Staggered Electrical Connector Terminals for High Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing terminal arrangements in electrical connectors suffer from reduced contact effectiveness due to overlapping contact portions, which limit the movement of the first contact portion and affect the terminal's performance when a mating component is pressed down.
Innovation Solution
A terminal set configuration where the first and second terminals have elastic portions arranged in a row, with the second contact portion located between adjacent first elastic portions vertically, and the second elastic portions shielding the first elastic portions, allowing for reduced distance between terminals and enhanced contact points without vertical overlap, thereby ensuring good contact and increased density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the first contact portion is located directly above the second elastic portion to increase terminal density, then the terminal arrangement density is improved, but the first contact portion easily contacts the second elastic portion causing movement limitation and affecting contact effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by arranging the first and second contact portions in a staggered vertical configuration rather than direct alignment. The first contact portion is positioned at a first vertical level while the second contact portion is positioned at a second vertical level, creating vertical separation that prevents harmful contact between the first contact portion and the second elastic portion, thereby maintaining reliable contact effect while achieving high terminal density.
2Device complexity
If the first contact portion and second contact portion are vertically aligned to simplify terminal structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the second contact portion limits the movement of the first contact portion when pressed downward
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the contact portions into distinct vertical segments. The first contact portion and second contact portion are separated in the vertical direction, with each contact portion having its own independent vertical level. This segmentation allows each contact portion to move independently without interfering with the other, ensuring smooth downward movement when pressed by the mating component while maintaining a relatively simple terminal structure.
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
This configuration prevents the second contact portion from abutting the first elastic portion, ensuring effective contact with the mating component and increasing the terminal set's density and contact points within a limited space.
Implementation Method 1
the second elastic portions shield at least a portion of the corresponding first elastic portions backward in a front-rear direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of first elastic portions extending upward from the first base and arranged in a row in a left-right direction
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal set and an electrical connector are provided. The terminal set includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal has a first base, a first elastic portion extending upward from the first base, and a first contact portion extending backward from the first elastic portion. The second terminal has a second base, a second elastic portion extending upward from the second base, and a second contact portion extending backward from the second elastic portion. The second elastic portion is located in front of the first elastic portion and overlaps with the first elastic portion in a front-rear direction, and the second contact portion does not overlapped with the first elastic portion in an vertical direction, thereby enhancing the density of the terminal set, and increasing contact points of the terminal set in contact with a mating component in a limited space.