Shielded Cable Connector Miniaturization via Split Dielectric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniaturization of shield connectors poses a challenge as the locking force of resilient locking pieces decreases, leading to potential separation of terminal fittings from the dielectric, and forming a locking lance enlarges the dielectric, contradicting the goal of miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
The connector design features two half-bodies made of synthetic resin that unite to sandwich the terminal fitting, eliminating the need for a locking lance and using a metal member with locking portions to secure the half-bodies together, along with a crimping portion to restrict relative displacements, ensuring reliable positioning and miniaturization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the terminal fitting is miniaturized to achieve connector miniaturization, then the connector size is reduced, but the locking force of the resilient locking piece decreases causing the terminal fitting to separate from the dielectric
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric is divided into two half bodies that are united to sandwich the terminal fitting. This segmentation allows the terminal fitting to be held by the combined clamping force of both half bodies, providing reliable retention without requiring a locking lance that would enlarge the dielectric volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The two half bodies are united to form a complete dielectric structure that sandwiches the terminal fitting. This merging of two parts creates a secure holding mechanism that maintains reliability while enabling miniaturization, as the sandwiching action provides sufficient locking force without additional locking components.
2Reliability
If a locking lance is formed in the dielectric to retain the terminal fitting, then the terminal fitting is reliably held, but the dielectric volume increases contradicting the miniaturization goal
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of forming a locking lance within the dielectric, the dielectric is segmented into two half bodies that clamp the terminal fitting from opposite sides. This approach provides reliable retention through the sandwiching action of the united half bodies without requiring additional internal locking structures that would increase dielectric volume.
3Ease of operation
If resilient locking pieces are used to hold the terminal fitting, then the terminal fitting is retained, but miniaturization is limited due to insufficient locking force in smaller configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The two half bodies are merged to form a complete dielectric that sandwiches the terminal fitting. This merging creates a secure holding mechanism where the combined clamping force of both half bodies provides sufficient retention force in miniaturized configurations, eliminating the need for larger resilient locking pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using resilient locking pieces that protrude from the dielectric to hold the terminal fitting, the invention inverts the approach by having the terminal fitting sandwiched between two half bodies. This inversion provides reliable retention through compressive force rather than protruding locking elements, enabling miniaturization.
Data Source
AI summary
It is aimed to reliably hold a terminal fitting in a dielectric while realizing miniaturization. A connector includes terminal fittings (20) connected to cores (16) of a shielded cable (15), a dielectric (23) made of synthetic resin and capable of accommodating the terminal fittings (20) in a positioned state, and an upper case (24) and a lower case (34) constituting a dielectric (23) by being united to sandwich the terminal fittings (20). The upper case (24) and the lower case (34) are united and divided in a direction intersecting an arrangement direction of the terminal fittings (20) and the cores (16) connected to the terminal fittings (20).