EP0151253B1 - Mécanisme de contact - Google Patents

Mécanisme de contact Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0151253B1
EP0151253B1 EP19840114672 EP84114672A EP0151253B1 EP 0151253 B1 EP0151253 B1 EP 0151253B1 EP 19840114672 EP19840114672 EP 19840114672 EP 84114672 A EP84114672 A EP 84114672A EP 0151253 B1 EP0151253 B1 EP 0151253B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contacts
floating
fixed
connector
structures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19840114672
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0151253A2 (fr
EP0151253A3 (en
Inventor
John Brian Gillett
John Albert Miraglia
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0151253A2 publication Critical patent/EP0151253A2/fr
Publication of EP0151253A3 publication Critical patent/EP0151253A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0151253B1 publication Critical patent/EP0151253B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/82—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force
    • H01R12/85—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/89—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures acting manually by moving connector housing parts linearly, e.g. slider

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to connector mechanisms for releasably electrically connecting two structures which carry conducting lines and provides a solution to the problem, common to such connector mechanisms, of accommodating both the damage free engagement/dis-engagement of the two separable portions of the connector mechanism as well as establishing the positive and accurate the internal electrical coupling required, bearing in mind that, at the present time, the assembling of electronic equipment of the kind that uses such connectors is left to those who are relatively unskilled.
  • ZIF Zero Insertion Force
  • United States Patent 3,977,756 to Rodondi A.F. relates to a connector in which a flexible printed circuit is wrapped around a rigid printed circuit and then is secured in its operative condition by a cap which is forced thereover. In this case, apart from being limited in the types of structure that it can interconnect, it may damage the flexible circuit board.
  • US-A-4 428 635 is one example of a cam operated, "claw" type, ZIF connector.
  • the contacts which make electrical contact with the terminal pads on a card inserted into the connector are the free ends of a set of opposed curved springs, their other ends being secured in the base of the connector.
  • the operating cam via followers, presses against the springs in various directions and the pressure applied by the cam to the springs in the "vertical” and the “horizontal” directions, is independent.
  • the contacts are not free to move independently in the vertical and horizontal directions, nor can they be.
  • IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 26, No. 12, May 1984, page 6657 discloses an arrangement which does away with the spring claws but deliberately reproduces the "contact action" thereof.
  • the camming surfaces move the contacts “down and in” and, by implication, "up and out”.
  • the Technical Disclosure Bulletin teaches changing the mechanism of the patent but keeping the action thereof while the present invention discards the action as well so that it is possible to obtain the various potentially independent advantages that arise from departing from the "claw action" which are set forth hereinafter, such as the possibility of wiping at constant pressure (see Fig 3) and/or being able to locate then wipe then secure in a controlled manner at one throw of the cam and/or the possibility of connecting the connector to the card, rather than the card to the connector or two cards together without the need for an intervening mother board and/or the possibility of connecting to opposite edges of one card without imposing accuracy constraints on the card size and so on.
  • the present invention seeks to provide a connector mechanism that is non-damaging, of general application, is capable, at least in an extended form, of tolerating less than accurate handling by the user and will ensure positive electrical coupling of compatible structure and conducting line combinations.
  • a connector mechanism for releasably electrically connecting two structures carrying conducting lines, the connector mechanism comprising fixed contacts on one of the structures, floating contacts on the other of the structures, the floating contacts being moved towards and away from the fixed contacts and across the fixed contacts under the control of a common actuator, each floating contact being an electrically integral part, carried by the actuator, of a flexible conductive film characterised in that the actuator is so arranged that the floating contacts are free to move independently in two different directions relative to the fixed contact in such a way that their "towards and away from” motions are time separated from their "across” motions.
  • one form of connector mechanism according to the present invention for electrically connecting two structures carrying conducting lines, comprises fixed contacts on one of the structures and floating contacts on the other of the structures, the floating contacts being free to move towards and away from the fixed contacts and across the fixed contacts as independent motions, under the control of a common actuator each floating contact being an electrically integral part, carried by the actuator, of a flexible conductive film.
  • a shroud on the fixed contact structure carrying markings registered with the fixed contacts and engaging the actuator provides coarse location, while the flexibility of the film and the mounting of the floating contacts on a resilient pad, on a carriage provided with cam followers riding on a multi-throw linear cam permits independent locating and wiping motions, independently of each other and at selected pressures, including, of course, zero pressure on insertion making the connector mechanism an effective ZIF connector.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show one complete connector mechanism 20 and a plurality of partial connector mechanisms according to the present invention. Some component parts are detailed on the complete connector mechanism, which is located in the positive octant delineated by the co-ordinate axes shown in Fig. 1, and some on the partial mechanisms for clarity since they are located on surfaces of the complete mechanism that are obscured.
