CA1220535A - Circuit board connector assembly having independent contact segments - Google Patents
Circuit board connector assembly having independent contact segmentsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1220535A CA1220535A CA000469825A CA469825A CA1220535A CA 1220535 A CA1220535 A CA 1220535A CA 000469825 A CA000469825 A CA 000469825A CA 469825 A CA469825 A CA 469825A CA 1220535 A CA1220535 A CA 1220535A
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- connector system
- circuit board
- contact portions
- segments
- electrical connector
- Prior art date
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Abstract
CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTACT SEGMENTS
ABSTRACT
An electrical connector system comprises a connector receptacle including a body shell member and a plurality of independent segments with each segment supporting opposing rows of contacts. The segments are supported in the body shell in an independently floating arrangement. Each segment includes a system permitting individual independent alignment of the segment to a circuit board. Preferably, the receptacle includes a low insertion force mechanism which permits a circuit board or electronic module to be inserted or retrieved with very little effort by the operator.
HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTACT SEGMENTS
ABSTRACT
An electrical connector system comprises a connector receptacle including a body shell member and a plurality of independent segments with each segment supporting opposing rows of contacts. The segments are supported in the body shell in an independently floating arrangement. Each segment includes a system permitting individual independent alignment of the segment to a circuit board. Preferably, the receptacle includes a low insertion force mechanism which permits a circuit board or electronic module to be inserted or retrieved with very little effort by the operator.
Description
CIRCUIT BOARD coNNEcrroR ASSEMBLY
HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTACT SEGMENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE [NVENTION
The invention herein relates to a circuit board connector system. It is particularly suited for use in computer systems wherein a series of daughter boards are connected to a mother board. The connector system of this invention enables the daughter boards to be inserted into the connector system readily by the com-puter user.
Reference is hereby made to my copending Canadian patent application entitled "Low Insertion Force Circuit Board Connector Assembly", Serial No. 469,824, filed December 11, 1984.
It is known to make connections between daughter and mother boards by using pin connectors which are soldered to the respective boards. Alternatively, the pins may be electrically i2Z053~
interconnected by a wrap-type connection. It i~ also known in a general sense to make high density connections between the daughter and mother boards.
There are also a number of schemes which are 5 known to provide zero or low insertion force connections. Typical low insertion force connector~
a;e illustrated in U.S. Patent Numbers 3,553,630 to Scheingold et al; 4,179,177 to Lapraik; 4,047,782 to Yeager; 3,899,234 to Yeager et al; 3,130,351 to Giel;
3,022,481 to Stepoway; and 3,683,317 to Walkup.
Similar devices are also disclosed in UR Patent Applications 2,028,015A to Oht6uki and 2,022,329A to Leather.
In the variou6 prior art patents and patent 15 applications noted above, the connector a~semblie~
include opposing rows of spring-type contacts. The low or zero insertion force mechanisms vary to some degree but generally include some mechanism for deflectinq the spring contact~ to space them apart to allow easy 20 insertion of a printed wiring board to the connector.
Thereafter, the contacts are put into engagemen'c with corresponding pads on the printed wiring board to make the de~ired electrical connections. In some c~ses, the spring contacts are normally biased towards engagement with the printed circuit board and the low in~ert~on force mechanism spreads them apart to allow entry of the printed wiring board to the connector. In other approaches, the contact members are normally spaced apart and are deflected by the low insertion force mechanism into engagement with the printed wiring board. It is also known to employ cam and follower arrangements as the low insertion force connector meckanism. The cam member i~ actuable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired.
The invention described herein provides an electrical connector system which i8 divided up into a plurality of segment~ which can be self-aligned to a circuit board. The connector system can be mounted on the circuit board and, with the ~elf-alignment of each 6egment, be less suseptible to shorting due to tolerance build up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTI~
In accordance with this invention, an electrical connector ~ystem compri~es a receptacle which includes a body shell member and a plurality of l~Z(~S~5 independent segment~ supported therein with the ~egment including a multiple of electrical contact~ arranged in opposing IOWS- The segments are ~upported in the body ~ hell in an independent floating arrangement~ The electrical contact~ in each ~egments comprise spring-type member~. First contact portions of the spring-type members at one end thereof are adapted to engage a plug member which can comprise a portion of an electronic module or circuit board. Second contact portions of the spring-type members at the opposing ends thereof are adapted to engage and electrically connect the receptacle to a circuit board such a~ a mother board. Each segment include~ an alignment means which serves to align each segment independently on the mother board so that the appropriate contacts of the connector are electrically connected to desired contacts of the mother board.
Preferably, the alignment means for each 6egment comprise~ a projection extending outwazdly from the bottom thereof which i8 adapted to be inserted in an alignment hole in the mother board. The body 6hell, preferably, al~o includes an alignment projectJon for lnsertion ~n the corresponding ~lignment hole of the mother board.
122(~5~5 The floating ~upport arrangement, preferably, compri~es at least one support project;on extending from a fir~t and an opposing ~ide of each segment in corresponding ~upport holes for receiving the support projections in a fir~t side and an opposing side of the body ~hell member. The support holes are larger in size than the respective support projections ~o that the support projections can be moved around within the support holes to provide the desired floating arrangement.
Preferably, the body shell member includes an entry slot which i~ open at one end 80 that the plug portion of the circuit board or electronic module can be inserted transversely or longitudinally of a direction defined by the electrical contacts of the receptacle. Any desired number of segments can be included within the body shell and any number of receptacle~, each including a plurality of segments, can be mounted on the mother board. Because the connector system contains n body shell with multiple segments therein, each segment can be cu~tomized ~8 to its function in the ~ystem. For example, some of the segments can be configured to carry ~ignals whlle others can be configured to be power carrying.
~2~0S35 PIRIEF l)ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN~;S
Figure 1 i~ a per~pective view of a side entry card housing employing a plurality of connector S systems in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ~traight-in or top entry card housing employing a plurality of connector 6ystemfi in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 and 3a are exploded per6pective views of a connector system in accordance with thi~
invention including a plurality of contact segmentsD
Figure 4 i8 a perspective view of a connector system in accordance with this invention mounted to a back plane or mother board with a low insertion force mechani~m in it~ open position for insertion of module board or daughter board.
Figure 5 is ~ perspective view of the connector system as in Figure 3 which ha~ been partially cut away to show the locking and alignment feature thereof with respect to a module bo~rd in~erted therein.
Figure 6 i8 an end Yiew and cro~s-section of two adiacent connector ~y6temc ln accordance wlth thl~
~2Z()S35 invention with the low in~ertion force mechani~m ln respectively opened and closeld positions.
Figure 7 i~ an exploded perspective view of a connectOr sy~tem in accordance with thi~ invention illustrating the locking and aligning mechanism.
Figure 8 iB a top view of one end of a connector system in accordance with this invention.
Figure 9 iB a ~ide view of the end of the connector ~ystem shown in Figure 8.
lo Figure 10 iB an end view of the end portion of the connector system 6hown in Figure 8.
Figure 11 i~ a front view of the locking and aligning lever arranged in the end of the connector system shown in Figure~ 8-10.
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective of the opposing end of the connector system in accordance with this invention.
Figure 13 i~ an end view of the oppo~ing end of the connector system shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 i~ a top view partially cut away to reveal the locking and align~ng lever in the opposing end of the connector syGtem of F~gure 12.
Figure 1~ i8 ~ 6ide view of the opposing end of the connector ~y~tem of Figure 12.
lZZ~Ci35 - -Figure I6 is a bottom view of the opposing end of the connector system as in Figure 12~
DETAILE~ ~Esc~L~TIoN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figures 1-4, the invention will be described in greater detail. The circuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention i~ adapted to provide a high density of individual connection~ which permits increased speed of signals in the system. User _ serviceability is a particularly important concern in the personal computer field in addition to the maintenance aspect. The circuit board connector system 10 of this invention allows the computer owner to add addit~onal features by buying additional mother or daughter boards 11 which can be readily inserted in the circuit board connector sy~tems 10 of thi6 ~nvention.
The connector system can be mounted on a mother circuit board or backplane thereby adding increased features to the computer.
The circuit board connector sy~tems 10 of thi~ invention can be arranged on the mother circuit board 12 in one plane. In~Figure 1, card housing 13 and mother circuit board 12 are arranged to receive 12Z0~35 daughter circuit board 11 by ~liding the daughter board in from the side of the moth~er board in a direction parallel to the plane of the mother board. The circuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention act6 as the bottom guide for the mother board 11. The card housing 13 also includes top U-shaped eyes or guide~ 14 which, with the circuit board connector system 10, ~erve~ to provide alignment for the daughter board 11 as it is slid from the ~ide into the card bousing 13.
