EP0878035B1 - Socket for printed circuit boards - Google Patents

Socket for printed circuit boards Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0878035B1
EP0878035B1 EP95922221A EP95922221A EP0878035B1 EP 0878035 B1 EP0878035 B1 EP 0878035B1 EP 95922221 A EP95922221 A EP 95922221A EP 95922221 A EP95922221 A EP 95922221A EP 0878035 B1 EP0878035 B1 EP 0878035B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
latch
section
printed circuit
circuit board
guide
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
EP95922221A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0878035A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow
EP0878035A1 (en
Inventor
Akihiro Yodogawa
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.)
Berg Electronics Manufacturing BV
Original Assignee
Berg Electronics Manufacturing BV
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 Berg Electronics Manufacturing BV filed Critical Berg Electronics Manufacturing BV
Publication of EP0878035A4 publication Critical patent/EP0878035A4/xx
Publication of EP0878035A1 publication Critical patent/EP0878035A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0878035B1 publication Critical patent/EP0878035B1/en
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
    • H01R12/7005—Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors
    • 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
    • H01R12/83—Coupling devices connected with low or zero insertion force connected with pivoting of printed circuits or like after insertion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a socket for a printed circuit board which provides a direct-type connector adapted to allow the edge portion of the printed circuit board to be directly inserted as a plug section.
  • such a low insertion type connector has a plurality of spring contacts arranged in a socket-formation having of an insulating material with their contact points projected in an insertion inlet into which a printed circuit called a daughter board is inserted.
  • These contact points are arranged as two contact point arrays along the longitudinal direction of the insertion inlet and a gap is created between these contact arrays to receive the edge portion of the printed circuit board.
  • the respective contact point arrays are arranged, in an offset way, in a depth direction of the insertion inlet, that is, in the insertion direction of the printed board.
  • the corresponding contact point array is contacted with an area near the forward end of the edge portion of the printed circuit board, while on the other surface side of the printed circuit board the corresponding contact point array is contacted with an area somewhat distant from the forward end of the edge portion of the printed circuit board.
  • a latching mechanism is provided so that the printed circuit board is held in the swung position and fixed to a housing.
  • Various types of latching mechanisms have been developed as such.
  • the latching mechanism as disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. 4,986,765 is equipped with a leaf-spring-like latch member formed of a metal sheet and the printed circuit is latched by the metal latch member.
  • the metal latch member has an elastic section in a recess of the housing base, a metal section projected downwardly from the elastic section and inserted into a through bore in the housing base, and a latch section provided above the elastic section.
  • the latch section engages the edge portion of the printed circuit board to externally urge the elastic section and a cutout fitted over the side edge of the printed circuit board so that the printed circuit board is held in a predetermined swung position.
  • U.S. Pat. 5,161,995 discloses a latching mechanism equipped with a leaf-spring-like latch member formed of a metal sheet.
  • the latch member comprises a mount section situated below the elastic section and latch section situated on the upper side.
  • the mount section has one pair of U-shaped mount arms fixedly wound around a support pole situated near the insertion inlet of the printed circuit board. These mount arms support the reaction force of that spring.
  • the latch section provides a guide face for, upon the swinging of the printed circuit board, engaging with the edge portion of the printed circuit board to outwardly urge the elastic section and an engaging wall for engaging with one face of the printed circuit board to prevent return motion of the printed circuit board.
  • any of the aforementioned latch mechanisms leaves room for improvement in view of the latch members being formed of a metal sheet.
  • the printed circuit board Since, upon the mounting of the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is swung slidably along the guide sections or guide faces of the latch members to cause the latch members to be bent against their elastic force, there is a risk that a coating layer of the printed circuit board or insulating substrate will be damaged due to the contacting or slide motion of the printed circuit board.
  • the printed circuit board per se becomes larger due to the high integration density of the printed circuit board or the number of spring contacts is increased, a greater total force by the spring contacts is required. If the latch member is made correspondingly great in size, a greater force is required to bend the latch member. As a result, there is a greater possibility that the printed circuit board will be damaged.
  • a metal member other than the contacts such as a metal member near the insertion inlet of the printed circuit board in particular, from being exposed as much as possible.
  • a socket for printed circuit board having latches integrally molded with the socket housing are disclosed in US-A-5 226 833.
  • a socket, for a printed circuit board, according to the present invention comprises:
  • the guide has a mount section fitted in the support arm and the guide section of the latch guide extends from one end side of the mount section toward the latch arm and an elastic section is provided in the latch guide and extends from the other end side of the mount section into the gap created between the latch arm and the support arm.
  • the guide section is formed of a rectangular sheet-like section having two guide edges extending from the support arm toward the latch arm and the latch arm has two projections holding the guide section of the latch guide therebetween and slidably movable on the guide edges of the latch guide.
