EP0717468B1

EP0717468B1 - Make-first-break-last ground connections

Info

Publication number: EP0717468B1
Application number: EP95308237A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Randoph Lee Buchter; William Edward Veith; Timothy Lee Kocher
Original assignee: Whitaker LLC
Current assignee: Whitaker LLC
Priority date: 1994-12-15
Filing date: 1995-11-17
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-17
Also published as: JPH08255658A; DE69525138D1; DE69525138T2; KR960027070A; KR100406182B1; JP3647951B2; EP0717468A2; EP0717468A3

Description

This invention relates generally to make-first-break-last ground connections and relates in particular to a pair of mating ground contacts for this purpose, an electrical connector assembly and an electrical blade contact. The invention is further directed to contacts having features for securely positioning the contacts within a housing passageway and to contacts that are self-polarizing.
In an electrical connector assembly comprising mating electrical connectors and having a power or signal circuit and a ground circuit, it is desirable that the ground circuit should be made before the power or signal circuit when the connectors are mated and that when the connectors are unmated the power or signal circuit should be broken before the ground circuit.
U.S. Patent No. 5,116,230 teaches that a make-first-break-last facility may be provided by making ground pins of a pin header longer than signal pins of the header so that the ground pins engage ground contacts of a mating connector, before the signal pins engage signal contacts thereof. French Patent No. 1,374,648 discloses a receptacle contact for receiving a contact blade. The receptacle contact comprises a rearward base from which extend forwardly, first and second contact springs having bowed the contact surfaces for engaging opposite faces of the blade. The first contact spring is in the form of a cantilever arm, the second contact spring comprising a pair of spring arms extending from the base, one on either side of the first contact spring. The spring arms of the second contact spring are connected at their ends by a strap. The contact surfaces of the second contact spring are formed on the spring arms thereof and so are divided by a slot defined by the spring arms of the second contact spring. The slot is substantially narrower than the contact blade throughout its length.
Right angle electrical connectors are often used in the electronic industry to connect daughter cards to mother boards or the like. In some applications the daughter card connectors are mounted along the edge of a board such that the mating portion of the connector housing extends outwardly from and also partially below the board. This arrangement is often used when components are to be added to both sides of the daughter card. Some of the electrical connectors or modules used in such interconnections may carry power and/or signal circuits and a ground circuit. Power and ground circuits in particular may be carried by flat blade like contacts, which are stamped from strips of metal.
To facilitate manufacturing and assembly of the connectors, it is generally desirable that the power as well as signal contacts used in the connectors be ones that can be press-fit into through-holes of a board thereby avoiding the extra steps needed for soldering the connections.
Furthermore for assuring reliability, it is desirable that the power contact connector or module be one that provides a plurality of current paths to the mating interface as well as to the traces on the circuit board.
When mounting electrical connectors to circuit boards it is desirable that the connector and board include polarization features to assure that the connector is properly positioned to the board before mounting it thereto. Polarization features can include for example, molding asymmetrical posts on the bottom of a connector housing, inserting one or more specialized contacts at selected locations in a connector housing or using a separate metal or plastic member disposed in the housing.
An object of the invention is to provide improved economy in the manufacture of electrical ground contacts for a make-first-break-last grounding connection in an electrical connector assembly having ground and power or signal contacts.
To this end, the invention consists in a pair of electrical ground contacts comprising a blade contact having a rearward blade support for retention in a first insulating housing, and a contact blade of a first width projecting forwardly from the blade support; and a receptacle contact having a rearward base for retention in a second insulating housing, and first and second contact springs projecting forwardly from said base, the first contact spring having a first transverse contact surface and the second contact spring having a second transverse contact surface of a width which is greater than the width of said first transverse contact surface characterized in that:
said blade contact has a tab of a second width which is less than said first width, projecting forwardly from a forward edge of the contact blade;
the second contact spring of said receptacle contact defines a rearward opening for receiving the tab; and
said first and second contact surfaces of said receptacle contact cooperate to apply contact forces initially to the tab, and then to the contact blade as the contacts are mated.
With the invention, the rearward opening of the second contact spring receives the tab in order to allow full mating of the contact blade with the receptacle contact.
By virtue of this structure, the contact blade of the ground contact, need not, where the ground contacts are used in a make-first-break-last connector assembly, be any longer than, and is preferably of the same length as, power or signal contact blades of the assembly. Since the tab is substantially narrower than the contact blade of the ground blade contact, there is afforded economy of metal in the manufacture of the ground blade contact. At the same time, where the contact blades of the power or signal blade contacts, are of the same effective length as the ground contact blade of the ground blade contact, all of the contact blades can engage their receptacles substantially simultaneously in order to handle the full current load.