It i8 a feature of the circuit board connector ~ystem 10 of this invention that the daughter board can be inserted from the ~ide as in Figure 1 or from the top a6 in Figure. 2. In the embodiment of Figure 2, a card housing lS include~ a plurality of lS circuit board connector sy~tems 10 arranged in parallel and mounted to the mother circuit board 12. The card hou~ing 15 includes U-shaped side guide~ 16 arranged in corre~pondence with the circuit board connector systems along each of the ~ides 17 and 18 of the card housing 15. In this embodiment, the daughter board 11 i8 inserted into the circuit board connector syRtem 10 by sliding it down the side guides 16 and through the top of the circuit board connector ~ystem 10.
The circuit board connector sy~tem 10 o thls ~Z20S35 invention requires no ~oldering to the mother circuit board 12. The connector system 10 includes no pins which can be easily damaged or bent in making connection~ to the mother circuit board 12.
Preferably, the connector system 10 is o the low or zero insertion force type 80 that the daughter boards 11 are ea6ily removed or inserted as desired.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention which is best illustrated by reference to lo Figure 3, the connector system 10 is comprised of a body shell 19 which is adapted to support, in a floating fashion, a plurality of contact segments 20.
Each segment 20 can be customized as to its function in the circuit board connector sy6tem 10. For instance, some of the segments 20 can be configured to carry signals, while others can be configured to be power carrying. Thu6, different 6egments 20 can serve totally different function~. Since the segments 20 are supported in a floating arrangement within the body shell 19 they can be independently ~elf-aligned relative to the mother circuit board 12. Thi6 can be achieved becau~e the various segments 20 are able to slide within the body shell 19 80 that they-can be precieely located on the contact pad~ 21 of ~he mother ~ZZOS~5 circuit board 12. This allows the circuit designer to concentrate on closer tolerances for the contact pads 21 relative to one another on the mother board 12 while allowing looser tolerances within the connector system 10 itself.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system 22 for aligning and locking the daughter board 11 within the connector system 10 iB
provided. The system is briefly illustrated by referriny to Figures 4 and 5. Aligning and locking levers 23 and 24 are pivotally 6upported in oppo~ing ends of the body shell 19. The daughter boards 11 include a corresponding pair of alignment holes 25 and 26 in Figure 4. The connector system 10 is shown in its open position adapted for receipt and insertion of the daughter board 11.
In Figure 5, the connector system 10 i~ shown with the daughter board 11 fully inserted and with the aligning and locking system 22 in its closed position.
In th~s po6ition, projections 27 of the respective locklng levers 23 and 24 are in~erted within the holes 25 and 26 to align and lock the daughter boArd 11 in a de~ired relationship relative to the plane of the mother board 12. Projection 27 on locking lever 23 ~Z2~3S
- serves to align the daughter board in a lateral sense within the connector system 10. Projection 29 on locking lever 23 abstracts one end of cord slot 40 when connector 15 is in the closed position, assuring that daughter board 11 cannot be inserted in either the horizontal or the vertical direction until the connector is opened. A notch 28 in the daughter board provides clearance for projection 29 when lever 23 ~5 in the closed position with the daughter board properly in place.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the pre6ent invention, the connector ~ystem 10 employs a zero or low insertion force system 30 having spring contact~ 31 and 32 and a cam 33 and follower 34 arrangement. The cam and follower act upon the spring contacts 31 and 32 to provide, in an open po~ition as shown in the left-hand sy6tem 10, a low or zero insertion force for the daughter board into the 6y~tem.
Conversely, when in a closed position, as ~hown in the right-hand system 10 of Figure 6, an electrically contacting engagement i6 made between the spring contacts and respective contact pads 35 on the daughter board 11.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the 12Z05;~5 present invention, the respective spring contacts are arranged in an alternating high and low fashion to allow an increased density of electrical contacts.
In accordance with yet anotber a~pect of the present invention, an actuating sy~tem 36, as best illustrated in Figures 7-16, i6 provided which is adapted to serially actuate the respective aligning and locking system 22 and low insertion force 6y~tem 30.
The actuating system 36 includes an actuating lever 37 which includes a pad 38 which is adapted to operate a8 an actuating cam. It al~o lnclude~ a follower portion 39 on each of the locking lever~ 22 and 23. Upon pivoting the actuating lever 37, the pad 38 and follower portions 39 cooperate to provide the desired serial actuation of the respective aligning and locking system 22 and low insertion force ~ystem 30.
The circuit board connector ~ystem 10, and the variou~ aspect~ of the invention embodied therein, i~ now described in greater detail to define the preferred embodiments thereof. Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 7 and 12, there is shown an electrical connector system which comprises an electrical connector receptacle for attachment to a circ-uit board ; 12 ~uch a~ a mother board or backpl~ne. The receptacle . .
~220~35 10 is adapted to receive an eLectrical plug member 11 which can comprise part of an electronic module or a circuit board such as a daughter board.
Receptacle 10 is compri~ed of a body shell 19 and contact segment6 20 as previou~ly described. The body ~hell 19 comprises an elongated ~lot 40 defined by oppo~ing ~ide walls 41 and 42 and end wall 43. Region 44 of the slot opposing the end wall 43 i~ open. The circuit board 11 can therefore be inserted into the receptacle 10 from the top or from the ~ide in the direction shown by the arrows 45 and 46.
A~ shown in Pigure 7 and 12, the segments 20 are inserted into the body shell 19 from the bottom.
The body shell 19 include~ internal dividing walls 47 lS which divide the shell into a plurality of chambers 4B.
The number of chambers 48 correspond~ to the number of Eegment~ 20 to be supported by the body shell 19~ A
series of depres~ions 49 in the ~ide wall 41 and 42 mark the respective location~ of the internal walls 47, Generally centrally of each of the ~ide walls 41 and 42 of each respective chamber 48 there iB located a rectangular hole 50. Thi6 comprises part of ~ system for supporting the segments 20 within the body-~hell 19 in an independent floating zrrangement 80 that e~ch - 6egment 20 can be independently aligned to the circuit board 12.
The other element6 of the floating ~upport ~ystem 51 are a projection 52 correspondingly centrally located on each segment 20 side wall 53 and 54. The projection~ 52 have a pyramid shape 60 that when the ~egment~ 20 are inserted into the chamber 48, the projections 52 spread apart the respective 6ide walls 41 and 42 until the projection6 52 ~nap into the hole~
lo 50. The holes 50 are larger in width and height than the corresponding width and height of the projection 52 thereby allowing the ~egment~ to have a limited degree of freedom within the chamber 48 both vertically and from ~ide to side and back to back. A step 55 in each of the side wall~ 41 and 42 provides a corresponding internal step surface 56 limiting vertical movement o~
_ the segment 20 when the receptacle 10 i~ mounted to the circuit board 12. This provides an effective means ~or clamping the segment~ down on the circuit board 12.
Each segment 20 include~ a longitudinal ledge 57 in each of the respective ~ide walls 53 and 54 which ~ adapted to engage the re~pective stop Lurfaces 56.
The body shell 19 further includes an alignment - projection 58 at one end 44 which i~ adapted to ~ate 1220~35 with a correspon~ing alignment hole in the circuit board 12. The segment6 20 include at one end an alignment projection 61 adapted to ~eat in corresponding alignment holes 62 of the circuit board 12 ~hen the segment~ 20 are inserted in the cavatie~ 48 of the shell 19. The alignment projections 58 and 61 extend in a ~paced apart arrangement acro~s the entire receptacle 10 and provide an effective means for aligning the receptacle on the circuit board 12 when the projections 6eat in the alignment holes 59 and 62.
The segment~ 20 can float particularly from ~ide to ~ide within the body ~hell 19 tola limited extent ~ince each ~egment include~ its own alignment projection Bystem 6 l .
1~ Very accurate alignment of each Begment i achieved to the circuit board 12 and there i~ no buildup of any tolerance mi~match over the length of the receptacle 10. Thi6 i8 a higly Rignificant feature ~ince lt i6 de~ired to pack a~ many contacts as possible into each segment. It i6 a unique fe~ture of the present invention that a very high density of electrlcal contacts can be employed in the receptacle while maintaining adequate alignment with the corre~ponding cont~ct pads 21 of the circult bo~rd 12.
