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EP0158413A2 - Connecteur électrique à faible force d'insertion avec contrôle des contraintes de contacts - Google Patents

Connecteur électrique à faible force d'insertion avec contrôle des contraintes de contacts Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0158413A2
EP0158413A2 EP85301007A EP85301007A EP0158413A2 EP 0158413 A2 EP0158413 A2 EP 0158413A2 EP 85301007 A EP85301007 A EP 85301007A EP 85301007 A EP85301007 A EP 85301007A EP 0158413 A2 EP0158413 A2 EP 0158413A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printed circuit
circuit board
cavity
contact
spring contacts
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP85301007A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0158413A3 (en
EP0158413B1 (fr
Inventor
Alan Walse
John Stipanuk
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Publication of EP0158413A2 publication Critical patent/EP0158413A2/fr
Publication of EP0158413A3 publication Critical patent/EP0158413A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0158413B1 publication Critical patent/EP0158413B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/82—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force
    • H01R12/83—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force connected with pivoting of printed circuits or like after insertion

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to electrical connectors for making electrical connections to printed circuit boards and concerns, more particularly, low insertion force electrical connectors for making electrical connections to conductive strips mounted along the edges of printed circuit boards.
  • Low insertion force electrical connectors for making electrical connections to conductive strips disposed generally in parallel along opposite sides of an elongated edge of a printed circuit board are old and well known in the prior art. Examples of such devices and electrical contacts for such devices are disclosed in United States Letters Patents Nos. 3,701,071; 3,795,888; 3,920,303; 3,848,952; 4,136,917; and Re.26,692.
  • the electrical connectors disclosed in such patents receive printed circuit boards with low insertion force in order to limit the wear of the spring contacts associated with the electrical connectors and the conductive strips associated with the printed circuit boards.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector of this kind.
  • the present invention provides a low insertion force electrical connector having an elongated insulating housing and a cavity formed along the length of the insulating housing for receiving the insertable edge of a printed circuit board. Disposed within the cavity at spaced apart intervals is a plurality of spring contacts for making high contact force electrical connections with a plurality of spaced apart, generally parallel, conductive strips formed on opposite sides of and along the length of the edge of the printed circuit board. Each spring contact includes a pair of spaced apart contacting portions that define an opening through which the edge of the printed circuit board may be received. Very low or zero insertion force is required to dispose the printed circuit board in the cavity.
  • the board Upon the complete insertion of the edge of the printed circuit board, the board is pivoted or rotated until it is disposed in a final or contact position in which the spaced apart contacting portions of the spring contacts physically and electrically engage with high contact force the conductive strips formed along the edge of the printed circuit board.
  • An integrally formed portion of the connector housing forms a limit or stop to prevent excess rotational or pivotal movement of the printed circuit board. In this manner, excess deflection of the contacting portions of the spring contacts is prevented.
  • the low insertion force, multiple contact electrical connector 10 is for use in making electrical connections to a conventional printed circuit board 12. While the electrical connector 10 is depicted and described herein as being capable of receiving and making electrical connections to two printed circuit boards 12, the principles of the present invention disclosed herein are equally applicable to electrical connectors suitable for use in making electrical connections to a single printed circuit board 12 or to a plurality of three or more printed circuit boards 12.
  • the electrical connector 10 includes an elongated housing 13, formed from any suitable insulating material, having a pair of elongated, spaced apart, access cavities 14 and 16 formed along an elongated base 18 and a plurality of four upstanding circuit board support or retention posts 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  • Each of the posts 20, 22, 24, 26 includes an integrally formed, resilient or yieldable latch 28 formed at the upper end thereof for yieldably retaining a printed circuit board 12 in a final or contact position between associated pairs of the posts 20, 22 and 24, 26. More specifically, each latch 28 includes an elongated tapered surface 30 formed at its free end that is capable of being outwardly deflected upon contact with one of the spaced apart lateral edges 32 and 34 of the printed circuit board 12.
  • Each access cavity 14 and 16 includes a plurality of generally parallel, spaced apart, transversely oriented slots 38 disposed along substantially its entire length.
