The automobile connector is a kind of component that the electronic engineering technician often contacts. Its role is very simple: in the circuit is blocked or isolated between the impassable circuit, set up a bridge of communication, so that the current flow, so that the circuit to achieve the predetermined function. The form and structure of the automobile connector is kallible, and it is mainly composed of four basic structural components, respectively: contact, shell (depending on the variety), insulator, accessories. In the industry is usually also known as the sheath, connector, plastic case, etc.

Basic components of automotive connectors

There are nearly 100 types of connectors used in the average car, and there are about hundreds of connectors used in a single model. With the increasing demand for safety, environmental protection, comfort and intelligence of the automobile, the application of automotive electronic products is increasing, which will make the number of automotive connector applications present an increasing situation.

Four basic structural components of automotive connector

First, contact parts

It is the core part of automobile connector to complete the electric connection function. Generally, the contact pair is composed of positive contact parts and negative contact parts, and the electrical connection is completed through the insertion of negative and positive contact parts. The positive contact part is a rigid part, and its shape is cylindrical (circular needle), square cylindrical (square needle) or flat (insert). Positive contact parts are generally made of brass or phosphor bronze.

The negative contact part is the jack, which is the key part of the contact pair. It relies on the elastic structure to produce elastic force and form close contact with the positive contact part due to the elastic deformation when it is inserted with the pin to complete the connection. There are many types of jack structure, including cylinder type (splitting groove, contracting mouth), tuning fork type, cantilever beam type (longitudinal groove), folding type (longitudinal groove, figure 9), box shape (square jack) and hyperboloid spring jack, etc.

Second, the shell

Also known as the shell, it is the outer cover of an automotive connector that provides mechanical protection for the built-in insulation mounting plate and pins, and provides alignment for plugs and sockets to secure the connector to the device.

Three, insulator

Insulator is also often called the automotive connector base (base) or mounting plate (insert), its role is to make contacts according to the desired position and spacing, and ensure the insulation performance between contacts and contacts with the shell. Good insulation resistance, voltage resistance and workability are the basic requirements for choosing insulation materials to be processed into insulators.

Fourth, the attachment

Accessories are divided into structural accessories and installation accessories. Structural accessories such as clamping ring, positioning key, positioning pin, guide pin, connection ring, cable clip, sealing ring, gasket, etc. Install accessories such as screws, nuts, screws, coils, etc. Accessories are mostly standard parts and common parts. It is these four basic structural components that enable the automotive connector to act as a bridge and operate stably.

Application characteristics of automotive connectors

From the purpose of the use of the automobile connector, in order to ensure that the car is better driving, we can divide the reliability of the connector into the closure of the connector in use, the performance of the car in driving fireproof flower, in addition to the car in driving, the connector can also show the shielding performance and temperature control performance. Generally, when discussing the sealing performance of automobile connector, it is not only for the sealing performance of water in the automobile. In this field, the current international popular management standard is IP67, and this standard is now the highest level in the automotive closed industry. Although the requirements for waterproofing are different in different parts of the car, many car manufacturers will choose IP67 to ensure the airtight performance of their car connectors.

In the car running, power supply is a very important energy source, not only related to the normal work of the engine, but also people in the process of driving, often involved in the use of power. Therefore, in the power system of the car, the car connector has different divisions. There are certain closure measures that can be implemented between the male connector and the equipment, between the male connector and the cable, between the male connector and the female connector, and between the female connector and the cable.

In the realization of the sealing performance of automotive connector, sealing ring is a commonly used tool, this tool can not only achieve the effect of fixing between different holes, but also to achieve the effect of sealing. It can not only ensure the stable operation of the automobile equipment, but also ensure the waterproof performance of the automobile equipment in work. The sealing ring in the production of most of the use of silicone rubber material, this material is made by liquid silicon and solid silicon after a certain chemical change.

Now the car is in use, electronic circuit technology is an important aspect of the automobile industry, not only in the driver entertainment, and including the driver in the driving of the car control system, electronic circuit technology in the stable work of the car has played an important role. In order to ensure that the electronic circuit technology can work stably, people now apply a lot of shielding technology in the production of cars. These shielding technologies not only protect the electronic circuits of the car, but also protect the parts of the car against interference and radiation, and also protect the stability of the car connectors. These shielding technologies can be divided into two types: internal shielding and external shielding.

When using external shielding to protect automotive connectors, two identical shielding housings are usually assembled together to form a shielding layer, and the length of the shielding layer can cover the entire length of the connector. The shielding housings should also ensure that there is enough lock structure to ensure the reliable installation of the shielding layer. The shielding materials used are not only treated by electroplating, but also treated to prevent chemical corrosion.

Future trends in automotive connectors

At present, the global automotive connectors account for about 15% of the connectors industry, and the future is expected to be driven by automotive electronic products, accounting for a larger proportion. In terms of product cost structure, the connector cost of each car is only a few hundred yuan on average, and the connector cost of each foreign car is about $125 ~ $150. From this point of view, the automotive connector market still has great potential for development. There will be 600 to 1,000 electronic connectors per car in the future, far more than are used today.

China is expected to become an important manufacturing base for global automotive connectors in the future. In addition to the existing well-known international factories, other manufacturers that have not yet set up factories in China will gradually establish production bases in China to supply local auto component manufacturers due to the continuous improvement of local demand, local procurement, cost advantages and other factors. Therefore, in the future, China's automotive connector industry will be a very competitive market for foreign enterprises and Chinese local enterprises! Under the development of foreign enterprises and local enterprises, China will become one of the important production countries of automobile connectors. In the future, the local enterprises, foreign enterprises, foreign enterprises who will become the hegemon of China's automotive connector, we wait and see.