~OS35 Each ~egment 20 is composed of a segment body 63 which i~ arranged to ~upport two opposing row~ of ~pring contact member~ 64. One end 65 of each ~pring contact member COmprieS a contact portion for engaging a corresponding contact pad 5 of a daughter board 11.
The oppo~ing end 66 of the ~pring contact member 64 comprise~ a lever-type contact portion for engaging and contacting the contact pads 21 of the mother board 12.
The use of lever-type contact 66 and contact pads 21 provides a ga~-tight, high pressure connection. The end of the contact portion 66 i~ forced into the -- contact pad 21 and, by digging into it, makes a good electrical connection because it breaks throu~h the o~ides on the ~urface of the pad. With thi~ type of contact arrangement, it i8 not nece~sary to provide gold contact pads or gold plating of the portion 66. A
tin-to-tin connection, which is much less expensive, i~
thereby possible. The contact pads 35 on the daughter . board, however, ~re normally gold plated.
The contact members 64 can be ~elected to be sign~l carrying, such a~ the narrow cont~ct members 32, or they can be power or current carrying 6uch a8 the relat~vely wider contact member 68. The segments 20 can therefore have their functlons tallored as desired 12~0~35 for handling ~ignal~ or power or any other function which might be required.
It iB a preferred feature of the present invention to provide the highefit density of contact member~ 64 in the ~egment 20. Thi~ i~ partially accompli~hed by providing alternating high 32 and low 31 contact members in each respective row of contact~.
Further, respective high contact~ 32 in one row are arranged in opposition to respective low contacts 31 in the opposing row of contact members 64.
Correspondingly, a low contact 31 in the one row of contact~ is an opposition to a high contact $n the oppo~ing row of contacts. These high and low contact6 32 and 31 are adapted to engage two staggered row~ of contact pads 35 as illustrated in ~igure 1 by ~taggering the contact pads 35 in two rows as shuwn~
It is possible to provide a higher density of contact~ with a greater tolerance concerning the alignment of the contact portion 65 of each segment with the pads 35. Thi~ minimize~ the risk of a misregi~tratlon between the contact portion 65 of the re~pective high and low cont~cts 32 and 31 of each ~eqment with the contact pad~ 35. It also en~bles a reduced chance of shorting in the event ~hat the lZZ0~35 contact portions ~5 are ~lightly bent since there iB
quite a large di6tance between high contact~ in any particular row. This is also true of the low contacts.
This ~cheme permits the size of the pads 35 to be increased and minimizes the criticality of a spacing between the pads.
A series of connector sy~tems 10 can be placed on a mother circuit board 12 with any type of conventional hold down or clamping device 70 such as 10 the one illustrated in Figure 6. The clamping members 71 or 72 are arranged to engage the step 55 in the side wall~ 41 or 42. The clamping members 71 or 72 are secured to the circuit board or mother board 12 by bolts 73 or otherwi~e fastened to the circuit board 12 15 80 as to enable the contact~ 66 of the sprinq contact members 64 to engage the pad~ 35 on the mother board 12. As previously described, the 8top 6urface 56 engages the ledge 57 of the ~egment 20 to hold the segment 20 ~o that the contacts 66 make good electrical 20 connection to the contact pads 35. The clamping member 71 i8 adapted to be employed between adjacent receptacles 10 whereas the clamping member 72 i~
adapted to clamp a free side 41 of the recept~cle 10. ~-? A gre8t deal of flexlbility in con~tructing a ~Z20~35 computer circuit board system is possible with a design of this electrical connector ~y~tem. The receptacle 10 can have any multiple of ~egments 20; for exampler 5, 7, 11, etc., a~ desired. A plurality of receptacles 10 can be a;ranged on the mother board in adjacent parallel relationship a~ shown in Figure~ 1 and 6.
If desired, the receptacle can extend beyond the mother board 12 ~o that additional connector ~egment~ 20 in the receptacle 10 can be c~nnected to other type6 of plug portion~ and circuit connectors or element~. For example, the receptacle 10 can encompa~s the mother board a~ well as accommodate other totally different type~ of connections located completely off the mother board.
Each of the segments 20 includes a low or zero insertion force mechanism for ~y~tem 30. The contact members 64 in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are bia~ed towards the contact members of the opposing row 80 that lf they were in their free state, they would take the positions shown in phantom in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6. The low in~ertion force mechanism thereby employs a cam 33 and follower 34~ ~
When the cam 33 i8 rotated to ~ po~it~on 12Z0~3~i shown in the left-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, follower 34 moves upwardly to deflect the ~pring member 64 in one row away from the ~pring members 64 in the opposing row. This allow~ the circuit board 11 to be inserted in the slot 40 with a low or zero insertion force. When the cam 33 i~ rotated to the positions ~hown in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, the follower 34 is lowered to release the contact member 64 ~o that the contact portion 65 engage the re6pective contact pads 35 of the daughter board 11. Preferably, each segment includes it6 own separate follower member 34. ~owever, the cam member 33 preferably comprise~ a unitary member or metal rod extending through all the 6egment~ 20 in the receptacle 10. The cam member 33 preferably has an oblong or oval cross-section.
The top surface 74 o$ the follower member i8 arranged to engage the spring contact 64 to deflect them to ~pace them apart or relea~e them BO that they : can engage the daughter board 11. The follower member 34 has a ~-shaped cross-section for its upper portlon.
When it i8 positioned ~8 in the left-hand receptacle 10 in Figure 6 for receipt of the circuit board 11, the bottom of the ~-shaped, 75, serves as A 8top ~urf~ce ; for align~ng the circult board 11 during insertion.
~2205,35 The lower portion of the follower member 34, cross-~ection 76, has a hook-like ~hape ~o that when the follower member i~ withdrawn a~ ln the right-hand receptacle lO in Figure 6, it i8 held down in the withdrawn po~ition by engagement between the cam 33 and the hook-portion 76.
The segment body 63 includes an outer ~egment support member 77 and an inner ~egment ~upport segment 78. The spring contacts 64 are held in place between the respective support members 77 and 78. The inner support member 78 also serves to support the cam and follower member~ 33 and 34.
Wh~le the low or zero insertion force mechanism 30 ha~ been described by reference to the embodiment particularly shown in Figure 6, ~ny desired low insertion force mechanism can be employed as illu~trated by the numerous patent~ noted in the background of thi~ application. While it iB preferred, in accordance with this invention, for the spring contact members 64 $n one row to be bia~ed tcw~rdR the spring contact member6 64 in the opposing row lf desired, a~ illustrated in the background of this invent~on, the opposite approach can be employed. In ~uch an opposite approach, the follower member ~erves ~Z20~35 to deflect the spring contact~ 64 to have the contact portion~ 65 engage the contact pads 35 or release the spring contact~ ~o that they are spaced apart in their free 6tate.
A~ illustrated in Figure 7, actuating lever 38 i~ secured to the cam 33. Thi~ enable~ the operator to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 38 between its re~pective open and closed po~ition~ illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatively, if desired, the length of the lever 38 can be made much longer 80 that an operator need only reach to the top of the circuit board area in order to turn it. Thi~ embodiment also provide~ greater leverage on the cam 33 for easier operation. Yet ano~her ~pproach adapted for remote actuation i6 to ~ubstitute a lever 79, which by the use of a suitable linkage 80 pivotally connected to the end 81 of the lever 79, can be remotely actuated. For example, the linkage 80 can be brought out through a hole, not shown, in the top of the card hous~ng 13 shown in Figure 1. By pulling up on the linknge 80, the cam 33 i8 pi~oted to open the receptacle for in~ertlon of the circuit board 11. ~y pu~hing down on the linkage 80, the reverse of the operation take~
place .
~2Z0~3~5 Referring now to Figure6 4-5 and 7-16, the aligning and locking ~y~tem 22 and the actuating sy~tem 36 will be described in greater detail. A~ previously described, the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 i8 5compri~ed of loc~ing lever~ 23 and 24. The body ~hell 19 includes a support extension 82 at its end 44. The lever 23 is pivotally supported about an extension ba~e 83 by mean~ of a ~plit cylinder pin 84 inserted through holes 85 and 86 in the respective lever 23 and base 83.
10A second extension support base 87 includes a squarish hole 88 through which the cam 33 is inserted.