Where the contact surface of the first contact spring of the receptacle contact is substantially narrower than the contact surface of the second contact spring, the first contact spring can, in manufacture, be economically struck out from the stock which is used to form the second contact spring, at the same time leaving the second contact spring with a wide and continuous contact surface supported from the base of the receptacle contact by a pair of spring arms one on each side of the first contact spring and providing said rearward opening for receiving the tab. In the interest of manufacturing, and inventory keeping convenience, all the contacts of the connector assembly can conveniently be identical excepting that the contact blade of the ground blade contact is provided with the tab, whereas the remaining contact blades are not. Alternatively, one of the other contact blades also may be provided with a tab that is shorter in length than the tab on the ground blade contact, thereby establishing a make-first, make-second, and a make-last arrangement.
The invention also consists in an electrical connector assembly comprising mating electrical connectors having a ground blade contact for mating with a ground receptacle contact and current transmitting blade contacts for mating with respective current transmitting receptacle contacts, the ground blade contact having a contact blade, each current transmitting blade contact having a contact blade for engaging with the respective current transmitting receptacle contacts as the contact blade of the ground blade contact engages with the ground receptacle contact, characterized in that:
said ground blade contact has a projecting tab which is narrower than the contact blade, for engaging with the ground receptacle contact before the contact blade engages with the ground receptacle contact; and
said ground receptacle contact has a rearward opening for receiving the tab as the contact blades mate with the receptacle contacts.
In order to improve the normal contact force applied to the contact blades by the contact springs of the receptacle contacts, each contact blade may be formed with elongate, parallel raised areas extending towards the forward edge of the contact blade and terminating back therefrom. The raised areas project in opposite directions from the plane of the contact blade for engaging opposed contact surfaces of the mating receptacle contact as the contact blade is inserted therebetween.
These features ensure that the thickness of the metal stock from which the blade contact is made need not be determined by the extent of the minimum gap between the contact surfaces of the receptacle contact, which is dictated in practice by forming and plating requirements. Also, the elongate raised areas serve to wipe any fouling, or metal oxide which may be present on the contact surfaces.
An advantage of the present invention is that it facilitates manufacturing and assembly of the connectors by providing a power or ground contact that can be press-fit into through-holes of a board thereby avoiding the need to solder the terminal leads.
Furthermore the power contact is cost effective to manufacture since it is stamped from flat material. The contacts and connector of the present invention also provide a plurality of contact paths to the mating interface and to the circuit board traces.
The connector assembly of the present invention in addition allows the mating blade to overhang the circuit board while securely positioning the contact in the housing.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-
FIGURE 1 is an exploded elevational view of an electrical connector assembly in the form of an electrical power module comprising a blade connector and a receptacle connector, the blade connector being shown partly diagrammatically with part omitted in order to reveal contact blades thereof, and the receptacle connector being shown in section;
FIGURES 2 to 4 are views similar to that of Figure 1 but showing respective stages in the mating of the blade and receptacle connectors, the blade connector being shown in fragmentary form;
FIGURE 5 is an exploded isometric view of mating ground contacts of the connectors;
FIGURE 6 is an exploded isometric view of mating power contacts of the connectors;
FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the power module as shown in Figure 1, taken at right angles thereto;
FIGURE 8 is a similar view to that of Figure 7 showing the connectors in mated relationship and being drawn to a larger scale than Figure 7;
FIGURES 9 to 11 are elevational views of the mating ground contacts illustrating an alternative embodiment and showing respective stages in the mating of the ground contacts; and
FIGURES 12 to 14 are end views of the contacts shown in Figures 9 to 11, respectively.
FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement of power modules made in accordance with the invention and signal modules mounted on a mother board and a corresponding complementary arrangement of power and signal modules on a daughter board.
FIGURE 16 is a cross-sectional view of the connector having an electrical contact made in accordance with the invention disposed within a contact-receiving passageway of the housing.
FIGURE 17 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of Figure 16 illustrating part of the retention features.
FIGURE 18 is a view similar to that of Figure 16 with the contact exploded from the housing.
FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of the contact of Figure 16.
FIGURE 20 is a flat plan view of the assembly face of the connector of Figure 16.
FIGURE 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 16.
FIGURE 22 is an exploded view of Figure 21.
FIGURE 23 is a sectional view of a mated connector assembly having the connector of the present invention mated to a complementary connector.
FIGURE 24 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the contact made in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 25 is a perspective view of an electrical contact made in accordance with the invention and exploded from a circuit board.
FIGURE 26 is a cross-sectional view of a connector assembly having a contact of Figure 25 disposed therein and mounted to a circuit board in one of its possible orientations.
FIGURE 27 is a view similar to Figure 26 showing the electrical contact in its second polarized orientation.
FIGURE 28 is a perspective view of a receptacle connector having a plurality of contacts of Figure 25 exploded from a circuit board.
FIGURE 29 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a receptacle connector having a single contact of Figure 25 and a plurality of other contacts.
FIGURE 30 is an alternative embodiment of an electrical contact made in accordance with the invention.
Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 8. An electrical connector assembly in the form of an electrical power module 2 comprises a blade connector 4 and a receptacle connector 6. The blade connector 4 comprises an insulating housing 8 having a body 10 and a shroud 12 projecting forwardly from a mating face 14 of the body 10. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the body 10 defines a central, contact receiving cavity 16. The body 10 has two outer, contact receiving cavities 17, which are indicated in broken lines in Figure 1, one cavity 17 being disposed on each side of the cavity 16. Since the cavities 16 and 17 are identical, only the cavity 16 will be described here. The cavity 16 has a rearward, contact receiving, open side 18 and a laterally open side 20 adjacent thereto. The body 10 has an end wall 22 opposite to the open side 20 and opposite side walls 24 adjacent to the side 20. The cavity 16 has opposite side walls 25, only one of which is shown (Figures 7 and 8). There projects rearwardly, from a forward rudimentary wall 27 of the body 10, rearwardly into the cavity 16, a contact retention rib 26. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the shroud 12 projects rightwardly (as seen in Figures 7 and 8), beyond the open side 20 of the cavity 16 to define, in cooperation with the body 10, a recess 29. Each cavity 16 and 17 opens forwardly into an internal cavity 28 of the shroud 12. The shroud 12 has opposite side walls 30 and opposite side walls 32, having respective guide chamfers 34 and 36 at their forward ends.
A substantially uniplanar ground blade contact 38, which is best seen in Figure 5, is secured in the central cavity 16. The blade contact 38 best seen in Figure 5, comprises a rearward blade support plate 40 and a forwardly projecting contact blade 42 connected to the blade 40 by a transition neck 44. The plate 40 has a rectilinear rear edge 46, from which extends at right angles thereto, a lateral edge 48. There extend normally, from a lateral edge 50 of the plate 40, opposite to the edge 48, compliant contact tails 52. The plate 40 has a latching tongue 54 proximate to the edge 48 and the transition neck 44 has a retention boss 56 projecting in the same direction as the tongue 54. There projects forwardly from a forward edge 60 of the plate 40, a retention lug 58 having a retention barb 62 facing the transition neck 44. The contact blade 42 has a tab 64 projecting forwardly from the forward edge 66 of the blade 42. The width of the tab 64 is approximately one third of the overall width of the blade 42. As will be apparent from Figures 7 and 8, the ground blade contact 38 was inserted through the open side 18 of the cavity 16 with the tab 64 leading, so that the boss 56 pressed against the proximate side wall 25, the latching tongue 54 engaging a shoulder (not shown) of the side wall 25 and the barb 62 biting into the retention rib 26, the blade contact 38 being thereby secured in the cavity 16 with the contact tails 52 projecting from the open side 20 of the cavity 16 into the recess 29 and the contact blade 42 projecting forwardly into a cavity 28 of the shroud 12. The connector 4 further comprises a pair of power blade contacts 68, one of which is shown in Figure 6. Those parts of the contact 68 which are identical with corresponding parts of the contact 38 bear the same reference numerals as in the contact 38. Each contact 68 differs from the contact 38 in that the contact blade 70 of the contact 68 is devoid of the tab 64, having a rectilinear forward edge 71. Each power blade contact 68 is retained in a respective one of the cavities 17 in the same manner and in the same orientation as the ground blade contact 38 is retained and oriented in its cavity 16. Thus, the contact blades 70 project forwardly into the cavity 28 of the shroud 12 and the contact tails 52 of each contact 68 project from the housing body 10 in parallel relationship with the contact tails of the ground contact 38.
With the contacts 38 and 68 disposed in the housing 8 as described above, the connector 4 is mounted to the edge of a first circuit board CB1 such that board CB 1 is positioned in the recess 29 with the contact tails 52 of the ground contact 38 extending through plated holes in the board CB1 and electrically connected to a ground conductor or ground conductors (not shown) thereon by means of a compliant portion, solder or other means as known in the art. The contact tails 52 of the power contacts 68 extending through further plated through holes in the board CB1 and electrically connected to power conductors thereon.
The receptacle connector 6 comprises an insulating housing 72 for mating reception to the shroud 12 of the connector 4. The housing 72 has a mating face 74, a contact receiving face 76 opposite thereto, opposite side walls 78 and opposite end walls 80. The housing 72 defines a central contact receiving cavity 82 and a lateral contact receiving cavity 84 on each side thereof. Each cavity 82 and 84 opens at its forward end into a contact blade guide slot 86 in the mating face 74, and opens at its rear end into the contact receiving face 76. The central cavity 82 is separated from cavities 84 by partitions 88. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, each end wall 80 has a vertical slot 98 extending between the faces 74 and 76 and a chamfered outer edge 100 proximate to the face 76.
