Vertical-Wall Metallic Shield for Compact Electrical Connector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors face challenges in achieving a small outline and reliable electrical and mechanical connections due to the lack of effective structural design in the metallic shield and contacts within the insulative housing.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector features an insulative housing with insert-molded metallic and contact components, including vertically oriented side, end, and bottom walls, which surround the contacts and provide a secure, compact connection through a unitary metallic shield and soldering portions, ensuring reliable mating and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional electrical connector designs are used, then the connector can provide basic electrical connection, but the outline size is large and mechanical reliability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the metallic shield and contacts into a unitary structure that is insert-molded with the insulative housing, creating an integrated assembly that reduces overall connector size while maintaining structural integrity and connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The metallic shield is designed with substantially vertical side walls, end walls, and bottom walls that extend perpendicular to the mating direction, utilizing vertical space efficiently to reduce horizontal footprint while providing comprehensive contact protection
2Reliability
If the metallic shield lacks substantial vertical walls, then the structure is simpler, but electrical and mechanical connection reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The metallic shield is segmented into distinct functional portions: side walls that protect lateral aspects, end walls that seal terminal ends, and bottom walls that provide base support, with each segment contributing specifically to connection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The insert-molding process creates a composite structure where the metallic shield, contacts, and insulative housing are permanently bonded together, combining the advantages of metallic shielding with insulative support in a unified assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a vertical mating direction, a plurality of contacts secured to the insulative housing, and a metallic shield secured to the insulative housing and surrounding the plurality of contacts, wherein the metallic shield and the plurality of contacts are insert-molded with the insulative housing, and the metallic shield has a pair of substantially vertical side walls, a pair of substantially vertical end walls respectively connected between the pair of side walls, and a pair of bottom walls connected between the pair of side walls.