Prior to insertion of the cam 33, the actuating lever 37, fork-like projection~ 89, i~ positioned with a ba~e 87 between the leg~ of the fork-like projections 89. A
5810t 90 in the fork-like projections 89 closely fit~
the cro~ ection of the cam 33. The cam 33 i8 held _within the receptacle 10 after in~ertion. Insertion through each of the respective segments 20 by means of a split pin 91 in~erted through a hole 92 in the cam 33 20within a 610t 93 i~ best illustrated in Figure 16. The pin 91 serves to lock the cam in place and the ca~, in turnr serve~ to lock the actuat~ng lever 37 in place.
Referring now more part~cularly to the actuating And locking ~ystems 22 and 36 at the end 44 .., 1220~35 of the body shell 19, reference is had to Figures 7-11.
The locking lever 23 include~ a firfit projection 27 which i~ adapted to be inserted in an alignment hole 25 on one side of the circuit board 11. It further includes a second projection 29 which is adpated to be inserted in the notch 28 on one side of the circuit board 11. The locking lever 23 also includes a follower portion 3g defined by the upper surface of one of the support legs 95. The follower portion 39 lo includes a notch 96. The actuating lever 37 includes a tab 38 which acts as a cam. The follower portion 39 al~o include~ a ~top portion 96 in operation when the lever 37 i8 in its vertical po~ition as ~hown. The cam 33 disengages the Regment follower 34 B0 that the contacts 31 and 32 close againRt the daughter boards.
In this po~ition, the tab or cam 38 has engaged the 6top portion 96 to pivot the lever 23 against the circuit board 11 ~o that the projections 27 and 29 seat in the respective hole 25 and 810t 28.
When the lever 37 i~ pivoted in the opposite direction to position as shown in Figure 4, the cam tab 38 does not pivot the lever 23 until it engages the stop portion 97 defined by the lower ~ide of the Blot 96. Therefore, a~ the lever 37 move~ from the stop ~z20~3s portion 96 to the ~top portion 97, there is no movement of the lever 23. However, the cam 33 i~ rotated from its closed actuation po~ition to it~ open actuation po~ition. The tab 38 engage~ the ~top por.tion 97 before the lever 37 i8 rotated to it~ completely open position~ After the tab 3B engages the ~top portion 97, continued pivoting in a downwardly direction of the lever 37 causes the lever 23 to pivot awa~ from the circuit board, thereby disengaging the projections 27 and 29 from the respective hole 25 and slot 28.
Therefore, when the lever 37 i5 moved from it~ closed po~ition to it~ open position, the contacts are fir~t spaced apart under the action of the cam 33 and follower 34 and then the locking lever is di6engaged in a serial fashion.
When the lever 37 is moved from its open position a~ in Figure 4 to its closed position a~ in Pigure 5, a rever6e series of operation~ occurs. When the lever 37 is in its full open po~ition, ~he tab 38, due to the pivoting action o$ the lever 23, moves into the 610t 96. Therefore~ the upper ~ide wall of t~e slot 98 i8 engaged by the tab 38 of the lever 37 as it begins i~s movement in an upwardly direction. Thi : causes the lever 23 to piyot ~bout pin 84 into lt~
~Z~ 3S
locking and aligned position against the circuit board 11 with a small rotation of the lever 37. This small rotation however is insufficient to rotate the cam 33 sufficiently against the follower 34 to close the contacts. As the lever 23 pivots under the action of the pad 38 against the stop portion 98, the tab moves out of the slot 96 just as the lever 23 fully aligns and locks against the board 11. The lever 37 is thereafter free to continue rotation to its upward position against the stop 96 and thereby release the contacts for engagement with the circuit board.
Thereforet the action of the cam 38 and follower 39 i6 ~uch that when the lever 37 is moved from its open position to the closed position, ~hown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively the circuit board is first aligned and locked in place and then the contacts are released to engage the circuit board.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the aligning and locking 6ystem 22 and actuating systems 36 include the ~econd aligning and locking lever 24 and a second actuating lever 99. The second lever 24 and the 6econd lever 99 are located at the oppo~ing end 43 of the body shell 19. By means of a Rupport extension 100, the extension 100 includes ~
~2Z0~35 support 101 about which the lever 24 i~ pivotally ~upported by a split pin 102. It extends through hole~
103 in the lever 24 and 104 in the base 101. As previou~ly described, the cam rod 33 extends through a slot 93 terminating in a squarish hole 105 in a second support base 106 in the extension 100.
The second actuating lever 99 includes a slot 90 which has a cross-section closely corresponding to the cross-~ection of the cam 3~. The lever 99 is positioned about the cam 33 between the lever 24 and the support base exten~ion 106. The lever 99 includes tab 38 corresponding the tab of the lever 37.
Similarly, the lever 24 includes a follower portion 39 corresponding to the follower portion of the lever 23.
The follower portions include a slot S including ~top portions 97 and 98. It also includes stop portion S.
: T~e operation of lever 99 i~ tled to the _ operation of lever 37 by the cam 33. The inner action of lever 99 with the lever 24 via the tab 38 and 20 follower 39 is identical to the inner action previou61y described with the respect to the levers 37 and 23 ~nd, therefore, is not described again. When the lever 37 i6 moved between its re~pective open and closed - po~itlons, the lever 99 moves between corre~ponding ~Z20~35 position~ and interacts with the lever 24 in the ~ame manner as the lever 37 interacts with the lever 23.
The projections 27 which serve to align and lock the circuit board 11 in the receptacle 10 are tapered ~o that a slight misalignment of the circuit board 11 doe~ not prevent alignment and locking of tbe board into the receptacle. The taper of the projections ~7 serve to move the board into it~
properly aligned position. It should be apparent that the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10 cannot be clo~ed unle~s the circuit board 11 i8 properly locked and aligned within the receptacle. Any mi~alignment would prevent the projections 27 and 29 from being inserted in the respective alignment holes 25 and ~lot 28.
Thi6, in turn, would prevent the pivoting of the lever6 23 and 24 into their fully and aligned position. The failure of those lever~ to pivot to their fully aligned and locked positions result~ in the tab 38 of the lever~ 37 of 99 engaging the stop portion 96 on the respective followers 39. Thi~ prevents further pivoting of the lever 37 and the cam 33, thereby preventing engagement of the contact to the circuit board 11.
Further, it i8 necesBary that the pro~ectlon~
~2;Z0535 or alignment pin~ 27 and 29 on both side6 of the receptacle 10 be seated in their re~pective holes 25 and ~lot 28 in order to completely close the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10. Thus, the receptacle lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the position ~hown in Figure 5 unless both corner~ of the circuit board 11 are fully seated in the connector housing. In the event of a misalignment, the operator cannot close the handle 37 completely and must readjust the circuit board 11 80 that the alignment can take place. When the lever 37 i~ in the position of Figure 5, the circuit board cannot be pulled out of the receptacle 10, out the side of the receptacle 10, unles~ the handle 37 is fir6t pivoted to its open po~ition as shown in Figure 4.
It should be understood that the foregoing description i~ only illu~trative of the invention.
Various alternative~ and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the pre~ent invention i~
intended to embrace all ~uch alternatives, modification~ and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
HAVING INDEPENDENT CONTACT SEGMENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE [NVENTION
The invention herein relates to a circuit board connector system. It is particularly suited for use in computer systems wherein a series of daughter boards are connected to a mother board. The connector system of this invention enables the daughter boards to be inserted into the connector system readily by the com-puter user.
Reference is hereby made to my copending Canadian patent application entitled "Low Insertion Force Circuit Board Connector Assembly", Serial No. 469,824, filed December 11, 1984.
It is known to make connections between daughter and mother boards by using pin connectors which are soldered to the respective boards. Alternatively, the pins may be electrically i2Z053~
interconnected by a wrap-type connection. It i~ also known in a general sense to make high density connections between the daughter and mother boards.
There are also a number of schemes which are 5 known to provide zero or low insertion force connections. Typical low insertion force connector~
a;e illustrated in U.S. Patent Numbers 3,553,630 to Scheingold et al; 4,179,177 to Lapraik; 4,047,782 to Yeager; 3,899,234 to Yeager et al; 3,130,351 to Giel;
3,022,481 to Stepoway; and 3,683,317 to Walkup.
Similar devices are also disclosed in UR Patent Applications 2,028,015A to Oht6uki and 2,022,329A to Leather.
In the variou6 prior art patents and patent 15 applications noted above, the connector a~semblie~
include opposing rows of spring-type contacts. The low or zero insertion force mechanisms vary to some degree but generally include some mechanism for deflectinq the spring contact~ to space them apart to allow easy 20 insertion of a printed wiring board to the connector.
Thereafter, the contacts are put into engagemen'c with corresponding pads on the printed wiring board to make the de~ired electrical connections. In some c~ses, the spring contacts are normally biased towards engagement with the printed circuit board and the low in~ert~on force mechanism spreads them apart to allow entry of the printed wiring board to the connector. In other approaches, the contact members are normally spaced apart and are deflected by the low insertion force mechanism into engagement with the printed wiring board. It is also known to employ cam and follower arrangements as the low insertion force connector meckanism. The cam member i~ actuable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired.
The invention described herein provides an electrical connector system which i8 divided up into a plurality of segment~ which can be self-aligned to a circuit board. The connector system can be mounted on the circuit board and, with the ~elf-alignment of each 6egment, be less suseptible to shorting due to tolerance build up.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTI~
In accordance with this invention, an electrical connector ~ystem compri~es a receptacle which includes a body shell member and a plurality of l~Z(~S~5 independent segment~ supported therein with the ~egment including a multiple of electrical contact~ arranged in opposing IOWS- The segments are ~upported in the body ~ hell in an independent floating arrangement~ The electrical contact~ in each ~egments comprise spring-type member~. First contact portions of the spring-type members at one end thereof are adapted to engage a plug member which can comprise a portion of an electronic module or circuit board. Second contact portions of the spring-type members at the opposing ends thereof are adapted to engage and electrically connect the receptacle to a circuit board such a~ a mother board. Each segment include~ an alignment means which serves to align each segment independently on the mother board so that the appropriate contacts of the connector are electrically connected to desired contacts of the mother board.
Preferably, the alignment means for each 6egment comprise~ a projection extending outwazdly from the bottom thereof which i8 adapted to be inserted in an alignment hole in the mother board. The body 6hell, preferably, al~o includes an alignment projectJon for lnsertion ~n the corresponding ~lignment hole of the mother board.
122(~5~5 The floating ~upport arrangement, preferably, compri~es at least one support project;on extending from a fir~t and an opposing ~ide of each segment in corresponding ~upport holes for receiving the support projections in a fir~t side and an opposing side of the body ~hell member. The support holes are larger in size than the respective support projections ~o that the support projections can be moved around within the support holes to provide the desired floating arrangement.
Preferably, the body shell member includes an entry slot which i~ open at one end 80 that the plug portion of the circuit board or electronic module can be inserted transversely or longitudinally of a direction defined by the electrical contacts of the receptacle. Any desired number of segments can be included within the body shell and any number of receptacle~, each including a plurality of segments, can be mounted on the mother board. Because the connector system contains n body shell with multiple segments therein, each segment can be cu~tomized ~8 to its function in the ~ystem. For example, some of the segments can be configured to carry ~ignals whlle others can be configured to be power carrying.
~2~0S35 PIRIEF l)ESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN~;S
Figure 1 i~ a per~pective view of a side entry card housing employing a plurality of connector S systems in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ~traight-in or top entry card housing employing a plurality of connector 6ystemfi in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 and 3a are exploded per6pective views of a connector system in accordance with thi~
invention including a plurality of contact segmentsD
Figure 4 i8 a perspective view of a connector system in accordance with this invention mounted to a back plane or mother board with a low insertion force mechani~m in it~ open position for insertion of module board or daughter board.
Figure 5 is ~ perspective view of the connector system as in Figure 3 which ha~ been partially cut away to show the locking and alignment feature thereof with respect to a module bo~rd in~erted therein.
Figure 6 i8 an end Yiew and cro~s-section of two adiacent connector ~y6temc ln accordance wlth thl~
~2Z()S35 invention with the low in~ertion force mechani~m ln respectively opened and closeld positions.
Figure 7 i~ an exploded perspective view of a connectOr sy~tem in accordance with thi~ invention illustrating the locking and aligning mechanism.
Figure 8 iB a top view of one end of a connector system in accordance with this invention.
Figure 9 iB a ~ide view of the end of the connector ~ystem shown in Figure 8.
lo Figure 10 iB an end view of the end portion of the connector system 6hown in Figure 8.
Figure 11 i~ a front view of the locking and aligning lever arranged in the end of the connector system shown in Figure~ 8-10.
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective of the opposing end of the connector system in accordance with this invention.
Figure 13 i~ an end view of the oppo~ing end of the connector system shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 i~ a top view partially cut away to reveal the locking and align~ng lever in the opposing end of the connector syGtem of F~gure 12.
Figure 1~ i8 ~ 6ide view of the opposing end of the connector ~y~tem of Figure 12.
lZZ~Ci35 - -Figure I6 is a bottom view of the opposing end of the connector system as in Figure 12~
DETAILE~ ~Esc~L~TIoN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figures 1-4, the invention will be described in greater detail. The circuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention i~ adapted to provide a high density of individual connection~ which permits increased speed of signals in the system. User _ serviceability is a particularly important concern in the personal computer field in addition to the maintenance aspect. The circuit board connector system 10 of this invention allows the computer owner to add addit~onal features by buying additional mother or daughter boards 11 which can be readily inserted in the circuit board connector sy~tems 10 of thi6 ~nvention.
The connector system can be mounted on a mother circuit board or backplane thereby adding increased features to the computer.
The circuit board connector sy~tems 10 of thi~ invention can be arranged on the mother circuit board 12 in one plane. In~Figure 1, card housing 13 and mother circuit board 12 are arranged to receive 12Z0~35 daughter circuit board 11 by ~liding the daughter board in from the side of the moth~er board in a direction parallel to the plane of the mother board. The circuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention act6 as the bottom guide for the mother board 11. The card housing 13 also includes top U-shaped eyes or guide~ 14 which, with the circuit board connector system 10, ~erve~ to provide alignment for the daughter board 11 as it is slid from the ~ide into the card bousing 13.
It i8 a feature of the circuit board connector ~ystem 10 of this invention that the daughter board can be inserted from the ~ide as in Figure 1 or from the top a6 in Figure. 2. In the embodiment of Figure 2, a card housing lS include~ a plurality of lS circuit board connector sy~tems 10 arranged in parallel and mounted to the mother circuit board 12. The card hou~ing 15 includes U-shaped side guide~ 16 arranged in corre~pondence with the circuit board connector systems along each of the ~ides 17 and 18 of the card housing 15. In this embodiment, the daughter board 11 i8 inserted into the circuit board connector syRtem 10 by sliding it down the side guides 16 and through the top of the circuit board connector ~ystem 10.
The circuit board connector sy~tem 10 o thls ~Z20S35 invention requires no ~oldering to the mother circuit board 12. The connector system 10 includes no pins which can be easily damaged or bent in making connection~ to the mother circuit board 12.
Preferably, the connector system 10 is o the low or zero insertion force type 80 that the daughter boards 11 are ea6ily removed or inserted as desired.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention which is best illustrated by reference to lo Figure 3, the connector system 10 is comprised of a body shell 19 which is adapted to support, in a floating fashion, a plurality of contact segments 20.
Each segment 20 can be customized as to its function in the circuit board connector sy6tem 10. For instance, some of the segments 20 can be configured to carry signals, while others can be configured to be power carrying. Thu6, different 6egments 20 can serve totally different function~. Since the segments 20 are supported in a floating arrangement within the body shell 19 they can be independently ~elf-aligned relative to the mother circuit board 12. Thi6 can be achieved becau~e the various segments 20 are able to slide within the body shell 19 80 that they-can be precieely located on the contact pad~ 21 of ~he mother ~ZZOS~5 circuit board 12. This allows the circuit designer to concentrate on closer tolerances for the contact pads 21 relative to one another on the mother board 12 while allowing looser tolerances within the connector system 10 itself.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system 22 for aligning and locking the daughter board 11 within the connector system 10 iB
provided. The system is briefly illustrated by referriny to Figures 4 and 5. Aligning and locking levers 23 and 24 are pivotally 6upported in oppo~ing ends of the body shell 19. The daughter boards 11 include a corresponding pair of alignment holes 25 and 26 in Figure 4. The connector system 10 is shown in its open position adapted for receipt and insertion of the daughter board 11.
In Figure 5, the connector system 10 i~ shown with the daughter board 11 fully inserted and with the aligning and locking system 22 in its closed position.
