GB2166301A

GB2166301A - Aligning connectors on circuit boards

Info

Publication number: GB2166301A
Application number: GB08525377A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Anthony Rush
Original assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Current assignee: Smiths Group PLC
Priority date: 1984-10-26
Filing date: 1985-10-15
Publication date: 1986-04-30
Also published as: GB8525377D0; GB2166301B; GB8427172D0

Abstract

An electrical circuit board (1) supports along one edge two connectors (3, 4) that are spaced from one another by a spacer member (10) so as to locate the connectors accurately with respect to one another and ensure correct alignment with counterparts (53, 54). The spacer member has flat end surfaces that engage the ends of the connectors, and has lips (13, 14) at opposite ends that overlie ledges (36, 35) formed at the ends of the connectors. The spacer member (10) may include a guideway and coding apertures (not shown) that receive a guide pin and coding pins projecting from a cooperating spacer member (70). The cooperating spacer member may be mounted on the backplane wall (7) of a rack (5) between counterparts (53, 54) which mate with the connectors (3, 4) on the board (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Connector assemblies, board assemblies and components This invention relates to connector assemblies, circuit board assemblies and components therefor.

The invention is more particularly concerned with connector assemblies including two connectors mounted on a board, for use in establishing electrical interconnection with components on the board.

There are various standard sizes of printed circuit board which are of a shape and size to fit the appropriate standard size of rack. Both the board and the rack have connectors that are arranged to mate with one another, the dimensions of the connector complying with agreed specifications. One form of board, known as the 'Double Euro-card' has two connectors spaced apart from one another along the edge of the board.

Various problems have been found with such boards having two connectors. Because of manufacturing and assembly tolerances, it can be difficult to ensure that the mating halves of both connectors align correctly; this can lead to failure to mate, or damage to the connector housing or pins, when mating is forced.

On boards where one connector extends along a major part of the length of the board, the connector itself gives the board rigidity. Where, however, two connectors are used, and these are spaced from one another, in the usual way, the board is free to flex and warp. This is aggravated where the boards carry a large number of components, since these add to the weight of the board and make it more liable to bend. Any warping or bending of the board obviously makes it difficult to insert in the mounting rack, but can also damage the mounting and electrical connection of components on the board.

Whilst the problems experienced using two connectors can be overcome by using a different form of connector, the standards presently used are well established and any change would involve discarding a large amount of existing equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit board assembly, a connector assembly and a component for a connector assembly that may be used to overcome the above-mentioned problems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical circuit board assembly including an electrical circuit board, a first two connector means mounted on said board in a spaced relationship and adapted for mating with a second two connector means separate from said board, the board assembly including spacer means interposed between and locating with both said first two connector means.

According to another aspect of the present invention an electrical connector assembly includes a first two connector means mounted on an electrical circuit board in a spaced relationship with one another and adapted for mating with a second two connector means separate from said board, the connector assembly including spacer means interposed between and locating with both said first two connector means.

The first two connector means and the spacer means may have a flat surface that contacts the surface of the circuit board. The spacer means preferably has opposite end surfaces that are arranged to cooperate with respective end surfaces on each said first two connector means, and they may be abutting flat end surfaces. A portion at opposite ends of the spacer means preferably overlies a part of a respective one of said connector means. Each said first connector means may be secured to the said board by means of a bolt at opposite ends of each connector means, and the bolt on each said first connector means also securing said spacer means to said board.

The spacer means is preferably arranged to mate with second spacer means mounted between the said second two connector means. The spacer means may include a first guide means that is arranged to cooperate with a second guide means on said second spacer means. One of the guide means may comprise an aperture, and the other guide means may comprise a pin that is arranged to enter the aperture. The spacer means preferably includes first coding means arranged to cooperate with second coding means mounted between the second two connector means. One of the coding means may comprise a plurality of pins, and the other of said coding means may comprise a plurality of apertures arranged to receive said pins, said apertures being blockable to define the coding. The first and second guide means may be arranged to engage one another before the first and second coding means engage one another.The first and second coding means may be arranged to engage one another before the first and second connector means engage one another.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided spacer means for an assembly according to either of the above aspects of the present invention.

The spacer means ensures that the two connector means are correctly positioned relative to one another and provides added stiffness to the board on which the connectors are mounted, thereby resisting bending of the board.

An electrical circuit board assembly including a connector assembly and a spacer member in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a simplified perspective view of the board assembly in a rack; Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the board assembly; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a part of the board assembly showing the connector assembly; Figure 3A shows a part of Figure 3 in section and to a larger scale; Figure 4 is a cross sectional elevation of a part of the board assembly along the line IV-IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a part of the cooperating connector assembly in the rack; Figure 6 is an end elevation of the cooperating connector assembly shown in Figure 5; and Figure 7 shows a part of the assembly of Figure 5 in greater detail.

With reference first to Figures 1 to 4 there is shown a printed circuit board assembly comprising a board 1 and a connector assembly 2 including two electrical connectors 3 and 4. The board 1 and connectors 3 and 4 are of conventional form, together forming a 'Double Euro-Card'. The connector assembly 2 is completed by a spacer member 10.

The board assembly is arranged for insertion in a rack 5 such that its connector assembly 2 mates with a cooperating connector assembly 6 on the wall 7 of the rack.

