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
  • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/03—Contact members characterised by the material, e.g. plating, or coating materials
  • H01R13/035—Plated dielectric material
• • 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
  • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
  • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S439/00—Electrical connectors
  • Y10S439/931—Conductive coating

Definitions

• the invention relates to an input / output connector, in particular for surface mounting on a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a first electrically insulating part, having at least one fixing element and at least one contact, and a second part, serving as a housing, partially covering the first part, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing
• Such connectors are preferably used in portable communication devices, such as radiotelephones or the like.
• I / O connectors which, therefore, are surface mounted on a printed circuit board, according to the SMD (Surface Mounted Device) technique.
• SMD Surface Mounted Device
• Such connectors constitute mechanical interfaces for the connection of various peripherals, such as for example data transmission modems.
• the connector moreover, consists of several elementary parts, such as the two extractable holding clips, contact rods embedded in the housing, the housing itself and locking hooks, a large number is required manufacturing steps, which also increase production costs. In addition, these narrow contact rods are not designed for high electrical power.
• the invention aims to provide an input / output connector for surface mounting on a printed circuit board, comprising a first part insulating from electricity, having at least one fixing element with a flat face and at least one contact track with a flat connection face, and a second part serving as a housing, partially covering the first part which has a very precisely reproducible laying face, which can be positioned simply on a printed circuit board.
• This problem is solved by the fact that the flat connection face of the contact track is located substantially in the same plane as the lower planar face of the fixing element, this plane defining the plane of installation of the connector.
• the contact track corresponds to a metallization deposited on an insulating zone of the first part, not covered by the second part, also contributes to the solution of this problem.
• first part consists of a single injection molded part, and that the second part is partially overmolded above the first part.
• the first part with its elements, to consist of a single part. Between the elements of the first part, there is no possibility of displacement or offset after molding. The only precaution consists in milling precisely the casting model of the first part, here the injection molds. With the help of CNC machines, this is no longer a problem.
• the second part fills the free spaces of the first part and therefore strengthens it, so that a mechanically robust assembly (connector) is formed.
• Another advantageous embodiment of the invention is that according to which the first part can have on the two sides of the connector respectively a fixing element in each of which can be formed centering openings.
• the connector comprises means for supporting strong electric currents, for example by presenting at least one power module for the transmission of high electric powers
• the power module comprises a metal median contact, a metal elastic contact and a retention blade, the contacts being capable of being electrically connected to a printed circuit board, to the using metallized synthetic strips.
• the connector according to the invention comprises a first part insulating from electricity, which has at least one fixing element and at least one electrical contact, and a second part serving as a housing, which covers partially the first part.
• the planar connection face, extending horizontally, of the rigid contact is situated substantially in the same plane as the planar underside of the fixing element, this plane defining the plane of installation of the connector.
• the connector only consists of two parts, and possibly a power module. It is only the first part, by a non-detachable fixing element and with a non-detachable contact having the laying surface, which determines the laying plane of the connector.
• a special feature of the invention lies in the fact that the connector does not require any additional clamp or hook to be mounted to ensure positioning and fixing. Above all, it should be emphasized that, when the connector has several contacts, all the laying surfaces are located in a single plane.
• the power module comprises a metal median contact, a metal elastic contact and a retention blade, the contacts being capable of being electrically connected to a card printed circuit, using metallized plastics bands and the fact that the two plastics bands, extending on the rear face of the connector and belonging to the first part, are transformed into separate connection faces , located in the same plane as the connection faces of the rigid contacts.
• a power module produced in this way can be used to charge the device connected to it, a good electrical connection being ensured.
• Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the median contact of elongated shape, responding to rotational symmetry, has in the front zone a smaller diameter than in the rear zone, which has at least one section of spherical shape, projecting outwards, to ensure the electrical and mechanical connection of the median contact to the first strip or track.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a manufacturing process a connector that can be mounted on the surface, resulting in very low production costs.
• a method of manufacturing a surface mountable connector having the following manufacturing steps. First, the first part is injection molded, then the surface of the first part is chemically activated, then the first part is blocked by clamping in the injection mold of the second part. Now the second part is partially overmolded above the first part. Then, the connector is metallized, the metal adhering only to the surface left free of the first part. Finally, according to the variant of the invention chosen, metal elements of the power module are optionally introduced into their corresponding chambers.
