JPH0322380A - Terminal and connector using said terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable even a high circuit panel to be stabilized by providing a terminal with a pair of beams each of which extends in an approximately perpendicular direction from each end of a base and which has an end curved inward toward the base and has an approximately U-shaped middle part, and bringing the terminal into contact with a contact pad formed at the edge of a circuit panel inserted. CONSTITUTION: A terminal 10 includes a base 14 and a pair of symmetrical beams 12, each extending in an approximately perpendicular direction from each end of the base 14, having an end 12e curved inward toward the base 14, and having an approximately U-shaped middle part 12d, and makes contact with a contact pad formed at the edge of a circuit panel 4 inserted between the pair of beams 12. Therefore, the circuit panel 4 of a single-in-line-type memory modules that differs in thickness is easily and surely received, and the circuit panel 4 that is sufficiently high can be surely retained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a terminal having a contact connected to a trace conductor path formed at the end of a circuit panel, and a terminal using the same to connect circuit boards to each other. Regarding electrical connectors to be connected.

[Prior art and its problems]

Single in-line memory module (SIMM)
Dynamic Random Access Memory (RAM) is a high-density, low-profile, single-in-line package for electronic components such as integrated circuit components. A plurality of these components can be mounted in line on a circuit panel with a height slightly longer than the length of the components themselves. The circuit panel is then attached to the daughter circuit board, which is then attached to the mother card. The spacing between adjacent child cards should be slightly larger than the height of each individual SIMM.

One method of mounting SIMMs on a daughter board is to use plug-in leads near one edge of the circuit panel.

These plug-in leads connect to conventional circuit board contacts, such as miniature spring contacts.

Another method is to use SIMM sockets to establish removable interconnections to traces (conductive strips) formed along the edges of circuit panels used for SIMMs. The terminals used in these sockets are described in U.S. Pat.
58. No. 912, etc.

Additional details of insulating housings suitable for use with these terminals are also found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,781.
No. 612. The sockets disclosed in these patent publications have a center-to-center spacing of pads or traces on the edge of a circuit panel of 2. It is for SIMM of 54s+-. The terminals used for this socket are stamped (
The terminal width generally does not allow for higher density (narrow center-to-center spacing) pad-to-pad interconnections.

Instead of stamped terminals, other SIMM sockets use edge stamped terminals. For example, US Pat. No. 4,737,120 discloses a type of electrical connector suitable for use in SIMMs in which a zero insertion force interconnection is established between the terminal and the pads of the circuit panel. This circuit panel is inserted at an angle and
A cam moves it to a predetermined position. The insulating housing of the connector provides a stop means to hold the circuit panel in place.

Another type of zero insertion force connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575.
, No. 172. The contact terminals of each of these patents are edge-stamped socket terminals suitable for sockets having a center-to-center spacing of about 1.27 mm.

Each of these zero insertion force sockets has limited wipe action between pads and contacts on the circuit board. A full wipe action is preferred to eliminate debris such as oxides that may form on pads (or traces) on terminals or circuit boards. U.S. Pat. No. 4,725. No. 250 discloses a socket connector that uses terminals with sufficient force to effect a wipe action between the surface pad portions of the traces on the circuit panel and the terminals. The connector also includes edge stamped terminals. This U.S. patent No. 4. 725. The connector disclosed in No. 250 is suitable for use with standard SIMMs. However, not all commercially available SIMMs are manufactured to generally accepted standards such as the JEDEC standards. Non-standard SIMM circuit pads are manufactured with the pad portions of the traces closer to the edge of the circuit panel than required by industry-accepted standards. The connector disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,725.250 is
It is unsuitable for use with circuit panels having short pad sections where the contacts must touch the edges of the circuit panel. This is because the height of the beam provides sufficient force wipe contact for this connector.

