USB-C Receptacle Terminal Structure for Current and Voltage Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
USB type-C electrical receptacle connectors face challenges in increasing the current withstand capability of their terminals without compromising the withstand voltage performance, due to the limited thickness of the terminals and the risk of short circuits from a short distance between the terminals and the metallic plate.
Innovation Solution
The electrical receptacle connector design includes an insulated housing with a tongue portion, terminals arranged in two rows with protrusions, and a metallic plate with extension portions. The terminals have a specific thickness and protrusions that extend into the tongue portion, while the metallic plate has a main body and extension portions that correspond to the protrusions, maintaining a retaining spacing to enhance the current withstand capability and prevent short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the terminals is increased, then the current withstand capability of the terminals is improved, but the distance between the terminals and the metallic plate becomes too short, resulting in poor withstand voltage performance and risk of short circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces protrusions on the terminals that extend in the thickness direction toward the metallic plate, creating a multi-level structure. This dimensional change allows the terminal to have both increased current capacity (through the protrusion structure) and maintained voltage isolation (through the retained spacing between protrusion tips and metallic plate), resolving the contradiction between current withstand capability and voltage performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural characteristics to different parts of the terminal: the main body maintains sufficient thickness for current conduction, while protrusions are added at specific locations to enhance contact area and current capacity. The spacing between protrusions and metallic plate is carefully controlled to maintain voltage isolation. This localized structural differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of current and voltage performance.
2Strength
If the thickness of the terminals is increased, then the current withstand capability of the terminals is improved, but the structural integrity of the connector may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the terminal structure into distinct segments: the main body portion and the protrusion portions. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the main body maintains structural integrity and mechanical strength, while the protrusions provide enhanced current conduction pathways. The segmented structure prevents the terminal from becoming overly thick while still achieving improved current capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing terminal thickness uniformly in one direction, the patent extends protrusions in the thickness direction toward the metallic plate. This dimensional approach increases the effective current conduction area without compromising the overall structural integrity of the connector, as the protrusions are integrated into the existing terminal geometry rather than requiring a complete redesign of the terminal body.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical receptacle connector includes an insulated housing, a plurality of terminals, and a metallic plate. The terminals and the metallic plate are at the insulated housing. The terminals are held at the insulated housing and arranged into two rows. The metallic plate is at a tongue portion of the insulated housing and between the terminals which are arranged into two rows. The metallic plate has a main body and a plurality of extension portions. Each of the extension portions extends outwardly from the main body and corresponds to a protrusion of a corresponding one of the terminals. A distance between each of the protrusions and a corresponding one of the extension portions is less than a distance between each of the contact portions and the corresponding one of the extension portions. A retaining spacing is between the protrusions of the terminals and the extension portions of the metallic plate.