  • the single connector mechanism electrically connects two structures 22, 24 carrying conducting lines 26, comprises fixed contacts 28 on structure 22, and floating contacts 30 on structure 24, the floating contacts being free to move towards and away from the fixed contacts and across the fixed contacts as independent motions, under the control of a common actuator 32, each floating contact being an electrically integral part, carried by the actuator, of a flexible conductive film 34.
  • the film (see figure 4) is formed of alternate layers of conductive and non-conductive material, so that at least some of the conductive material forms a transmission line structure, and the film is provided with apertures 44 to enhance its flexibility.
  • the common actuator is a compound camming mechanism, able to produce time separated motion in different directions (as illustrated in Figure 3) in a single actuation, the floating contacts being carried by a resilient interposer 38, fixed to a carriage 50 which carries cam followers 54A and 54B engaging a linear cam 52.
  • the fixed contact structure 22 of the two structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2 carries a rigidly attached shroud 46.
  • the shroud 46 locates the cam in the XX and YY directions with respect to the fixed contacts on initial assembly of the connector mechanism and carries locating markings 48A, 48B which are registered with the fixed contacts.
  • the actuator 32 is initially actuated, by means of a handle (not shown), the carriage 50 is moved, in the YY direction, into engagement with the locating markings 48B of the shroud 46, locating the carriage in the ZZ direction.
  • the initial and terminal phases of the actuator 32 operation are relatively idle, and resetting of the actuator 32 returns the floating contacts 30 to their starting positions, retracing the listed motions in reverse order.
  • connector mechanism 20 on each side of card 22, and the two connector mechanisms are loosely coupled, as by member 64 (See Fig. 6) which tends to urge the linear cams apart at that end but on which the cams can move to preserve linearity.
  • structure 22 is a printed circuit card, of which only a corner is shown, and has conducting lines 26 on both faces thereof, each set of conducting lines ending in a 4xN array of contact dimples 28, fixed relative to the card.
  • the conducting lines 26 are only hinted at, rather than being shown accurately in Figs. 1 and 2 and no attempt has been made to show their connection to the contact dimples 28. In any case, much of the conducting line configuration will be buried in most applications.
  • Shroud 46 overhangs the contact dimple array and is formed of two substantially equal mutually perpendicular extents 46A and 46B.
  • Extent 46A is perpendicular to the face of the card from which it extends and parallel to the card edge and the N-dimension of the contact array.
  • Extent 46B extends parallel to the card face beyond the card edge and has a T-cross- section groove 48A let into its inner surface facing the contact array.
  • Extent 46B has notches 48B let into its exposed edge. Selected surfaces of the groove and notches are accurately registered with the contact array and act as locating markings.
  • Linear cam 52 has an integral longitudinal rail 52A which fits into the groove 48A in the shroud and aligns the pass direction of the linear cam relative to the fixed contact array in the ZZ direction.
  • the cam 52 has multiple pairs of camming surfaces providing throws in both the XX and the YY directions but these are arranged, relative to the cam followers 54A and 54B, so that the currently effective throw is either entirely in the XX direction or entirely in the YY direction. The effect of these throws for a single pass of the linear cam is illustrated in Fig. 3.
  • the linear cam 52 also fits into the carriage 50 which is a generally rectangular channel, open at the ends for access in the ZZ direction and having walls extending in the XX direction.
  • Eight cam followers are located on the inner surfaces of the carriage channel.
  • the four followers 54A cooperate with the cam to move the carriage in the YY direction, while the four followers 54B cooperate with the cam to move the carriage in the XX direction.
  • the object of the exercise is to locate the cam in the shroud and, by moving the cam in the carriage in the ZZ direction, move the carriage in both the XX direction and the YY direction while keeping these motions quite separate.
  • the base of the carriage channel thus aligns with extent 46B of the shroud and resilient interposer 38 is fixed to the exposed surface of the base.
  • the end of flexible film 34 that carries the floating contacts 30, hidden for the full mechanism in the positive octant but shown for the opposed partially illustrated mechanism, is fixed to the exposed surface of the interposer with the floating contacts, in a 4xN array conforming to the fixed contact array, exposed and aligned with the carriage as the fixed contact array is aligned with the shroud.
  • the floating contacts 30 are flat and square and the intention is to centre one fixed contact dimple 28 on each floating contact flat 30, assuming a fully active array.
  • the film 34 passes under the carriage and is locked under a guide rail 70 fixed to a mother board 72, the conducting lines 26 in the film being electrically coupled to the mother board conducting lines (not shown).
  • a single basic floating contact structure in this arrangement comprises the cam 52, the carriage 50, the interposer 38, the film 34, the guide rail 70 and the mother board 72 (although a plurality of connector mechanisms are indicated in Figs 1 and 2 and certain component elements are shared).
