DE19608032A1 - Electrical contacts to be attached to the surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A surface mounted contact for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board includes a base which has a generally flat surface suitable for contact with an attachment to a conductive surface of the printed circuit board. An electrical contact, which may be in the form of a pin, post, IDC, test point, receptacle, or jumper has at least one portion projecting from the base in a direction normal to the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact to the base. The contact, base and the bent intermediate connecting portions are all formed from a generally flat sheet of conductive material. A blank for the surface mounted connector, as well as a rolled strip of connectors is disclosed.

Description

Background of the Invention

The invention is generally concerned with electrical contacts and more precisely with on the surface fixing electrical contacts on the Surfaces of printed circuit boards are attached can by an automatically working facility for Attaching components that are capable of electrical Make contacts one by one and get them from one Pick-up station to a mounting station for accurate Attachment to a printed circuit board too transport.

There are many designs for electrical contacts Proposed on printed circuit boards been. Many of these are pins or tabs that produced by punching flat material. In in many cases the pins or protrusions are initially connected to each other by a carrier strip to the automated mounting on a printed circuit board to enable. The above pins or tabs have different shapes, including relatively flat ones Shapes as shown in U.S. Patent 5,073,132. Thin flat protrusions are described in U.S. Patent 3,864,014 shown. Box-like male connectors are in the U.S. Patent 3,375,486. Pins with relatively large Cross-sections are also disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,017,142 and 3,428,934.

U.S. Patents 4,395,087 and 3,663,931 disclose the electrical contacts essentially square, solid Pins used. In the '087 patent, the pins are in one  Carrier strips attached while in the '981 patent single pin is shown that is integral with one Contact socket is made, probably from stamped Material. U.S. Patent 4,369,572 discloses an im shown essentially solid rectangular pin that with the Carrier strip is welded. However, none of the well-known designs pin connectors that are made of flat material are manufactured and are suitable or adapted for Attachment to the surface of a printed Circuit board.

It is also known to provide individual pinterminals to be loosely attached to the surface, each packed in individual plastic bags P, carried by a plastic bag carrier or tape T, as shown in FIG. 18. However, the above approach has a number of problems and has not been widely accepted in the industry. First, the additional plastic bags or sleeves P have increased the unit cost of the components to be attached to the surface.

In addition, the components because of the surface Pins to be fastened in a normally too large one Bag or envelope are included, at least something Freedom of movement in it and this has it difficult and made the components at the receiving station impractical the automatic pick-up and placement device with the vacuum nozzles used precisely for this purpose align, despite the base or recesses H, which the Align pins accurately. Such a facility requires very precise alignment of the parts during the Recording, and only small deviations can the parts and / or damage the nozzles themselves.

Taking these statements into account, such Facilities, although major improvements in design and the use of receiving and placing devices have been used primarily to Pick up and place components that one have a sufficiently large surface to have a suction surface for to provide the nozzles. As such, they became Facilities mainly used to transistors,  IC’s, capacitors and a variety of other electrical Pick up and place components that the Provide the required surface. However it was not always possible to attach electrical Projections, test sites, IDC’s and other electrical Recordings using technology to Automate attachment to the surface as this Components do not always have the required geometry for reception and placement facilities. Up to now, therefore, there were to be attached to the surface Tabs with the head standing out packed under Use a plastic body to make a series of Components to hold and were through on the board placed a robot for pickup and placement. If Test sites, tabs, IDC’s or another type of one Simple terminals were required, the board had to and the manufacturing process is a combination of Technology of surface mounting and assembly through a recess, as these terminals are only for the Mounting technology available through a recess were.

With electrical stacks, must be relatively common Cross the conductor tracks on the printed circuit board. This can be easily with a double-sided circuit board achieve by making a breakthrough in the circuit board of one side to the other for connecting conductor tracks different sides of the circuit board is used. Using this method, the requirement of Crossing conductor tracks on the top of the board eliminated by creating a trace by means of two openings is moved to the other side of the board. This However, proceeding is not possible with the steady popular boards made of aluminum or others only single sided circuit boards. In these cases it is industrial practice, to be attached to the surface Resistors with a resistance of 0 ohms or jumpers too use. These components must be glued or wrapped to be using in an automated system  a vacuum system can be used for placement can.

The sticking or wrapping, in the following with the English term "Tapen" is one widespread industrial practice. The components are placed in small bags or molds that are part of a continuous plastic tape, and are then in place and sealed with a cover over it. The continuous tape is wound on a roll. The Roll is placed on a feeder for the tape, with multiple feeders on one system Use a vacuum system for placement are. The feeders become the strips unwind, grasp the cover tape and remove from it Strip to hold the component for the vacuum nozzle to make accessible, which in turn the component from the Bag in the tape and removes them in the right place the circuit board. The aforementioned tape process is very expensive and often devours more costs than the component even.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention electrical connectors to be attached to the surface provide that is not inherent in at the Connectors to be attached according to the state of the art Technology present disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention electrical connectors to be attached to the surface to provide the simple in construction and cheap are in the making.

