Spring Connector with Segmented Tube for Low Profile Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spring connectors mounted on boards have a significant height due to the protrusion of the conductive metal tube, which does not meet the demand for further downsizing in electronic apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A spring connector design featuring a conductive metal tube with a small diameter tube part and a soldering part of larger diameter, where the soldering part is positioned on the back face of the board, and a groove encloses the small diameter tube part to prevent solder flow, allowing the distal end of the tube to be at the same height as the board surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the large diameter tube part is formed to increase the area of the backward end face for soldering, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the height of the distal end of the conductive metal tube from the board surface increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive metal tube is divided into two distinct parts: a large diameter tube part for soldering and a small diameter tube part for signal transmission. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the large diameter part provides sufficient soldering area while the small diameter part minimizes the height from board surface, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and height reduction.
2Length of moving object
If the distal end of the conductive metal tube is positioned closer to the board surface, then the height is reduced for downsizing, but the solder may adhere to the plunger during soldering
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tube into large and small diameter parts with a groove separating them, the soldering operation is spatially separated from the plunger area. The large diameter part provides a dedicated soldering zone away from the plunger, preventing solder adhesion while still achieving low profile height.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove acts as an intermediary barrier between the soldering area and the plunger. It directs and contains the molten solder flow, preventing it from reaching the plunger while still allowing the distal end to be positioned close to the board surface.
3Length of moving object
If the distal end of the conductive metal tube is inserted into the board, then the height is reduced, but the structural stability and electrical connection reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation creates a large diameter base part that can be properly soldered to the board, ensuring reliable electrical connection and structural stability. The small diameter distal part extends from the board surface, maintaining low profile height while the separated soldering zone ensures proper solder application to the base.
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
The design significantly reduces the height of the distal end of the conductive metal tube from the board surface to nearly zero, preventing solder adhesion to the plunger and allowing for flexible solder placement, while enabling efficient mounting of multiple connectors on a single board.
Implementation Method 1
a spring coil 12, and further, a plunger 14 are inserted into the bottomed hole 10a. Then, the opening 10b of the bottomed hole 10a is narrowed by caulking, so that the plunger 14 can freely move in an axial direction but may not slip out, in a state where its tip end portion is protruded from the opening 10b. In this state, the spring coil 12 is contracted, and the plunger 14 is elastically urged in a protruding direction.
Implementation Method 2
an electrically conductive metal foil or the like is applied to an inner peripheral wall of the through hole 18a of the board 18, so that the solder in a molten state may easily enter into a gap between the through hole 18a and an outer peripheral face of the conductive metal tube 10 by capillary phenomenon.
Data Source
AI summary
A spring connector, includes: an electrically conductive metal tube, having a bottomed hole; a plunger, which is provided in the bottomed hole so as to freely move in an axial direction and so as not to slip out from the bottomed hole, and an tip end portion of which is protruded from the bottomed hole; and a spring coil, provided in the bottomed hole, and elastically urging the plunger in a protruding direction. The electrically conductive metal tube includes a small diameter tube part having a smaller outer diameter at a distal end side thereof from which the plunger protrudes, and a soldering part being larger than the small diameter tube part in width in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, at a backward side of the small diameter tube part in the axial direction, and a face of a distal end side of the small diameter tube part is separated from the soldering part in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction.