EP0259964A1 - An electrical connector for flexible flat cable - Google Patents

An electrical connector for flexible flat cable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0259964A1
EP0259964A1 EP87306742A EP87306742A EP0259964A1 EP 0259964 A1 EP0259964 A1 EP 0259964A1 EP 87306742 A EP87306742 A EP 87306742A EP 87306742 A EP87306742 A EP 87306742A EP 0259964 A1 EP0259964 A1 EP 0259964A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cable
terminal
connector
cable holder
holder
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP87306742A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Akira Kanesige
Kazusige Asakawa
Sinichi Tadokoro
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.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
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 Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Publication of EP0259964A1 publication Critical patent/EP0259964A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • H01R12/50—Fixed connections
    • H01R12/59—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/592—Fixed connections for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connections to contact elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical connector for a flexible flat cable.
  • a flat flexible cable (FFC) connector is a push-in type which comprises a connector housing having a terminal space therein a plurality of terminals mounted in the connector housing at regular intervals corresponding to those at which the strip conductors are arranged in the flexible flat cable, and a cable holder.
  • the cable holder has a male projection and two lock elongations integrally connected to the projection on either side and is designed to be inserted in the terminal space with its lock elongations sliding along the inner walls of the connector housing.
  • the cable holder also has a cable slot through which the flat cable is inserted prior to the holder being nested in the connector housing and a cable supporting or bearing surface at the end of the projection.
  • the cable holder with the cable end laid on the cable bearing surface, is pushed in the connector housing until the opposite lock elongations of the cable holder have been caught in the connector housing. Then, the strip conductors of the flat cable are put in electrical contact with corresponding terminals of an associated printed, board.
  • each terminal has a single terminal extension stretching out along the ceiling or floor of the housing space. Electrical contact is made by inserting the cable holder with its cable bearing surface facing the ceiling or floor of the terminal housing on which side the terminal extension stretches out. Otherwise, no electrical contact could be made between the cable end and the terminal extension.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical connector for flexible flat cable permitting the common use of a single type connector to make electrical connections with flat flexible cable in different ways. Accordingly, the inventory control of parts is made simple and easy and the degree of freedom in designing is increased.
  • an electrical connector for a flexible flat cable having spaced-apart parallel conductive strips mounted thereon, arranged at a regular distance apart said connector including a connector housing having a terminal space, a plurality of terminals mounted in the connector housing at regular intervals corresponding to those at which the strip conductors of the flat cable are arranged, and a cable holder having a male projection with a forward cable supporting surface and two lock elongations integrally connected to both sides of the projection.
  • the male projection of said cable holder is adapted to be inserted in the terminal space with the lock elongations sliding along the walls of the connector housing.
  • the cable holder has a cable slot, permitting the insertion of the cable in the terminal space when the cable holder is brought to the upper insertion limit, the strip conductors of the cable lying on the cable supporting surface and adapted to be brought and kept in electrical contact with the corresponding terminals when the cable holder is brought to the lower insertion limit and is locked.
  • each terminal having a pair of spaced-apart extensions and defining a bilateral fork, said pair of terminal extensions having contact points at their free ends in opposing relationship, whereby the cable holder can be inserted in the connector housing so that the cable supporting surface is brought into contact with either contact point of the terminal extensions, assuring that the cable is resiliently pinched and held between the cable supporting surface and the opposing contact point regardless of which of the -terminal extensions the male projection of the cable holder faces.
  • Figs. 10 to 13 show four different ways of using a flexible flat cable connector which requires a proper orientation of male to female part.
  • a printed circuit board to which a conventional connector 51 is applied is indicated at 50;
  • a flexible flat cable is indicated at 52;
  • the strip conductors of the cable are indicated at 53;
  • another printed circuit board to which the other end of the flexible flat cable is connected is indicated at 55;
  • a printed circuit pattern appearing on the printed circuit board 55 is indicated at 56; and terminals are indicated at 57.
  • the flexible flat cable 52 is inserted in the lower part 51a of the connector housing 51, and the other end of the flat cable is applied to the circuit board.
  • the flexible flat cable 52 is inserted in the upper part 51b of the connector housing 51, and the other end of the flat cable 52 is applied to the circuit pattern 56, which is on the left side of the printed circuit board as seen in the drawing.
  • the flexible flat cable 52 is inserted in the upper part 51b of the connector housing 51, and the other end 54 of the flat cable 52 is applied to the circuit pattern 56, which is on the right side of the printed circuit board as seen in the drawing.