It is still another object of the present Invention to be attached to the surface electrical connector that works well with a automated recording and placement device for Attach to the surface can be used.

It is still another object of the present Invention, electrical to be attached to the surface  To provide connectors that are printed efficiently Printed circuit boards can be attached while in essentially all board due to damage such connector is eliminated.

It is another object of the present invention electrical connector of the surface to be fastened in to provide the type mentioned above, which in the form of protrusions for attachment, Test sites, IDC’s, female recordings, and tabs (Contacts with quick disconnection).

It is still another object of the present Invention, electrical to be attached to the surface To provide connectors of the above type which can be manufactured cheaply using a Technology for continuous punching and without that Requires individual packaging or tapes in order to Transport connector.

The present invention introduces a new family of surface to be attached to the surface simple and efficient with the associated Feeders for use with pickup and Placement machines can be used to make that Requirement of combining the technologies of assembly through recesses and mounting on the surface eliminate.

In accordance with the present invention a contact to be attached to the surface Attachment to an essentially flat, conductive Surface of a printed circuit board a base that one level defined and one essentially flat Has surface, suitable for contact with and the Attachment to an associated flat conductive Surface of the printed circuit board. The contact points at least a section from that base in a direction perpendicular to this from the base defined level. At least a curved one intermediate connecting section connects this at least a portion integral with this base, wherein this section, this base and the at least one  curved intermediate connecting section all are made from a substantially flat piece of conductive material. This at least one section of the contact can be in the form of an electrical pin, a test site, an electrical female recording, an electrical IDC or a conductive connection or Be jumpers.

Under a flat surface is within the meaning of the invention to understand a surface that is good for the Suction / suction through a vacuum nozzle is suitable.

To make a positive contact between a vacuum nozzle Machine for fastening to the surface and the Contact to be fastened on the printed surface Printed circuit board (also as circuit board or PCB, printed circuit Board, designated) to be placed, the contact to be attached to the surface comprises one first conductive region, which is arranged in a plane and is dimensioned to be on a senior position or to be positioned on a conductive "pad" on which the Contact should be attached. Integral with this first conductive section is a second conductive section trained and extends to one side of the plane, wherein at least one of these sections is provided with an essentially flat surface for recording, from the vacuum nozzle of the placement device the surface can be gripped for a positive Contact with the vacuum nozzle. Typically is one Connection device provided to this at the Contacts to be attached in a continuous surface Strip A of series connected, on the surface summarize contacts A to be fastened. The Connection device can be cut to the optionally removing one on the surface fastening contact from this continuous strip through the surface placement system too allow for placing on the surface on the conductive "pads" through the contact of these Pick-up surface through the vacuum nozzle. Such Cloning contacts are in the form of on the surface too  attaching jumpers or others to the surface fastening connectors manufactured.

When used together with automated recording and Placement machines becomes a strip of series interconnected, to be attached to the surface Contacts provided with each other with a sensitive connection device between two neighboring contacts are connected. That way a strip of contacts are moved forward an automated application station, and a contact at the downstream end of the strip may be from the Strips by cutting these delicate Connection device between this contact downstream located end and an immediately following, adjacent contact in the strip from the strip be separated. The series are preferred interconnected, to be attached to the surface Contacts spiral on a spool or reel wound up so that the strip unwound and after led to an automatic fastening station at the front can be.

The present invention is also concerned with Blanks for making one on the surface too attaching contact and to make a variety connected to each other in series, on the surface fastening contacts in accordance with the Invention, and also with the molding process such contacts.

This invention consists of a specially designed Jumpers to meet the requirement of taping the jumpers eliminate. The jumpers are in the form of a continuous Punched strip. There's a little tie bar that connects the individual jumpers to one another to form continuous stripes. This link bar is an integral part of the jumper. There will be others Contacts disclosed, which are also used for flat surfaces Holder for a positive contact with a vacuum nozzle ready for recording and the one from a continuous Strip of conductive tape material made and on  a roll can be wound up for automated Use with pick and place machines.

The continuous strip is wound on a roll. The roll is on a special feeding system attached that a single jumper or other contact shears off the continuous strip and the Vacuum nozzle for picking up in the right place and for offers the right time. This particular system is described in detail in US patent applications 08 / 196,864 and 08 / 395,822 on the same applicant go back.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other objects and features of the invention will be from the following description together with the preferred ones Embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings clearly. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a test site connector or male contact pin to be surface fastened in accordance with the present invention, shown in its individual form after being separated from a strip of such connectors and ready for surface mounting printed circuit board;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank for a plurality of series-connected surface-mounted connectors of the type shown in FIG. 1, the one in solid lines and the upstream and downstream connectors in broken lines;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a surface mount connector in accordance with the present invention, also in the form of a contact pin, and schematically shows a vacuum nozzle for receiving, placed over the connector at the downstream end of the strip Receiving the connector after it is separated from the strip;

Fig. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the connector shown in Fig. 3, showing the details of the construction of the base and also the manner in which the connectors are interconnected by means of connecting rods or carrier strips;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing yet another embodiment of a surface mount connector in accordance with the present invention in which adjacent connectors in the strip are interconnected at a portion of the contact pins rather than at the Base;

FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of a are connected at the surface to be attached connector in accordance with the present invention, in which adjacent connectors with each other by a double set of carrier strips and the figure further showing a construction for stabilizing the contact pin;

Fig. 7: a view similar to Figures 3 and 5, but showing a connector to be attached to the surface in the form of an IDC's;

To the passage of a vacuum nozzle to allow a view similar to Figure 7, but showing a configuration of an IDC, and a supporting base through an opening in the IDC connector to positively a flat surface adapted to receive on to:. 7A. Contact surface to be fastened base;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but showing a female receptacle for surface mounting in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the connectors shown in Figure 8 to show the details of the base and the manner in which adjacent connectors are connected together;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a variant of the connector which includes a downwardly extending projection;

. FIG. 11 is a perspective bottom view of the connector shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a surface mount connector of the type shown in Figures 10 and 11 immediately prior to mounting on a printed circuit board which includes a recess for the connector protrusion;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a rolled-up strip of connectors of the type shown in Fig. 1, showing the orientation of the connectors spirally wound on a roll and an intermediate or spacing element to separate adjacent layers of the spiral winding;

Figure 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the spacer element used in the wound strip of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a front view of another embodiment of a surface mount connector in accordance with the present invention in the manner of a fuse holder;

Fig. 15A is a top view of a pair of fuse holders of the type shown in Fig. 15, showing how the connectors are interconnected in a strip and shows recesses formed in the bases of the connectors for capillary action during soldering increase on a printed circuit board;

Fig. 15B is a perspective view of the fuse holder shown in Fig. 15, showing the manner in which a vacuum nozzle can pass between matingly spaced clips for holding the fuse to positively a flat surface for receiving on the surface-mount base to contact;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a continuous strip of series of interconnected jumpers in accordance with the invention, wound on a dispensing roller;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one of the jumpers, after it has been separated from the strip shown in Fig. 16, positively gripped by a vacuum nozzle just before it is placed on a PCB; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of which is spirally wound on a roll on the surface to be mounted pins in accordance with the prior art, in which the individual pins are received in pockets behind the other mounted on a strip.

Description of the preferred embodiments

With reference to the figures, in which identical or identical components are provided with the same reference symbols, and first with reference to FIG. 1, an electrical connector or contact suitable for fastening to the surface of a printed circuit board becomes generally with the reference symbol 10 Mistake.

Connector 10 includes a base 12 that defines a plane and has a substantially flat surface suitable for contacting and mounting on a flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, often referred to as a "land" or "pad". An electrical contact pin 14 has at least one portion that protrudes from the base 12 in a direction perpendicular to the plane defined by the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact 14 to the base 12 . In the construction shown in FIG. 1, two bent intermediate connecting sections 16 a and 16 b connect the first contact section 14 a to the first base section 12 a and the second contact section 14 b to the second base section 12 b.

The uppermost ends of the first and second contact portions 14 a, 14 b, which are opposite each other as shown, are connected to each other by an integral or integral bent bridging portion 14 c. The opposite position of the contact sections 14 a, 14 b as shown creates a narrow space or gap 14 d, which enables the pin to be attached to the surface to benefit from the capillary action during the backflow of the solder. At least one of the two thin strips 14 a, 14 b is coated, and when the base 12 of the pinterminals is exposed to molten solder, the capillary action leads to an increase in the liquid solder inside the space 14 d around the two halves 14 a, 14 b solder together, forming a solid pin that can be used either from a contact pin or as a test point. The designs of the other surface mount connectors in accordance with the invention that promote capillary action and their advantages are discussed below.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the electrical contact, such as. B. the contact pin 14 in Fig. 1, comprising the base 12 and the intermediate connection areas 16 a, 16 b, is made of a substantially flat, conductive material, as will now be discussed in connection with Fig. 2. Such a construction allows the electrical connectors to be surface-mounted to be inexpensively manufactured and, equally important, allows the connectors to be manufactured in elongated strips, as discussed below, which allows the electrical connectors to be accurately positioned in a receptacle and Placement device facilitates and makes these connectors operational and practical to use with such a device.

Referring to FIG. 2, a blank 19 is shown from which the connector 10 of FIG. 1 is made. The blank 19 is preferably suitable for a plurality of series-connected surface-mounted connectors, as shown, and is formed as a stamped part from an elongated strip of flat, electrically conductive material that sequentially or identically sections of blanks as shown contains stamped from the strip. Only the central blank 19 a is shown in solid lines, an immediately adjacent downstream or upstream blank 19 b, 19 c is shown in dashed lines. All of the blanks are similarly constructed and interconnected by a sensitive strip of connecting rod or support 18 which connects adjacent blanks together. Each blank generally includes a base suitable for attachment to an associated surface of a printed circuit board, a contact and at least one intermediate connecting portion that integrally connects the contact to the base, as mentioned above in connection with FIG. 1. In connection with the specific blank shown in FIG. 2, used to produce the contact pin 14 according to FIG. 1, the first section 12 a of the base is shown as comprising an essentially U-shaped component that has two parallel segments 12 c opposite side of the contact portion 14 a, each of which has inwardly projecting projections 12 d as shown. The two parallel segments 12 c run in a transverse segment 12 e, which is also, in the middle, connected to the contact section 14 a through the intermediate connecting area 16 a. The bridging section 14 c is shown tapered or constricted between the first and second contact sections 14 a, 14 b. At the upper free end of the contact areas, as shown in FIG. 2, the second base section 12 b is provided from a section projecting outwards, provided with mutually opposite or lateral indentations 12 f. As is clear from Fig. 1, the dimensions of the second base portion 12 b are chosen so that it can be taken up by and fills the area between the segments 12 c when the base portions 12 a, 12 b all in a common plane of Base 12 to be moved.

Once the blank has been formed as shown in Fig. 2, is the formed on the surface to be attached to connector 10 by the blank is deformed to a bend of about 90 ° to the first intermediate connecting portion 16a to apply, whereby the first Base section 12 a is moved in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first contact section 14 a. The second contact section 14 b is then bent 180 ° with respect to the first contact section 14 a around the bridging section 14 c in order to bring the contact sections 14 a, 14 b into opposite or overlapping positions, as shown in FIG. 1. Finally, the second base section 12 b is moved into the plane of the first base section 12 a by applying a bend of 90 ° to the second intermediate connecting section 16 b and by arranging the projections 12 d in the indentations 12 f as shown in FIG. 1 . Other surface mount connectors may be formed by the steps of forming a blank as described or by slightly modified steps, as will become apparent from the following description to those skilled in the art that apply the present invention to a variety of other surface designs can be used to attach contacts. It is estimated that the combination of the projections 12 d and the indentations 12 f provide a locking mechanism that prevents the first and second base sections 12 a, 12 b and the first and second contact sections 14 a, 14 b from separating, in particular before assembly or mounting on a PCB. The design maintains the integrity of the contact pin or test site in its desired configuration during processing in the pick and place device, including detaching a connector from the strip, gripping the connector at the pick up location, and placing the connector on a " land "on the PCB with which it is to be soldered. Therefore, the connector has the advantages of a solid connector, even if it is stamped from a flexible strip material that has a provision or some kind of memory effect. Of course, the contact portions 14 a, in fact, 14 b a solid pin once the connector has been soldered to a PCB 10, due to the capillary action of the solder which flows into the clearance or the gap 14 and fills.

The flat base 12 of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 is preferably square to correspond to "lands" or "pads" on a PCB, which are often also square. However, this is not a critical or essential feature of the present invention, and it should be understood that the area defined by the flat base 12 can be any desired or selected area by selecting the appropriate dimensions for the different base sections that have been described. Further, it will be appreciated that with the configuration of the base shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flat base 12 provides a substantially solid surface for providing substantial contact and adhesion to a "land" or "pad" on the PCB . However, at least some open areas S are provided in the middle of the base. As suggested above, the capillary action will cause the solder to rise into the open areas S and rise into the pin 14 and therefore also provide adhesion to the PCB in this central area. Preferably, the bases of the connectors in all designs using the present invention have a substantially solid metallic surface which is provided with openings or recesses S which are relatively small in order to take full advantage of the capillary action so that the connectors are closed the PCB and be attached to it when the solder flows back into the empty spaces S. This generally occurs with minimal float or minimal lateral displacement since the rise of the refluxing solder pulls the base to the surface of the PCB, with an effect not unlike that of a suction cup. This is essential because the pick and place device exhibits the greatest precision in the method of surface mounting and the undesirable displacement of components during the backflow of the solder can cause a component to be out of alignment after it has been accurately placed by the machine . The flow of solder into the voids S of the bases or into the space or gap 14 d of the contact pin 14 ( FIG. 1), which effectively absorbs excess solder to pull the bases to the surface of the PCB, has the additional advantage of that the tolerances of the base and the "land" or "pad" on the PCB become less critical.

The empty spaces S (or spaces 14 d) should have dimensions which, as mentioned above, provide for capillary action. Such dimensions are based on various factors, including the type of solder, the cleanliness and size of the board and / or the contact surface, the flatness of the board, etc. A variety of technical papers have been written on the properties of solder that differ deal with the related areas of surface tension, capillary action and wetting. See, for example. B. University Physics, Sears and Zemansky, 2nd Edition, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. 1957, pages 231-235; "Testing SMDs for Solderability", BM Allen, "Surface Mount Technology", October 1988, pps 17-18; "The Assessment of the Solderability of Surface Mounted Devices Using the Wetting Balance," Yoshida et al., International Tin Resaerch Institute Report. The person skilled in the art can determine, with knowledge of all relevant factors, how these dimensions should be. The number of empty spaces S, their dimensions and / or their arrangement are not critical as long as the desired capillary effect is achieved. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the present invention in the form of contact pins 20 is shown. The contact pin 20 comprises an upper contact element 20 a, which is advantageously provided with a chamfered upper or free end 20 b in order to facilitate insertion into a female contact. The base 22 is, as in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, substantially U-shaped and comprises parallel, spaced apart sections 22 a, 22 b, a transverse section 22 c and a space S for receiving solder as shown. The upper contact element 20 a widens in the region of the base 22 as shown in its width and defines a plurality of dependent sections which are essentially coplanar with the central contact element 20 a. In Fig. 3 and 4, the enlarged shoulder 20 comprises first and second lateral c-dependent portions 20 d, 20 f e and a central depending portion 20. A separate bent intermediate connection section connects each of the dependent areas to an associated base section. Thus, the first lateral dependent section 20 d is connected to the base section 22 a by the connecting section 24 a, which includes first and second curved sections 24 c, 24 d. Similarly, the connecting portion 24 b connects the side dependent portion 20 e to the base portion 22 b. In order to maximize the area or contact surface of the base with the PCB and to provide a solder-receiving space S, the central base portion 22 is d, which is an extension of the center dependent portion 20 f is connected to the bent portion 24 e. The bent portions 24 c and 24 e are bent by 90 °, while the bent portions 24 d are bent by 180 °, as shown. As with contact pin 14 , the bases are interconnected by connector or support tabs 18 , which are selectively severed if the connector is to be received at the downstream end of the strip by the fastener, as suggested by vacuum nozzle N for inclusion in FIG. 3 .

In Fig. 5, a pin is shown which is substantially similar to that shown in Fig. 3 and 4, except that only two base portions are provided. Therefore, the enlarged shoulder portion 20 c is configured as shown to provide a first dependent portion 20 g and a second dependent portion 20 h. While the connecting sections 24 a are arranged on the same side of the contact pin 20 in FIG. 3, the connecting sections 24 a are arranged on opposite sides of the contact pin 20 a in FIG. 5. Thus, only two base sections 22 e and 22 f are provided, each connected to one of the dependent sections and connected thereto by a bent section 24 d and 24 e, which are each bent 180 ° and 90 °, as in the connecting sections in FIG . 3.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the total width of the two depending portions 20 g and 20 h a low c than the width of the enlarged shoulder portion 20 to lateral connecting rod or carrier strip 18 provide ', so that adjacent connectors are separated by a separation on the Shoulder sections instead of at the bases, as is the case with the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-4. It should be understood, therefore, that the exact location of the connector bars or carrier strips is not critical for the purposes of the present invention, and the exact location of the connector rods or carrier strips will be at least in part a function of the pick and place device, and particularly a function of the design of the Feeder used to feed the connectors to the pick and place device. In Fig. 6, another design will be shown of a contact pin, which is similar to in Fig. Pins 3-5 shown in some way. However, the base 6 is in Fig. 26 formed of a solid portion of the strip and defines a pair of opposing sides (at the bent portions 28 a, 28 b). The contact pin 20 is generally centered on the rectangular surface defined by the base 26 . A bent intermediate connecting portion 26 a extends from one side of the base 26 , as shown, to the contact pin 20 , and another bent intermediate connecting portion 26 b extends from the other side of the base to a point near the contact pin 20 . A stop or collar 30 is provided which is forced around the contact pin 20 as shown. In this way, the intermediate connecting sections 26 a, 26 b stabilize the position of the contact pin 20 . Also in Fig. 6 it is shown that the bases 26 comprise a pair of spaced connecting bars or carrier strips 18 a, 18 b, although of course one or more such carrier strips can be provided depending on the equipment to be used and the way in which the Tabs of the receiving and placing device are to be fed. Possible recesses S in the base 26 are indicated in broken lines in order to receive solder during the backflow for the reasons mentioned above.

The present invention is not limited to generally elongated contact pins, protrusions, or test sites of the type shown in Figures 1-6. Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention, in which the contact is in the form of an IDC connector 32 , which is connected to the solid base 26 by means of an intermediate bent connecting portion 32 a. The construction of the IDC section 32 is well known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, 8 another type is shown in Fig. One on the surface to be attached connector, in the form of a female receptacle 36, which 36 comprises first and second flexible section a, 36 b, which are spaced apart, shallow to a To provide space 36 c for receiving a tab. The sections 36 a and 36 b are connected to the base 34 , as best shown in Fig. 9. The base 34 has the form of I- and includes cross-sections 34 a, 34 of the base and a central portion 34 b c. Each of the sections 36 a, 36 b is connected to the central portion 34 c, each of the cross-sections 34 a, 34 b of the base carries two connecting rod or carrier strips 18 a, 18 b as shown. Referring to Figs. 10-12, a variant of the surface mount connector is shown in the form of a contact pin which is similar in construction to the pin connector shown in Fig. 3. However, the central dependent portion 20 f is straight down coextensive with the contact pin 20 instead of being bent as in Fig. 3 to provide a central base portion 22 d to form a downwardly extending projection 20 f 'through A recess 38 formed in a conductive "land" or "pad" of a PCB 42 can be received, as shown in FIG. 12. The protrusion or anchor pin extends down from the flat base to be attached. The solder pads 40 of the PCB must have a recess in the center 38 as shown. When the terminal or connector is placed on the soldered side of the "pad", anchor pin 20 f 'enters the recess or opening 38 and limits movement of the terminal as the solder flows back. In most cases, unwanted movement is almost completely eliminated as a result of the absorption of the solder into the spaces S by the capillary action as described above.

FIG. 13 shows a coiled strip of series-connected, surface-mountable connectors for automatic mounting on a surface of a PCB and is generally designated by reference numeral 44 . The spool or roller 44 comprises a rotatable support element 45 which has an axis of rotation 46 . As shown, the surface mount connectors 48 are oriented so that the directions of the contacts 49 are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 46 , while the bases of the individual connectors are arranged substantially in a common plane or in parallel planes. The delicate connector, or connector strip, is sufficiently flexible to allow connectors 48 to be placed in arcuate circles when spirally wound onto support member 45 without breaking.

Since the radial dimensions of the elongated contact pins (when wound on the spool or roller 44 ) are generally smaller than the bases of such connectors, it is preferred that a suitable spacing element be provided which is suitable for the continuously helically wound Strips of connectors to hold the electrical contacts in the desired parallel orientation as shown. Referring to Figure 14, one form of spacer is shown that can be used to space contacts 49 in adjacent layers by spacing to define a spiral connector-receiving space that has radial dimensions that correspond essentially to the radial dimensions of the bases of the connectors. An appropriately sized space for receiving the connectors minimizes the interaction between the connectors due to contact between the bases in adjacent layers. The element shown for spacing comprises a continuous flat strip of flexible material 50 a and a meandering or wavy strip of material 50 b, which is connected to the flat strip of material 50 a as shown. The wave-like strip of material 50 b has a distance 50 c between its highest points along the flat strip 50 a, which essentially corresponds to the distance between successive contacts 48 in the strip, and a height of the highest points in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flat strip, which substantially corresponds to the difference between the radial dimension of the bases and the dimension of the contact 49 in the radial direction when the strip is spirally wound on the rotatable support member 45 . Spacer 50 normally secures the contacts on the roll. By unwinding the spacer during use, a portion of the continuous strip can be unwound and fed to a pick and place machine. A spool or reel of the type shown in Fig. 13 can be mounted on a feeder of the type shown and disclosed in U.S. Patent Applications 08 / 196,864 and 08 / 395,822, which are assigned to the same applicant. The exact construction of spacer 50 is not critical, and in theory the continuous strip of surface mount connectors can be spirally wound without the use of a spacer or simply separated by a continuous strip of flat tape material. However, the use of a spacer ensures that the desired orientation of the connectors 48 is maintained and prevents the connecting rods or carrier strips from being damaged or severed.

In Figs. 15 and 15A, another embodiment is shown which utilizes the invention and is in the form of a fuse holder 60. The fuse holder 60 has a base 62 which is similar to the base shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. From the base extend normally spring clips 60 a, 60 b, which are integrally connected to this at bent portions 64 a, 64 b, as shown. As with the other connectors to be attached to the surface, the bases are preferably provided with recesses or an opening S in order to receive solder by capillary action. Some solder will also enter the spaces S 'in the areas of the curved sections 64 a, 64 b. While a number of the above surface mount contacts are sized and configured to require a generally large nozzle (see Figs. 7 and 8) to project the upstanding or contact portions protruding from the bases With the contacts mounted on the PCB, a class of surface mount contacts can benefit from generally smaller nozzles and provide better seating by providing a generally flat surface for mounting on the contact through the system's vacuum nozzle can be gripped for attachment to the surface. In its broadest aspects, such surface mount contacts include a first conductive portion which is arranged in a plane and dimensioned to be placed on a conductive "pad" on which the contact is to be mounted. Integrally formed with this first conductive section is a second conductive section which extends to one side of the plane, at least one of which sections is provided with a substantially flat surface for receiving which is gripped by the vacuum nozzle of the surface mounting system can be. An example of such a contact is a jumper to be attached to the surface. Referring to Figures 16 and 17, a continuous strip of series interconnected jumpers of this type is generally identified by reference numeral 100 . The jumpers are wound in the manner of a coil on a roll 102 for automatic feeding to a surface-mounting device. Each individual jumper is identified by reference numeral 104 and includes spaced legs 106 dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of two spaced conductive "pads" 118 on a PCB 116 on which the jumper is to be mounted. A second conductive portion 108 in the form of a conductive connection region is generally offset from the plane of the leg 106 and is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the legs 106 and between the legs 106 . The conductive connection region 108 provides a generally flat surface for receiving, as shown in FIG. 17. The individual jumpers 104 are preferably arranged in a continuous strip of jumpers which are connected to one another in series and are to be fastened to the surface, as shown, by means of suitable connecting devices. In the embodiment shown, the connecting device is in the form of two spaced connecting rods which extend between two adjacent jumpers. The tabs 114 can be severed to allow the optional detachment of a jumper from the continuous strip by the surface fastener so that one of the jumpers can be fastened to the PCB by contacting a vacuum nozzle N for receiving. The stub 114 ', which after separation from the rest of the strip by suitable feeding means of such a continuous strip of electrical contacts or connectors for receiving and placing by means for surface mounting, as disclosed in US patent applications 08 / 196,864 and 08 / 395,822, both of which go back to the same applicant, where jumpers remain, are shown. Although the jumpers 104 shown have two legs for attachment to two spaced conductive pads 118 as shown in Fig. 17, it should be understood that jumpers with more than legs are possible, in which case the legs are in a chosen one Configuration would be within a common plane to be placed on a corresponding number of "pads" or "lands" on the PCB, and the conductive connection area would take an appropriate form to run between the different legs and connect them together to make electrical contact.

The method of making the continuous strip of jumpers 104 includes the steps of moving a continuous strip of flat, conductive material. A plurality of transverse slots 110 , 112 are formed in successive lines substantially transverse to the direction of advance as shown. The transverse slots 110 , 112 are arranged to define the spaced legs 106 and the conductive connection region 108 , which runs between the legs, to define the legs substantially in one plane and the connection regions 108 in a plane offset from this plane and substantially in parallel.

Referring to Figure 7A, there is shown a surface mount IDC 120 in which a first conductive portion includes a substantially flat base 122 that is sized to correspond to a conductive pad on which the IDC is to be placed. The IDC portion 124 of the contact is integrally molded with the base 122 at 126 and includes two IDC contact portions 130 , 132 , as shown, which are spaced apart to create an opening 134 for receiving a conductor. The upper surface of the base 122 presents a generally flat surface for receiving, with the central opening 134 selected so that the vacuum nozzle N can pass through it to come into contact with the substantially flat base portion 122 .

In Fig. 15B, a surface-mount securing clip 136 is shown which also has a generally flat base 138 which is sized to correspond to a conductive "pad" on which the clip contact is to be placed, and one in provides essential flat surface for inclusion. Tabs 140 at the base represent the severed connection strips between adjacent contacts when a continuous strip is first formed which is fed to the surface mounting device. The two clip contacts 142 , 144 are spaced sufficiently apart to allow the vacuum nozzle N access to the base to allow contact with the substantially flat base portion 138 .

It is therefore obvious that a whole class of the surface to be attached contacts exists can use relatively small recording nozzle, because the Pick-up nozzle comes on or comes into contact with one flat surface for receiving what the vacuum suction favored. Such smaller recording nozzles are not just more common but also more effective when in contact come with a small, flat surface.

Although the present invention is entirely in Related to their preferred embodiments below Described with reference to the accompanying drawings has been noted that various changes and modifications are clearly apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are from the Invention includes, the scope of protection according to the appended claims measured.

Claims (15)