  • a connector spring contact 40 (FIGS. 2 and 3), formed from any suitable resilient electrically conductive metallic material, such as a strip of beryllium copper having a thickness of approximately .015 inch (0.38 mm), is disposed in each one of the slots 38. If desired, the spring contact 40 disposed in a slot 38 along the cavity 14 (for example, the slot 38a) may be electrically short circuited to the spring contact 40 disposed in a longitudinally aligned or otherwise associated slot 38 along the cavity 16 (for example, the slot 38b).
  • each of the access cavities 14 and 16 also includes an elongated, inclined, insertion surface 42, a bottom surface 44, an inwardly protruding shoulder, stop or limit surface 46, and a vertically extending surface 48 disposed between the inclined surface 42 and the bottom surface 44.
  • Each spring contact 40 is stamped and integrally formed to have a rounded continuously curved configuration with first and second free ends 50 and 52 having contact surfaces disposed at different elevations in its cavity 14, 16, for respectively contacting conductive pads or strips 54 and 56 disposed along opposite sides of an insertable edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12, a central portion 41 disposed between said free ends 50 and 52 and a mounting leg 43 extending from said central portion.
  • the printed circuit board 12 may be inserted at an angle (Fig. 2) to its final or contact position (Fig. 3) in the cavity 14.
  • the insertion angle or orientation of the printed circuit board 12 is generally parallel to the angle or orientation of the inclined surface 42. In this manner, low or zero insertion force is required to insert the edge 58 into the cavity 14, thereby minimizing undesirable wear on the conductive strips 54 and 56 and the spring contacts 40.
  • the inclined surface 42 may be used as a guide surface for the insertion of the printed circuit board 12.
  • the mounting legs 43 of the contacts 40 resiliently mount the contacts 43 for freedom of movement and after insertion of the printed circuit board 12, the printed circuit board may be pivoted or rotated about the contacting portion 50 or the surface 48 until it assumes a final or contact position (FIG. 3) in which position the printed circuit board 12 rests against the bottom surface 44 and its lateral edges 32 and 34 are retained in the cavities 36 in the spaced apart posts 20 and 22.
  • the contacting portions 50 and 52 are resiliently deflected outwardly from the center of the cavity 14 by their respective engagements with the conductive strips 54 and 56.
  • the configuration of the spring 40 and of its contacting portions 50 and 52 is such as to provide a relatively high contact force between the contacting portions 50 and 52 and the conductive strips 54 and 56.
  • the deflection of the contacting portion 52, disposed at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 46, and the resultant stress imparted to the spring contact 40 is limited by the stop or limit surface 46. That is, the contacting * portion 52 cannot be deflected beyond the inwardly extending limit surface 46 since the limit surface 46 will physically engage the edge 58 of the printed circuit board 12 to limit its pivotable or rotational movement within the cavity 14.
  • the stop or limit surface 46 By aligning the vertically extending interior surfaces 60 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of each post 20, 22, 24, 26 with the stop or limit surface 46, the pivotal or rotational movement of longitudinally extending portions of the lateral edges 32 and 34 disposed above the cavity 14 is also limited.
  • the vertically extending surface 48 may also serve as a stop or limit surface to control or limit the amount of deflection of the contacting portion 50 of the spring contact 40 since the contacting portion 50 is similarly disposed generally at the same elevation and in an overlying relationship with the surface 48.
  • a low insertion force electrical connector 10 has been described for making effective and reliable high contact force electrical connection with a printed circuit board 12 while reducing or preventing the possibility of overstressing the spring contacts 40 of the electrical connector 10.
  • the stop or limit surface 46 (and, if desired, the surfaces 42 and/or 48) may be formed as a plurality of spaced apart stops or limit surfaces 46 associated with each slot 38 and each contacting portion 52.
  • the precise configuration of the spring contacts 40 may be modified to achieve desired spring and contact characteristics.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP19850301007 1984-04-06 1985-02-15 Connecteur électrique à faible force d'insertion avec contrôle des contraintes de contacts Expired - Lifetime EP0158413B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US59733384A 1984-04-06 1984-04-06
US597333 1984-04-06

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0158413A2 true EP0158413A2 (fr) 1985-10-16
EP0158413A3 EP0158413A3 (en) 1987-04-29
EP0158413B1 EP0158413B1 (fr) 1990-01-31

Family

ID=24391079

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850301007 Expired - Lifetime EP0158413B1 (fr) 1984-04-06 1985-02-15 Connecteur électrique à faible force d'insertion avec contrôle des contraintes de contacts

