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
  • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
  • H01R12/78—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• • 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
  • H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
  • H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
  • H01R13/2457—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted consisting of at least two resilient arms contacting the same counterpart
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
  • H05K3/00—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing printed circuits
  • H05K3/36—Assembling printed circuits with other printed circuits
  • H05K3/361—Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits
  • H05K3/365—Assembling flexible printed circuits with other printed circuits by abutting, i.e. without alloying process
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R2107/00—Four or more poles
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
  • H01R24/84—Hermaphroditic coupling devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a flexible circuit connection device, intended to ensure the connection of two flexible circuits, each of them being equipped with said device.
• each device comprises a head capable of receiving the flexible circuit, the latter folded coming to cover the two faces of the head and being immobilized in transverse translation between the lateral edges of the head.
• An elastic element in the form of an elastic blade, disposed between the head and the flexible circuit, is provided to reinforce the contact pressure between the two flexible circuits.
• a U-shaped sheet is fitted at the end of the head and comprises, at the level of the zone interposed between the head and the flexible circuit, cutouts delimiting elastic blades working in bending.
• only one branch of the U is disposed between the support and the flexible circuit.
• the two devices are plugged into a holding element, the flexible circuits being pressed against each other thanks to the elastic blades.
• This arrangement is not fully satisfactory because it provides only poor electrical contact between the two flexible circuits, deteriorating over time.
• the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a connection device for flexible circuit, intended to ensure the direct connection of two flexible circuits, each of them being equipped with said device, providing a quality of electrical contact. superior, substantially constant over time, and ensuring optimal relative positioning of the conductors.
• connection device for a flexible circuit comprising a support, means for positioning the flexible circuit relative to said support and means for shaping the flexible circuit, characterized in that the means for shaping comprise at least one curved spring blade comprising at least one fold disposed between the flexible circuit and a surface so as to increase the elastic effect of said blade.
• This arrangement makes it possible to obtain a better quality of contact thanks to a higher contact pressure and more resistant over time.
• the means for positioning the flexible circuit relative to the support comprise downstream of the contact zone, in the direction of insertion, lugs capable of being housed in corresponding orifices provided in the flexible circuit.
• This arrangement contributes to improving the quality of contact by positioning the flexible circuit flat in a safe manner.
• the orifices provided in the flexible circuit have an oblong shape and are arranged parallel to the conductors of the flexible circuit, at the level of the interstices, so as to immobilize the flexible circuit in the transverse direction and to allow a slight translation in the longitudinal direction.
• the lugs are attached to the support.
• the support comprises an opening in line with the contact zone, the edge of the opening comprising downstream an inclined plane on which the lugs are attached.
• the pins are attached to the shaping means.
• the shaping means comprise a first set of curved elastic blades and a second set of blades interposed between the blades of the first set, the ends of which form the pins capable of being housed in the orifices of the flexible circuit.
• the means for positioning the flexible circuit relative to the support comprise elements arranged upstream of the contact area of the flexible circuit.
• the device comprises means for positioning a support of another connection device to which it is capable of being connected.
• the support comprises forms complementary to a substantially median plane ensuring the relative positioning of two supports, the two identical supports being arranged head to tail.
• the support comprises on the one hand a receptacle receiving the flexible circuit and the shaping means, and on the other hand, a housing capable of receiving the receptacle of a second support when two devices are connected head- spade.
• the support is in the form of a U whose base supports the flexible circuit and the shaping means and whose branches have complementary shapes capable of ensuring the relative positioning between supports.
• the connection device comprises a separate element from the support ensuring the positioning and the holding in position of two connected supports.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic and simplified view of the connection device of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible circuit
• FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a first variant of the shaping means
• FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating another variant of the shaping means
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first variant of the support of the connection device of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connection device comprising a support according to FIG. 4
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a holding element for two devices according to FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the connection between two devices according to FIG. 5,
• FIG. 8A is a perspective and exploded view of the elements constituting a device of the invention according to a second variant
• FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 8A mounted
• FIGS 9A and 9B are perspective views of two devices according to the second variant respectively ready to be connected and connected
• - Figure 1 0 is a perspective view illustrating a third variant of a device
• FIG. 1 1 A and 1 1 B are views from two different angles illustrating two devices according to the third connected variant.
• connection device 1 0 for a flexible circuit 1 2 capable of being connected to a similar connection device provided on another flexible circuit.
• a flexible circuit generally comprises conductors or tracks, spaced and substantially parallel to each other, embedded in an insulating component forming a sheet. To ensure a connection between two flexible circuits, the conductors of each flexible circuit are on one side of said stripped circuit at the contact area 1 4 so as to allow electrical continuity.
• connection device 1 0 comprises a support 1 6, means 1 8 for positioning the flexible circuit 1 2 relative to said support 1 6 and means 20 for shaping the flexible circuit 1 2 in the contact zone 14. It also includes means 22 for positioning a support of another connection device to which it is capable of being connected.