  • the cam and carriage combination is connected to the mother board by the film 34, the inherent flexibility of which is enhanced by the longitudinal apertures 44 therein, but the combination can move relatively freely away from and across the mother board due to the film's flexibility and also due to a certain amount of film length which is surplus to minimal requirements.
  • This freedom of movement of the combination is necessary to permit interlocking of the actuator, shroud and guide rail to establish registration in a manner to be described and to permit the cam driven motion sequence of the floating contacts.
  • the connector mechanisms of this invention are designed to be electrical connectors not physical locking mechanisms. They permit the card structures to be assembled and held mechanically together, without the need for registration to a degree of precision equivalent to the contact pitch, since the fine adjustment is internal, using the slack in the film.
  • Interlocking of the component elements is partly a function of the engagement of the cam rail 52A in the groove 48A and partly a function of the engagement of a pair of lugs 55 extending outwardly and downwardly from the lower wall of the carriage, in the notches 48B in the shroud, as well as in a corresponding pair of cut-aways 73 in the guide rail.
  • the lugs essentially remain engaged in the cut-aways but, being of smaller dimensions, can move within the cut-aways in all three indicated directions, and, in, particular, can move downwardly in the YY direction by at least the depth of the notches 48B without impacting the film 34. If one considers the rail of the cam to be fixed in the YY direction relative to the mother board, which is effectively correct in all operative conditions, and the cam to be fully retracted, the cam maintains the carriage depressed sufficiently in the YY direction for the bottom of the shroud, when sliding forwardly in the ZZ direction with the cam rail engaged in the shroud groove, to clear the tops of the lugs. In this way, the notches 48B can be brought into position over the lugs.
  • the cam is pulled steadily in the ZZ direction for a fixed distance, moving the carriage alternately in the YY direction and in the XX direction relative to the shroud and hence correspondingly moving or attempting to move the floating contacts relative to the fixed contacts.
  • This activity is illustrated to the right of the origins in Fig. 3.
  • the cam moves in the Z 2 direction from its retracted position corresponding to the origin in Fig. 3 to a position indicated by Z i , the carriage is raised in the YY direction relative to the shroud, moving the lugs upwardly in the YY direction into the notches 48B.
  • the notches have tapered sides and serve to register the carriage with the shroud in the ZZ direction, consequently, similarly registering the contacts in the ZZ direction.
  • the next part of the action of the cam as it moves from Z 1 to Z 3 is to move the carriage away from the shroud toward the card in the XX direction and, at some point of the cam movement indicated as Z 2 , the contacts will touch and the resilient interposer 38 will begin to compress. At this point, actual pressure between the contacts begins to build, as indicated in the middle graph in Fig. 3. Inter-contact pressure builds due to compression of the interposer until, at Z 3 , the cam ceases to drive the carriage in the XX direction and starts to drive the carriage first upwardly and then partially back again in the YY direction. This action, corresponding to travel of the cam from Z 3 to Z 4 , produces wiping and backwiping of the floating contacts over the fixed contacts at constant inter-contact pressure.
  • the cam travelling from Z 4 to Z 5 , ceases to drive the carriage in the YY direction and continues driving the carriage away from the shroud in the XX direction, increasing the compression of the interposer and the inter-contact pressure. Thereafter, the cam becomes idle, maintaining the status quo until movement of the cam ceases, electrical contact having been finally established at Z 5 .
  • the film structure is illustrated in Fig. 4 which concentrates on the end of the film 34 which incorporates the floating contacts 30.
  • the film comprises a sandwich of five layers 30 and 26,42, 40,42,26 which are shown partially separated but which are, in fact, bonded together.
  • Layers 42 are of non-conductive polymer and enclose conductive layer 40 which, apart from an array of apertures 41 corresponding to the contact array and the slots 44, is a continuous layer comprising a reference plane.
  • the two outer layers are conductive and define the floating contacts 30 and the individual conductive paths thereto. Because a dense contact array is desired, only two rows of contacts 30 connect directly to conductive paths 26 provided on the same (upper) exposed surface as is occupied by the contacts. The other two rows of contacts 30 connect, through conductive vias 31 in the film, to respective conductive paths provided on the other (lower) exposed surface.
  • the basic connector mechanism connects to one area of one side of the card.
  • the cam and shroud, on each side of the card can be common to all the connector mechanisms of the respective side and it is recommended that, with connector mechanisms on both sides of the card, the cams are loosely inter-connected as illustrated in Fig. 6 by a coupling yoke 64.
  • the illustrated connector mechanism will repeat the described sequence of operations, but in the reverse order, leaving the card and shroud free to be disengaged by being slid backwardly in the ZZ direction. It is possible, however, by use of a differently constructed cam to alter the sequence of relative motions on retraction the cam so that the first action is complete separation of the contacts in the XX direction, followed by direct passage of the carriage to the point at which the carriage is depressed sufficiently to disengage the lugs from the notches 48B.
  • part 60 of the film 34 remote from the floating contacts 30 may be connected to:

