Smart Garment Connector Assembly for Reliable Sewn Conductive Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing sheet type conductive members in smart garments have small line widths and contact areas with the wiring portions, leading to unreliable electrical connections.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a sheet type conductive member with an embroidery pattern and flexible conductors that have wider first end portions for increased contact area with the garment's wiring portions, ensuring reliable electrical connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the line width of flexible conductors is reduced to conform to contact arrangement pitch, then the connector can accommodate more contacts, but the contact area with wiring portions decreases and electrical connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductor is designed with varying line widths along its length. The first end portion has a larger line width for reliable connection to the contact, while the second end portion has a smaller line width for flexible connection to the wiring portion. This local variation in geometry allows the conductor to satisfy both connection requirements simultaneously.
2Length of moving object
If the flexible conductor line width is reduced, then the conductor can fit between closely spaced contacts, but the contact area with wiring portions becomes small
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductor features a non-uniform cross-sectional width along its length. The first end portion maintains a larger width to ensure sufficient contact area with the wiring portion, while the line width gradually decreases toward the second end portion to enable fitting between closely spaced contacts and flexible deformation.
3Device complexity
If the flexible conductor has small contact area with wiring portions, then the conductor structure remains simple, but electrical connection reliability is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible conductor's line width parameter is varied along its length, with the first end portion having a larger width than the second end portion. This parameter change enables the conductor to achieve both simple overall structure and reliable electrical connection without requiring complex multi-component designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sheet type conductive member includes a flexible conductor extending along a surface of a sheet body, the flexible conductor including a first end portion disposed to be superposed on a wiring portion of a garment, a second end portion electrically connected to a contact, and a joint portion joining the first end portion and the second end portion together, the first end portion having a width larger than a width of the second end portion and being electrically connected to the wiring portion of the garment by being sewed to the wiring portion.