• the shaping means 20 comprise an elastic element comprising at least one blade 24 curved spring comprising at least one fold 26 disposed between the flexible circuit 1 2 and a surface 28 so as to increase the elastic effect of said blade 24 thus providing a greater and more resistant contact pressure over time.
• the two branches from the fold 26 of each blade are disposed between the flexible circuit and the surface 28.
• a number of blades equal to the number of conductors of the flexible circuit is provided, the latter being each arranged at right of one of said drivers.
• the means 1 8 for positioning the flexible circuit 1 2 are advantageously arranged upstream and downstream of the contact zone 14 (in the direction of insertion 30).
• the positioning means 1 8 comprise lugs 32 capable of being housed in corresponding orifices 34 formed in the flexible circuit 1 2. Depending on the case, as will be detailed later, these lugs 32 can be attached to the support 1 6 or on the means 20 of conformation.
• the number of pins 32 is preferably equal to the number of interstices between the conductors of the flexible circuit 12, the orifices 34 being arranged at each interstice.
• the means 22 for relative positioning of the supports are formed by shapes adapted to each support.
• the shapes of the support are such that they allow two identical supports to be connected, the latter being arranged head to tail.
• the forms of the support are also studied to ensure the maintenance in the connected position of the two devices, or a specific element 36 is provided to maintain the two devices in the connected position.
• FIG. 2 A first variant is illustrated by Figures 2, 3A, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
• the pins 32 are attached to the support 1 6 as illustrated by Figure 4 and a specific element 36 to maintain in contact the connected devices, illustrated in Figure 6, is provided.
• the support 1 6 is shown in detail, it comprises a receptacle 38 delimited by side walls 40, a distal wall 42 and a bottom 44 at the level of which is formed an opening 46 in line with the contact area 1 4, the flexible circuit 1 2 being immobilized between the means 20 of conformation and the bottom 44.
• the flexible circuit 1 2 is immobilized between the side walls 40 and comprises at each side edge a shoulder 48 (visible in Figure 2) capable of being immobilized in a slot 50 formed in the lower part of the side walls 40 and take support against said walls side.
• a lug 52 secured to the bottom 44 capable of being housed in an orifice 54 formed in the flexible circuit is provided.
• the means 1 8 for positioning the flexible circuit 1 2 relative to the support 1 6 also comprise lugs 32 secured to the bottom 44 downstream of the opening 46, the edge of the opening 46 comprising downstream an inclined plane 56 adapted to the means 20 of conformation.
• the flexible circuit 1 2 comprises oblong orifices 34, parallel to the conductors, arranged at the interstices in each of which a lug 32 can translate. According to this arrangement, the downstream part of the flexible circuit 1 2 is perfectly immobilized in transverse translation but can optionally translate in the longitudinal direction depending on the deformation of the shaping means 20. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the shaping means 20 are in the form of a sheet from which are cut a plurality of elastic curved strips 24, preferably in a number equal to the conductors and arranged in line with the latter.
• the sheet includes an orifice 58 in which the lug 52 of the support is able to be housed and two tongues 60 arranged at each lateral edge, each capable of coming to rest in a respective housing 62, formed at the side walls 40 so as to ensure a snap connection between said means 20 of conformation and the support.
• This embodiment comprises a specific holding element 36 for keeping two connection devices in contact, illustrated by FIG. 6, comprising an opening 64 in which two connection devices are capable of being inserted, two grooves 66 being provided in each side in order to receive the side walls 40 of each support 1 6 so as to obtain a sliding connection between the support and the holding element 36.
• the ends of the curved flexible blades 24 are capable of pressing against the upper or lower walls 68 of the holding element 36 which fulfills the function of the surface 28 of FIG. 1, in order to obtain the contact pressure.
• the side walls 40 of the supports 1 6 have adapted shapes, a shoulder 70, capable of bearing against the holding element 36 to ensure immobilization in longitudinal translation of said support 1 6, when the contact zones 14 of each device are arranged at right of each other.
• the flexible circuit 1 2 is introduced via the slots 50 of the support 1 6 until the shoulders 48 come to bear against the side walls 40, the pins 32 and 52 of the support are introduced into the respective orifices 34 and 54 of the flexible circuit.
• the shaping means 20 are arranged in the receptacle 38 of the support 1 6, the lug 52 of the support coming to be housed in the orifice 58 and the tongues 60 coming to immobilize by snap-fastening in the respective housings 62. This assembly is illustrated in FIG. 5.
• the curved shape of the blades 24 conforms to the flexible circuit 1 2, in particular in the contact zone 1 4, so that the flexible circuit 1 2 comes out of the opening 46, to be disposed slightly projecting relative to the bottom of the support 1 6. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the ends of the blades 24 come to bear against the upper or lower wall of the holding element 36 and provide increased contact pressure when the contact zones of each device are arranged at the each other's right.