The deviation from the JEDEC standard is about ±0.0, which is the module thickness tolerance required by JEDEC. 076fiII
1 (±0.003 inches). Approximately ±0. 203 mai (±0.
Tolerances of 0.008 in.) are more realistic, but such tolerances require large swings and complicate terminal design. Making the terminals longer is not appropriate since the improved density proposed by SIMM is a compromise and the contacts cannot be brought closer to the edges of the module.

Not only are non-standard SIMMs beginning to emerge, but basic S
IMM sockets are also beginning to be applied in applications with additional ICs on the circuit panel. As more and more IC packages are added to modules, the height of circuit panels is also increasing. There are special purpose modules (SAMs) that take the basic SIMM approach. For example, boards employing the SrMM approach now range from about 51m+++ to about 89m
+a height.

Once the circuit panel reaches this height, it is difficult to stabilize these components with standard sockets.

This is because the conventional panel guides used in these sockets do not have sufficient height to engage near their top ends.

Therefore, the development of SIMM sockets and terminals that can sufficiently stabilize even such high circuit panels, provide electrical contacts near the edges of the circuit panels, and can be wiped with sufficient force has been awaited.

[Means for solving problems]

According to the terminal of the present invention, the terminal includes a base, and a pair of symmetrical beams extending substantially perpendicularly from both ends of the base, having distal ends bent toward the base and inward, and further having a substantially U-shaped intermediate portion; The beams are inserted between the beams to make contact with contact pads formed on the edges of the circuit panel.

Further, a connector using a terminal according to the present invention includes an insulating housing having a plurality of terminal receiving openings formed along the slot, and a pair of grooves formed at both ends of the insulating housing and having grooves communicating with the slot inside. and a panel support member for inserting the aforementioned terminals into each terminal-receiving opening for contact with traces formed on the edges of the circuit panel and for supporting the circuit panel.

〔Example〕

SIMM socket or connector 2 is insulated housing 20
A plurality of terminals 10 are used to establish electrical contact with the traces 6 of the circuit panel 4 which abut one edge 4a of the circuit panel. The connector 2 is a circuit panel 4 having traces contacting terminals having a center-to-center spacing of approximately 1.3 am (0.050 inch) center-to-center spacing of the portion of the traces 6 that contact the edge 4a of the circuit panel.
suitable for use with. The terminal 10 is formed by edge stamping a resilient metal blank and is made of a copper alloy such as beryllium copper or phosphor bronze. Each terminal 10 is suitable for making electrical contact with a trace on at least the l side of the circuit panel abutting the edge of the trace.

Each terminal lO has a pair of opposing beams l2 extending upwardly from the base 14.

A post or bar 116 projects above the center of the base 14 and between the beams 12 . A contact tail 18, aligned with the post or barb 16, extends downwardly from the bottom of the base 14 to provide mutual electrical connection with the circuit board to which the socket 2 is mounted.

The opposing beam l2 can be deformed (or deflected) by inserting a circuit panel 4 between them. Each beam 12 has a portion extending upwardly from one end of the base 14, and the base l4 extends between the opposing pair of beams l2.

The upwardly extending portion 12a is connected to the base l4,
and slopes inward. Inwardly inclined arm 12b
extends downwardly and inwardly from the upper end 12c of the upwardly extending portion to form an arm 12b. This arm 12b extends from the inner slope of the upward portion f2a. An inwardly extending loop portion 12d is located between the upper and lower ends of the upwardly extending portion 12a of each opposing beam 12. In the preferred embodiment of this terminal, the portion of beam 12 between base 14 and loop portion 12d is tapered. Inwardly extending loop portion 1
The height of 2d is the height of the base 14 and the arm portion 12b extending downward.
between the ends of the In fact, the inwardly extending loop 12d
is located below r-me 12b in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The loop portion 12d is approximately U-shaped, and the loop portion 12d is approximately U-shaped.
The curvature 2d is arranged along the inner edge of the opposing beam l2, with the open portion of the U-shaped loop facing outward. The two parallel sides of the U-shaped loop portion 12d are approximately parallel to the base portion 14, and the curve is approximately arc-shaped. Contact points 12e are at the innermost portions of the downwardly extending arms 12b, proximate the ends of each beam 12. In addition, the contact L2e is connected to the loop portion 12d.
Located above. As shown in Figure 2, the opposing beam 1
2 is formed such that most of the deformation or deflection is present in the loop portion 12d1, the base 14, and the terminal portion between the base and the loop. Note that relatively large deformations of contact 12e can be tolerated without unduly increasing the height of beam 12.