In each of the cavities 82 and 84 is an identical receptacle contact 96 which is best shown in Figures 5 and 6. Each contact 96 comprises a rearward elongate base 102 having at each end thereof a retention boss 104. There depend from the rear edge of the base 102 compliant contact tails 106 identical with the contact tails 52 of the contacts 38 and 68. There upstands from the forward edge of the base 102, a contact spring 108 having an inwardly bowed, smoothly arcuate, transverse contact surface 110 surmounting a forwardly extending spring arm 112. The contact surface 110 is of substantially the same width as the tab 64. A further contact spring 114 comprises a pair of spring arms 116 each extending from the forward edge of the base 102, on opposite sides of the contact spring 108 and being joined at their forward ends by a strap 118 having an inwardly bowed, smoothly arcuate, transverse contact surface 120, spaced slightly forwardly of the contact surface 110. The contact surface 120 is of substantially the same width as the contact blade 42. Each spring arm 116 has a bent portion 122 proximate to the base 102 laterally offsetting the arm 116 from the contact spring 108, whereby an opening 124 is provided near the base 102, between the contact springs 108 and 114. Contact springs 108 and 114 converge slightly in the forward direction. Each contact 96 is inserted into its cavity in the housing 72 by way of the contact receiving face 76, with the end portions of the base 102 received in the rear end portions of the slots 98, and the bosses 104 engaged against the slot walls. The contact 96 is thereby temporarily retained in position in their cavities while the contact tails 106 are inserted through plated through holes in a second circuit board CB2 and are electrically connected to respective conductors (not shown) thereon. The contact tails of the receptacle contact in the cavity 82 are electrically connected to a ground conductor or ground conductors on the board CB2, while the contact tails of the contacts 92 in the cavities 84 are electrically connected to respective power conductors in the board CB2.
The mating of the connectors 4 and 6 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 1 to 4 and Figures 7 and 8. In the position of the connectors 4 and 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 7, each blade 42 and 70 is aligned with contact surfaces 110 and 120 of a respective receptacle contact 96. When the connector 4 is advanced to the position of Figure 2, the forward edge 71 of each blade 70 then enters the guide slot 86 of a respective cavity 84 and the forward edge 66 of the blade 42 enters the guide slot 86 of the cavity 82. The tab 64, however, which projects forwardly from the edge 66 of the blade 62 engages between both of the contact surfaces 110 and 120 of the ground receptacle contact 96 in the central cavity 82 of the housing 72. The ground circuit of the power module 2 is therefore made before the power circuit thereof, since the blades 70 are, at this time, spaced from the power contacts 96. When the connector 4 is advanced to the position of Figure 3, each of the blades 42 and 70 passes between the contact surfaces 110 and 120 of a respective contact 96, whereby the power circuit of the module 2 is also made. The tab 64 then lies between spring arms 112 and 116 of the ground contact 96 in the cavity 82. When the connector 4 has been advanced to its fully mated position with the connector 6, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, with the mating face 14 of the connector 4 engaging the mating face 74 of the housing 72, the forward edges 66 and 71 of the blades 42 and 70 lie proximate to the bent portions 122 of the contacts 96, the housing 72 of the connectors 6 being then fully received in the cavity 28 of the shroud 12. As the connector 4 is advanced from the position of Figure 3 to that of Figure 4, the tab 64 passes through the opening 124 between the contact springs 108 and 114 of the contact 96 in the cavity 82, so as to lie beside the base 102 of the contact 96. As the connectors 4 and 6 are unmated, the connector 4 is retracted between the positions of Figures 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively. In the position of Figure 2 the blade 42, by way of its tab 64, enters between the contact surfaces 110 and 120 of the contact 96 in the cavity 82 after the blades 70 have been retracted from the contacts 96 in the cavities 84. Thus, the ground circuit of the module 2 remains made, until after the power circuit of the module has been broken. As the contact blades disengage from their receptacle contacts substantially simultaneously the power module no longer has its full current load.
When the blades are inserted between the contact surfaces 110 and 120, the spring arms 112 and 116 of the contacts 96 are cammed resiliently apart as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The blade insertion forces are, however, reduced because the contact surfaces 110 and 120 are offset from each other in the mating direction. Since the blades 70 have no tabs projecting therefrom, the contacts in the cavities 84 need not be identical with the contact 96 in the cavity 82, but may be conventional contacts of the tulip type, for example. In the interest of manufacturing, inventory keeping, and convenience, however, all of the receptacle contacts are preferably identical.
The connectors 4 and 6 may have a greater number of power and ground contacts and in other arrangements than those described above, and furthermore may be used other than as a power module, the current transmitting contacts being signal contacts instead of power contacts, for example.
The contacts 38, 68 and 96 are stamped from sheet metal stock by means of progressive die stamping and forming operations and at least their contact surfaces will usually be plated, for example, with gold or tin, in accordance with the field of use of the contacts. In the case of the receptacle contacts 96, the contact springs 108 and 114 must be spaced by a certain minimum gap in the interest of forming and plating requirements. Thus, if there is to be a sufficient normally acting force between a blade and a receptacle contact, the blade must be of a maximum thickness which is compatible with said gap. Nevertheless, in the interest of economy of metal, the thickness of the metal stock from which the blade contacts are stamped, is preferably less than said maximum thickness.