  • the flexible flat cable 52 is inserted in the lower part 51a of the connector housing 51, and the other end 54 of the flat cable 52 is applied to the circuit pattern 56, which is on the right side of the printed board as seen in the drawing.
  • two different kinds of connectors are selectively used. One is designed to permit the insertion of a flexible flat cable in the upper part of the connector, and the other is designed to permit the insertion of a flexible flat cable in the lower part of the connector.
  • Figs. 1 to 9 show an electrical connector, generally designated 1, of the present invention.
  • the electrical connector 1 generally comprises a connector housing 2 and a cable holder 3.
  • the connector 1 is designed to be used in connecting a flexible flat cable 4 as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the cable 4 has a plurality of parallel conductive strips 7 that are spaced-apart a distance equal to P.
  • the housing 2 has a terminal space 5 formed therein and a plurality of terminals 6 are mounted within the space 5 of housing 2.
  • the terminals 6 are arranged at regular intervals P' equal to P.
  • each terminal 6 has a pair of symmetrical spaced-apart extensions 8 and 9 defining a cable engaging fork.
  • Each extension 8 and 9 has a contact point at its free end as indicated at 8a and 9a.
  • the contact points 8a and 9a face each other symmetrically.
  • Each side wall A or 8 of the housing 2 has two lock recesses 10 and 11.
  • the cable holder 3 which is adapted to hold cable 4 and to be inserted within housing space 5, has two lock elongations A' and B' integrally connected to both sides of a male projection 13. Lock elongations A' and B' slide on the opposite side walls of the terminal space 15 when the cable holder 3 is nested within the housing 2. Each lock elongation A' and B' has a male projection 12 at its free end. In nesting the cable holder 3 within the housing 2 the male projections 12 of the lock elongations A' and B' will be caught by the lock recesses of the opposite sidewalls of the housing 2 so that the cable holder 3 may be locked sequentially at upper and lower positions as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.
  • the male projection 13 of the cable holder 3 has a cable supporting or bearing surface 13a which functions to pinch a stripped end of the flat cable 4 between itself and the counter contact point of the terminal elongation 8 or 9.
  • the stripped end of the flat cable 4 may be inserted in a cable slot 14 formed in the cable holder 3.
  • This configuration permits the conductors 7 of the flat cable 4 to be pinched between the bearing surface 13a of the male projection and the, upper or lower terminal extension depending upon the user's choice. No matter which terminal elongation 8 or 9 may be selected as a counter part to the bearing surface 13a of the male projection 13 of the cable holder 3, the stripped end of a flexible flat cable 4 will be resiliently pinched therebetween.
  • each terminal 6 has a leg 6a projecting downward from the housing 2.
  • the housing 2 shown is intended to be mounted on a printed circuit board 15 with terminal legs 6a inserted into holes 16 formed therein.
  • the terminals 6 are arranged at very close centerline space so that their legs 6a and corresponding holes 16 must be staggered as shown in Fig. 7.
  • the connector 1 can be used to meet every possible connecting mode. For instance, looking at Fig. 8, a connector 1 is fixed to the upper surface of a printed circuit board 15a with the cable connector to another printed circuit board 15b.
  • Printed circuit board 15b is arranged perpendicular to printed circuit board 15a and has a printed circuit pattern 17 on the right side as seen in Fig. 8.
  • the cable holder 3 is inserted in the housing 2 with the cable bearing surface 13a of the male projection upward to permit the insertion of the cable end in the upper part of the connector.
  • Fig. 5 The positioning and holding of cable 4 is best shown in Fig. 5.
  • one end 4a of a flexible flat cable 4 is inserted in the terminal space 5 through the cable slot 14, which is contiguous to the bearing surface 13a of the male projection of the cable holder 3.
  • the cable holder 3 is moved in the direction as indicated at 18 until it has been locked.
  • the end 4a of the flexible flat cable 4 is resiliently pinched between the contact point 8a of the terminal elongation 8 and the bearing surface 13a of the male projection 13 of the cable holder 3.
  • the other end 4b of the flexible flat cable 4 is attached to the right side of another printed board 15b (Fig. 8).
  • the strip conductors 7 appear on the upper surface of the flexible flat cable 4, and the flat conductors 7 are brought into electrical contact with the contact point 8a of the terminal elongation 8 which stretches out along the ceiling of the terminal space 5.
  • the strip conductors 7 are on the back side of a flexible flat cable 4.
  • the cable holder 3 is turned upside down so that the bearing surface 13a of the male projection 13 faces the terminal elongation 9 stretching out along the floor of the terminal space 5 of the housing 3.
  • one end 4a of the flexible flat cable 4 may be pinched resiliently between the bearing surface 13a of the male projection 13 and the terminal elongation 9 to permit the strip conductors 7 to be in electrical contact with the terminal elongation 9 in housing 2.
  • the electrical connector 1 of the present embodiment is described as being applied to a printed circuit board which has a circuit pattern on its one surface. However, it will be appreciated that the connector 1 is applied to a printed circuit board having a circuit pattern on its opposite sides.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP87306742A 1986-08-29 1987-07-30 An electrical connector for flexible flat cable Withdrawn EP0259964A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1986132373U JPH028387Y2 (ko) 1986-08-29 1986-08-29
JP132373/86U 1986-08-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0259964A1 true EP0259964A1 (en) 1988-03-16