  • the latch arm has a stopper face abutting against one surface of the printed circuit board to prevent excessive movement of the printed circuit board and the latch section is comprised of a projection provided at a predetermined distance from the stopper face and abutting against the other surface of the printed circuit board.
  • the socket, for the printed circuit board, according to the present invention is such that, when the printed circuit board is inserted into the insertion inlet of the housing, the contact points of the respective contacts are made in contact with conduction parts arranged on the edge portion, that is, the base end side of the printed circuit board.
  • the printed circuit board is swung against the urging force of the spring contact in a direction to press these contact points and, by so doing, the side edges of the printed circuit board are slidably moved along the cam sections of the respective latch arms, then the respective latch arms are displaced in opposite directions. This causes the pair of latch arms to be opened so that the latch section is placed to the unlatched position where the side edges of the printed circuit board can be unlatched.
  • the latch arms are returned under their elastic force back to the latched position so that the latch sections are latched to the side edges of the printed circuit board to hold the printed circuit board in place.
  • the latch arms When the latch arms are moved between the latched position and the unlatched position, it is slidably moved along the guide section of the latch guide. Since the support arm for supporting the latch guide, latch arm and housing are formed of an integral structure of an insulating material, metal members exposed at the insertion inlet are spring contacts only and it is possible to secure a safety upon attachment and detachment of the printed circuit board. Further, the latch arms are slidably moved along the guide section of the latch guide between the latch position and the unlatched position and the printed circuit board is smoothly mounted in place. The support arm, extending with a gap created relative to the latch arm, prevents the latch arm from being excessively bent.
  • the projections of the latch arm are slidably moved along the guide edges of the latch guide, thereby preventing twisting of the latch arm.
  • the printed circuit board is positioned more accurately.
  • the housing 14 has a pair of opposed walls 24, 26 arranged as upper and lower walls between which an insertion inlet 28 is defined so as to allow a printed circuit board 8 to be inserted.
  • the latch arm 16 is coupled to the lower wall 26 and the upper surface of the latch arm at the insertion inlet 28 is situated in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the lower wall 26 of the housing.
  • the latch arm 16 is of such a structure as to be smaller in cross-section than the support arm 18 and readily bendable, while, on the other hand, the support arm 18 has a relatively rigid structure.
  • the socket 10 of the present invention which is used for the printed circuit board is formed horizontal to the surface of a mother board, not shown, and mounted with the insertion inlet 28 situated in the horizontally open state.
  • a positioning projection 13 is formed on the housing 14. From the array of contacts, the socket is formed for what is called a DIMM (dual in-line memory module).
  • Contact grooves 30a are opened in the upper wall 24 on the insertion inlet 28 side and situated at a predetermined interval.
  • Contact grooves 30b are also opened in the lower wall 26 of the housing on the insertion inlet 28 side and situated at a predetermined interval.
  • the contact grooves 30a of the upper wall and contact grooves 30b of the lower wall 26 of the housing are alternately formed along the longitudinal direction and a corresponding spring contact 12 is mounted in the corresponding contact grooves 30a, 30b.
  • a spring contact 12 as shown in FIG. 3(A) is fitted in the contact grooves 30a and a spring contact 12 as shown in FIG. 3(B) is fitted in the contact grooves 30b.
  • These spring contacts 12 are, for example, punched out of a copper alloy.
  • these spring contacts 12 each have a mount section 33 fitted in the housing 14 with a contact point (32a, 32b) supported by the mount section 33 via an elastic section (36a, 36b).
  • the respective contact 12 is inserted from the back of the insertion inlet 28, that is, from the left side of the housing 14 as shown in FIG. 3 with the mount section 33 fitted in a corresponding one of mount holes 34 in the lower wall of the housing.
  • a small projection 35 on the mount section of the contact prevents the contact from being slipped out of the mount hole 34.
  • the contact point 32a of the contact, together with the elastic section 36a of the contact is placed in the corresponding contact groove 30a of the upper wall 24 of the housing as shown in FIG.
  • the contact points 32a, 32b of the respective spring contacts 12 provide, in the insertion inlet 28, contact point arrays along the longitudinal direction of the insertion inlet 28. These contact arrays are located in an offset relation to the direction E in which the printed circuit board 8 is inserted.
  • the contact points 32a, 32b are urged by the edge portion of the printed circuit board, thus trying to return the elastic sections 36a, 36b of the contacts back to their original positions.
  • FIG. 4 shows latching mechanisms holding the printed circuit board 8 which receives such a moment at its respective side edges in a width direction of the circuit board 8.
  • the latching mechanisms holding the respective sides of the circuit board have the same structures with respect to each other and only one of them is explained.
  • the latching mechanism of the present embodiment comprises the latch arm 16 extending from the housing 14, support arm 18, and latch guide 20 fitted into the support arm 18 to guide the latch arm 16.
  • the latch guide 20 is formed of one sheet made of, for example, a copper alloy.
  • the latch guide 20 of the present embodiment comprises a mount section 40 fitted in the forward portion of the support arm 18, guide section 42 bent substantially perpendicular from one end portion of the mount section 40, and a folded-back elastic section at the other end portion of the mount section 40.
  • An L-shaped latch piece 46 is projected from the upper edge of the mount section 40 and a fixed leg 48 is projected from the lower edge of the mount section 40 so that it is fixed, by soldering for instance, to the mother board not shown.
  • the guide section 42 has a rectangular sheet-like configuration forming guide edges at the upper and lower edges with projections 43, 43 provided in the upward and downward directions.