Another embodiment of the blade contact 38, which enables such economy to be achieved, will now be described with reference to Figures 9 to 14, in which those parts which are identical with corresponding parts of the contact 38 described above, bear the same reference numerals as said corresponding parts. A blade contact 38' shown in Figures 9 to 14, differs from the blade contact 38, described above, in that the part of the blade 42' which passes between the contact surfaces 110 and 120 of the receptacle contact 96 is formed with elongate, laterally aligned raised areas 140, 142 and 144 which extend longitudinally of the blade 42' all to the same extent, and which are evenly spaced laterally of the blade 42'. Each raised area terminates back from the forward edge 66 of the contact blade 42'. The raised areas 140 and 144 project from the plane of the blade 42' in the opposite sense to the raised area 142 which is located between the areas 140 and 144. Figures 9 and 12 show the receptacle contact 96 before the tab 64 is inserted between the contact springs 108 and 114, with the contact surfaces 110 and 120 thereof defining said minimum gap. Figures 10 and 13 show the tab 64 inserted between the contact surfaces 110 and 120, the contact springs 108 and 114 being thereby resiliently deflected to produce a moderate normal contact force between the tab 64 and the contact surfaces 110 and 120. When, as shown in Figures 11 and 14, the blade 42' is inserted into the receptacle 96, the raised areas 140, 142 and 144 engage the contact surfaces 110 and 120 to produce a greater resilient deflection of the contact springs 108 and 114 thereby providing a substantially higher normal contact force between the tab 64' and the contact surfaces 110 and 120. During the insertion of the blade 38' the raised areas 140 and 144 wipe the contact surface 120 near the ends of the strap, in line with spring beams 114. and the raised area 142 wipes the contact surface 110. The raised areas 140, 142 and 144 are sufficiently elongate in the mating direction to provide effective wiping of the contact surfaces 110 and 120 to remove any fouling or metal oxide, as the case may be, from the contact surfaces. Similar raised areas are preferably also provided on the contact blades 70 of the blade contacts 68. The blade contact 38' also differs from the blade contact 38 in that its support plate 40 is formed with a retention rib 146 instead of with the latching tongue 54.
Figure 15 illustrates an arrangement of blade connectors 4 and signal receptacles 5 mounted to daughter board CB3 and a complementary arrangement of receptacle connectors 6 and headers 7 mounted to mother board CB4. The arrangements also show guide modules 90,92, which aid in aligning the modules as the respective connectors 4,5 on daughter board CB3 are mated with the complementary connectors 6,7 on mother board CB4. Figure 15 also illustrates that housing 8 of blade connector 4 extends beyond the housing 9 of receptacles 5 and that the housing 72 of connector 6 is shorter that housing 73 of header 7. The leading edge of housing 8 is beveled at 34 to minimize stubbing of housing 8 with the corner 75 of housing 73 as the respective connectors are mated.
The embodiments described above could be modified in various ways, for example each connector could be provided with both blade contacts and receptacle contacts.
The details of the features that stabilize contacts 38 within respective channels 16 of housing 8 of blade connector 4 are discussed with reference to Figures 16 through 23. The housing 8 has a mating face 14 adapted to mate with a complementary electrical connector such as connector 6 shown in Figure 23, an assembly face 15 adapted to receive at least one electrical contact 38 therein and a third face 23 adapted for establishing electrical connection with a complementary electrical article such as circuit board 90 shown in Figure 23. The assembly face 15 is opposed from the mating face 14 and the third face 23 is at right angles to the mating face 14. Housing 8 includes at least one contact-receiving passageway 16 extending from the assembly face 15 to the mating face 14. The passageway 16 further has a contact-receiving slot 20 open to the third face 23 and to the assembly face 15 as best seen in Figure 20.
Electrical contact 38, as best seen in Figures 16, 18 and 19, includes a first connecting portion 42 exposed at the mating face 14 for an electrical engagement with complementary connector, a second connecting portion 52 being at right angles to the first connecting portion 42 and adapted for electrical connection to an electrical article and an intermediate body portion 35. In the preferred embodiment first connecting portion 42 is a blade and the second connecting portion 52 is a plurality of compliant tails, which can be press fit into respective through-holes of a circuit board. The compliant section of the contact tails may be of the ACTION PIN design available from AMP Incorporated, which can be press fit into position. It is to be understood that other press-fit or compliant tail designs may also be used as well as solder tails, if so desired.
In the preferred embodiment, intermediate body portion 35 includes an embossment 56 which is used to position contact 38 against sidewall 37 within contact-receiving passageway 16 proximate the mating face end of the passageway 16. By holding the contact 38 securely against the sidewall 37 of the contact-receiving passageway 16, alignment of the first connecting portion 42 of the contact 38 at the mating face 14 is assured. Furthermore, the use of an embossment 56 on the body portion 35 allows the width of the passageway 16 to be greater than the thickness of the contact 38 thereby permitting the first connecting portion 42 to move freely through the passageway 16 during connector assembly, thus avoiding damage to any plating thereon.
