Stacked Connector Organizers for Precise PCB Contact Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face misalignment issues when connecting high-density signal and ground contacts to circuit boards, which affects their functionality, especially in orthogonal connections where precise alignment is critical.
Innovation Solution
The use of a stacked structure comprising a wafer supporting signal and ground contacts, with a first organizer positioning the signal contacts and a second organizer positioning the ground contacts, ensures accurate alignment and contact with the circuit board, utilizing press-fit and press-contact types to maintain electrical continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If signal contacts and ground contacts are densely arranged on a wafer, then the electrical connector achieves high connectivity and functionality, but misalignment occurs when connecting to the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The organizer is divided into a first organizer for positioning signal contacts and a second organizer for positioning ground contacts. This segmentation allows each organizer to be independently optimized for its specific positioning task, ensuring precise alignment for both types of contacts even when densely arranged on the wafer.
Solution Approach 2:
The organizer acts as an intermediary component between the wafer and the circuit board. It provides a positioning structure that mediates the connection, ensuring accurate alignment of densely arranged contacts with the circuit board without requiring direct precision positioning of each contact individually.
2Reliability
If press-fit type contacts are used to ensure reliable electrical connection, then electrical continuity is maintained, but misalignment during insertion into through-holes occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The organizer performs preliminary positioning of the press-fit contacts before insertion into the circuit board. By pre-positioning the contacts in the correct alignment, the organizer ensures that when the contacts are inserted into the through-holes, they are properly aligned, maintaining both electrical continuity and positioning accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The organizer serves as a mediator that holds the press-fit contacts in the correct position relative to the circuit board. This intermediary positioning structure allows the rigid press-fit contacts to be accurately aligned during insertion, resolving the contradiction between maintaining electrical continuity and achieving precise insertion alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If signal contacts and ground contacts are positioned individually with high precision, then alignment with the circuit board is accurate, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first organizer and second organizer are merged into a single integrated organizer component. This merging allows both signal contacts and ground contacts to be positioned simultaneously through a unified positioning structure, achieving high alignment precision while reducing the overall device complexity compared to separate positioning mechanisms for each contact type.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector comprises a plurality of signal contacts, a plurality of ground contacts, a wafer, a first organizer, and a second organizer. The wafer supports the plurality of signal contacts and the plurality of ground contacts. The first organizer is attached to the wafer and positions the plurality of signal contacts. The second organizer is attached to the wafer, with the first organizer and the second organizer stacked on each other. The second organizer is in electrical contact with and positions the plurality of ground contacts.