In th~s po6ition, projections 27 of the respective locklng levers 23 and 24 are in~erted within the holes 25 and 26 to align and lock the daughter boArd 11 in a de~ired relationship relative to the plane of the mother board 12. Projection 27 on locking lever 23 ~Z2~3S
- serves to align the daughter board in a lateral sense within the connector system 10. Projection 29 on locking lever 23 abstracts one end of cord slot 40 when connector 15 is in the closed position, assuring that daughter board 11 cannot be inserted in either the horizontal or the vertical direction until the connector is opened. A notch 28 in the daughter board provides clearance for projection 29 when lever 23 ~5 in the closed position with the daughter board properly in place.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the pre6ent invention, the connector ~ystem 10 employs a zero or low insertion force system 30 having spring contact~ 31 and 32 and a cam 33 and follower 34 arrangement. The cam and follower act upon the spring contacts 31 and 32 to provide, in an open po~ition as shown in the left-hand sy6tem 10, a low or zero insertion force for the daughter board into the 6y~tem.
Conversely, when in a closed position, as ~hown in the right-hand system 10 of Figure 6, an electrically contacting engagement i6 made between the spring contacts and respective contact pads 35 on the daughter board 11.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the 12Z05;~5 present invention, the respective spring contacts are arranged in an alternating high and low fashion to allow an increased density of electrical contacts.
In accordance with yet anotber a~pect of the present invention, an actuating sy~tem 36, as best illustrated in Figures 7-16, i6 provided which is adapted to serially actuate the respective aligning and locking system 22 and low insertion force 6y~tem 30.
The actuating system 36 includes an actuating lever 37 which includes a pad 38 which is adapted to operate a8 an actuating cam. It al~o lnclude~ a follower portion 39 on each of the locking lever~ 22 and 23. Upon pivoting the actuating lever 37, the pad 38 and follower portions 39 cooperate to provide the desired serial actuation of the respective aligning and locking system 22 and low insertion force ~ystem 30.
The circuit board connector ~ystem 10, and the variou~ aspect~ of the invention embodied therein, i~ now described in greater detail to define the preferred embodiments thereof. Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 7 and 12, there is shown an electrical connector system which comprises an electrical connector receptacle for attachment to a circ-uit board ; 12 ~uch a~ a mother board or backpl~ne. The receptacle . .
~220~35 10 is adapted to receive an eLectrical plug member 11 which can comprise part of an electronic module or a circuit board such as a daughter board.
Receptacle 10 is compri~ed of a body shell 19 and contact segment6 20 as previou~ly described. The body ~hell 19 comprises an elongated ~lot 40 defined by oppo~ing ~ide walls 41 and 42 and end wall 43. Region 44 of the slot opposing the end wall 43 i~ open. The circuit board 11 can therefore be inserted into the receptacle 10 from the top or from the ~ide in the direction shown by the arrows 45 and 46.
A~ shown in Pigure 7 and 12, the segments 20 are inserted into the body shell 19 from the bottom.
The body shell 19 include~ internal dividing walls 47 lS which divide the shell into a plurality of chambers 4B.
The number of chambers 48 correspond~ to the number of Eegment~ 20 to be supported by the body shell 19~ A
series of depres~ions 49 in the ~ide wall 41 and 42 mark the respective location~ of the internal walls 47, Generally centrally of each of the ~ide walls 41 and 42 of each respective chamber 48 there iB located a rectangular hole 50. Thi6 comprises part of ~ system for supporting the segments 20 within the body-~hell 19 in an independent floating zrrangement 80 that e~ch - 6egment 20 can be independently aligned to the circuit board 12.
The other element6 of the floating ~upport ~ystem 51 are a projection 52 correspondingly centrally located on each segment 20 side wall 53 and 54. The projection~ 52 have a pyramid shape 60 that when the ~egment~ 20 are inserted into the chamber 48, the projections 52 spread apart the respective 6ide walls 41 and 42 until the projection6 52 ~nap into the hole~
lo 50. The holes 50 are larger in width and height than the corresponding width and height of the projection 52 thereby allowing the ~egment~ to have a limited degree of freedom within the chamber 48 both vertically and from ~ide to side and back to back. A step 55 in each of the side wall~ 41 and 42 provides a corresponding internal step surface 56 limiting vertical movement o~
_ the segment 20 when the receptacle 10 i~ mounted to the circuit board 12. This provides an effective means ~or clamping the segment~ down on the circuit board 12.
Each segment 20 include~ a longitudinal ledge 57 in each of the respective ~ide walls 53 and 54 which ~ adapted to engage the re~pective stop Lurfaces 56.
The body shell 19 further includes an alignment - projection 58 at one end 44 which i~ adapted to ~ate 1220~35 with a correspon~ing alignment hole in the circuit board 12. The segment6 20 include at one end an alignment projection 61 adapted to ~eat in corresponding alignment holes 62 of the circuit board 12 ~hen the segment~ 20 are inserted in the cavatie~ 48 of the shell 19. The alignment projections 58 and 61 extend in a ~paced apart arrangement acro~s the entire receptacle 10 and provide an effective means for aligning the receptacle on the circuit board 12 when the projections 6eat in the alignment holes 59 and 62.
The segment~ 20 can float particularly from ~ide to ~ide within the body ~hell 19 tola limited extent ~ince each ~egment include~ its own alignment projection Bystem 6 l .
1~ Very accurate alignment of each Begment i achieved to the circuit board 12 and there i~ no buildup of any tolerance mi~match over the length of the receptacle 10. Thi6 i8 a higly Rignificant feature ~ince lt i6 de~ired to pack a~ many contacts as possible into each segment. It i6 a unique fe~ture of the present invention that a very high density of electrlcal contacts can be employed in the receptacle while maintaining adequate alignment with the corre~ponding cont~ct pads 21 of the circult bo~rd 12.
~OS35 Each ~egment 20 is composed of a segment body 63 which i~ arranged to ~upport two opposing row~ of ~pring contact member~ 64. One end 65 of each ~pring contact member COmprieS a contact portion for engaging a corresponding contact pad 5 of a daughter board 11.
The oppo~ing end 66 of the ~pring contact member 64 comprise~ a lever-type contact portion for engaging and contacting the contact pads 21 of the mother board 12.
The use of lever-type contact 66 and contact pads 21 provides a ga~-tight, high pressure connection. The end of the contact portion 66 i~ forced into the -- contact pad 21 and, by digging into it, makes a good electrical connection because it breaks throu~h the o~ides on the ~urface of the pad. With thi~ type of contact arrangement, it i8 not nece~sary to provide gold contact pads or gold plating of the portion 66. A
tin-to-tin connection, which is much less expensive, i~
thereby possible. The contact pads 35 on the daughter . board, however, ~re normally gold plated.
The contact members 64 can be ~elected to be sign~l carrying, such a~ the narrow cont~ct members 32, or they can be power or current carrying 6uch a8 the relat~vely wider contact member 68. The segments 20 can therefore have their functlons tallored as desired 12~0~35 for handling ~ignal~ or power or any other function which might be required.
It iB a preferred feature of the present invention to provide the highefit density of contact member~ 64 in the ~egment 20. Thi~ i~ partially accompli~hed by providing alternating high 32 and low 31 contact members in each respective row of contact~.
Further, respective high contact~ 32 in one row are arranged in opposition to respective low contacts 31 in the opposing row of contact members 64.
Correspondingly, a low contact 31 in the one row of contact~ is an opposition to a high contact $n the oppo~ing row of contacts. These high and low contact6 32 and 31 are adapted to engage two staggered row~ of contact pads 35 as illustrated in ~igure 1 by ~taggering the contact pads 35 in two rows as shuwn~
It is possible to provide a higher density of contact~ with a greater tolerance concerning the alignment of the contact portion 65 of each segment with the pads 35. Thi~ minimize~ the risk of a misregi~tratlon between the contact portion 65 of the re~pective high and low cont~cts 32 and 31 of each ~eqment with the contact pad~ 35. It also en~bles a reduced chance of shorting in the event ~hat the lZZ0~35 contact portions ~5 are ~lightly bent since there iB
quite a large di6tance between high contact~ in any particular row. This is also true of the low contacts.
This ~cheme permits the size of the pads 35 to be increased and minimizes the criticality of a spacing between the pads.