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0158413B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS60230378A (fr)
CA (1) CA1225708A (fr)
DE (1) DE3575819D1 (fr)
SG (1) SG33092G (fr)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0197623A2 (fr) * 1985-04-04 1986-10-15 Molex Incorporated Connecteurs électriques pour conducteurs multiples et leurs procédés de fabrication
EP0223386A2 (fr) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 Molex Incorporated Outil de robot pour montage de connecteurs de bord de cartes à circuits imprimés
EP0244192A1 (fr) * 1986-05-02 1987-11-04 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique
US4715826A (en) * 1985-09-03 1987-12-29 Bicc Public Limited Company Circuit board connector
WO1988003720A1 (fr) * 1986-11-12 1988-05-19 Amp Incorporated Connecteur electrique avec faible force d'introduction et protection contre les surcontraintes
EP0283119A2 (fr) * 1987-03-16 1988-09-21 Molex Incorporated Connecteur pour câble flexible plat à force d'insertion nulle
EP0340730A2 (fr) * 1988-05-04 1989-11-08 Burndy Corporation Dispositif à contacts multiples pour recevoir le coté de contact d'une plaquette mince à circuits imprimés, et élément de contact flexible à cet effet
EP0397075A2 (fr) * 1989-05-09 1990-11-14 The Whitaker Corporation Connecteur de bordure pour plaque à circuits imprimés
GB2237151A (en) * 1989-09-14 1991-04-24 Silitek Corp A resilient connector capable of being inserted into a printed circuit board
EP0433688A1 (fr) * 1989-12-21 1991-06-26 STOCKO Metallwarenfabriken Henkels und Sohn GmbH & Co Dispositif de contact électrique d'une carte électronique à éléments de connexion latéraux, notamment une carte à mémoire pour circuits intégrés avec un circuit imprimé mère
EP0463381A1 (fr) * 1990-06-28 1992-01-02 Molex Incorporated Assemblage de douilles électriques pour circuits single-in-line
DE4110386A1 (de) * 1991-03-28 1992-10-08 Hirschmann Richard Gmbh Co Steckverbinder fuer eine leiterbahnen aufweisende leiterplatte
EP0561288A1 (fr) * 1992-03-16 1993-09-22 Molex Incorporated Connecteur de bord pour des plaquettes chargé initialement
CN102165645A (zh) * 2008-09-27 2011-08-24 宝马股份公司 线路载体的支座单元、连接系统、包括支座单元的电机以及包括这种电机的汽车

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS61206187A (ja) * 1985-03-08 1986-09-12 住友スリ−エム株式会社 無插入力型カ−ドエツジ・コネクタ及びその組立体
JPH0436067Y2 (fr) * 1987-07-09 1992-08-26
US4832617A (en) * 1988-03-31 1989-05-23 Foxx Conn International, Inc. Circuit board socket, contact and method of manufacture
JPH073582Y2 (ja) * 1989-01-18 1995-01-30 接触端子及び低挿入力コネクタ
US4986765A (en) * 1989-02-21 1991-01-22 Amp Incorporated Insertable latch means for use in an electrical connector
DE69024535T2 (de) * 1989-06-02 1996-05-15 Whitaker Corp Leiterplattensockel mit Kleeblattkontakt
JP2704300B2 (ja) 1989-10-06 1998-01-26 日本エー・エム・ピー株式会社 エッジコネクタ用コンタクト
JPH0424292U (fr) * 1990-06-22 1992-02-27
JP3051313B2 (ja) * 1994-12-09 2000-06-12 ヒロセ電機株式会社 電気コネクタ

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3701071A (en) * 1971-01-18 1972-10-24 Berg Electronics Inc Hinge type circuit board connector block
US3795888A (en) * 1972-06-30 1974-03-05 Motorola Inc Printed circuit board edge connector requiring zero insertion force
DE2434628A1 (de) * 1973-07-27 1975-02-13 Amp Inc Elektrische kontakte und zugehoerige verbinder
US3920303A (en) * 1973-08-20 1975-11-18 Ind Electronic Hardware Corp Low force insertion connector
DE2557042A1 (de) * 1975-12-18 1977-06-23 Hartmann & Braun Ag Elektrische kontaktvorrichtung mit einer kontaktfederleiste
DE2621984A1 (de) * 1976-05-18 1977-12-08 Preh Elektro Feinmechanik Kontaktfederleiste
DE2654368A1 (de) * 1976-12-01 1978-06-08 Telefonbau & Normalzeit Gmbh Anordnung zur kontaktgabe einer leiterplatte mit kontaktstellen
DE2537281B2 (fr) * 1975-08-21 1978-11-02 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS55100672A (en) * 1979-01-29 1980-07-31 Yazaki Corp Connector