1. Contact to be attached to the surface Attachment to a conductive pad on a printed Printed circuit board through a device for attachment to the Surface comprising a vacuum nozzle, the on the Surface to be fixed contact a first conductive Section includes, arranged in a plane and so dimensioned so that it is placed on a conductive pad on which the contact is to be attached, and includes a second conductive portion integral with this first conductive section is made and itself extends to one side of this plane, at least one of these sections with a substantially flat one Surface is provided for receiving that of the Vacuum nozzle of the device for attachment to the Can be contacted for a grasp of the surface Contact through the vacuum nozzle. 2. Contact to be attached to the surface according to claim 1, this contact being one on the surface fastening jumper, this first conductive Section includes spaced legs that are dimensioned are to the dimensions of two spaced conductive To match pads to which the jumpers are attached and this second conductive section is a conductive connecting portion includes, substantially offset from the plane of these legs and arranged in a plane essentially parallel to the plane of this Leg that extends between these legs, this conductive connection area this in essential flat surface for inclusion provides. 3. To be attached to the surface contact according to claim 1, which further comprises a connecting device for  Connection of these to be attached to the surface Contacts to a continuous strip of series connected contacts to be attached to the surface, this connecting device being severable in order to optionally removing one on the surface too fastening contact from this continuous strip enable by the device for attachment to the Surface for attachment to the surface on the conductive pads through the contact between this surface for mounting and the vacuum nozzle. 4. To be attached to the surface contact according to claim 3, this contact being one on the surface fastening IDC connector, this first conductive Area a substantially flat base portion which is dimensioned to form a conductive pad on which the IDC connector will be attached should, and this essentially flat surface for includes the receptacle, and this second conductive Section includes an IDC contact section that mates with a central opening is provided through which the vacuum nozzle can pass through with this substantially flat Base section to come into contact. 5. Surface contact to be attached according to claim 3. With this contact one on the surface too attaching clip connector, this first conductive Section a substantially flat base section is dimensioned to be a conductive pad correspond on which the clip connectors are attached should, and this essentially flat surface for includes the receptacle, and this second conductive Section includes two clip contacts facing each other are spaced to provide access for the vacuum nozzle to contact with this substantially flat base section enable. 6. A surface mount jumper for mounting on conductive pads of a printed circuit board by a surface mount device comprising a vacuum nozzle comprising:
a plurality of such surface-mount jumpers, each of which is provided with legs dimensioned to match the dimensions of the conductive pads on which the jumpers are to be attached, these legs being arranged substantially in a common plane;
a substantially flat, conductive connecting portion which is substantially offset from said legs in a plane which is substantially parallel to said common plane to form a receiving surface and which extends between these legs; and
a connecting device for connecting these surface-mounted jumpers to a continuous strip of series-connected jumpers to be surface-mounted, this connecting device being severable to selectively detach a surface-mounted jumper from the continuous strip enable by the surface mounting device for surface mounting on the conductive pads by the contact of the vacuum nozzle with this surface for recording. 7. Jumper to be attached to the surface according to claim 1, two legs are provided for each jumper and this connecting section a flat elongated conductor includes, which is between these two legs extends. 8. Jumper to be attached to the surface according to claim 7, these elongated conductors being parallel to each other are arranged when they form this strip are connected, and wherein this connecting device Tab means includes that between adjacent elongated Ladders run to secure them together.   9. Jumper to be attached to the surface according to claim 8, these tab means comprising two spaced tabs, that run between adjacent elongated conductors. 10. Jumper to be attached to the surface according to claim 9, these spaced tabs at locations close to them Legs are arranged. 11. Jumper to be attached to the surface according to claim 6, this continuous strip being like a coil on a Roll is wound for automatic feeding to one Device for attachment to the surface. 12. A roll of surface to be attached Contacts for mounting on conductive pads on a printed circuit board by a device for Attachment to the surface that includes a roller and a continuous streak of on the surface too fastening contacts that are coil-like on this roller are wound for use by a feeder in connection with a device for attachment the surface, this continuous stripe a comprises a first conductive section arranged in a Level and dimensioned so that it is on a conductive pad can be placed on which the contact is attached and includes a second conductive section which made integral with this first conductive portion and extends to one side of that plane, where at least one of these sections with an im essentially flat surface is provided for receiving, from the vacuum nozzle of the attachment device the surface can be contacted for a grip of contact through the vacuum nozzle. 13. A roll of surface mount jumpers for mounting on conductive pads on a printed circuit board by surface mount means comprising a roll and a continuous strip of surface mount contacts which coils on that roll are wrapped for use by a feeder in connection with a surface mount device comprising continuous strips: a plurality of such surface mount jumpers, each of which is provided with legs that are dimensioned by dimension the conductive pads on which the jumpers are to be attached, these legs being arranged essentially in a common plane;
a substantially flat, conductive connecting portion which is substantially offset from said legs in a plane which is substantially parallel to said common plane to form a receiving surface and which extends between these legs; and
a connecting device for connecting these surface-mounted jumpers to a continuous strip of series-connected jumpers to be surface-mounted, this connecting device being separable in order to selectively separate a surface-mounted jumper from this continuous strip to be made possible by the surface fastening device for surface fastening on the conductive pads by the contact of the vacuum nozzle with this surface for receiving. 14. A method of making a continuous strip of surface mount contacts comprising the steps of:
Moving a continuous strip of flat, conductive material forward;
Forming a first conductive portion, arranged in a plane and dimensioned to be placed on a conductive pad on which the contact is to be attached;
Forming a second conductive portion integrally formed with said first conductive portion extending to one side of said plane, at least one of which portions is provided with a substantially flat surface for receiving which can come in contact with a vacuum nozzle of a device Attachment on the surface for gripping the contact through the vacuum nozzle. 15. A method of making a continuous strip of surface-mounted jumpers, comprising the steps of:
Moving a continuous strip of flat, conductive material forward;
Providing a plurality of transverse slots arranged on successive lines substantially transverse to the feed direction, these transverse slots being arranged to define spaced legs and a conductive connection area extending between these legs around these legs substantially in a common plane to arrange and to arrange this connection area in a plane which is offset from and parallel to this common plane.