• thermoplastic material for the injection molding of the second part, the same thermoplastic material is used as for the injection molding of the first part.
• a special feature of the invention lies in the activation of the surface of the first part. This especially makes it possible to house and adhere the metal to the synthetic material, such as a thermoplastic material.
• the first part is inserted into the injection mold of the second part and is locked by clamping, so that the first part, during the second pass, is not moved.
• the second constituted part plays the role of a robust case, insulating from electricity, because the voids and the intermediate spaces of the first part are filled.
• the second part acts as a mask.
• the second part On the second part itself, no trace of metal remains in adhesion, owing to the fact that the synthetic material in general does not bind chemically well to the metal.
• a metal deposition is carried out on the activated, free surface of the first part.
• the second part leads to the mutual separation of the different metallized zones of the first part, so that these are not connected together electrically.
• These metal areas then have a stiff and rigid underlying support, precisely the first part, which hardly or hardly deforms under the effect of pressure. It is therefore particularly advantageous that for such connectors manufactured according to the invention, provided for signals, no contact plug is used. We uses contact plugs or contact springs only for the power module. We can therefore combine the advantages of both technologies without increasing costs.
• Fig. 1 a perspective view from above of a connector according to the invention
• FIG. 1 a perspective bottom view of the connector according to the invention, taken from FIG. 1;
• - Fig. 3 a cross section along the plane B-B of FIG. 1;
• - Fig. 4 a cross section along the plane A-A of FIG. 1;
• - Fig. 5 represents a small area of the first part, without the second part added over it by casting.
• - Fig. 6 a front view of a particular embodiment of a connector according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 a perspective bottom view of a particular embodiment of the connector of FIG. 6;
• - Fig. 8 a sectional view along line F-F of FIG. 6; and - Fig. 9: a sectional view along the line G-G of FIG. 6.
• Figures 1 and 2 show the input / output connector according to the invention, in top view or in bottom view, in perspective.
• the connector is preferably cast in two passes. During a first pass, a first part 1, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is formed, and during a second pass, it is the second part 50, partially covering the first part 1, which is carried out.
• the elements of the first part are marked by the reference characters from 1 to 49 and the elements of the second part, by the reference characters starting from 50.
• On the top view of Figure 1 is visible essentially the second part 50 of rectangular shape.
• the first part 1 and the second part 50 are preferably made of an insulating thermoplastic material.
• the connector comprises at least one contact track 3. This contact track 3 is obtained by metallization of a surface of the first part 1. The metallization is performed only on areas of the first part which have been previously activated, and made suitable for fixing a metal layer.
• This metallized surface comprises at least- a portion presented in a connection plane 5 which is substantially identical to a plane in which are presented fastening elements 2 and 4 of the first part 1.
• the metallization obtained is very thin and the molds used to form the first part 1 are provided so that the subsequent addition of the metallization makes it possible to guarantee a coplanarity of the connection plane 5 with the plane of the fastening elements 2 and 4.
• the plane of the fastening elements corresponds to the plane of the lower faces 9 of these fastening elements 2 and 4.
• the lower faces 9 and the faces presented in the connection plane 5 are located in a single plane. At most, an offset of 50 microns may exist between the plane of the lower face 9 and the connection plane 5.
• the first part 1 has contact ribs 7.
• a contact rib 7 is provided to present at its periphery a track contact such as 3.
• the fastening elements 2 and 4 with their respective centering apertures 6 and 8 are formed integrally with the contact rib 7, during the molding of the first part 1.
• the lower faces 9 of the fastening elements 2 and 4 as well as the connection faces 5 are placed against a flat bottom of the injection mold of the second part.
• the overmolding of the second part 50 is carried out so that it does not entirely cover the first part 1. Activated zones of the first part 1 remain accessible and are therefore able to be metallized after the molding of the second part 50.
• the second part 50 has a rectangular body extended on its two short sides by two ears 57 and 58. In the center of each ear 57, 58 an opening 64, 65 respectively is formed. On a lower edge 59 of an upper face of the body are visible three windows 61, 62, 63 of rectangular shape.