  • the elastic section 44 is fitted between the latch arm 16 and the support arm 18 and has a curved section 50 which, when the latch arm 16 is bent, can abut against the latch arm 16.
  • the support arm 18 has a holding recess 52 at its forward end portion to receive the mount section 40 of the latch guide 20 on the latch arm 16 is and also has a slot 54, as shown in FIG. 4, which, when the latch piece 46 is inserted via the forward end of the support arm 18, holds it in place, the cutout section 58 holds the fixed leg in place and the cutout 60 received an engaging projection 62 extending from the latch arm 16.
  • the latch arm 16 has two projections 64, 64 at its forward end side as shown in FIG. 4.
  • a recess 66 is provided on the support arm facing side to receive the curved section 50 provided at the elastic section 44 of the latch guide 20.
  • the engaging projection 62 is upwardly projected from the upper surface of the latch arm 16 and from the side of the latch arm 16 toward the support arm 18.
  • An inwardly inclined cam section 68 is provided on the upper side of the engaging projection 62 and the engaging section 70 is provided at its lower side to latch the side edge portion of the printed circuit board.
  • a lug 72 (FIG. 2) is provided on the support arm 18 side of the engaging projection 62. By the operation of the lug 72 the latch arm 16 is bendable between the engaged position (FIG. 1) in which the engaging projection 62 is latched to the side edge of the printed circuit board and the disengaged position ( FIG. 6) in which the engaging projection is disengaged.
  • the latch guide 20 When the latch guide 20 is to be fitted in the support arm 18, it is inserted in the gap between the support arm 18 and the latch arm 16 with the latch piece 46 aligned with the slot 54.
  • the elastic section 44 and curved section 50 are guided in the recess 66 of the latch arm 16 and the mount section 40 is located in the holding recess 52 ( FIG . 5) of the support arm.
  • the latch piece 46 is bitten into the wall of the support arm 18 to hold the latch guide 20 firmly in place and the mount section 40 abuts against the side surface of the holding recess 52.
  • the projections 64, 64 of the latch arm 16 abut against the upper a guide edges of the latch section 42 and are prevented from being moved by the projections 43, 43 away from the support arm 18.
  • FIG. 6 shows the operation of the latching mechanism.
  • the latch arms 16, 16 When the printed circuit board 8 is further swung, the latch arms 16, while urging the elastic sections 44 of the latch guides, are moved toward the support arms 18. By so doing, the latch arms 16, 16 are pushed away from each other and, with the further swinging of the printed circuit board 8 clear of the cam sections 68, the printed circuit board 8 is contacted with the upper surfaces of the latch arms 16, 16 and prevented from being excessively moved. Consequently, the latch arms 16, 16 are returned the latched positions under their own elastic force and an elastic force of the latch guides 20, whereby the latch sections 70 latch the side edges of the printed circuit 8 and hence the circuit board is held in the swung position.
  • the elastic section 44 is provided on the latch guides 20, even if the printed circuit board 8 is made in contact with the upper surface of the latch arm 16, it is possible to immediately return the latch arms 16 back to the initial positions.
  • the latch arms 16 are moved by the lugs 72 in those arrow "O" directions to the disengaged position as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the latch sections 70 (FIG. 4) of the engaging projections 62 are disengaged from the printed circuit board 8 and the printed circuit board 8 is swung by an urging force of latch spring contact 12 away from the corresponding latch arm 16.
  • the respective projections 43 are slidably guided on the guide edges of the respective guide sections 42 and the engaging projections 62 are moved along the flat surface of the printed circuit board 8 whereby the latch sections 70 of an insulating material smoothly engages with the side edges of the printed circuit board 8. Further, a bending direction force and torsional direction force acting from the printed circuit board 8 through the latch sections 70 to the latch arms 16 are transmitted to the support arms 18 through the guide section 42 and mount section 40 of the latch guide 20 and also to the mother board through the fixed leg 48. For this reason, the printed circuit board 8 is very firmly held in place while maintaining the easiness with which the latch arms 16 are bent. Further, the latch guide 20 made of a metal is held between the latch arm 16 and the support arm 18 and almost any metal portion is not exposed to an outside, thus ensuring the safety of the daughter board, etc.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification of the latching mechanism.
  • the same reference numerals are employed to designate parts or elements corresponding to those shown in the aforementioned embodiment and no further explanation is omitted.
  • This latching mechanism has not only an elastic section 44 but also an auxiliary elastic section 80.
  • the auxiliary elastic section 80 is comprised of a bent-back section bent from the elastic section 44 at a bent portion.
  • the forward end portion of the auxiliary section 80 is bent into a curved area and is of such a structure that the auxiliary section 80 is smoothly engages with the mount section 40.
  • the elasticity of the latch arm 16 can be set in three stages. Upon the attachment and detachment of the printed circuit board, it is possible to obtain a state of engagement with an engaging projection 62 through a varying elasticity.
  • the socket according to the present invention which is used for the printed circuit board, even if a greater number of spring contacts are used, it is possible to readily and positively attach or detach a printed circuit board to and from the socket without causing an injury to the printed circuit board and do so with the use of an insulating material.
  • the guide section is comprised of a rectangular sheet-like section having two guide edges and the projections of the latch arms are slidably moved along the guide edges of the guide sections, the latch sections of the latch arms can smoothly slide on the printed circuit board.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
EP95922221A 1995-07-06 1995-07-06 Socket for printed circuit boards Expired - Lifetime EP0878035B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1995/007143 WO1997002626A1 (en) 1995-07-06 1995-07-06 Socket for printed circuit boards

