel plug connectors, thus achieving multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables simultaneous connection of multiple cables by arranging plug connectors in parallel along the horizontal dimension rather than stacking them vertically. Multiple plug connectors can be inserted side-by-side into the receptacle connector along the circuit board plane, utilizing the X-Y plane for multi-connection rather than the vertical Z-axis, thereby achieving versatility without increasing height.
Data Source
AI summary
A connector assembly according to the present invention includes a receptacle connector; and a plug connector to be slidably inserted into the receptacle connector, wherein the plug connector includes a signal pin having one side in electrical contact with a signal line of a cable, a shield can formed to enclose the signal pin so that a lower surface of the other side of the signal pin is exposed and to be electrically spaced apart from the signal pin, a first insulating member coupled to the signal pin to insulate between the signal pin and the shield can, and a plug shell enclosing the shield can so as to expose the lower surface of the other side of the signal pin.