• the openings 64, 65, as well as the windows 61 to 63, are produced by means of holding punches arriving from the top, which press on the first part 1, for example at the level of the face 22, already molded in order to fix it in the injection mold of the second part 50. These holding punches allow the formation of windows and openings. In fact, at these locations, therefore, no thermoplastic substance can be molded.
• the fastening elements 2 and 4 of the first part 1 extend externally on these same short sides of the second part 50, in superposition with the ears 57 and 58.
• the centering openings 6 and 8 of the fastening elements 2 and 4 can be used for positioning the connector on a printed circuit board.
• the connector is preferably organized according to a modular structure. It includes at least one contact module.
• a contact module comprises at least one contact rib such as 7 which is electrically conductive.
• the first part 1 of the connector comprises three contact modules. Looking at the front of the connector, from left to right, the first part 1 presents a first contact module 14 having two contact ribs 7. There is then a second contact module 15 having nine contact ribs 7.
• a third contact module 16 having a contact rib 7.
• the modules 14 to 16 are embedded in a frame 71 formed integrally on a socket front.
• the contact ribs are arranged parallel next to each other, and comprise at least a second portion 11 perpendicular to a direction of insertion.
• Figure 3 shows a section along the plane BB of the connector of Figure 1.
• the section plane BB extends parallel to the plugging direction and cuts a contact rib 7 in the longitudinal direction.
• the frame 71 is visible on the external front of the connector 10 in the upper part and in the lower part.
• a housing chamber 32 designed to receive a contact from a complementary connector therein is located in the intermediate position.
• the hatched area, the hatching of which goes from the left in the lower part to the right in the upper part indicates the contact rib 7, which is an element of the first part 1.
• rib 7 are not covered by the second part, so that metallic contact tracks 3 can be deposited there.
• These metal tracks 3 form the first portion parallel to the underside of the connector, to be applied against a printed circuit board with which it can be connected. This first portion corresponds to the metallized surface portion presented in the connection plane 5.
• the metal deposit is made over the entire length of the rib 7 so as to constitute the contact track 3. It is deposited on the front contact surface 11, extending substantially vertically in the figure and on the rear contact surface 5 extending horizontally in the figure, and provided for making the electrical contacts respectively with the associated peripherals, or complementary connectors, and with the printed circuit board.
• the contact surfaces 5 and 11 are connected together by another portion of the contact track 3.
• the contact consists of a contact track 3 conducting electricity, which is applied to the surface not covered with the rib.
• FIG. 4 shows a section along the plane AA of the connector of Figure 1.
• there are indicated in hatching two lower and upper connecting lugs respectively 12 and 13, which allow to isolate the conductive tracks such as 3, and to link the modules together. These connecting tabs 12 and 13 serve as spacers between the ribs such as 7.
• the hatching has the same meaning as in FIG. 3.
• the window 61 is visible on the right and on the left in FIG. 4.
• the upper connecting tab 13 which is below is fixed in the injection mold, during the second pass, by a holding punch pressing from top to the bottom. The punch then arrives on the upper edge 22 of the upper connecting tab 13.
• Figure 5 shows the first part directly after the first injection molding and shows only the first contact module 14.
• This module has two ribs 7 extending in parallel. They are mechanically connected together by the two connecting lugs 12, 13. The intermediate space 28 located between them is filled during the second molding pass with the material of the second part 50, and thus forming shoulders 55.
• the connector comprises at least one locking means.
• Figure 2 it comprises two locking modules, a first module 51 and a second module 52.
• a locking module here corresponds to a housing 70 machined, or molded, in the second part 50, intended for locking hooks of the complementary connector not shown.
• the second locking module 52 is formed identically to the first module 51 in the second part 50.
• the two locking modules 51 and 52 are distributed between the contact modules, preferably on either side of the second module. contact 15.
• the contact module 14 is replaced by a power module 14, not having a rib, but having a median contact 81, an elastic contact 82, and a retention blade 83
• the connector comprises such a power module 14, to which the first locking module 51 is connected thereto.
• the second contact module 15 is provided, such as previously described, provided with nine contact ribs 7.
• the second additional locking module 52 which here has a recess forming a cavity of shape different from that of the first module 51, then comes.
• the third contact module 16 is provided with two contact ribs 7, establishes the connection.