A series of connector sy~tems 10 can be placed on a mother circuit board 12 with any type of conventional hold down or clamping device 70 such as 10 the one illustrated in Figure 6. The clamping members 71 or 72 are arranged to engage the step 55 in the side wall~ 41 or 42. The clamping members 71 or 72 are secured to the circuit board or mother board 12 by bolts 73 or otherwi~e fastened to the circuit board 12 15 80 as to enable the contact~ 66 of the sprinq contact members 64 to engage the pad~ 35 on the mother board 12. As previously described, the 8top 6urface 56 engages the ledge 57 of the ~egment 20 to hold the segment 20 ~o that the contacts 66 make good electrical 20 connection to the contact pads 35. The clamping member 71 i8 adapted to be employed between adjacent receptacles 10 whereas the clamping member 72 i~
adapted to clamp a free side 41 of the recept~cle 10. ~-? A gre8t deal of flexlbility in con~tructing a ~Z20~35 computer circuit board system is possible with a design of this electrical connector ~y~tem. The receptacle 10 can have any multiple of ~egments 20; for exampler 5, 7, 11, etc., a~ desired. A plurality of receptacles 10 can be a;ranged on the mother board in adjacent parallel relationship a~ shown in Figure~ 1 and 6.
If desired, the receptacle can extend beyond the mother board 12 ~o that additional connector ~egment~ 20 in the receptacle 10 can be c~nnected to other type6 of plug portion~ and circuit connectors or element~. For example, the receptacle 10 can encompa~s the mother board a~ well as accommodate other totally different type~ of connections located completely off the mother board.
Each of the segments 20 includes a low or zero insertion force mechanism for ~y~tem 30. The contact members 64 in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are bia~ed towards the contact members of the opposing row 80 that lf they were in their free state, they would take the positions shown in phantom in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6. The low in~ertion force mechanism thereby employs a cam 33 and follower 34~ ~
When the cam 33 i8 rotated to ~ po~it~on 12Z0~3~i shown in the left-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, follower 34 moves upwardly to deflect the ~pring member 64 in one row away from the ~pring members 64 in the opposing row. This allow~ the circuit board 11 to be inserted in the slot 40 with a low or zero insertion force. When the cam 33 i~ rotated to the positions ~hown in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, the follower 34 is lowered to release the contact member 64 ~o that the contact portion 65 engage the re6pective contact pads 35 of the daughter board 11. Preferably, each segment includes it6 own separate follower member 34. ~owever, the cam member 33 preferably comprise~ a unitary member or metal rod extending through all the 6egment~ 20 in the receptacle 10. The cam member 33 preferably has an oblong or oval cross-section.
The top surface 74 o$ the follower member i8 arranged to engage the spring contact 64 to deflect them to ~pace them apart or relea~e them BO that they : can engage the daughter board 11. The follower member 34 has a ~-shaped cross-section for its upper portlon.
When it i8 positioned ~8 in the left-hand receptacle 10 in Figure 6 for receipt of the circuit board 11, the bottom of the ~-shaped, 75, serves as A 8top ~urf~ce ; for align~ng the circult board 11 during insertion.
~2205,35 The lower portion of the follower member 34, cross-~ection 76, has a hook-like ~hape ~o that when the follower member i~ withdrawn a~ ln the right-hand receptacle lO in Figure 6, it i8 held down in the withdrawn po~ition by engagement between the cam 33 and the hook-portion 76.
The segment body 63 includes an outer ~egment support member 77 and an inner ~egment ~upport segment 78. The spring contacts 64 are held in place between the respective support members 77 and 78. The inner support member 78 also serves to support the cam and follower member~ 33 and 34.
Wh~le the low or zero insertion force mechanism 30 ha~ been described by reference to the embodiment particularly shown in Figure 6, ~ny desired low insertion force mechanism can be employed as illu~trated by the numerous patent~ noted in the background of thi~ application. While it iB preferred, in accordance with this invention, for the spring contact members 64 $n one row to be bia~ed tcw~rdR the spring contact member6 64 in the opposing row lf desired, a~ illustrated in the background of this invent~on, the opposite approach can be employed. In ~uch an opposite approach, the follower member ~erves ~Z20~35 to deflect the spring contact~ 64 to have the contact portion~ 65 engage the contact pads 35 or release the spring contact~ ~o that they are spaced apart in their free 6tate.
A~ illustrated in Figure 7, actuating lever 38 i~ secured to the cam 33. Thi~ enable~ the operator to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 38 between its re~pective open and closed po~ition~ illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatively, if desired, the length of the lever 38 can be made much longer 80 that an operator need only reach to the top of the circuit board area in order to turn it. Thi~ embodiment also provide~ greater leverage on the cam 33 for easier operation. Yet ano~her ~pproach adapted for remote actuation i6 to ~ubstitute a lever 79, which by the use of a suitable linkage 80 pivotally connected to the end 81 of the lever 79, can be remotely actuated. For example, the linkage 80 can be brought out through a hole, not shown, in the top of the card hous~ng 13 shown in Figure 1. By pulling up on the linknge 80, the cam 33 i8 pi~oted to open the receptacle for in~ertlon of the circuit board 11. ~y pu~hing down on the linkage 80, the reverse of the operation take~
place .
~2Z0~3~5 Referring now to Figure6 4-5 and 7-16, the aligning and locking ~y~tem 22 and the actuating sy~tem 36 will be described in greater detail. A~ previously described, the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 i8 5compri~ed of loc~ing lever~ 23 and 24. The body ~hell 19 includes a support extension 82 at its end 44. The lever 23 is pivotally supported about an extension ba~e 83 by mean~ of a ~plit cylinder pin 84 inserted through holes 85 and 86 in the respective lever 23 and base 83.
10A second extension support base 87 includes a squarish hole 88 through which the cam 33 is inserted.
Prior to insertion of the cam 33, the actuating lever 37, fork-like projection~ 89, i~ positioned with a ba~e 87 between the leg~ of the fork-like projections 89. A
5810t 90 in the fork-like projections 89 closely fit~
the cro~ ection of the cam 33. The cam 33 i8 held _within the receptacle 10 after in~ertion. Insertion through each of the respective segments 20 by means of a split pin 91 in~erted through a hole 92 in the cam 33 20within a 610t 93 i~ best illustrated in Figure 16. The pin 91 serves to lock the cam in place and the ca~, in turnr serve~ to lock the actuat~ng lever 37 in place.
Referring now more part~cularly to the actuating And locking ~ystems 22 and 36 at the end 44 .., 1220~35 of the body shell 19, reference is had to Figures 7-11.
The locking lever 23 include~ a firfit projection 27 which i~ adapted to be inserted in an alignment hole 25 on one side of the circuit board 11. It further includes a second projection 29 which is adpated to be inserted in the notch 28 on one side of the circuit board 11. The locking lever 23 also includes a follower portion 3g defined by the upper surface of one of the support legs 95. The follower portion 39 lo includes a notch 96. The actuating lever 37 includes a tab 38 which acts as a cam. The follower portion 39 al~o include~ a ~top portion 96 in operation when the lever 37 i8 in its vertical po~ition as ~hown. The cam 33 disengages the Regment follower 34 B0 that the contacts 31 and 32 close againRt the daughter boards.
In this po~ition, the tab or cam 38 has engaged the 6top portion 96 to pivot the lever 23 against the circuit board 11 ~o that the projections 27 and 29 seat in the respective hole 25 and 810t 28.
When the lever 37 i~ pivoted in the opposite direction to position as shown in Figure 4, the cam tab 38 does not pivot the lever 23 until it engages the stop portion 97 defined by the lower ~ide of the Blot 96. Therefore, a~ the lever 37 move~ from the stop ~z20~3s portion 96 to the ~top portion 97, there is no movement of the lever 23. However, the cam 33 i~ rotated from its closed actuation po~ition to it~ open actuation po~ition. The tab 38 engage~ the ~top por.tion 97 before the lever 37 i8 rotated to it~ completely open position~ After the tab 3B engages the ~top portion 97, continued pivoting in a downwardly direction of the lever 37 causes the lever 23 to pivot awa~ from the circuit board, thereby disengaging the projections 27 and 29 from the respective hole 25 and slot 28.
Therefore, when the lever 37 i5 moved from it~ closed po~ition to it~ open position, the contacts are fir~t spaced apart under the action of the cam 33 and follower 34 and then the locking lever is di6engaged in a serial fashion.
When the lever 37 is moved from its open position a~ in Figure 4 to its closed position a~ in Pigure 5, a rever6e series of operation~ occurs. When the lever 37 is in its full open po~ition, ~he tab 38, due to the pivoting action o$ the lever 23, moves into the 610t 96. Therefore~ the upper ~ide wall of t~e slot 98 i8 engaged by the tab 38 of the lever 37 as it begins i~s movement in an upwardly direction. Thi : causes the lever 23 to piyot ~bout pin 84 into lt~
~Z~ 3S
locking and aligned position against the circuit board 11 with a small rotation of the lever 37. This small rotation however is insufficient to rotate the cam 33 sufficiently against the follower 34 to close the contacts. As the lever 23 pivots under the action of the pad 38 against the stop portion 98, the tab moves out of the slot 96 just as the lever 23 fully aligns and locks against the board 11. The lever 37 is thereafter free to continue rotation to its upward position against the stop 96 and thereby release the contacts for engagement with the circuit board.
