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
  • H01R12/88—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 rotating or pivoting connector housing parts

Definitions

• 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 computer user.
• the pins may be electrically
• wrap-type connection It is also known in a general sense to make high density connections between the daughter and mother boards.
• the connector assemblies include opposing rows of spring-type contacts.
• the low or zero insertion force mechanisms vary to some degree but generally include some mechanism for deflecting the spring contacts to space them apart to allow easy insertion of a printed wiring board to the connector. Thereafter, the contacts are put into engagement with corresponding pads on the printed wiring board to make the desired electrical connections.
• the spring contacts are normally biased towards engagement with the printed circuit board and the low insertion force mechanism spreads them apart to allow entry of the printed wiring board to the connector.
• 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 mechanism. The cam member is actuable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired.
• The* invention described herein provides a connector system for mounting on a mother circuit board which receives a daughter board in a manner that it is easily inserted or released from the mother board.
• the daughter board can be readily aligned within an electrical connector receptacle.
• the system enables the insertion of a daughter board in the connector receptacle in a single orientation.
• the system has an improved low insertion force electrical connector system having a high density of individual connections and permits easy serviceability by a user.
• a low insertion force electrical connector system comprising an electrical connector receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows.
• the low insertion force system selectively spaces apart the electrical contacts in one row from the electrical contacts in an opposing row to allow the insertion of an electrical plug member with a low insertion force or for providing engagement of said contacts in the one and opposing rows with the plug member so that the receptacle contacts make electrical connection with desired contacts of the plug member.
• the plug member may comprise a portion of an electronic module or a circuit board such as a printed wiring board.
• the connector system further includes devices for aligning and locking the electrical plug member after insertion between the respective one and opposing rows of contacts of the receptacle.
• an actuating arrangement is provided for actuating the low insertion force system and the aligning and locking devices in a multi-phase operation. Prior to insertion of the plug member into the receptacle, the actuating arrangements selectively space apart the rows of electrical contact after insertion of the plug member between the respective rows of contacts.
• the actuating arrangement actuates serially first the aligning and locking devices to align and lock the plug member within the receptacle. Then, the low insertion force system provides for the engagement of the receptacle contacts with the desired contacts of the plug member.
• the actuating arrangement is also adapted to serially activate the low insertion force system and the aligning and locking device in a reverse fashion to first space apart the receptacle contacts and then unlock the plug member to allow the plug member to be removed from the receptacle with a low force.
• the receptacle in accordance with this invention, is adapted for mounting on a circuit board such as a mother board.
• the low insertion force system may be of any conventional design, however, preferably, the electrical contacts comprise spring members and a cam and follower arrangement to deflect or undeflect the spring members to provide the respective spacing apart and engagement functions.
• the respective rows of contacts comprise alternating high and low contact portions wherein respective high contacts in one row oppose respective low contacts in the other row and vise versa.
• the receptacle in accordance with this invention, is preferably constructed to allow the plug member or printed wiring board to be inserted from the side or from the top.
• a printed wiring board, circuit board or electronic module is provided with a plug portion for insertion in an electrical connector receptacle.
• the plug portion includes two parallel rows of contact pads arranged thereon with the pads in one row being staggered relative to the pads in the other row. This permits an increase number of connections which can be made to the circuit board for a given size thereof.
• the plug portion of the circuit board further includes aligning and locking holes for accurately aligining the circuit board in an electrical receptacle connector system.
• a locating notch is also provided in one side of the plug portion whereby the circuit board can be inserted in the electrical receptale in only one orientation.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side entry card housing employing a plurality of connector 5 systems in accordance with this invention.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a straight-in or top entry card housing employing a plurality of connector systems in accordance with this invention
• Figure 3 and 3a are exploded perspective views of a connector system in accordance with this invention including a plurality of contact segments.”
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a connector system in accordance with this invention mounted to a
• FIG 5 is a perspective view of the connector system as in Figure 3 which has been
• Figure 6 is an end view and cross-section of two adjacent connector systems in accordance with this invention with the low insertion force mechanism in respectively opened and closed positions.
• Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of a connector system in accordance with this invention illustrating the locking and aligning mechanism.
• Figure 8 is a top view of one end of a connector system in accordance with this invention.
• Figure 9 is a side view of the end of the connector system shown in Figure 8.
• Figure 10 is an end view of the end portion of the connector system shown in Figure 8.
• Figure 11 is a front view of the locking and* aligning lever arranged in the end of the connector system shown in Figures 8-10.
• Figure 12 is an exploded perspective of the opposing end of the connector system in accordance with this invention.
• Figure 13 is an end view of the opposing end of the connector system shown in Figure 12.
• Figure 14 is a top view partially cut away to reveal the locking and aligning lever in the opposing end of the connector system of Figure 12.
• Figure 15 is a side view of the opposing end of the connector system of Figure 12.
• Figure 16 is a bottom view of the opposing end of the connector system as in Figure 12.
• the circuit board connector system 10 of this invention is adapted to provide a high density of individual connections 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 is adapted to provide a high density of individual connections 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.
• circuit board connector systems 10 of this invention allows the computer owner to add additional features by buying additional mother or daughter boards 11 which can be readily inserted in the circuit board connector systems 10 of this invention.
• the connector system can be mounted on a mother circuit board or backplane thereby adding increased features to the computer.
• circuit board connector systems 10 of this invention can be arranged on the mother circuit board 12 in one plane.
• card housing 13 and mother circuit board 12 are arranged to receive a
• the circuit board connector system 10 of this invention acts as the bottom guide for the mother board 11.
• the card housing 13 also includes top U-shaped eyes or guides 14 which, with the circuit board connector system 10, serves to provide alignment for the daughter board 11 as it is slid from the side into the card housing 13. It is a feature of the circuit board connector system 10 of this invention that the daughter board can be inserted' from the side as .in Figure 1 or from the top as in Figure 2.
• a card housing 15 includes a plurality of circuit board connector systems 10 arranged in parallel and mounted to the mother circuit board 12.
• the card housing 15 includes ⁇ -shaped side guides 16 arranged in correspondence with the circuit board connector systems 10 along each of the sides 17 and 18 of the card housing 15.
• the daughter board 11 is inserted into the circuit board connector system 10 by sliding it down the side guides 16 and through the top of the circuit board connector system 10.
• the circuit board connector system 10 of this invention requires no soldering to the mother circuit board 12.
• the connector system 10 includes no pins which can be easily damaged or bent in making connections to the mother circuit board 12.
• the connector system 10 is of the low or zero insertion force type so that the daughter boards 11 are easily removed or inserted as desired.
• 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 system 10. For instance, some of the segments 20 can be configured to carry signals, while others can be configured to be power carrying. Thus, different segments 20 can serve totally different functions. Since the segments 20 are supported in a floating arrangement within the body shell 19 they can be independently self-aligned relative to the mother circuit board 12. This can be achieved because the various segments 20 are able to slide within the body shell 19 so that they can be precisely located on the contact pads 21 of the mother 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.
• a system 22 for aligning and locking the daughter board 11 within the connector system 10 is provided.
• the system is briefly illustrated by referring to Figures 4 and 5.
• Aligning and locking levers 23 and 24 are pivotally supported in opposing 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.
• the connector system 10 is shown with the daughter board 11 fully inserted and with the aligning and locking system 22 in its closed position.
• projections 27 of the respective locking levers 23 and 24 are inserted within the holes 25 and 26 to align and lock the daughter board 11 in a desired relationship relative to the plane of the mother board 12.
• Projection 27 on locking lever 23 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 is in the closed position with the daughter board properly in place.
• the connector system 10 employs a zero or low insertion force system 30 having spring contacts 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 position as shown in the left-hand system 10, a low or zero insertion force for the daughter board into the system.
• the respective spring contacts are arranged in an alternating high and low fashion to allow an increased density of electrical contacts.
• an actuating system 36 is provided which is adapted to serially actuate the respective aligning and locking system 22 and low insertion force system 30.
• the actuating system 36 includes an actuating lever 37 which includes a pad 38 which is adapted to operate as an actuating cam. It also includes a follower portion
• each of the locking levers 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 system 30.
• circuit board connector system 10 and the various aspects of the invention embodied therein, is now described in greater detail to define the preferred embodiments thereof.
• an electrical connector system which comprises an electrical connector receptacle for attachment to a circuit board 12 such as a mother board or backplane.
• the receptacle 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 comprised of a body shell 19 and contact segments 20 as previously described.
• the body shell 19 comprises an elongated slot 40 defined by opposing side walls 41 and 42 and end wall 43. Region 44 of the slot opposing the end wall 43 is open.
• the circuit board 11 can therefore be inserted into the receptacle 10 from the top or from the side in the direction shown by the arrows 45 and 46.
• the body shell 19 includes internal dividing walls 47 which divide the shell into a plurality of chambers 48.
• the number of chambers 48 corresponds to the number of segments 20 to be supported by the body shell 19.
• a series of depressions 49 in the side wall 41 and 42 mark the respective locations of the internal walls 47.
• a rectangular hole 50 Generally centrally of each of the side walls 41 and 42 of each respective chamber 48 there is located a rectangular hole 50. This comprises part of a system for supporting the segments 20 within the body shell 19 in an independent floating arrangement so that each
• O PI r segment 20 can be independently aligned to the circuit board 12.
