Fundamentals of Connector Design
At the beginning of explaining the design of electronic connectors, we mainly need to understand the basic components of connector products. As an indispensable component of electronic devices, connectors are crucial for the normal operation of electronic devices in terms of their basic structure and working principle. Usually, a connector consists of two components (commonly known as a male and female end) that are plugged together to complete the connection and transmission of effective signals or currents.
1、 Basic structure of connector:
A connector is a device used to achieve electrical connections between electronic devices, and its basic structure mainly includes the following parts:
Contacts: Contacts are key components used in connectors to achieve electrical connections, typically made of metal materials with good conductivity, such as copper, gold, silver, etc. The shape and size of the contacts vary depending on the type of connector and application requirements.
Male terminals are generally made of brass material, which has good conductivity but poor elasticity; The shape of the male contact piece is mostly cylindrical (round pin), square cylindrical (square pin) or flat sheet (insert); Female terminals are generally made of phosphor copper material, which has poor conductivity but good elasticity. The shape of the female contact piece includes cylindrical (split groove, tapered), tuning fork type, box type (square socket), etc. As shown in the following figure
Insulator: An insulator is a part of a connector used to isolate contacts and prevent electrical short circuits. Insulators are usually made of non-conductive materials such as plastic and ceramics, which have good insulation properties and mechanical strength. Insulators are generally made of plastic material. As shown in the figure below, its main functions are as follows:
1. Electrical insulation between terminals;
2. The geometric position of the fixed end facilitates insertion and dimensional stability;
3. Provide mechanical protection and support for terminals;
4. Isolate the terminals from the application environment to reduce sensitivity to corrosion.
Shell: The shell is the external structure of a connector, used to protect the contacts and insulators, while providing a way to install and secure the connector. The shell is usually made of metal or plastic materials, which have high mechanical strength and corrosion resistance.
The shell is the outer cover of the connector, and its functions include structural reinforcement, defining the male and female socket mating frame ports, positioning the connector PCB, and sharing external mechanical protection. In terms of electrical aspects, it has functions such as EMI shielding and ESD grounding.
Accessories: Accessories are auxiliary parts of the connector, including locking mechanism, positioning mechanism, sealing mechanism, etc. The function of the attachment is to ensure the reliability and stability of the connector, and improve its performance. For example, important structural accessories of plugs and sockets include installation accessories and structural accessories. Screws, nuts, springs, etc. belong to installation accessories, while locating pins, locating keys, sealing rings, and snap rings belong to structural components.
The above is mainly an understanding of the basic structure of connectors, each of which plays a crucial role in the connector's function. In short, the purpose is to ensure that the connector has a reliable contact after Mating, can withstand the impact of the corresponding application scenario while still maintaining good contact, while ensuring stable signal or current transmission and guaranteeing the quality of signal transmission.
2、 Working principle of connector
The working principle of connectors is mainly to achieve electrical signal connection between electronic devices through contacts. Its working principle can be divided into the following steps:
1. Contact: When the contacts of two connectors come into contact with each other, electrical connection is established. There are various forms of contact for contact components, such as pinhole contact, wafer contact, wire contact, etc.
2. Conductivity: After the contact between the contacts is achieved, current can be transmitted through the contacts. The conductivity of a contact depends on factors such as its material, shape, and size.
3. Signal transmission: In addition to current transmission, connectors can also achieve signal transmission. The quality and speed of signal transmission depend on the electrical characteristics of the connector, such as impedance, capacitance, inductance, etc.
4. Plug and unplug: When two connectors separate, the electrical connection is disconnected, and current and signal transmission are also interrupted.
The entire process is implemented, with quick installation and insertion, male and female interlocking, reliable signal or current transmission, and anti detachment structure to prevent vibration and impact detachment. When disconnection is needed, simple operation can be used to achieve separation.
3、 Classification of connectors
In fact, it has always been difficult to classify connectors because the more knowledge one has, the more difficult it becomes to classify them. For example, different application scenarios, different application fields, different product forms, as well as different functions and structural characteristics can all be considered as one category. Based on the application scenarios and structural characteristics of connectors, they can be divided into the following categories:
1. Board to Board Connectors: Used to connect circuit boards, suitable for high-density and miniaturized electronic devices.
2. Wire to Board Connectors: Used to connect wires to circuit boards, suitable for power and signal transmission in various electronic devices.
3. Wire to wire connectors: used to connect wires and are suitable for wiring and connecting various electrical equipment.
4. Rectangular Connectors: Connectors with a rectangular shape, suitable for power and signal transmission in various electronic devices.
5. Circular Connectors: Connectors with a circular shape, commonly used in high-performance electronic devices in military, aerospace, and other fields.
6. High Speed Connectors: Connectors with high-speed signal transmission capabilities, suitable for high-speed data transmission and communication equipment.
7. RF Connectors: Used for transmitting RF signals and suitable for wireless communication and broadcasting equipment.
8. Optical Fiber Connectors: Used for transmitting optical signals, suitable for fiber optic communication and optical network equipment.
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2024-12-11 06:29:42