EP1605550B1 - Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance - Google Patents

Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1605550B1
EP1605550B1 EP05019128A EP05019128A EP1605550B1 EP 1605550 B1 EP1605550 B1 EP 1605550B1 EP 05019128 A EP05019128 A EP 05019128A EP 05019128 A EP05019128 A EP 05019128A EP 1605550 B1 EP1605550 B1 EP 1605550B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
planar panel
housing
receptacle
contacts
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
EP05019128A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1605550A1 (fr
Inventor
Stephen L. Clark
Jose L. Ortega
Joseph B. Shuey
John B. Brown Iii
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.)
FCI SA
Original Assignee
FCI SA
Framatome Connectors International SAS
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
Priority claimed from US09/160,900 external-priority patent/US6319075B1/en
Application filed by FCI SA, Framatome Connectors International SAS filed Critical FCI SA
Priority to EP06026817A priority Critical patent/EP1770828B1/fr
Priority claimed from EP03028187A external-priority patent/EP1401055B1/fr
Publication of EP1605550A1 publication Critical patent/EP1605550A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1605550B1 publication Critical patent/EP1605550B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/7088—Arrangements for power supply
    • 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
    • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/722—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
    • H01R12/727—Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts
    • 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
    • H01R13/10—Sockets for co-operation with pins or blades
    • H01R13/11—Resilient sockets
    • H01R13/113—Resilient sockets co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section
    • 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
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
    • H01R13/428—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
    • H01R13/432—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members by stamped-out resilient tongue snapping behind shoulder in base or case