• the other elements of the floating support system 51 are a projection 52 correspondingly centrally located on each segment 20 side wall 53 and 54.
• the projections 52 have a pyramid shape so that when the segments 20 are inserted into the chamber 48, the projections 52 spread apart the respective side walls 41 and 42 until the projections 52 snap into the holes 50.
• the holes 50 are larger in width and height than the corresponding width and height of the projection 52 thereby allowing the segments to have a limited degree of freedom within the chamber 48 both vertically and from side to side and back to back.
• a step 55 in each of the side walls 41 and 42 provides a corresponding internal step surface 56 limiting vertical movement of the segment 20 when the receptacle 10 is mounted to the circuit board 12. This provides an effective means for clamping the segments down on the circuit board 12.
• Each segment 20 includes a longitudinal ledge
• the body shell 19 further includes an alignment projection 58 at one end 44 which is adapted to mate
• the segments 20 include at one end an alignment projection 61 adapted to seat in corresponding alignment holes 62 of the circuit board 12 when the segments 20 are inserted in the cavaties 48 of the shell 19.
• the alignment projections 58 and 61 extend in a spaced apart arrangement across the entire receptacle 10 and provide an effective means for aligning the receptacle on the circuit board 12 when the projections seat in the alignment holes 59 and 62.
• the segments 20 can float particularly from side to side within the body shell 19 to'a limited extent since each segment includes its own alignment projection system 61.
• each segment 20 is composed of a segment body 63 which is arranged to support two opposing rows of spring contact members 64. One end 65 of each spring contact member comprises a contact portion for engaging
• the opposing end 66 of the spring contact member 64 comprises 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
• the 10 provides a gas-tight, high pressure connection.
• the end of the contact portion 66 is forced into the contact pad 21 and, by digging into it, makes a good electrical connection because it breaks through the oxides on the surface of the pad.
• the contact members 64 can be selected to be signal carrying, such as the narrow contact members 32, or they can be power or current carrying such as the relatively wider contact member 68.
• the segments 20 can therefore have their functions tailored as desired for handling signals or power or any other function which might be required.
• respective high contacts 32 in one row are arranged in opposition to respective low contacts 31 in the opposing row of contact members 64.
• a low contact 31 in the one row of contacts is an opposition to a high contact in the opposing row of contacts.
• OMP ⁇ contact portions 65 are slightly bent since there is quite a large distance between high contacts in any particular row. This is also true of the low contacts. This scheme permits the size of the pads 35 to be increased and minimizes the criticality . of a spacing between the pads.
• a series of connector systems 10 can be placed on a mother circuit board 12 with any type of conventional hold down or clamping device 70 such as the one illustrated in Figure 6.
• the clamping members 71 or 72 are arranged to engage the step 55 in the side walls 41 or 42.
• the clamping members 71 or 72 are secured to the circuit board or mother board 12 by bolts 73 or otherwise fastened to the circuit board 12 so as to enable the contacts 66 of the spring contact members 64 to engage the pads 35 on the mother board 12.
• the stop surface 56 engages the ledge 57 of the segment 20 to hold the segment 20 so that the contacts 66 make good electrical connection to the contact pads 35.
• the clamping member 71 is adapted to be employed between adjacent receptacles 10 whereas the clamping member 72 is adapted to clamp a free side 41 of the receptacle 10.
• V/ ⁇ - O computer circuit board system is possible with a design of this electrical connector system.
• the receptacle 10 can have any multiple of segments 20; for example, 5, 7, 11, etc., as desired.
• a plurality of receptacles 10 can be arranged on the mother board " in " adjacent parallel relationship as shown in Figures 1 and 6.
• the receptacle can extend beyond the mother board 12 so that additional connector segments 20 in the receptacle 10 can be connected to other types of plug portions and circuit connectors or elements.
• the receptacle 10 can encompass the mother board as well as accommodate other totally different types of connections located completely off the mother board.
• Each of the segments 20 includes a low or zero insertion force mechanism for system 30.
• the contact members 64 in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 are biased towards the contact members of the opposing row so that if 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 insertion force mechanism thereby employs a cam 33 and follower 34.
• each segment includes its own separate follower member 34.
• the cam member 33 preferably comprises a unitary member or metal rod extending through all the segments 20 in the receptacle 10.
• the cam member 33 preferably has an oblong or oval cross-section.
• the top surface 74 of the follower member is arranged to engage the spring contact 64 to deflect them to space them apart or release them so that they can engage the daughter board 11.
• the follower member 34 has a D-shaped cross-section for its upper portion. When it is positioned as in the left-hand receptacle 10 in Figure 6 for receipt of the circuit board 11, the bottom of the D-shaped, 75, serves as a stop surface for aligning the circuit board 11 during insertion.
