Surface Mount Connector Orthogonal Latch Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surface mount connectors face challenges in positioning contacts in multiple rows due to interference and space constraints, making it difficult to inspect solder fillets and requiring additional parts, which increases cost and susceptibility to damage.
Innovation Solution
A surface mount connector design featuring a housing cover and contact receiving base with orthogonal engagement projections and latching arms, allowing for secure assembly and easy inspection of mating ends without increasing the number of parts, while maintaining co-planarity and preventing damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contacts are made longer to expose mating ends from the hooded mating portion, then inspection of mating ends becomes possible, but co-planarity of contacts becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a contact receiving portion and a hooded mating portion that are assembled separately. This segmentation allows the contacts to be positioned in the contact receiving portion with their mating ends exposed, while the hooded mating portion is attached afterward to provide protection without concealing the mating ends, thus maintaining both inspectability and co-planarity
2Reliability
If the housing is divided into contact receiving portion and hooded mating portion assembled with elastic member, then contact protection is improved, but the number of parts increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement protrusion and engagement groove are integrated directly into the housing structure itself, merging the fastening function with the housing components. This eliminates the need for separate elastic members or additional fastening parts, reducing part count and cost while maintaining reliable assembly between the contact receiving portion and hooded mating portion
3Adaptability or versatility
If contacts are folded back on the rear face side to achieve multi-row configuration, then multi-row arrangement is possible, but solder fillet inspection becomes difficult due to obstruction by hooded mating portion
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the housing into contact receiving portion and hooded mating portion that are assembled separately, the contacts can be arranged in multiple rows within the contact receiving portion with their mating ends exposed. The hooded mating portion is then attached to provide protection without obstructing the view of the mating ends, enabling both multi-row configuration and easy solder fillet inspection
4Stability of the object's composition
If engagement protrusion and engagement groove are provided for secure assembly, then assembly stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement protrusion and engagement groove are formed as integral parts of the housing structure itself, merging the fastening function with the existing housing components. This approach provides secure assembly between the contact receiving portion and hooded mating portion without adding separate fastening mechanisms or increasing overall structural complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A surface mount connector is disclosed having a housing cover, a contact receiving base, and a first engagement portion. The contact receiving base is connected to the housing cover, having a plurality of contacts with terminating ends and opposite mating ends positioned inside the housing cover. The first engagement portion has a first projection positioned proximate to a mating end of either the housing cover or the contact receiving base, extending orthogonal to a plugging/unplugging direction. The first engagement portion also has a first projection receiving member positioned on the other of the contact receiving base and the housing cover proximate to the mating end, being complimentary to the first projection and receiving the first projection at a terminating end facing surface thereof.