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to electronic power connectors especially, useful in circuit board or backplane interconnection systems.
  • An electrical connector according to the preamble portion of claim 1 and a mating connector according to the preamble portion of claim 3 are known from US-A 5,295,843 .
  • Designers of electronic circuits generally are concerned with two basis circuit portions, the logic or signal portion and the power portion.
  • the designer usually does not have to take into account any changes in electrical properties, such as resistance of circuit components, that are brought about by changes in conditions, such as temperature, because current flows in logic circuits are usually relatively low.
  • power circuits can undergo changes in electrical properties because of the relatively high current flows, for example, on the order of 30 amps or more in certain electronic equipment. Consequently, connectors designed for use in power circuits must be capable of dissipating heat (generated primarily as a result of the Joule effect) so that changes in circuit characteristics as a result of changing current flow are minimized.
  • Conventional plug contacts in circuit board electrical power connectors are generally of rectangular (blade-like) or circular (pin-like) cross-section. These are so-called “singular-mass” designs.
  • the opposing receptacle contacts comprise a pair of inwardly urged cantilever beams and the mating blade or pin is located between the pair of beams.
  • Such arrangements are difficult to reduce in size without adversely effecting heat dissipation capabilities. They also provide only minimal flexibility to change contact normal forces by adjustment of contact geometry.
  • US-A 5,295,843 discloses an electrical connector for power applications, the connector comprising: an insulative housing; a plurality of cavities disposed in said insulative housing defined by a series of housing walls; and a power contact disposed in each one of said plurality of cavities, said power contact comprising a pair of opposed contact walls defined by a first planar panel, a second planar panel, a medial space between the first planar panel and the second planar panel, a first flexible beam adjoining the first planar panel, a second flexible beam adjoining the second planar panel, and separated contact terminals that each extend from the first planar panel and the second planar panel in a direction perpendicular to the first flexible beam and the second flexible beam, the first and second flexible beams define a heat flow path therebetween, heat dissipation can occur from the heat flow path defined between the first flexible beam and the second flexible beam.
  • a mating connector comprising: an insulative housing; a plurality of cavities disposed in said insulative housing of the mating connector, the cavities being defined by a series of housing walls; and a plurality of receptacle contacts for receiving the first and second flexible beams of respective ones of the power contacts, each of the receptacle contacts being disposed in a respective one of said plurality of cavities disposed in said insulative housing of the mating connector, each of said receptacle contacts comprising a pair of opposed contact walls defined by a first planar panel, a second planar panel, and a medial space between the first planar panel and the second planar panel of the receptacle contact; wherein heat dissipation can occur from interior contact surfaces of the receptacle contacts by passage of air in the medial spaces of the receptacle contacts.
  • the present invention relates to electrical connectors that comprises a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact comprising a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space.
  • a mating plug comprises an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact.
  • the contacts employ a "dual mass" principle that provides a greater surface area available for heat dissipation, principally by convection, as compared with "single-mass" contacts. This arrangement provides an air flow path through spaced portions of the contacts of the plug and receptacle connectors when mated.
  • a plug contact 10 for use in a plug connector is shown.
  • This plug contact has two opposed major side walls 12 and 14.
  • a front projection, identified generally by numeral 16 has an upper section 18 and a lower section 20.
  • Each of these upper and lower sections comprises a pair of opposed cantilever beams, each beam having inwardly converging proximal section 22, arcuate contact section 24 and a distal section 26.
  • the opposed distal sections 26 are preferably parallel to each other.
  • the distal sections can be positioned slightly apart when the beams are in relaxed condition, but come together when the beams are deflected as the front projection is inserted into a receptacle contact (as explained below). This provides over-stress protection for the beams during mating.
  • the side walls also include planar panels 28 and 30.
  • Terminals 32, 34, 36 and 38 extend from an edge of panel 28.
  • Terminal 40 extends from panel 30, along with a plurality of like terminals (not shown).
  • Terminals 32-40 can comprise through hole, solder-to-board pins (as shown), press fit pins or surface mount tails.
  • the panels 28 and 30 are connected by upper arcuate bridging elements 42 and 44.
  • a medial space 46, adapted for air flow, is defined between the panels 28 and 30.
  • the contact 10 is stamped or otherwise formed as a single piece from a strip of suitable contact materials such as phosphor bronze alloys or beryllium copper alloys.
  • receptacle contact 48 is shown.
  • This receptacle contact has opposed, preferably planar and parallel side walls 50 and 52. These walls extend forwardly in a front projecting portion 54, that forms a medial plug receiving space 56.
  • the distance between walls 50 and 52 at portion 54 is such that the projection 16 of the plug contact 10 is receivable in the plug contact receiving space 56, with the beams being resiliently deflected toward the center plane of contact 10. The deflection causes the beams to develop outwardly directed forces, thereby pressing the arcuate portions 24 against the inside surfaces of the portions 54 forming the receiving space 56, to develop suitable contact normal force.
  • the side walls 50 and 52 also include, respectively, panels 58 and 60.
  • terminals 62, 64, 66 and 68 Extending from panel 60 there are terminals 62, 64, 66 and 68. Extending from panel 60 there is terminal 70 as well as several other terminals (not shown). These terminals are essentially the same as previously described terminals 32-40.
  • the side walls 50 and 52 are joined together by generally arcuate bridging elements 72 and 74.
  • the receptacle contact is also stamped or otherwise formed in a single piece from a strip of phosphor bronze alloy or beryllium copper alloy.
  • Figs. 5-9 illustrate a plug connector 75 having an insulative plug housing 76.
  • the housing 76 includes a front side 78 having a plurality of power contact apertures 84 and 86.
  • the front projection or mating portion 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) of the plug contacts is disposed in apertures 84, 86.
  • the plug contacts 10 are retained in the housing 76 by an interference fit between the contact and the housing. This is accomplished by having the dimension H (Fig. 2), the dimension between bottom edge of wall 12 and the top of bridging element 42, slightly greater than the dimension of the cavity in housing 76 that receives this portion of plug contact 10.
  • the front side 78 may also include a signal pin array opening 88 for housing a signal pin array designated generally as numeral 90.
  • the housing 76 also includes a number of rear vertical partitions, such as partitions 92 and 94, which form power contact retaining slots 96 for housing the plug contacts 98.
  • the opposed medial vertical partitions 100 and 102 form between them a rear signal pin array space 104 for housing the rear portion 106 of the signal pins.
  • the housing 76 also includes opposed rear mounting brackets 108 and 110 which have respectively mounting apertures 112 and 114.
  • the plug contacts 10 have terminals 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 extending below a bottom edge 80 of housing 76.
  • the edge 80 forms a mounting interface, along which the housing is mounted to a printed circuit board or other structure on which the connector is mounted.
  • Receptacle 128 has an insulative housing 129 with a front side 130 including a plurality of silos 131 having contact openings, such as openings 136 and 138.
  • the front side 130 forms a mating interface of the connector 128 for mating with plug connector 75.
  • the silos 131 are configured and sized to be received in openings 84, 86 of connector 75.
  • the front portions 54 (Figs. 3-4) of the receptacle contacts are disposed within silos 131 and openings 134, 136 are sized and configured to receive the upper and lower sections 18 an 20 of plug contacts 10.
  • the front side 130 has a signal pin receiving area 140 with signal pin receiving apertures.
  • the housing 129 also has a plurality of rear partitions, such as partitions 144 and 146, which form contact retaining slots 148 for housing receptacle contacts 48.
  • Signal pin housing 152 receives a signal receptacle contact array 154.
  • the housing 129 also includes opposed rear mounting brackets 156 and 158 which have, respectively, mounting apertures 160 and 162.
  • the receptacle contact terminals 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70 extend beneath surface 137, that forms the mounting interface of receptacle connector 128..
  • the front side 130 of the housing 128 also has a plurality of vertical spaces 176 and 178, disposed between silos 131.
  • the receptacle contacts 48 are retained in housing 129 by an interference fit in essentially the same manner as previously described with respect to plug contacts 10. Retaining the contacts in this fashion allows substantial portions of the walls 12, 14 of the plug contact and walls 58, 60 of the receptacle contact to be spaced from surrounding parts of the respective housings 76 and 129. This leaves a substantial proportion of the surface area of both contacts (including the plug contacts), exposed to air, thereby enhancing heat dissipation capabilities, principally through convection. Such enhanced heat dissipation capabilities are desirable for power contacts.
  • Fig. 15 shows another plug connector 200 embodying the invention.
  • the housing 202 preferably formed of a molded polymeric material, has a front face 204 that forms the mating interface of the connector.
  • the face 204 includes a plurality of openings, such as openings 206, formed in a linear array.
  • the plug connector 200 includes a plurality of plug contacts 208.
  • the contacts 208 are inserted from the rear of the housing into cavities 212 that extend from the rear of the housing toward the front of the housing.
  • the contact portions 210 with contacts 208 are disposed in the openings 206.
  • the plug contact 208 is similar in many respects to the plug contacts shown in Fig. 1. It includes spaced panel-like walls 214, 216 that preferably are planar and substantially parallel. The walls 214, 216 are joined by a front bridging element 218 and a rear bridging element 220.
  • the contact section 210 is formed by two opposed cantilevered beams 211 that extend from front edges of the walls 214, 216.
  • each wall includes a fixing tang 224 formed along a bottom of the edge of the wall.
  • the walls 214, 216 also include lateral positioning elements, such as bent tangs 222, for centering the contact within cavities 212 in housing 202. Each wall also includes a positioning feature, such as raised lug 234.
  • the front bridging element 218 includes a rearwardly extending retention arm 228 that is cantilevered at its proximal end from the bridging element.
  • Arm 228 includes a locating surface 230 at its distal end.
  • Terminals such as through-hole pins 226, extend from the bottom edge of each wall 214, 216.
  • the terminals 226 can be solder-to-board pins (as shown) or can comprise press fit or other types of terminals.
  • the contacts 208 can be formed from sheet stock by stamping and forming the part from a strip of metrallic stock suitable for forming electrical contacts.
  • the contacts 208 can be retained on a carrier strip S for gang insertion or separated from the strip prior to insertion into a housing.
  • the contact 208 is inserted into housing 202 from the rear into cavities 212 (Fig. 16).
  • the contact 208 is located (in the vertical sense of Fig. 18) by engagement of the bottom edge 215 (Fig. 17) against surface 232 of the housing and by engagement of the top edges of the lugs 234 with the rib 236 in the upper part of the housing.
  • the contact is maintained centered within the cavity 212 by the lateral tangs 222 that engage side walls of the cavity 212.
  • the contact 208 is longitudinally locked in the housing (in the direction of contact mating) by means of the spring arm 228 that is deflected downwardly by the rib 236 of the housing during insertion and then resiles upwardly to position the stop surface 230 at its distal end against or near the forward surface of the rib 236.
  • the downwardly extending tang 224 is preferably received in a slot 225 in the housing, the width of the slot being substantially the same as the thickness of the tang 224.
  • the terminals 226 extend below the bottom surface 238 of the housing 202, which bottom surface defines a mounting interface of the connector, along which it is mounted on a printed circuit board.
  • Figs. 19 and 20 show a receptacle connector for mating with the plug connector illustrated in Figs. 15-18.
  • the receptacle connectors 240 include an insulative housing 242 that comprises an array of receptacle silos 244.
  • the front surfaces 246 of the silos are substantially coplanar and form a mating interface of the connector.
  • Each silo has an opening 248 for receiving the contact section 210 of the plug contacts 208 of the mating connector.
  • the plurality of receptacle contacts 250 are mounted in the housing 242, preferably by insertion from the rear into cavities 252. As shown in Fig. 20, preferably the top wall 254 of the housing does not extend fully to the rear of the connector housing, thereby leaving substantial openings in the cavities 252.
  • the receptacle contact for receptacle connector 240 is illustrated in Fig. 21.
  • the contact 250 is similar in basic fog in to the receptacle contact 48 illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. It includes two opposed walls 254, 256 that are preferably substantially planar and parallel, thereby fog fining between them a contact receiving and air flow space.
  • the walls 254, 256 are joined by a front bridging element 258 and a rear bridging element 260.
  • the front bridging element 258 includes a resilient latching arm that is cantilevered at its proximal end from bridging element 258 and carries at its distal end the latching or locking surface 264.
  • the receptacle contact 250 can be foi nied in a single, unitary piece, by stamping and foi using the contact from a strip.
  • the contacts can be inserted into the housing while attached to carrier strip S or after being separated therefrom.
  • Fig. 22 is cross-sectional view showing a receptacle contact 250 inserted into housing 242.
  • the locating tang 266 is positioned with its forward surface against the locating surface 272 in the bottom wall of the housing 242, thereby positioning the contact in its forward-most position.
  • the latching arm 262 is caused to resile downwardly when it engages the latching portion 278 of the housing.
  • the locking surface 264 engages a raised rib 280 (Fig. 22b) thereby locking the contact against rearward movement with respect to the housing.
  • the terminals 268 extend beyond the surface 270 that forms the mounting interface of connector 240.
  • the forward portions of the walls 254, 256 are disposed along inside side walls of the silos 244.
  • a plug contact receiving opening 248 is formed at the forward surface 246 of each silo.
  • the opening includes a pair of lips 274 that are coplanar with or extend just slightly beyond the inside surfaces of the walls 254, 256. This arrangement provides the benefit of lowered initial insertion forces when the connectors 200 and 240 are mated.
  • the contact sections 210 formed by the cantilevered arms 211 first engage the surfaces of lips 274. Because the coefficient of friction between the cantilevered arms 22 and the plastic lips 274 is relatively lower than the coefficient friction between the cantilevered arms and the metal walls 254,256, initial insertion force is minimized.
  • Fig. 25 and also the embodiment of Fig. 24 are meant for use in a vertical configuration, as opposed to a right angle configuration.
  • the housing of connector 320 has a bottom surface 321 with standoffs 323.
  • Appropriate receptacle contacts 322 are inserted into the housings of connectors 300 and 320 from the bottom sides 307 and 321, respectively.
  • Fig. 27 shows a receptacle contact 322 comprising a pair of preferably planar parallel walls 324, 326 that form between them a contact receiving space for receiving plug contacts of the type previously described.
  • This contact has terminals 328 extending from a rear edge of each of the walls.
  • the contact 322 is received in housing 330 in a manner similar to that previously described, wherein the resilient latching arm locks the contact against downward (in the sense of Fig. 28) movement, while a locating surface 334 locates the contact in the opposite direction with respect to the housing.
  • the terminals 328 extend beyond the plane of the mounting interface of the connector housing for insertion into through holes in the printed circuit board.
  • Fig. 29 shows an embodiment employing two sets of contacts at each location, in a stacked configuration.