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Claims (9)

1. Mécanisme de connecteur pour connecter électriquement de façon amovible deux structures (22,24) portant des lignes conductrices (26), le mécanisme de connecteur comprenant des contacts fixes (28) sur l'une des structures (22), des contacts flottants (30) sur l'autre des structures (24), les contacts flottants étant déplacés en direction et en s'écartant des contacts fixes et en travers des contacts fixes sous la commande d'un actionneur commun (32), chaque contact flottant étant une partie électriquement solidaire, portée par l'actionneur, d'un film conducteur flexible (34), caractérisé en ce que l'actionneur est disposé de sorte que les contacts flottants sont libres de se déplacer indépendamment dans deux directions différentes par rapport aux contacts fixes, de sorte que leurs déplacements "en direction de et en s'écartant de" sont séparés de leurs déplacements "en travers".
2. Mécanisme de connecteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'actionneur commun comprend un chariot (50), des suiveurs de came (54A, 54B) qui y sont montés, un élément d'interposition élastique (38) fixé au chariot et supportant les contacts flottants (30) et une came linéaire (52) disposée, en fonctionnement, pour s'engager avec les suiveurs de came (54A, 54B) pour produire un mécanisme de came composé capable de produire les déplacements indépendants séparés dans le temps dans les diverses directions, lors d'un actionnement unique.
3. Mécanisme de connecteur selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les deux structures (22, 24) sont physiquement séparables et, le mécanisme de connecteur étant assemblé en amenant d'abord ensemble les deux structures, un passage unique de l'actionneur commun (32) produit la séquence suivante de déplacements relatifs séparés dans le temps:
déplacement des contacts flottants (30) vers les contacts fixes (28) jusqu'à ce que les contacts flottants touchent les contacts fixes; suivi de
déplacement des contacts flottants (30) en travers des contacts fixes (28).
4. Mécanisme de connecteur selon la revendication 2, dans lequel un déplacement unique de l'actionneur commun (32) produit la séquence suivante de déplacements relatifs séparés dans le temps
déplacement des contacts flottants (30) vers les contacts fixes (28) jusqu'à ce que les contacts flottants viennent juste en contact avec les contacts fixes; suivi de
essai de déplacement des contacts flottants (30) vers les contacts fixes (28) de sorte que la distorsion de l'élément d'interposition élastique (38) applique une pression entre les contacts fixes et flottants; suivi de
déplacement des contacts flottants (30) en travers des contacts fixes (28) dans une direction ou dans deux directions opposées; suivi de
autre essai de déplacement des contacts flottants (30) vers les contacts fixes (28) augmentant encore la pression entre les contacts fixes et flottants.
5. Mécanisme de connecteur selon la revendication 2 ou la revendication 4, comprenant en outre un carénage rigide (46) monté sur l'une des structures (22) et s'engageant avec l'actionneur (32) quand les structures (22, 24) sont en juxtaposition engagée pour agir en tant que moyen de positionement grossier pour les contacts flottants (30) par rapport aux contacts fixes (28) en localisant le chariot (50) dans la direction qui vise à rassembler les deux structures, et pour la came linéaire (52) dans des directions perpendiculaires à celle-ci, par rapport aux contacts fixes.
6. Mécanisme de connecteur selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le carénage (46) comprend des repères de localisation (48A, 48B) alignés avec les contacts fixes (28) et pouvant être mis en engagement par la came linéaire (52) et le chariot (50).
7. Mécanisme de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 5, constituant l'un d'une pluralité de mécanismes de connecteur reliant deux structures, dans lequel le mécanisme de connecteur incorpore plusieurs films flexibles (34) et une même pluralité de chariots (50).
8. Mécanisme de connecteur selon la revendication 5 ou la revendication 6, faisant partie d'une paire de tels mécanismes de connecteur reliant les deux structures (22, 24) et comprenant un étrier de couplage (64) couplant la came linéaire (52) du premier mécanisme de connecteur à la came linéaire (52) de l'autre mécanisme de connecteur.
9. Mécanisme de connecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes faisant partie d'une paire de tels mécanismes directement couplés, dans lequel le film flexible (34) est commun aux deux mécanismes de connecteur de la paire et comprend sensiblement l'ensemble de la structure de contacts flottants associée à la paire de mécanismes de connecteur.
EP19840114672 1984-02-06 1984-12-04 Mécanisme de contact Expired - Lifetime EP0151253B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US57746084A 1984-02-06 1984-02-06
US577460 1984-02-06

