Wire Mount Connector With Guiding Ridge For Latch Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical connector systems face challenges in reducing size while maintaining mechanical and electrical reliability, as smaller pitch interconnects are prone to reliability issues and are costly to manufacture, with limited customization options.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector system features an insulative connector housing with guiding and securing elements for a cover and strain relief, allowing for blind mating and reduced overall size, along with enhanced spring beam length and stress distribution in contact terminals, and integrated latches for secure attachment and ejection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If contact pitch is reduced to decrease interconnect size, then the number of electrical connections per unit space increases, but mechanical and electrical reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is divided into modular components including a housing, contact members, and a separate cover assembly with integrated strain relief. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, enabling small pitch contacts while maintaining reliability through proper stress distribution and assembly tolerances.
Solution Approach 2:
The design moves latching and strain relief functions from the contact pitch dimension to the longitudinal dimension through extended end portions. This dimensional separation allows tight contact spacing without compromising mechanical reliability, as the latching mechanism operates in a different spatial dimension.
2Volume of moving object
If connector size is reduced through scaling, then interconnect dimensions decrease, but manufacturing cost increases and customization options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cover assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides strain relief, acts as a latch mechanism, and offers cable routing guidance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, lowering manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining small connector dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The strain relief and latching mechanisms are merged into a single integrated cover assembly that attaches to the housing end portions. This consolidation eliminates separate components and assembly steps, reducing manufacturing cost while enabling customized configurations for different pitch requirements.
3Reliability
If additional components such as latching mechanisms and strain relief are included, then mechanical reliability improves, but overall interconnect size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is nested within the cover assembly structure, where the cover itself forms part of the latching system. This nesting eliminates the need for separate latching components, maintaining high mechanical reliability while minimizing overall connector volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism utilizes elastic deformation of the cover material to provide resilient engagement with the housing end portions. This dynamic approach allows reliable latching without rigid mechanical components, reducing the space required for the latching system.
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 solution enables the creation of smaller, more reliable, and cost-effective electrical connectors with reduced size and increased customization options, suitable for various pitch sizes, including 2.0 mm, 0.050″, 1.0 mm, 0.8 mm, and 0.5 mm, while maintaining high reliability and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The ridge has an inclined top surface for resiliently deflecting a cover latch and an inclined side surface for resiliently deflecting a strain relief latch
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes an insulative connector housing including a longitudinal body portion and first and second pairs of opposing end portions. The body portion has a plurality of contact openings extending therein in an insertion direction for supporting a plurality of electrical contact terminals. The first and second pairs of opposing end portions extend from opposing ends of the body portion in the insertion direction. At least one end portion in each pair of opposing end portions includes a ridge extending in the insertion direction for guiding a cover latch along a side surface of the ridge and guiding a strain relief latch along an opposing side surface of the ridge. The ridge has an inclined top surface for resiliently deflecting a cover latch and an inclined side surface for resiliently deflecting a strain relief latch. The ridge has an end portion for latching onto a cover latch and a strain relief latch.