Thin Contact Connector Structure With Through-Substrate Contact

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contact connectors for electronic devices are thick, requiring significant space for mounting, which hinders the development of thinner electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

A contact connector comprising a substrate with a through hole and a metal elastic sheet with a fixed and free section, where the free section includes a connection contact that protrudes through the substrate, allowing direct assembly with an electronic device without additional structural parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If traditional contact connector structure is used, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but thickness and mounting space increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness of contact connectorVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The contact connector is divided into distinct functional segments: a substrate providing structural support, a metal elastic sheet providing contact pressure, and a connection contact providing electrical connection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall thickness while maintaining connection reliability through the specialized function of each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The metal elastic sheet acts as a flexible thin film component that provides the necessary contact pressure and electrical conductivity. Its flexibility allows it to deform and maintain reliable electrical connection even in a thinner profile, replacing traditional rigid contact structures that required more space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Device complexity

If traditional contact connector structure is used, then electrical connection is ensured, but number of parts and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidelectrical connection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The substrate and mounting portion are merged into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate housing and mounting brackets. The metal elastic sheet is directly fixed to the substrate, combining structural support and electrical connection functions in fewer parts, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate serves multiple functions: providing structural support, facilitating mounting to the electronic device, and serving as a base for fixing the metal elastic sheet. The metal elastic sheet simultaneously provides mechanical contact pressure and electrical conductivity. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate parts needed while ensuring reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 proposed contact connector reduces its thickness and part count, facilitating the thinning of electronic devices while ensuring reliable electrical connections for charging or data transmission.

Implementation Method 1

the metal elastic sheet includes a fixed section and a free section connected with each other, the fixed section is fixed to the substrate, the free section includes a connection contact

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12316038B2Contact connector and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.05.27 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • US12316038B2 patent drawing
  • US12316038B2 patent drawing
  • US12316038B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A contact connector is provided. The contact connector includes a substrate and a metal elastic sheet, the substrate includes a first side and a second side opposite to each other, the metal elastic sheet includes a fixed section and a free section connected with each other, the fixed section is fixed to the substrate, the free section is provided with a connection contact, the substrate is provided with a through hole penetrating through the first side and the second side, the connection contact penetrates through the through hole to protrude out of the first side, and the second side is provided with a mounting portion used for assembling with the electronic device.