Family

ID=15079854

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP87306742A Withdrawn EP0259964A1 (en) 1986-08-29 1987-07-30 An electrical connector for flexible flat cable

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0259964A1 (ko)
JP (1) JPH028387Y2 (ko)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2272117A (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-05-04 Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd Electrical connector
DE29605034U1 (de) * 1996-03-06 1996-05-15 Petri Ag, 63743 Aschaffenburg Steckverbinder
US5779498A (en) * 1994-10-31 1998-07-14 The Whitaker Corporation Flat cable connector

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2560143Y2 (ja) * 1991-07-10 1998-01-21 日本航空電子工業株式会社 Ｆｐｃ接続用コネクタ

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986003345A1 (en) * 1984-11-29 1986-06-05 Amp Incorporated Electrical connector
FR2577353A1 (fr) * 1985-02-13 1986-08-14 Constr Telephoniques Agencement pour l'insertion d'un support souple dans un connecteur encartable

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1986003345A1 (en) * 1984-11-29 1986-06-05 Amp Incorporated Electrical connector
FR2577353A1 (fr) * 1985-02-13 1986-08-14 Constr Telephoniques Agencement pour l'insertion d'un support souple dans un connecteur encartable

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2272117A (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-05-04 Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd Electrical connector
US5370552A (en) * 1992-09-16 1994-12-06 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Electrical connector
GB2272117B (en) * 1992-09-16 1996-05-22 Sumitomo Wall Systems Ltd Electrical connector
US5779498A (en) * 1994-10-31 1998-07-14 The Whitaker Corporation Flat cable connector
DE29605034U1 (de) * 1996-03-06 1996-05-15 Petri Ag, 63743 Aschaffenburg Steckverbinder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH028387Y2 (ko) 1990-02-28
JPS6372875U (ko) 1988-05-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5161985A (en) Board to board interconnect
US3715706A (en) Right angle electrical connector
US5498167A (en) Board to board electrical connectors
US5395265A (en) Retention system for a connector housing
US5181854A (en) Press-contact type electric connector for a flat, flexible cable
JPS6223031Y2 (ko)
EP0214830B1 (en) Fpc connector
US4647131A (en) Connector with conductor retention means
US4647136A (en) Modular plug and printed circuit connector
US5277627A (en) Electrical connector for IC card
US5201661A (en) Printed circuit board flat flexible cable connector
US5057027A (en) Female terminal for an electrical connector
EP0615308A2 (en) Electric connector terminal
US5525072A (en) Electrical connector assembly for interconnecting a flat cable to a circuit board
US5779498A (en) Flat cable connector
US3631380A (en) Universal circuit board connector
EP0866520A3 (en) Electrical ribbon wire connectors
US6074230A (en) Hermaphroditic electrical connectors
EP0259964A1 (en) An electrical connector for flexible flat cable
JP3355403B2 (ja) 電気コネクタの端子装置
US5013250A (en) Multi-pole connector plug
US3887259A (en) Connector retaining adapter
CN211789672U (zh) 连接器
KR930702875A (ko) 다수의 도터보드사이를 접속하기 위한 전기적인 상호접속 시스템
EP0265201A2 (en) Electrical cable connector shroud

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19880917

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: KANESIGE, AKIRA

Inventor name: TADOKORO, SINICHI

Inventor name: ASAKAWA, KAZUSIGE