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0878035A4 EP0878035A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1998-11-18
EP0878035A1 EP0878035A1 (en) 1998-11-18
EP0878035B1 true EP0878035B1 (en) 1999-10-13

Family

ID=22249252

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95922221A Expired - Lifetime EP0878035B1 (en) 1995-07-06 1995-07-06 Socket for printed circuit boards

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0878035B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE69512803T2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
WO (1) WO1997002626A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4527310B2 (ja) * 2000-12-08 2010-08-18 タイコエレクトロニクスジャパン合同会社 カードエッジコネクタ
DE102021100806A1 (de) * 2021-01-15 2022-07-21 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Kontakteinrichtung und Verfahren zur Herstellung der Kontakteinrichtung

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4713013A (en) * 1987-01-30 1987-12-15 Molex Incorporated Compliant high density edge card connector with contact locating features
JPH0252278U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1988-10-05 1990-04-16
US5286217A (en) * 1991-08-15 1994-02-15 Foxconn International Electrical connector with improved latch mechanism
US5226833A (en) * 1991-08-23 1993-07-13 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Electrical connector
US5145396A (en) * 1991-11-13 1992-09-08 Amphenol Corporation Combo SIMM connector
US5154627A (en) * 1991-11-20 1992-10-13 Lee Chih Ta Electrical connector insertably fixed with simplified metal latches
JPH05159829A (ja) * 1991-12-09 1993-06-25 Du Pont Singapore Pte Ltd 電気ソケット

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0878035A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1998-11-18
DE69512803T2 (de) 2000-05-18
DE69512803D1 (de) 1999-11-18
EP0878035A1 (en) 1998-11-18
WO1997002626A1 (en) 1997-01-23

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