EP0903810A2 - Verbinder für aneinander grenzende schaltungstragende Substraten - Google Patents

Verbinder für aneinander grenzende schaltungstragende Substraten Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0903810A2
EP0903810A2 EP98307287A EP98307287A EP0903810A2 EP 0903810 A2 EP0903810 A2 EP 0903810A2 EP 98307287 A EP98307287 A EP 98307287A EP 98307287 A EP98307287 A EP 98307287A EP 0903810 A2 EP0903810 A2 EP 0903810A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
connector
contact
housing
circuit
body section
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Withdrawn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
EP98307287A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0903810A3 (de
Inventor
Jim P. Scholz
Cheng-Thye Tan
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.)
Whitaker LLC
Original Assignee
Whitaker 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 Whitaker LLC filed Critical Whitaker LLC
Publication of EP0903810A2 publication Critical patent/EP0903810A2/de
Publication of EP0903810A3 publication Critical patent/EP0903810A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01R12/51—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/52—Fixed connections for rigid printed circuits or like structures connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to a connector for interconnecting circuits of adjacent circuit-bearing substrates and, more particularly, to a connector that can interconnect respective traces on the circuit-bearing substrates.
  • circuits on the respective substrates or circuit boards are formed in dense arrays with the typical pitch between adjacent contact pads being approximately one millimeter.
  • the corresponding contacts in a connector therefore, are relatively thin and are on the order of 0.1 to 0.5 millimeters.
  • the substrates while being aligned in a first horizontal direction such that corresponding circuit termini are across from one another, may be slightly spaced from each other in a second horizontal direction of a plane and,furthermore,may also be spaced slightly vertically from one another owing to differences in thicknesses of the boards as well as positions within the electronic equipment in which the boards are used.
  • U.S. Patent 5,263,868 discloses a flexible circuit interface for co-planar printed circuit boards.
  • the connector includes a support housing and a flexible jumper circuit for bridging the printed circuit boards that abut each other.
  • the flexible circuit includes an elastomeric member that can bridge the interface between the co-planar boards.
  • the elastomeric member be supported by a continuous surface, rather than by surfaces spaced by a gap or step.
  • the resiliency of the elastomeric member can be affected over time by changes in the environment, such as temperature variations, and when subject to continual vibrations or the like.
  • the electrical connector be able to interconnect corresponding circuit termini on the boards while accommodating slight differences in horizontal and vertical arrangements of the substrates.
  • the connector therefore, needs to be able to interconnect corresponding circuit termini across a gap as well as up a step and to maintain the desired normal force on the circuit termini over time, even when subject to changes in temperature and vibrations.
  • the present invention is directed to a connector for interconnecting circuits of adjacent circuit-bearing substrates that are placed edge to edge with circuit termini adjacent the edges.
  • the connector includes at least one contact-receiving cavity and a contact disposed therein.
  • the contact includes a plate like body section secured in the cavity and a pair of elongate spring arm contact sections initially co-extending from a common edge of the body section and outwardly of the contact-receiving cavity and from a mounting face of the housing.
  • the spring arm contact sections have end portions arcuately diverging from each other, all within the plane of the body section to free ends to orient respective continuous arcuate edges to face away from the mounting face.
  • the arcuate edges engage associated circuit termini of respective ones of the circuit-bearing substrates.
  • Each elongate spring arm contact section is independently deflectable toward the mounting face under spring bias upon engagement with the termini under compression there against such that the circuit-bearing substrates can vary relatively in distance from the mounting face and from each
  • the connector can be used to engage corresponding circuit termini on two circuit-bearing substrates that abut one another as well as substrates having a gap and/or a step between them.
  • FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of an electronic assembly including an electrical connector made in accordance with the invention exploded from two circuit-bearing substrates and from a fragmentary portion of a base of the assembly.
  • FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the connector of Figure 1 as viewed from the mounting face thereof.
  • FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector of Figure 2 mounted to two adjacent co-planar circuit-bearing substrates.
  • FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 wherein the substrates are spaced from each other in both in a horizontal as well as a vertical direction.
  • FIGURE 5 is plan view of a contact made in accordance with the invention.
  • connector 10 for interconnecting circuits of adjacent circuit-bearing substrates 50, 60 having circuit termini 52, 62 adjacent edges thereof includes a housing 12 having at least one contact-receiving cavity 20 and a contact 30 disposed therein.
  • the contact-receiving cavity 20 includes a top wall 22 and opposed side walls 24 and is open to the mounting face 14 of housing 12, as seen in Figure 3.
  • connector 10 is shown being used in an electrical article 64 that is mountable to a base 70 of an electronic apparatus.
  • Housing 12 further includes mounting portions 16 having apertures 18 extending therethrough for receiving fastening devices 74 for securing connector 10 to electrical article 64 and to base 70.
  • Each fastening device 74 extends through a respective washer 75, an insert 76 disposed in housing aperture 18, a respective aperture 66 in article 64 and are secured in a threaded aperture 72 of base 70.
  • Insert 76 has a diameter dimensioned to be received in aperture 18 in an interference fit and a length selected to be at least equal to the depth of aperture 18, thereby preventing the housing 12 from being damaged when the fastening device 74 is secured to base 72.
  • insert 76 provides a stop surface for fastening device 74.
  • the length of fastening device 74 and insert 76 are selected to apply the desired amount of compression force against housing 12 and the contacts 30 therein to assure electrical connection between the circuit termini 52, 62. It is to be understood that other types of fastening devices may also be used.
  • Contact 30 as best seen in Figure 5, includes a plate-like body section 32 having two pairs of opposed edges 34, 36,respectively, and a pair of elongate spring arm contact sections 40 co-extending from a common edge 34 of the body section 32 and outwardly from the contact-receiving cavity 20 when the contact 30 is secured in housing 12.
  • Each contact 30 is secured in a respective cavity in an interference fit whereby the edges 36 include a plurality of protrusions 37 that engage the inner surfaces of side walls 24 of cavity 20.
  • the elongate spring arm contact sections 40 have end portions 42 arcuately diverging from each other, all within the plane of the body section to free ends 44 to orient respective continuous arcuate edges 46 thereof to face away from the mounting face 14.
  • the arcuate edges 46 are adapted to be engaged by associated circuit termini 52, 62 of respective ones of the circuit-bearing substrates 50, 60.
  • the elongate spring arm contact sections 40 are independently deflectable toward the mounting face 14 of housing 12 under spring bias, upon engagement with circuit termini 52, 62 when compressed there against,such that the circuit-bearing substrates 50, 60 can vary relatively in distance from the mounting face 14, (Y axis) and from each other (X axis), as shown representatively in Figure 4.
  • the corresponding termini 52, 62 are aligned in the one direction (Z axis).
  • Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the cross-sectional view of the connector 10 mounted to circuit board wherein the adjacent substrates 50, 60 lie in a common plane in Figure 3, and in Figure 4,they are separated vertically by a distance ⁇ and horizontally by a distance ⁇ .
  • the circuit-bearing substrates or circuit boards 50, 60 are aligned such that the corresponding circuit termini 52, 62 are in alignment with each other with respect to the Z direction in the apparatus, spaced apart or adjacent in the X direction and co-planar or vertically spaced in the Y direction,as shown in Figure 4.
  • the housing is made from a dielectric material, such as a liquid crystal polymer or other material, as known in the art, that is suitable for use in the desired type of environment.
  • the terminals are stamped from a strip of metal, such as beryllium copper, phosphor bronze or the like.
  • the mounting portions 16 of housing 12 are secured to base 70.
  • the base 70 extends beneath the co-planar circuit-bearing substrates 50, 60.
  • Substrates 50 and 60 are of the same thickness, such that the corresponding upper and lower surfaces lie on respective common planes.
  • the circuit-bearing substrates 50, 60 are of different thicknesses resulting in vertical difference ⁇ . The lower surfaces of the substrates lie on the same plane, but the upper surfaces are on different planes.
  • the connector of the present invention provides a contact having resilient legs that can adjust to differences in height (step) and spacing (gap) between aligned circuit termini on adjacent circuit-bearing substrates.
  • the resilient spring arms provide sufficient normal force to retain the connection for each individual trace independently and compensate for variances in a gap or step between the two boards.
  • the spring arms maintain their resiliency when subject to changes in temperature and when used in an apparatus that is subject to periodic or continual vibrations.
  • the connector of the present invention can be removed from a first location having a first gap and step arrangement and used in a second location having a second gap and step arrangement.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP98307287A 1997-09-18 1998-09-09 Verbinder für aneinander grenzende schaltungstragende Substraten Withdrawn EP0903810A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US5929297P 1997-09-18 1997-09-18
US59292P 1997-09-18