• FIGS. 2, 3A, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B A second variant is illustrated by FIGS. 2, 3A, 8A, 8B, 9A and 9B.
• the lugs 32 are attached to the level of the support 1 6 as for the first variant and the forms of support 1 6 are provided not only to ensure correct positioning between two supports connected in head to tail position but also to ensure the maintenance of said supports in this position.
• the flexible circuit 1 2 and the shaping means 20 are preferably identical to those of the first variant, the identical elements being referenced as above.
• the support 1 6, illustrated in Figure 8A, comprises a receptacle 38 identical to the first variant, with lugs 32, 52 and an opening 46 identical and arranged in the same way.
• the support 1 6 has complementary shapes arranged on either side of a plane 72 disposed substantially at the bottom 44 of the receptacle, on the one hand the receptacle 38 as defined above and on the other hand a housing 74 capable of receiving, preferably in an adjusted manner, the receptacle 38 of a second support when two devices are connected head to tail.
• the external walls 40 each have a rib 76 capable of sliding in a groove 78 formed at each side wall of the housing 74.
• the ends of the blades 24 of the first support bear against the face 80 of the housing 74 opposite to the opening 46 of the second support, this face 80 fulfilling the function of the surface 28 of FIG. 1.
• the support 1 6 comprises at the outer face of the distal wall 42 a tongue 82 provided at its end with a lug 83 capable of being received and immobilized by snapping into an orifice 84 formed at the bottom of the housing 74 as illustrated in FIG. 9B.
• the identical supports are presented and then connected head to tail.
• the pins 32 are attached to the level of the shaping means 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3B and the shapes of the support 1 6 are provided not only to ensure correct positioning between two supports connected in position head to tail but also to ensure the maintenance of said supports in this position.
• the flexible circuit 1 2 has forms identical to that of the preceding variants.
• the shaping means 20, illustrated in FIG. 3B comprise a first set of curved elastic blades 24 having a function identical to the curved blades of the previous variants and a second set of blades 86 interposed between the previous ones, the ends form lugs 32 capable of being housed in the oblong orifices 34 of the flexible circuit 1 2.
• the number of first blades 24 is equal to the number of conductors of the flexible circuit and the number of second blades 86 is equal to the number of gaps provided between the conductors.
• the shaping means 20 have, at their lateral edges, shapes that can be superimposed on those of the flexible circuit 1 2, comprising a shoulder 88 on each side.
• the support 1 6 is in the form of a U whose base 90 comprises the means 1 8 for positioning the flexible circuit
• the base 90 includes an opening 96 allowing the introduction of the flexible circuit 1 2 and the means 20 of conformation between the branches 92 and
• This opening 96 comprises, at the level of the external face of the base 90, slots 98 capable of receiving the lateral edges of the flexible circuit and shaping means, said slots 98 not extending over any the thickness of the base 90 in order to constitute a support zone for the shoulders 48 and 88.
• the slots 98 are positioned so that the ends of the blades 24 bear against one of the branches of the support, fulfilling the function of the surface 28 of FIG. 1, so as to exert an elastic effect on the flexible circuit 1 2, the latter being spaced from the second branch so as to allow the introduction of a branch, of a flexible circuit and shaping means of another connection device, as illustrated in Figure 1 1 A.
• the shapes of the branches 92 and 94 are complementary so as to ensure the positioning and the maintenance of two devices connected head to tail.
• the first branch 92 serving as a support comprises two ribs 1 00 arranged on the external face of said branch, symmetrically with respect to a median plane, capable of being housed in two slots 102 formed on the second branch 94, these slots 1 02 delimiting on both sides two arms 1 04.
• the ribs 1 00 have a shape in
• the ends of the arms 1 04 are capable of being plugged into housings 1 06 formed at the level of the external face of the first branch 92.
• the front end of the branch 92 comprises a tenon
• a lug 1 1 2 is formed on the external face of one of the branches 92 or 94 capable of being latched into a housing 1 1 4 formed on the internal face of the other branch.
• the identical supports interlock with one another so as to obtain a connection box.
• the invention is obviously not limited to the embodiment shown and described above, but on the contrary covers all variants, in particular with regard to the number of conductors of the flexible circuit, the dimensions and materials of the different constituents and the shape of the supports which may or may not have identical shapes.
• the shapes of the supports of the first and second variants can be adapted to suit the shaping means according to the third variant.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Metallurgy (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)
• Installation Of Indoor Wiring (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=29719997

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (21)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2002
  • 2002-06-24 FR FR0207802A patent/FR2841394B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-06-18 JP JP2004514942A patent/JP2005531111A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-06-18 AU AU2003260600A patent/AU2003260600A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-06-18 KR KR10-2004-7021022A patent/KR20050013153A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-06-18 WO PCT/FR2003/001857 patent/WO2004001906A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2003-06-18 EP EP03760737A patent/EP1520322A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-06-18 US US10/519,317 patent/US7131861B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-06-18 CN CNB038180111A patent/CN100459294C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (1)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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