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3701071A (en) * 1971-01-18 1972-10-24 Berg Electronics Inc Hinge type circuit board connector block
US3795888A (en) * 1972-06-30 1974-03-05 Motorola Inc Printed circuit board edge connector requiring zero insertion force
DE2434628A1 (de) * 1973-07-27 1975-02-13 Amp Inc Elektrische kontakte und zugehoerige verbinder
US3920303A (en) * 1973-08-20 1975-11-18 Ind Electronic Hardware Corp Low force insertion connector
DE2537281B2 (fr) * 1975-08-21 1978-11-02 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen
DE2557042A1 (de) * 1975-12-18 1977-06-23 Hartmann & Braun Ag Elektrische kontaktvorrichtung mit einer kontaktfederleiste
DE2621984A1 (de) * 1976-05-18 1977-12-08 Preh Elektro Feinmechanik Kontaktfederleiste
DE2654368A1 (de) * 1976-12-01 1978-06-08 Telefonbau & Normalzeit Gmbh Anordnung zur kontaktgabe einer leiterplatte mit kontaktstellen

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0197623A3 (fr) * 1985-04-04 1988-07-06 Molex Incorporated Connecteurs électriques pour conducteurs multiples et leurs procédés de fabrication
EP0197623A2 (fr) * 1985-04-04 1986-10-15 Molex Incorporated Connecteurs électriques pour conducteurs multiples et leurs procédés de fabrication
US4715826A (en) * 1985-09-03 1987-12-29 Bicc Public Limited Company Circuit board connector
EP0223386A2 (fr) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 Molex Incorporated Outil de robot pour montage de connecteurs de bord de cartes à circuits imprimés
EP0223386A3 (en) * 1985-11-20 1988-11-09 Molex Incorporated Robotic tool for edge connector assembly of printed circuit boards
EP0244192A1 (fr) * 1986-05-02 1987-11-04 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique
WO1988003720A1 (fr) * 1986-11-12 1988-05-19 Amp Incorporated Connecteur electrique avec faible force d'introduction et protection contre les surcontraintes
EP0283119A3 (fr) * 1987-03-16 1990-01-24 Molex Incorporated Connecteur pour câble flexible plat à force d'insertion nulle
EP0283119A2 (fr) * 1987-03-16 1988-09-21 Molex Incorporated Connecteur pour câble flexible plat à force d'insertion nulle
EP0340730A3 (en) * 1988-05-04 1990-06-27 Burndy Corporation Electrical contact pins and assemblies
EP0340730A2 (fr) * 1988-05-04 1989-11-08 Burndy Corporation Dispositif à contacts multiples pour recevoir le coté de contact d'une plaquette mince à circuits imprimés, et élément de contact flexible à cet effet
EP0397075A2 (fr) * 1989-05-09 1990-11-14 The Whitaker Corporation Connecteur de bordure pour plaque à circuits imprimés
EP0397075A3 (fr) * 1989-05-09 1991-06-05 The Whitaker Corporation Connecteur de bordure pour plaque à circuits imprimés
GB2237151A (en) * 1989-09-14 1991-04-24 Silitek Corp A resilient connector capable of being inserted into a printed circuit board
EP0433688A1 (fr) * 1989-12-21 1991-06-26 STOCKO Metallwarenfabriken Henkels und Sohn GmbH & Co Dispositif de contact électrique d'une carte électronique à éléments de connexion latéraux, notamment une carte à mémoire pour circuits intégrés avec un circuit imprimé mère
EP0463381A1 (fr) * 1990-06-28 1992-01-02 Molex Incorporated Assemblage de douilles électriques pour circuits single-in-line
DE4110386A1 (de) * 1991-03-28 1992-10-08 Hirschmann Richard Gmbh Co Steckverbinder fuer eine leiterbahnen aufweisende leiterplatte
EP0561288A1 (fr) * 1992-03-16 1993-09-22 Molex Incorporated Connecteur de bord pour des plaquettes chargé initialement
CN102165645A (zh) * 2008-09-27 2011-08-24 宝马股份公司 线路载体的支座单元、连接系统、包括支座单元的电机以及包括这种电机的汽车
CN102165645B (zh) * 2008-09-27 2014-07-23 宝马股份公司 线路载体的支座单元、连接系统、包括支座单元的电机以及包括这种电机的汽车

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0158413A3 (en) 1987-04-29
JPS60230378A (ja) 1985-11-15
CA1225708A (fr) 1987-08-18
EP0158413B1 (fr) 1990-01-31
SG33092G (en) 1992-05-22
DE3575819D1 (de) 1990-03-08

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