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0903810A2 true EP0903810A2 (de) 1999-03-24
EP0903810A3 EP0903810A3 (de) 2000-03-29

Family

ID=22022050

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98307287A Withdrawn EP0903810A3 (de) 1997-09-18 1998-09-09 Verbinder für aneinander grenzende schaltungstragende Substraten

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0903810A3 (de)
JP (1) JPH11144825A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2806536A1 (fr) * 2000-03-20 2001-09-21 Raymond Bernier Dispositif d'interconnexion electrique de deux composants a plages de contact
DE102011103854A1 (de) * 2011-05-25 2012-11-29 Lumberg Connect Gmbh Verbinder zur Konnektierung zweier Leiterplatten

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5717472B2 (ja) * 2011-03-07 2015-05-13 富士通コンポーネント株式会社 コネクタ
JP2013030434A (ja) * 2011-07-29 2013-02-07 Yamaichi Electronics Co Ltd 電気コネクタ

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1359671A (en) * 1972-04-25 1974-07-10 Ferranti Ltd Connectors for printed circuit boards
JPS5555985U (de) * 1978-10-12 1980-04-16
FR2627639A1 (fr) * 1988-02-19 1989-08-25 Thomson Csf Dispositif de fixation de connexions notamment applicable a la connectique haute densite
GB2273830B (en) * 1992-12-24 1997-04-16 Whitaker Corp Electrical contact elements for interposer structures
US5336095A (en) * 1993-05-13 1994-08-09 The Whitaker Corporation Flex circuit interface for co-planar PCBs
NL9301779A (nl) * 1993-10-14 1995-05-01 Connector Systems Tech Nv Elektrische connector voor montage op het oppervlak van een printplaat.
DE19617121C1 (de) * 1996-04-29 1997-07-24 Lumberg Karl Gmbh & Co Kontaktleiste für Leiterplatten

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2806536A1 (fr) * 2000-03-20 2001-09-21 Raymond Bernier Dispositif d'interconnexion electrique de deux composants a plages de contact
DE102011103854A1 (de) * 2011-05-25 2012-11-29 Lumberg Connect Gmbh Verbinder zur Konnektierung zweier Leiterplatten
DE102011103854B4 (de) * 2011-05-25 2015-04-02 Lumberg Connect Gmbh Verbinder zur Konnektierung zweier Leiterplatten

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0903810A3 (de) 2000-03-29
JPH11144825A (ja) 1999-05-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6109927A (en) Connector for adjacent circuit-bearing substrates
US5427535A (en) Resilient electrically conductive terminal assemblies
US4144648A (en) Connector
US5073119A (en) Surface mount electrical connector
US4645279A (en) Chip carrier socket having improved contact terminals
EP0374460B1 (de) Elektrischer Verbinder unter Verwendung einer Leiterplatte
US5336094A (en) Apparatus for interconnecting electrical contacts
US6249440B1 (en) Contact arrangement for detachably attaching an electric component, especially an integrated circuit to a printed circuit board
KR100776894B1 (ko) 간단한 구조를 가지며 안정된 접속이 가능한 전기접속 부재및 그것을 사용하는 커넥터
US4894022A (en) Solderless surface mount card edge connector
US6358063B1 (en) Sealed interposer assembly
US11196207B2 (en) Card edge connector with protective cover
CA2680734A1 (en) Edge-to-edge connector system for electronic devices
US7572131B2 (en) Electrical interconnect system utilizing non-conductive elastomeric elements
US6835071B2 (en) Elastomeric connector interconnecting flexible circuits and circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
KR20020079580A (ko) Ｐｇａ용 콘택트 및 ｐｇａ 소켓
KR970054942A (ko) 표면 장착식 저 프로파일 전기 커넥터 조립체
KR100341845B1 (ko) 기판용컨넥터
US5691509A (en) Flexible cable termination and connector system
WO1997008779A1 (en) Right angle electrical connector
EP0903810A2 (de) Verbinder für aneinander grenzende schaltungstragende Substraten
KR100228457B1 (ko) 접속 장치
JP4240499B2 (ja) 接続部材
FI89842C (fi) Fjaedrande kontaktdon foer radiofrekventa signaler
US5558523A (en) Pad on pad type contact interconnection technology for electronic apparatus

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: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20000928

AKX Designation fees paid

Free format text: DE FR GB

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: 7H 01R 12/04 A

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: 20031211