Thereforet the action of the cam 38 and follower 39 i6 ~uch that when the lever 37 is moved from its open position to the closed position, ~hown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively the circuit board is first aligned and locked in place and then the contacts are released to engage the circuit board.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the aligning and locking 6ystem 22 and actuating systems 36 include the ~econd aligning and locking lever 24 and a second actuating lever 99. The second lever 24 and the 6econd lever 99 are located at the oppo~ing end 43 of the body shell 19. By means of a Rupport extension 100, the extension 100 includes ~
~2Z0~35 support 101 about which the lever 24 i~ pivotally ~upported by a split pin 102. It extends through hole~
103 in the lever 24 and 104 in the base 101. As previou~ly described, the cam rod 33 extends through a slot 93 terminating in a squarish hole 105 in a second support base 106 in the extension 100.
The second actuating lever 99 includes a slot 90 which has a cross-section closely corresponding to the cross-~ection of the cam 3~. The lever 99 is positioned about the cam 33 between the lever 24 and the support base exten~ion 106. The lever 99 includes tab 38 corresponding the tab of the lever 37.
Similarly, the lever 24 includes a follower portion 39 corresponding to the follower portion of the lever 23.
The follower portions include a slot S including ~top portions 97 and 98. It also includes stop portion S.
: T~e operation of lever 99 i~ tled to the _ operation of lever 37 by the cam 33. The inner action of lever 99 with the lever 24 via the tab 38 and 20 follower 39 is identical to the inner action previou61y described with the respect to the levers 37 and 23 ~nd, therefore, is not described again. When the lever 37 i6 moved between its re~pective open and closed - po~itlons, the lever 99 moves between corre~ponding ~Z20~35 position~ and interacts with the lever 24 in the ~ame manner as the lever 37 interacts with the lever 23.
The projections 27 which serve to align and lock the circuit board 11 in the receptacle 10 are tapered ~o that a slight misalignment of the circuit board 11 doe~ not prevent alignment and locking of tbe board into the receptacle. The taper of the projections ~7 serve to move the board into it~
properly aligned position. It should be apparent that the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10 cannot be clo~ed unle~s the circuit board 11 i8 properly locked and aligned within the receptacle. Any mi~alignment would prevent the projections 27 and 29 from being inserted in the respective alignment holes 25 and ~lot 28.
Thi6, in turn, would prevent the pivoting of the lever6 23 and 24 into their fully and aligned position. The failure of those lever~ to pivot to their fully aligned and locked positions result~ in the tab 38 of the lever~ 37 of 99 engaging the stop portion 96 on the respective followers 39. Thi~ prevents further pivoting of the lever 37 and the cam 33, thereby preventing engagement of the contact to the circuit board 11.
Further, it i8 necesBary that the pro~ectlon~
~2;Z0535 or alignment pin~ 27 and 29 on both side6 of the receptacle 10 be seated in their re~pective holes 25 and ~lot 28 in order to completely close the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10. Thus, the receptacle lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the position ~hown in Figure 5 unless both corner~ of the circuit board 11 are fully seated in the connector housing. In the event of a misalignment, the operator cannot close the handle 37 completely and must readjust the circuit board 11 80 that the alignment can take place. When the lever 37 i~ in the position of Figure 5, the circuit board cannot be pulled out of the receptacle 10, out the side of the receptacle 10, unles~ the handle 37 is fir6t pivoted to its open po~ition as shown in Figure 4.
It should be understood that the foregoing description i~ only illu~trative of the invention.
Various alternative~ and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the pre~ent invention i~
intended to embrace all ~uch alternatives, modification~ and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (14)
1. An electrical connector system comprising:
(a) an electrical connector receptacle, said receptacle including:
(b) a body shell member;
(c) a plurality of independent segments having multiple electrical contacts;
(d) means for supporting said segments in an independently floating arrangement within said body shell member; and (e) alignment means supported by each of said segments for independently align-ing said segments on a first circuit board so that a first portion of said electrical contacts engage desired contacts of said first circuit board.
(a) an electrical connector receptacle, said receptacle including:
(b) a body shell member;
(c) a plurality of independent segments having multiple electrical contacts;
(d) means for supporting said segments in an independently floating arrangement within said body shell member; and (e) alignment means supported by each of said segments for independently align-ing said segments on a first circuit board so that a first portion of said electrical contacts engage desired contacts of said first circuit board.
2. An electrical connector system as in Claim 1 wherein said alignment means comprises at least one alignment projection extending from a bottom portion of each of said segments, said projections being adapted for insertion in corresponding alignment holes in said first printed wiring board, and wherein said body shell member includes at least one alignment projection extending from a bottom portion thereof for insertion in a corresponding alignment hole in said first circuit board.
3. An electrical connector system as in Claim 2 wherein said floating support means comprises at least one support projection extending from a first side and an opposing side of each said segment and corresponding support holes for receiving said support projections in a first side and opposing side of said shell member and wherein said support holes are larger than said support projections, so that said support projections can move within said support holes to provide said floating arrangement.
4. An electrical connector system as in Claim 3 wherein said multiple electrical contacts in each of said segments are arranged in at least two opposing rows and wherein each of said electrical contacts includes a second receptacle contact portion at an end of said contact opposed to said first contact portions.
5. An electrical connector system as in Claim 4 further including a low insertion force means for selectively spacing apart the second contact portions of the electrical contacts in one row from the contact portions in an opposing row of electrical contacts to allow the insertion of an electrical plug member with a low insertion force or for providing engagement of said second contact portions in said one and opposing rows with a plug member so that the receptacle contact portions make electrical connection with desired contacts of said plug member.
6. An electrical connector system as in Claim 5 wherein said plug member comprises part of an electronic module or a second circuit board.
7. An electrical connector system as in Claim 6 wherein each of said one and opposing rows of second receptacle contact portions comprises alternating high and low contact portions.
8. An electrical connector system as in Claim 7 wherein respective high second contact portions in said one row oppose respective low second contact portions in said opposing row and wherein respective low second contact portions in said one row oppose respective high second contact portions in said opposing row.
9. An electrical connector system as in Claim 8 wherein said multiple electrical contacts comprise spring members supported in said segments and wherein said low insertion force means comprises cam means and follower means for deflecting or undeflecting said spring members to provide said spacing apart or said engagement of said second receptacle portions of said contacts.
10. An electrical connector system as in Claim 9 wherein said follower means comprises a separate follower member supported by each said segment and wherein said cam means comprises a unitary member extending through all of said segments.
11. An electrical connector system as in Claim 10 wherein said spring members are arranged in said segments to bias said second receptacle contact portions into engagement with said plug member and wherein said low insertion force means is adapted to deflect said spring members to space apart said respective rows of second receptacle contact portions.
12. An electrical connector system as in Claim 11 wherein each said segment includes a base wall limiting the depth through which said plug member can be inserted in said segment and said body shell, said base wall comprising part of said follower means.
13. An electrical connector system as in Claim 12 wherein said follower member is moved in a direction opposed to the direction in which said plug member is inserted in said connector system in order to space apart said second receptacle contact portions, and wherein said follower member is moved in the opposing direction by said cam following insertion of a plug member to allow said second receptacle contact portions to engage said contacts of said plug member whereby after said follower member is moved in said opposing direction said base wall is moved away from said plug member.
14. An electrical connector system as in Claim 13 wherein said body shell includes an elongated slot through which said plug member is inserted between the respective rows of second contact portions of said segments and wherein said slot in said body shell is opened at one end to allow said plug member to be inserted into said connector system in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonally related thereto.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469825A CA1220535A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Circuit board connector assembly having independent contact segments |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469825A CA1220535A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Circuit board connector assembly having independent contact segments |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1220535A true CA1220535A (en) | 1987-04-14 |
Family
ID=4129355
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469825A Expired CA1220535A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Circuit board connector assembly having independent contact segments |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1220535A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111326918A (en) * | 2018-12-17 | 2020-06-23 | 泰连公司 | Vertical communication system |
-
1984
- 1984-12-11 CA CA000469825A patent/CA1220535A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111326918A (en) * | 2018-12-17 | 2020-06-23 | 泰连公司 | Vertical communication system |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry | ||
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Effective date: 20041211 |