A barbed post 16 extends upwardly between a pair of opposing beams 12 of base 14 . In fact, the post l6 is located between the two contact points 120 of the opposing beams 12.

The height of the upper end of the post 16 is approximately the same as the height of the loop portion 12d.

The insulating housing 20 is molded from a conventional engineering plastic material suitable for electrical connectors. The housing 20 has a generally rectangular central portion and has two panel guides or panel support members 30 at both ends thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, two panel receiving slots 20 extend between the panel guides 30 and open upwardly on the top surface 20a of the insulating housing 20. Both slots 22
are parallel. A plurality of cavities 24 also open upwardly from the top surface 20a of the insulating housing 20 and communicate with corresponding panel receiving slots 22 of the dual row connector that constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each cavity 24 has a slot 22
communicates with only one of the

Each cavity 24 opens at the top and bottom of the insulating housing 20, and each cavity 24 extends on either side of a corresponding upwardly opening slot 22. As shown in FIG. This is a portion of the insulating housing 20 located below the . As shown in FIG. 5, the central protrusion 26 comprises a securing portion of the insulating housing 20 between the cavities 24. As shown in FIG. The cavities 24 are disposed across the slots 22, and a housing rib 28 extends from each cavity, overhanging a portion of the central projection 26. These housing ribs 28 extend downward from the bottom surface of the slot 22 that extends from the top surface of the central projection 26, and holes 26a are located between the housing ribs 28. Each cavity 24 has an upper surface 20a and a lower surface 2 of the insulating housing 20.
It opens on both sides of 0b. Each cavity 24 also extends below the housing rib 28 .

Panel guides (or panel support members) 30 are formed at both ends of the insulating housing 20. Each panel guide 30
protrudes upward from the upper surface 20a of the insulating housing 20,
Moreover, it has an inner surface 30a.

A panel groove 32 having an open inner end is formed inwardly and in communication with each panel receiving slot 20.

Panel groove 32 also extends upwardly from panel receiving slot 22 . A panel retainer in the form of a ridge 34 is spaced apart from the open upper end of the panel receiving slot 22 to limit the panel receiving groove 32. A recess or relief slot 36 is located on the opposite side of the groove 32 and extends through the flexible wall 3
8 and eggplant. The flexible walls 38 are connected as part of the panel support member 30 in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a central pocket 40 is disposed along the lower edge of the panel support member 30 and the relief slot 36 near the projection 34 extends upwardly from the pocket 40.

The terminal IO is inserted into the corresponding cavity 24 from the bottom surface 20b of the insulating housing 20.

The contacts 12e of opposing beams 12 are spaced apart by less than the width of the central protrusion 26 within the cavity 24.

In other words, the distance between the contacts 12e is 2 in the cavity 24.
The distance between the outer surfaces of the ribs 28 is less than the distance between the outer surfaces of the ribs 28. When the Yuichi terminal 10 is inserted into the cavity 24, the opposing beam 12
are bent or deflected outwardly by engaging the ribs 28. As the terminal 10 continues to be further inserted into the cavity 24, the arms 12b deflected inward.
returns to its initial position due to its elasticity, so that the inwardly inclined arms 12b enter the slot from both sides. In other words, the contact 12e is connected to the panel receiving slot 22.
located within. A post (or barb) 16 extending upwardly from the base l4 of the terminal 10 is also aligned with the panel receiving slot 22. The top surface of each post l6 projects above the bottom surface of the cavity 24. The post (or barb) 16 is located between two housing ribs 28;
A barb 16 secures each terminal 10 to the central projection 26 by engagement with two housing ribs 28.