• the modules 14 to 16 are encased by the frame 71 formed integrally on the front of the connector.
• the differences in shape between the two locking modules 51 and 52 thus provide a keying means to the connector.
• the elements of the power module are represented by the reference characters numbered from 80.
• Figure 7 shows the connector seen from the rear when viewed from below.
• the ribs 7 extending parallel and are separated by the clearly visible shoulders 55.
• two connection tracks 5 ′, 5 " are arranged parallel to the contact ribs 7. They are extended by tracks made of metallized synthetic material 84, 85, so that the contacts 81, 82 of the power module 14 are electrically connected to these connection faces 5 ', 5 ".
• a housing chamber 92 for the contact spring 82 In a rear face 14b of the power module 14, on the right in FIGS. 8 and 9, are provided a housing chamber 92 for the contact spring 82, a housing chamber 91 for the median contact 81 and a housing chamber 93 for the retention slide 83.
• connection tracks 5 ", 5" also have tails emerging in the same way from the rear face 67, all in alignment by compared to their corresponding connection contacts of a printed circuit board with which they can be connected. This makes it possible to obtain safe and rapid brazing of the faces 5, 5 ′, 5 "with these contacts in a fusion brazing oven.
• the first track 84 of the median contact 81 extends first horizontally, then vertically, then horizontally on the rear face 14b of the module 14, before the track 84 disappears in the chamber 91
• the second track 85 of the elastic contact 87 extends horizontally then vertically on the lateral face 14a, before the second track 85, passing through a window 87 arranged in the module 14, arrives in the chamber 92 of the elastic contact 82.
• FIG. 8 represents a section along the line FF of the connector of FIG. 6. This cut goes exactly through the center of the module power 14.
• the retention blade 83 In this section from top to bottom, we see the retention blade 83, the middle contact 81 and the second tab 82b of the elastic contact 82.
• the housing chamber 93 of the retention blade 83 is visible in the third superior. This has a lug 83a facing downwards which can block the complementary connector, not shown.
• the middle contact 81 extends horizontally and, in the rear zone 81b, it is provided with three sections 81a, 81b and 81c. The left section of these gets stuck in the second part 50.
• To the right and next to it is a block 88 which comes from the first pass.
• the lower edge is metallized and constitutes the end of the second track 85 which is electrically connected to the 5 "connection face.
• the inner cylindrical area of the block 88 is also metallized and constitutes the end of the first track 84 which is connected to the connection face 5 '.
• the median contact 81 has an elongated shape, responding to rotational symmetry, and has in the front region 81a a smaller diameter than in the rear region 81 b, which has at least one segment 81c of spherical shape, projecting towards the outside, to ensure the electrical and mechanical connection of the median contact to the first strip or track 84.
• the two straight sections 81c are wedged inside the block 88, causing them to establish contact with the first strip or track 84.
• the sections 81c with a spherical shape prevent scraping of the metal surface of the block 88 does not occur when the median contact 81 is inserted into the chamber 91.
• the elastic contact 82 has two tongues 82a and 82b, the first tongue 82a establishing contact with the second strip 85 and the second tongue 82b penetrating into the housing chamber 78 of the complementary connector.
• FIG. 9 represents a section along the line GG of the connector of FIG. 6.
• the block 88 and the first tab 82a coming from the elastic contact 82 are then shown in section.
• the middle contact is drawn in dotted lines.
• the L-shaped block 88, which one has at this location, emerges from the rear face 14b.
• the first track 84 is then visible there, in the form of a dark vertical line.
• the underside of the block 88 is metallized and constitutes, as already mentioned, the end of the second track 85 with which the first tab 82a comes into mechanical contact.
• the elastic contact 82 is thus electrically connected to the connection face 5 ".

Landscapes

• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Electrical Connectors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26212974

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2002
  • 2002-04-05 WO PCT/FR2002/001207 patent/WO2002082587A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2002-04-05 EP EP02722395A patent/EP1374342A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-04-05 CN CNB028092082A patent/CN100341202C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-04-05 JP JP2002580438A patent/JP2004527081A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-04-05 KR KR10-2003-7012925A patent/KR20030085088A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2002-04-05 US US10/474,176 patent/US6988901B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events