  • the receptacle connector 340 has a housing foamed of insulative material.
  • the housing 342 includes a mating interface having a plurality of openings 341.
  • Each of the openings 341 open into cavities in housing, which cavities receive substantially identical receptacle contacts 344a and 344b.
  • Each of the contacts 344a and 344b is similar in general construction to the receptacle contacts previously described, there being a pair of such contacts in each cavity, generally aligned along the side walls thereof, to form a gap between generally parallel plate sections 346.
  • the plate sections 346 have two opposed edges 348 and 350, one of which carries a retention feature, such as interference bump 352.
  • the receptacle contact sections 346 are retained in the housing by suitable means, such as an interference fit created by the bump 352.
  • Each contact section 346 includes a generally coplanar wall section 354.
  • the wall sections 354 are joined by a bridge section 355.
  • Suitable terminals, such as press fit terminals 356 extend from an edge of the wall section 354, in the case where the connector 340 is to be used in a vertical configuration.
  • the mating plug connector 360 includes a molded polymeric body 361 that receives a pair of plug contacts, such as upper plug contact 362 and the lower plug contact 376. These plug contacts are configured generally in the manner previously described, namely, being formed of a pair of spaced wall sections 364 and 378 respectively joined by bridging elements and carrying opposed contact beams 366 and 380 to engage the spaced receptacle plates 346.
  • the plug contact 362 includes a single, relatively long, or several, relatively short, bridging elements 376 that join two opposed plates 364.
  • the bottom edge 372 of each of the plates 364 includes retention structure, such as an interference bump 374.
  • the plug contact 362 is retained in its cavity within housing 361 by an interference fit between the bridging elements 376 and the interference bump 374, although it is contemplated that other retention mechanisms could be utilized.
  • lower plug contacts 376 comprise a pair of coplanar wall or panel members 378 joined by one or more bridging elements 382, The lower edge 384 of each wall 378 includes an interference bump 386, that functions to create an interference fit, as previously described.
  • Suitable terminals 368 and 380 extend from each of the panels 364 and 368, beyond the mounting interface 363 of the housing 361, for associating each of the contacts 362 and 376 with electrical tracks on the printed circuit board on which the plug 360 is to be mounted.
  • the previously described receptacle and plug contacts may be plated or otherwise coated with corrosion resistant materials. Also, the plug contact beams may be bowed slightly in the transverse direction to enhance engagement with the contact receiving surfaces of the receptacle contacts.
  • both receptacle and blade contacts employing opposing, relatively thin walls, allows for greater heat dissipation as compared with prior "singular-mass" designs.
  • the “dual mass” connectors, as disclosed have approximately two times the surface area.
  • the enhanced current flow and heat dissipation properties result from the contacts having greater surface area available for convection heat flow, especially through the center of the mated contacts. Because the plug contacts have an open configuration, heat loss by convection can occur from interior surfaces by passage of air in the gap between these surfaces.
  • the contacts also contain outwardly directed, mutually opposing receptacle beams and dual, peripherally located, mating blades, in a configuration which can allow for flexibility in modifying contact normal forces by adjustment the contact connector geometry. This can be accomplished by modifying the bridging elements to change bend radius, angle, or separation of the walls of the contacts. Such modifications cannot be accomplished with conventional singular-mass beam/blade configurations wherein the opposing receptacle contacts are inwardly directed, and the mating blade is located in the center of said beams.
  • Such dual, opposing, planar contact construction also allows for easier inclusion of additional printed circuit board attachment terminals with more separation between terminals, compared to an equivalent "singular-mass" bulk designs.
  • the use of relatively larger plates in the plug and receptacle contacts gives this opportunity for providing a plurality of circuit board terminals on each contact part. These lessens constriction of current flow to the printed circuit board, thereby lowering resistance and lessening heat generation.
  • a compliant plug mating section allows the receptacle contacts to be placed in a protected position within the molded polymeric housing for safety purposes. This feature is of further benefit because it allows minimization of amount of polymeric material used in making the housing. This lowers material costs and enhances heat dissipation. Also, by retaining the contacts in the housing in the manner suggested, thick wall structures can be avoided and thin, fin like structures can be utilized, all of which enhances heat dissipation from the connectors. Additionally, first-make, last break functionality can be incorporated easily into disclosed connector system by modifying the length of the mating portion of the plug contacts or by changing the length of the plug-receiving portion of the receptacle contacts.
  • the arch connection structure between opposing rectangular contact sections also allows for attachment of retention means, such as a resilient arm structure as shown in one of the current embodiments, in a manner that does not limit current flow or hinder contact heat dissipation capability.
  • plug and receptacle contacts may be manufactured from closely similar or identical blanks thereby minimizing tooling requirements. Further, the plug or receptacle connectors can easily be associated with cables, by means of paddle boards.