When the circuit panel 4 is inserted into the panel receiving slot 22, traces or contacts (
The contact pad contactingly engages the downwardly and inwardly facing contact arms 12b of the opposing beam 12 and deflects these arms 12b downwardly and outwardly. This results in
Contact 12e makes electrical contact with trace 6 which contacts edge 4a of circuit panel 4. Edge 4a of circuit panel 4 is also parallel to post 16, and contacts 12e engage these traces 6 near edge 4a. Note that there is sufficient force between the contact and the trace pad to create a wipe action. Such contact engagement is particularly noticeable when non-standard SIMMs are used in this socket.

Panel support member 30 is also configured to support and stabilize particularly tall IMMs. Groove 3 on circuit panel 4
2 , the flexible wall 38 is deflected as the protrusions forming the restriction portion 34 engage the opposite sides of the circuit panel 4 . These protrusions 3
4 serves to align and retain the circuit panel 4 within the socket 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, a panel support guide arrangement 130 that is a variation of the embodiment of the invention described above may be used. This alternative embodiment employs a cantilevered beam 138 having a spring gripping protrusion 134 near its top end. Further, the groove 132 into which the circuit panel 4 is inserted and held is the slot 122.
A connection is formed with the FIG. 7 shows that the terminal 1O can be used with insulating housings of other constructions than the panel support guide 30. Therefore, it will be understood that the present invention does not rely solely on these embodiments and can be modified in various ways.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the terminal of the present invention, contact points are formed near the free ends of the pair of beams extending from both ends of the base, and a substantially U-shaped portion is formed in the intermediate portion, so that the terminal has extremely high elasticity. Therefore, SIMM circuit panels of different thicknesses can be easily and reliably received, and a sufficiently large wiping action can be generated to remove surface oxides or dust and make good electrical connections.

Further, according to the connector of the present invention, the terminal having the above-mentioned features is arranged along one or more slots of the insulating housing, and the insulating housing has panel support members with grooves communicating with the slots at both ends, so that It is possible to securely hold a circuit panel that is increasing in size (increasing in height) and to make good electrical connections.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the connector according to the present invention and a SIMM circuit panel used therewith. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the terminal of the present invention used in the connector of FIG. 1 and the state when a circuit panel is inserted. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 1 in a normal state. FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 when two circuit panels are mounted. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views showing details of the insulating housing of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another embodiment of the connector of the present invention. 2. ．． ．． ．． Connector 4. ．． ．． ．． 1 0
．． ．． ．． ．． Terminal 6. ．． ．． ．． 1 4. ．．
．． ．． Base 1 2. ．． ．． ．． 12d. ．． ．． ．． U-shaped part 1 2 e. ．． ．． ．． 20. ．． ．． ．． Insulating housing 22, 122. ．． ．． ．． Slot 24. ．． ．． ．． Terminal receiving opening (cavity) 3
0.1 30. ．． ．． ．． Panel support member 32, 1 3
2 ,,, Groove circuit panel trace beam contact part

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A base, and a pair of beams extending substantially perpendicularly from both ends of the base, having tips bent toward the base and inward, and further having a substantially U-shaped intermediate portion, between the pair of beams. A terminal characterized in that it makes contact with a contact pad formed on the edge of the circuit panel into which it is inserted. (2) an insulating housing having a plurality of terminal receiving openings formed along slots; a pair of panel support members formed at both ends of the insulating housing and having grooves communicating with the slots on the inside; a plurality of terminals inserted and retained within the terminal receiving opening and having a base and a pair of beams including a generally U-shaped portion and a contact portion extending generally parallel from opposite ends of the base, the terminal having a plurality of traces on the edges; A connector comprising: inserting a circuit panel into the slot of the insulating housing along the groove of the panel support member and contacting the trace with the contact of the terminal.