• the lower portion of the follower member 34, cross-section 76, has a hook-like shape so that when the follower member is withdrawn as in the right-hand receptacle 10 in Figure 6, it is held down in the withdrawn position by engagement between the cam 33 and the hook-portion 76.
• the segment body 63 includes an outer segment support member 77 and an inner segment support 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 members 33 and 34.
• any desired low insertion force mechanism can be employed as illustrated by the numerous patents noted in the background of this application. While it is preferred, in accordance with this invention, for the spring contact members 64 in one row to be biased towards the spring contact members 64 in the opposing row if desired, as illustrated in the background of this invention, the opposite approach can be employed. In such an opposite approach, the follower member serves 2S
• lever 38 is secured to the cam 33. This enables the operator to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 38 between its respective open and closed positions illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
• the length of the lever 38 can be made much longer so that an operator need only reach to the top of the circuit board area in order to turn it.
• This embodiment also provides greater leverage on the cam 33 for easier operation.
• Yet another approach adapted for remote actuation is to substitute 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.
• the linkage 80 can be brought out through a hole, not shown, in the top of the card housing 13 shown in Figure 1.
• the aligning and locking system 22 is comprised of locking levers 23 and 24.
• the body shell 19 includes a support extension 82 at its end 44.
• the lever 23 is pivotally supported about an extension base 83 by means of a split cylinder pin 84 inserted through holes 85 and 86 in the respective lever 23 and base 83.
• a second extension support base 87 includes a squarish hole 88 through which the cam 33 is inserted.
• the actuating lever 37 Prior to insertion of the cam 33, the actuating lever 37, fork-like projections 89, is positioned with a base 87 between the legs of the fork-like projections 89.
• a slot 90 in the fork-like projections 89 closely fits the cross-section of the cam 33.
• the cam 33 is held within the receptacle 10 after insertion. Insertion through each of the respective segments 20 by means of a split pin 91 inserted through a hole 92 in the cam 33 within a slot 93 is best illustrated in Figure 16.
• the pin 91 serves to lock the cam in place and the cam, in turn, serves to lock the actuating lever 37 in place.
• the locking lever 23 includes a first projection 27 which is 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 39 defined by the upper surface of one of the support legs 95.
• the follower portion 39 includes a notch 96.
• the actuating lever 37 includes a tab 38 which acts as a cam.
• the follower portion 39 also includes a stop portion 96 in operation when the lever 37 is in its vertical position as shown. The cam 33 disengages the segment follower 34 so that the contacts 31 and 32 close against the daughter boards.
• the aligning and locking system 22 and actuating systems 36 include the second aligning and locking lever 24 and a second actuating lever 99.
• the second lever 24 and the second lever 99 are located at the opposing end 43 of the body shell 19.
• the extension 100 includes a support 101 about which the lever 24 is pivotally supported by a split pin 102. It extends through holes 103 in the lever 24 and 104 in the base 101.
• 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
• the lever 99 which has a cross-section closely corresponding to the cross-section of the cam 33.
• the lever 99 is positioned about the cam 33 between the lever 24 and the support base extension 106.
• the lever 99 includes* tab 38 corresponding the tab of the lever 37.
• 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 stop portions 97 and 98. It also includes stop portion S.
• lever 99 is tied 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 follower 39 is identical to the inner action previously described with the respect to the levers 37 and 23 and, therefore, is not described again.
• the lever 37 is moved between its respective open and closed positions, the lever 99 moves between corresponding positions and interacts with the lever 24 in the same 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 so that a slight misalignment of the circuit board 11 does not prevent alignment and locking of the board into the receptacle.
• the taper of the projections 27 serve to move the board into its properly aligned position. It should be apparent that the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10 cannot be closed unless the circuit board 11 is properly locked and aligned within the receptacle. Any misalignment would prevent the projections 27 and 29 from being inserted in the respective alignment holes 25 and slot 28. This, in turn, would prevent the pivoting of the levers 23 and 24 into their fully and aligned position.
• the receptacle lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the position shown in Figure 5 unless both corners 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 so that the alignment can take place.
• the lever 37 is in the position of Figure 5, the circuit board cannot be pulled out of the receptacle 10, out the side of the receptacle 10, unless the handle 37 is first pivoted to its open position as shown in Figure 4.

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• 1984
  • 1984-11-20 AU AU37408/85A patent/AU570292B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1984-11-20 BR BR8407187A patent/BR8407187A/pt unknown
  • 1984-11-20 EP EP19850900323 patent/EP0162109B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1984-11-20 DE DE8585900323T patent/DE3483887D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1984-11-20 WO PCT/US1984/001921 patent/WO1985002499A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1984-11-20 JP JP50443184A patent/JPS61500516A/ja active Granted

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