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Claims (3)

  1. Connecteur électrique pour des applications d'alimentation, le connecteur comprenant :
    (a) un boîtier isolant (76) ;
    (b) une pluralité de cavités (84, 8696) placées dans ledit boîtier isolant définies par une série de parois de boîtier ; et
    (c) un contact d'alimentation (10) placé dans chacune de ladite pluralité de cavités (84, 8696), ledit contact d'alimentation (10) comprenant une paire de parois opposées définies par un premier panneau planaire (28), un deuxième panneau planaire (30), un espace médian entre le premier panneau planaire et le deuxième panneau planaire, un premier montant flexible (18) adjoint au premier panneau planaire (30), un deuxième montant flexible (18) adjoint au deuxième panneau flexible (28) et des bornes de contact séparées (32, 34, 36, 38) qui chacune sorte du premier panneau planaire (28) et du deuxième panneau planaire (30) dans une direction perpendiculaire au premier montant flexible (18) et au deuxième montant flexible (18),
    (d) les premier et deuxième montants flexibles (18) définissent un trajet de circulation de chaleur entre eux, une dissipation de chaleur se produit entre le trajet de circulation de chaleur défini entre le premier montant flexible (18) et le deuxième montant flexible (18), caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'un du premier panneau planaire (30) et du deuxième panneau planaire (28) est écarté d'une paroi de boîtier adjacente, de telle sorte qu'il laisse une proportion substantielle de la surface d'au moins un contact exposée à l'air.
  2. Boîtier selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les deux parois de contact écartées (28, 30) se font face.
  3. Connecteur mâle (128) comprenant :
    (a) un boîtier isolant (129) ;
    (b) une pluralité de cavités (134, 136, 148) placées dans ledit boîtier isolant (129) du connecteur mâle (128), les cavités étant définies par une série de parois de boîtier ; et
    (c) une pluralité de contacts de réceptacle pour recevoir les premier et deuxième montants flexibles de ceux respectifs des contacts d'alimentation (10), chacun des contacts de réceptacle étant placé dans l'une respective de ladite pluralité de cavités (134, 136, 148) placées dans ledit boîtier isolant (129) du connecteur mâle (128), chacun desdits contacts de réceptacle comprenant une paire de parois de contact opposées définies par un premier panneau planaire, un deuxième panneau planaire, et un espace médian entre le premier panneau planaire et le deuxième panneau planaire du contact de réceptacle ; dans lequel la dissipation de chaleur peut se produire depuis les surfaces de contact intérieures des contacts de réceptacle par passage d'air dans les espaces médians des contacts de réceptacle, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un des premier panneau planaire et deuxième panneau planaire de chacun des contacts de réceptacle est écarté d'une paroi de boîtier adjacent du connecteur mâle, de sorte qu'il laisse une proportion substantielle de la surface d'au moins un contact exposée à l'air.
EP05019128A 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance Expired - Lifetime EP1605550B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06026817A EP1770828B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US160900 1980-06-19
US8209198P 1998-04-17 1998-04-17
US82091P 1998-04-17
US09/160,900 US6319075B1 (en) 1998-04-17 1998-09-25 Power connector
EP99106269A EP0951102B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Connecteur de puissance
EP03028187A EP1401055B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03028187A Division EP1401055B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP06026817A Division EP1770828B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1605550A1 EP1605550A1 (fr) 2005-12-14
EP1605550B1 true EP1605550B1 (fr) 2007-10-17

