USB Connector with Embedded Shielding Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing USB connectors lack an efficient design that simplifies manufacturing and assembly while providing effective shielding and soldering capabilities, leading to increased costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features an insulative housing with receiving slots for soldering portions, metallic shielding plate, and a shielding shell, with terminals having symmetrical contacts for 180-degree orientation and a modular design that includes an insulator and metallic shielding plate for enhanced stability and grounding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional USB connector designs are used, then manufacturing and assembly processes become complex and costly, but simplifying the design may compromise shielding and soldering capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shielding plate and insulative housing into a single integrated structure, where the shielding plate is embedded within the housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps while maintaining both shielding effectiveness and soldering capabilities, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and functional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The insulative housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, electrical insulation, shielding integration, and soldering surface. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing while preserving all necessary capabilities
2Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for shielding and insulation, then shielding and soldering capabilities are maintained, but manufacturing costs and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding plate is integrated into the insulative housing as a unified component, reducing the total part count while maintaining the reliability of both shielding and soldering functions. The embedding structure ensures electrical isolation and mechanical stability without requiring additional fastening components
3Ease of manufacture
If terminals are embedded in the insulative housing, then assembly is simplified, but access for soldering becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The insulative housing features locally optimized regions: areas where terminals are embedded for assembly simplicity, and areas with exposed soldering portions for easy access during soldering operations. This local differentiation allows the same component to satisfy both contradictory requirements in different spatial locations
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a number of first contacts and second contacts, an insulator inset-molded with the first contacts, a metallic shielding plate retained in the insulative housing, and a shielding shell attached to the insulative housing. The housing has a base portion defining a receiving cavity located at a back-end thereof and extending forwardly and a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion. The tongue portion defines a first surface carrying the first contacts and a second surface located oppositely and a number of terminal-receiving slots located at the first surface and the second surface and communicated with receiving cavity. The second contacts are inserted into terminal-receiving slots located at the second surface. The insulator is received in the receiving cavity to insert the first contacts into the terminal-receiving slots located at the first surface.