Connector 38 further includes a retention section or arm 53 remote from and opposite the second connecting portion 52 and associated with a cooperable housing portion 33 when the contact 38 is assembled into passageway 16 via the assembly face 15. Cooperable housing portion 33 is opposite from the third face 23 and includes a respective contact-retention channel 16a in communication with a corresponding one of the contact-receiving passageways 16. The contact retention channels 16a extend forwardly into housing 8 from the assembly face 15 toward the mating face 14 and ending rearwardly thereof. Each retention channel 16a has a width corresponding generally to the thickness of the contact 38 so that channel 16a is adapted to receive a retention section 53 of contact 38. As can be seen in Figure 18, the retention channel 16a of the housing further includes a shorter contact positioning channel 21 at the rearward end 40 thereof extending from the assembly face 15 toward the mating face 14 and into an adjacent sidewall 37 of contact-receiving passageway 16. Channel 21 is adapted to receive a cooperable portion of contact 38 as more fully explained below.
The contact retention section 53 of contact 38 has a barb 62 at the leading end 58 thereof which is receivable in the forward end 16b of the housing channel 16a, the barb 62 being dimensioned to create an interference fit with the forward channel end 16b when the contact 38 is assembled into the housing 8. The barb 62 causes the contact 38 to resist rearward movement after full assembly of the contact 38 into the contact-receiving passageway 16. As can be seen in Figures 16 and 18, upon inserting the contact 38 into contact-receiving passageway 16 from assembly face 15, the first connecting portion, shown here as a blade 42, which is wider that the rearward portion of the housing 8, is received into and passes through slot 20 and enters the forward housing portion or shroud 12. The second connecting portion 52, shown in this example as four compliant contact sections or tails, is received in the respective slot 20 as the contact is moved forward into the housing. The retention section 53 enters the channel 16a until the contact stop surface 60 engages housing stop surface 31 within the housing 8. When fully inserted, the leading end 58 of retention section 53 is disposed in forward channel section 16b and embossment 56 holds the contact body 35 against sidewall 37. As seen in Figures 16 and 17 the retention barb 62 engages the interior portion of slot portion 16b to secure the contact 38 in the contact-receiving 16 and resist rearward movement of the contact 38 from the housing 8.
In the preferred embodiment retention section 53 of the contact 38 further includes an outwardly directed lance 54, which extends outwardly in the same direction as embossment 56 and is received in contact-positioning channel portion 21. The contact-positioning channel 21 is adapted to receive the outwardly extending lance 54 of the contact 38 and as shown in Figures 20, 21 and 22. The lance 21 and embossment 56 assure that the planar surface of contact 38 is held securely against inner wall 37 of passageway 16 thereby securely positioning contact 38 within passageway 16 and preventing contact 38 from moving sideways in passageway 16, thus keeping the first connecting portion 42 in alignment for mating with complementary contacts 96 in complementary connector 6, as seen in Figure 23. As shown in Figure 20 contact 38 is retained and positioned within the respective contact-receiving passageway 16 and is substantially "hung" or suspended from contact-retention channel 16a by the retention portion 53 with the second connecting portion 52, with the plurality of contact tails extending outwardly of the housing 8 through the slot 20.
Figure 20 shows the assembly face of a connector adapted to receive three contacts of the type 38, one of contact-receiving passageways 16 having a contact 38 disposed therein. Figures 21 and 22 are sectional views illustrating channel 16a, and contact-positioning channel 21 and the positions of the contact-retention section 58 in channel 16a and lance 54 in contact-positioning channel 21. These figures further show one contact 38 forced against the sidewall 37 of contact-receiving passageway 16 to stabilize the position of the contact 38 within the housing 8.
Figure 23 is a sectional view of connector 4 and one contact 38 secured in housing 8 with the four contact tails of second connecting portion 52 engaged in and respective through holes 92 of circuit board 90. As can be seen from Figure 23 the forward portion of housing 8 defines a shroud 12 for receiving the mating connector 6, a portion of the shroud 12 extending beyond and below the circuit board 90. Mating connector 6 is mounted to circuit board 250 via a plurality of contact tails.
Figure 24 is an alternative embodiment 438 of the contact made in accordance with the invention in which the second connecting portion 452 is a tabular like member which is received into contact-receiving slot 20 upon assembly to the housing 8. Contact 438 includes an embossment 56 on the contact body 35, and a barb 462 and an outwardly directed embossment 454 on the retention section, which are received in the housing passageway 16 and channel 16a in the same manner as embossment 56 and barb 62 and lance 54 respectively, and help to stabilize first connecting portion 442 of the contact 438 in the same manner as previously described.
The present invention will be illustrated with reference to a receptacle contact 96 of the type suitable for use when conducting power, ground or signals. It is to be understood that the self-polarizing feature may be used with contacts of other configurations. The electrical contact 96 of Figures 5, 6 and 25 includes a body portion 102 having first and second connecting sections 106, 115 at opposite ends thereof. The body portion 102 has opposed first and second major surfaces 101, 103 and edges 105a, 105b, 105c and 105d. The first connecting section 106 includes a plurality of contact legs 132, 134, 136 and 138 extending from edge 105a of the body portion 102. The first leg 132 of this array of contact legs is spaced from a second leg 134 at a first selected distance d₁. The second leg 134 is spaced from the third leg 136 by a selected second distance d₂ and the third and fourth legs 136, 138 are respectively separated by a distance d₃. In accordance with the invention, the first distance d₁ is different from the second distance d₂. In the embodiment shown the distance d₂ is identical to d₃ although it need not be as long as the contact legs are not all equally spaced apart but are asymmetrical with respect to an axis parallel to the contact legs. The first, second, third and fourth legs 132, 134, 136 and 138 are adapted to be received in corresponding first, second third and fourth through- holes 152, 154, 156 and 158 respectively on a circuit board 150. For purposes of illustrating the invention the second connecting section is shown as an arrangement of spring arms 116 and 112 adapted to receive a blade contact, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. It is to be understood that the second connecting section is not to be limited by this configuration.