Family

ID=35311027

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05019128A Expired - Lifetime EP1605550B1 (fr) 1998-04-17 1999-04-15 Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1605550B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1399168B1 (it) * 2009-04-21 2013-04-11 Morsettitalia Spa Connettore per il collegamento elettrico di mezzi di alimentazione ad elementi maschi di circuiti
WO2015081064A1 (fr) 2013-11-27 2015-06-04 Fci Asia Pte. Ltd Connecteur de puissance électrique

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4820169A (en) * 1986-04-22 1989-04-11 Amp Incorporated Programmable modular connector assembly
US5152700A (en) * 1991-06-17 1992-10-06 Litton Systems, Inc. Printed circuit board connector system
US5295843A (en) * 1993-01-19 1994-03-22 The Whitaker Corporation Electrical connector for power and signal contacts
US5403206A (en) * 1993-04-05 1995-04-04 Teradyne, Inc. Shielded electrical connector
US5549480A (en) * 1994-05-17 1996-08-27 Tongrand Limited Unitary connector allowing laterally variant positions of mating contacts of complementary connector
US5618187A (en) * 1994-11-17 1997-04-08 The Whitaker Corporation Board mount bus bar contact

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1605550A1 (fr) 2005-12-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0951102B1 (fr) Connecteur de puissance
US7314377B2 (en) Electrical power connector
EP1289070B1 (fr) Fiche femelle avec un contact destiné à s'accoupler avec un barre omnibus d'alimentation
US6890221B2 (en) Power connector with male and female contacts
EP1605550B1 (fr) Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance
EP1770828B1 (fr) Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance
EP1401055B1 (fr) Accouplement de connecteurs électriques ayant un signal et des capacités de puissance
KR100599895B1 (ko) 전력 커넥터

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

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 1401055

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 0951102

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: CLARK, STEPHEN L.

Inventor name: SHUEY, JOSEPH B.

Inventor name: BROWN III, JOHN B.

Inventor name: ORTEGA, JOSE L.

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20060614

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20060811

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AC Divisional application: reference to earlier application

Ref document number: 1401055

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

Ref document number: 0951102

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: P

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69937378

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20071129

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071017

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071017

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071017

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20080128

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

ET Fr: translation filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071017

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20071017

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20080718

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080415

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CA

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 69937378

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: BARDEHLE PAGENBERG PARTNERSCHAFT MBB PATENTANW, DE

Effective date: 20120419

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 69937378

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: FCI, FR

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: FCI, VERSAILLES, FR

Effective date: 20120419

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20180427

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20180427

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20180423

Year of fee payment: 20

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20180425

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20180427

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20180427

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69937378

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Expiry date: 20190414

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: EUG

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20190414