What Is a Spring Pin Connector?
A spring pin connector is an electrical connector component used as a contact point for conducting electricity between different components.
It consists of a pin, a tube, and a spring. Since the spring is contained in the tube connected to the pin, it is highly resistant to vibration, and contact is not easily disturbed even if the tube is shaken.
There are many types of connectors, including fine-pitch connectors, low-resistance modular connectors, and those with housings. There is also a wide variety of products in terms of number of poles, number of contacts, and contact height. Many products have good durability and can be connected and disconnected with a single touch.
Uses of Spring Pin Connectors
Spring pin connectors are used in mobile and transportation equipment. Spring pin connectors are essential for products that are subject to vibration because the spring makes it easy to maintain contact even when subjected to vibration.
In our daily lives, they are used in charging boxes for wireless earphones, connecting a 2-in-1 PC or tablet device to a keyboard, charging smartwatches, and charging connectors for electric vehicles. Spring pin connectors also contribute to the miniaturization of devices.
For example, they are suitable for connecting boards or batteries. Other applications include cradles and internal antenna connections. Surface mount, through-hole, and solder cup types are available, and they are connected to the board with solder.
Principle of Spring Pin Connectors
Spring pin connectors use spring force to maintain contact between electrical contacts. It consists of three parts: a hollow barrel that serves as the main body, a coil-type spring that is stored inside the barrel, and a plunger that is pressed against the mating part by the spring.
There is also a type with a four-component structure that includes a ball, shell, and insulator between the spring and plunger. The structure of spring pin connectors is also called a pogo pin structure.
The name comes from the fact that the spring-loaded repulsive structure resembles a pogo stick, a stick-shaped piece of play equipment with a handle and step, which is used to jump with the force of the spring. Brass is often used for the plunger and barrel, and SUS or piano wire is often used for the spring. Gold plating is the most common surface treatment for the contact surface.
Other Information on Spring Pin Connectors
1. Mating direction of Spring Pin Connectors
When mating parts using spring pin connectors, it is preferable to mate them vertically. If the parts are connected so that they slide together horizontally instead of vertically, the plunger will exert a force that tries to collapse against the barrel in a direction that is 90° off from the direction in which the spring is pushed down.
If the spring is not pushed down, this could result in damage to the barrel rim. However, horizontal mating is possible by taking measures to account for horizontal mating.
Even so, the number of mating cycles that can be endured is generally less, and the plating is subject to greater wear due to sliding.
2. Specifications of Spring Pin Connectors
Spring pin connectors have specifications with improved special functions depending on the application. Three typical specifications are introduced below.
Waterproof
Waterproof spring pin connectors are selected when there is a possibility that the product may get wet. Waterproof components such as potting, O-rings, and rubber sheets are used for waterproofing.
High-Speed Transmission Support
Information is transmitted in electronic equipment, and high-speed transmission of data is essential to improve equipment performance. When using spring pin connectors to transmit large amounts of data at high speeds, specifications such as pin arrangements are designed based on connector electromagnetic field analysis.
High Current Capability
Some spring pin connectors are used for high-current connections. To allow a large amount of current to flow even with small spring pin connectors, components such as balls and insulators are incorporated to secure the contact area and reduce heat generation.