The contact of the present invention is preferably stamped and formed from a flat strip of metal such as phosphor bronze or other suitable materials having the desired spring characteristics. The contact 96 being a substantially flat member is readily reversed in a housing arrangement to provide a different polarization arrangement for a different pattern on the circuit board.
Figures 26 and 27 show a representative electrical connector 6 including a housing 72 having a mating face 74, a mounting face 76 and a contact receiving cavity 83 configured to receive electrical contact 96. These figures show a connector assembly 6 mounted to respective circuit boards 150, 250 with the contact 96 in its two polarized orientations. Figure 26 shows electrical contact 96 in a first orientation with the assembly mounted to board 150 with the first terminal leg 132 disposed in through-hole 152 and the second, third and fourth contact legs 134, 136 and 138 disposed in through- holes 154, 156 and 158, respectively. In Figure 27 the contact terminal 96 is shown oriented to circuit board 250 with the first terminal leg 132 disposed in through-hole 252 and the second, third and fourth terminal legs 134, 136, and 138 disposed in through- holes 254, 256 and 258 respectively.
Figure 28 illustrates a power receptacle connector 6 exploded from a circuit board 150. Connector 6 has two contacts 96 disposed in respective cavities 83 and one contact 96 exploded from housing 72 and in alignment with respective through-holes in circuit board 150. As can be seen from this figure, the three contacts 96 and specifically the first leg 132 of each of the three identical contacts orient the connector 6 in a specific way to assure proper positioning of the connector on the circuit board.
Figure 29 shows an alternative embodiment 6' of a connector assembly having one contact 96 and a plurality of signal contacts 370. The receptacle connector 6' includes a housing 172 having a mating face 274, a mounting face 276, a cavity 283 configured to receive terminal 96, and a plurality of cavities 383 configured to receive respective contacts 370. Circuit board 350 includes a column of through- holes 352, 354, 356 and 358 for receiving respective contact legs 132, 134, 136, 138 of contact 96 in a polarized orientation and an array of signal through-holes 372 for receiving the array of pin terminals 370.
Figure 30 shows an alternative embodiment 296 of a contact made in accordance with the invention. This contact includes a body 202 having first and second connecting portions 206, 215 and three legs 232, 234 and 236 extending from a common edge 205a of body 202. First leg 232 is spaced a distance d₁' from second leg 234, which in turn is spaced a distance d₂' from third leg 236.
As can be seen from the foregoing discussion the contact terminals of the present invention are self polarizing, cost effective to manufacture and eliminate the need for additional polarization features for mounting a connector to a circuit board.

Claims

A pair of mating electrical contacts (38,96), comprising a blade contact (38) having a rearward blade support (40) for retention in a first insulating housing (8) and a contact blade (42) of a first width projecting forwardly from the blade support (40); and a receptacle contact (96) having a rearward base (102) for retention in a second insulating housing (72) and first and second contact springs (108,114) projecting forwardly from said base (102), the first contact spring (108) having a first transverse contact surface (110) and the second contact spring (114) having a second transverse contact surface (120) of a width which is greater than the width of said first transverse contact surface, characterized in that:

said blade contact (38) has a tab (64) of a second width which is less than said first width, projecting forwardly from a forward edge (66) of the contact blade (42);

the second contact spring (114) of said receptacle contact (96) defines a rearward opening (124) for receiving the tab (64); and

said first and second contact surfaces (110,120) of said receptacle contact (96) cooperate to apply contact forces initially to the tab (64), and then to the contact blade (42) as the contacts (38,96) are mated.
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the contact surface (110) of the first contact spring (108) is substantially equal to the width of the tab (64) and the width of the contact surface (120) of the second contact spring (114) is substantially equal to the width of the contact blade (42).
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tab (64) projects centrally from the forward edge (66) of the contact blade (42).
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the second contact spring (114) comprises a pair of spring arms (116) connected to said base (102) on opposite sides of the first contact spring (108), and a strap (118) connecting the spring arms (116), the strap (118) being bowed towards the first contact spring (108) to define the second contact surface (120).
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blade support (40) of the blade contact (38) is a plate which is coplanar with the contact blade (42) and the tab (64), the support (40) having compliant contact tails (52) projecting from an edge (50) of the plate transversely of the contact blade (42).