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0151253A2 EP0151253A2 (fr) 1985-08-14
EP0151253A3 EP0151253A3 (en) 1987-02-04
EP0151253B1 true EP0151253B1 (fr) 1990-09-12

Family

ID=24308834

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840114672 Expired - Lifetime EP0151253B1 (fr) 1984-02-06 1984-12-04 Mécanisme de contact

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EP (1) EP0151253B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS60165073A (fr)
DE (1) DE3483209D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU563430B2 (en) * 1984-02-21 1987-07-09 Amp Incorporated Circuit card edge connector
JPS63168977A (ja) * 1986-12-28 1988-07-12 山一電機株式会社 カ−ドコネクタ
JPS63301474A (ja) * 1987-05-30 1988-12-08 Yamaichi Electric Mfg Co Ltd カ−ドコネクタ
US4911643A (en) 1988-10-11 1990-03-27 Beta Phase, Inc. High density and high signal integrity connector
US4934778A (en) * 1988-10-31 1990-06-19 International Business Machines Corporation Zero insertion force optical connector
US4907975A (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-03-13 International Business Machine Corporation Electrical connector utilizing flexible electrical circuitry
US4863395A (en) * 1989-01-17 1989-09-05 Robert Babuka Zero insertion force connector with component card
US4892487A (en) * 1989-06-15 1990-01-09 Ibm Corporation Connector assembly with movable carriage
JPH081567Y2 (ja) * 1989-07-14 1996-01-17 日本航空電子工業株式会社 ワイピング式コネクタ
FR2657744B1 (fr) * 1990-01-26 1994-04-08 Alkan Cie R Dispositif de fixation de cartes de circuits imprimes dans un boitier, et boitier equipe d'un tel dispositif.
US5222668A (en) * 1991-04-03 1993-06-29 International Business Machines Corporation Fluid actuated connector

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5745664U (fr) * 1980-08-28 1982-03-13
US4420206A (en) * 1981-11-30 1983-12-13 Western Electric Company, Inc. Electrical connector
US4428635A (en) * 1982-02-24 1984-01-31 Amp Incorporated One piece zif connector
US4480884A (en) * 1983-07-01 1984-11-06 International Business Machines Corporation Zero insertion force connector and circuit card assembly
AU563430B2 (en) * 1984-02-21 1987-07-09 Amp Incorporated Circuit card edge connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS60165073A (ja) 1985-08-28
DE3483209D1 (de) 1990-10-18
JPH0235430B2 (fr) 1990-08-10
EP0151253A2 (fr) 1985-08-14
EP0151253A3 (en) 1987-02-04

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