About Contacts, Spring Loaded (Pogo Pins), and Pressure
Spring-loaded contacts, commonly referred to as "pogo pins" due to their resemblance to the popular children's toy, are widely utilized to establish reliable electrical connections between two objects. These contacts are particularly useful when the relative mechanical position of the objects cannot be precisely controlled or when a connector system that can withstand frequent mating and unmating cycles is desired. One common example of the use of spring-loaded contacts is in charging cradles for cordless handheld devices such as bar code scanners and mobile radios. The spring-loaded contacts provide a secure and consistent connection between the charging cradle and the device being charged, even if the device is not placed in the cradle in precisely the same position every time. Within this product family, contact pads are also used to create a durable and corrosion-resistant surface for the spring-loaded contacts to bear against. These contact pads are an essential component in ensuring the longevity and reliability of the overall connection system. Overall, spring-loaded contacts are a critical component in many electronic applications, providing a robust and flexible solution to establishing electrical connections between components. Their ability to withstand frequent mating and unmating cycles, combined with their tolerance for imprecise mechanical positioning, makes them ideal for use in a wide range of applications, from charging cradles to test fixtures and beyond.