A pair of contacts (38',96) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the contact blade (42') is formed with raised areas (140,142,144) extending longitudinally of the contact blade (42') and projecting on opposite sides of the plane of the contact blade (42') for engaging the contact surfaces (110,120) of the contact springs (108,114) of the receptacle contact (96).
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base (102) of the second contact spring (96) has first and second connecting sections (106,115) at opposite ends thereof; and at least three legs (132,134,136) extending from a common end of said base (102) altogether comprising one (106) of the first and second connecting sections (106,115) of said contact receptacle (96); a first (132) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) being spaced from a second (134) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) a selected first distance (d₁) and said second leg (134) is spaced from a third (136) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) a selected second distance (d₂), said first distance (d₁) being different from said second distance (d₂) whereby said at least three legs (132,134,136) are adapted to be received in respective through-holes (152,154,156) of a circuit board (150) in a polarized arrangement.
A pair of contacts (38,96) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first distance (d₁) is greater than said second distance (d₂).
An electrical connector assembly (2) comprising mating electrical connectors (4,6) having a ground blade contact (38) for mating with a ground receptacle contact (96) and current transmitting blade contacts (68) for mating with respective current transmitting receptacle contacts (96), the ground blade contact (38) having a contact blade (42), each current transmitting blade contact (68) having a contact blade (70) for engaging with the respective current transmitting receptacle contacts (96) as the contact blade (42) of the ground blade contact (38) engages with the ground receptacle contact (96), characterized in that:

said ground blade contact (38) has a projecting tab (64), which is narrower than the contact blade (42), for engaging with the ground receptacle contact (96) before the contact blade (42) engages with the ground receptacle contact (96); and

said ground receptacle contact (96) has a rearward opening for receiving the tab (64) as the contact blades (42,70) mate with the receptacle contacts (96).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the ground receptacle contact (96) has a first and a second contact spring (108,114) upstanding from a base (102), the first contact spring (108) having a contact surface (110) of substantially the same width, transversely of said contact spring (108), as the tab (64), and the second contact spring (114) having a contact surface (120) of substantially the same width, transversely of that contact spring (114), as the contact blade (42) of the ground blade contact (38).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein each blade contact (38,68) is substantially coplanar, and has a contact blade support plate (40,40) retained in a cavity (16) in an insulating housing (8) of the respective connector (4), at least one contact tail (52) projecting from a lateral edge (50) of the support plate and being electrically connected to a conductor on a circuit board (CB1).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the mating connectors (4) comprises a right angle electrical connector including a housing (8) having a mating face (14), an assembly face (15) opposite said mating face (14) receiving said blade contacts (38,68) therein, and a third face (23) at right angles to said mating face (14) for establishing electrical connection with a complementary electrical article (90), each cavity (16) extending from said assembly face (15) to said mating face (14), said cavity (16) including a contact-receiving slot (20) open to said third face (23) and to said assembly face (15), and said blade contacts (38,68) disposed in respective cavities (16), each said blade contact (38,68) having the contact blade (42) exposed at said mating face (14) and the contact tail (52) at right angles said contact blade (42) extending from said third face (23) and outwardly from said housing (8) for electrical connection to said electrical article (90), each said blade contact (38,68) including a retention section (53) remote from and opposite said contact tail portion (52) and associated with a cooperable housing portion (33) thereat, said cooperable housing portion (33) being opposite from said third face (23) and defining a channel (16a) extending forwardly from said assembly face (15) toward said mating face (14), said channel (16a) being adapted to receive said retention section (53) thereinto upon receiving said blade contact (38,68) from said assembly face (15) of said housing (8), and said contact retention section (53) having a barb (62) at a leading end thereof receivable in a forward end (16b) of said channel (16a) with said barb (62) dimensioned to create an interference fit to resist rearward movement of said blade contact (38,68) after full assembly of said blade contact (38,68) into said housing (8).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 12, wherein said blade contact (38,68) has a thickness and said cavity (16) has a width greater than the thickness of said blade contact, said blade contact (38,68) including an intermediate body portion having an outwardly directed protrusion (56) which is received in a forward end of said cavity (16) in an interference fit to hold said first contact blade (42,70) in alignment at said mating face (14).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said contact retention section (53) of said blade contact (38,68) includes a lance (54) directed outwardly from a surface thereof, said lance (54) being received in a contact-positioning channel of said housing (8).
An assembly (2) as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said contact retention section (53) of said blade contact (38,68) includes an embossment (146) directed outwardly from a surface thereof, said embossment (146) being received in a contact-positioning channel of said housing.
An assembly (6,61) as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the base (102) of each said receptacle contact (96) has first and second connecting sections (106,115) at opposite ends thereof, and at least three legs (132,134,136) extending from a common end of said body portion (102) altogether comprising one of said first and second connecting sections (106,115) of said receptacle contact (96), a first (132) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) being spaced from a second (134) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) a selected first distance (d₁) and said second leg (134) is spaced from a third (136) of said at least three legs (132,134,136) a selected second distance (d₂), said first distance (d₁) being different from said second distance (d₂); whereby said connector assembly thus defined need have no other polarizing feature.