With reference now more particularly to Figures 2 2 to 4, both connectors 3 and 4 are of identical configuration, comprising an outer plastics housing 30 of generally rectangular shape in which are mounted ninety-six contact pins 31. The pins 31 project from the rear edge of the housing 30 and are bent down at right angles passing through the surface of the board 1 and making electrical contact with conductive tracks 32 (Figure 4) on the board. The forward edge of the connectors 3 and 4 have a rectangular peripheral wall or shroud 33 which extends around the forward end of the pins 31 and defines a rectangular recess 34. At opposite ends of the connectors 3 and 4, the rear edge of the housing 30 is of reduced thickness, forming ledges 35 and 36. Each ledge 35 and 36 has an aperture therethrough which receives a bolt 37.The bolts 37 extend through underlying apertures in the board 1 and are tightened, by engagement with nuts 39, to hold the connectors firmly on the board.

The spacer member 10 is also mounted on the board 1, between the connectors 3 and 4, with the underside of the space member contacting the upper surface of the board 1 and with opposite ends of the spacer member locating with the connectors. The spacer member 10 is a metal or plastics block of rectangular sections and has flat end faces 11 and 12 which abut opposite flat end faces of the connectors 3 and 4. Opposite ends of the spacer member 10 have lips 13 and 14 respectively that project longitudinally of the spacer member from its upper surface. The lips 13 and 14 are positioned and shaped to overlie the ledge 36 of one connector 3 and the ledge 35 of the other connector 4.

The bolts 37 extend through respective apertures 15 and 16 in the lips 13 and 14 so that they serve also to retain the spacer 10 securely on the board 1.

The forward surface of the spacer 10 has a shallow rectangular projection 17, extending laterally midway along its length, and a circular guideway or aperture 18 which is located centrally of this projection and which extends through the spacer.

The spacer 10 also has a number of coding apertures 19 which extend between its forward and rear surfaces. The apertures 19 are grouped together in the manner shown in Figure 2, with two parallel rows of four apertures to one side of the projection 17, and two groups of five apertures each on the other side of the projection.

The construction of the second connector assembly 6 on the rack 5 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 5 to 7. The rackmounted connector assembly 6 includes two connectors 53 and 54 that are adapted to mate with the connectors 3 and 4 respectively on the board 1.

The connectors 53 and 54 are of generally rectangular shape and comprise a plastics body 57 within which are mounted an array of ninety-six contact sockets 58. Each contact socket 58 receives within it a respective contact pin 31 of the connectors 3 and 4. The external shape and size of the body 57 complies with the internal shape of the wall 33 of the connectors 3 and 4, so that it can be inserted within the recess 34.

Opposite ends of the connectors 53 and 54 have projecting flanges 59 and 60 each of which has an aperture 61 and 62 respectively. Bolts 63 and 64 extend through the apertures 61 and 62 and are used to secure the connectors 53 and 54 to the wall 7 of the rack 5.

A second spacer member 70 is mounted on the wall 7 intermediate the connectors 53 and 54. This spacer member 70 has a plastics body 71 of generally rectangular shape and is provided with metal flanges 72 and 73 that are secured to opposite ends of the body 71 by screws 82 and 83. The flanges 72 and 73 each have an aperture therethrough and overlie the flange 60 of one connector 53 and the flange 59 of the other connector 54, so that the spacer member 70 is securely mounted on the wall 7 by the bolts 63 and 64. The spacer member 70 is spaced from the wall by several lugs 84 projecting from the rear surface of the spacer. The lugs 84 can be broken off the body 71, if desired, and the spacer member 70 mounted directly on the wall 7.The metal flanges 72 and 73 can also be removed and the spacer member 70 secured directly to the wall 7 by replacing the screws 82 and 83 with longer screws that can extend through the wall 7.

The two spacers 10 and 70 are shaped to mate with one another, the forward surface of the rackmounted spacer having lateral recess 75 midway along its length, which is arranged to receive within it the projection 17 on the forward surface of the board-mounted spacer. Centrally of this recess 75 there projects a guide pin 76 which has a conical tip 77 and which is arranged to cooperate with the guideway 18 on the cooperating spacer 10 by locating within it. The spacer 70 also carries a number of coding pins 78 which project from its surface and are aligned with respective coding apertures 19 in the board-mounted spacer 10.

A unique coding for the two spacers 10 and 70 is defined by blocking selected ones of the coding apertures 19 in the board-mounted spacer 10 by means of inserts 20 (Figure 3A) and by omitting corresponding coding pins 78 from the rackmounted spacer 70.

When a board assembly is inserted in the rack 5, the first engagement is by the guide pin 76 in the guideway 18 before engagement of the coding pins 78 in the apertures 19. The conical tip 77 of the guide pin 76 ensures that the guide pin enters the guideway, even if there is slight misalignment.

Obviously, if there is any gross misalignment or non-cooperation between the board assembly and the rack, the guide pin 76 will impede insertion of the board assembly and prevent damage to the connectors. Further insertion of the board assembly produces engagement by the coding pins 78 in the coding apertures 19 but this will only be achieved if the inserts 20 in the coding apertures correspond with missing pins on the rack-mounted spacer 70. If the coding of the board assembly corresponds with that at the location on the rack 5, the board assembly can be inserted further to mate the connectors 3 and 4 on the board 1 with the connectors 53 and 54 respectively on the rack.

The spacer has several advantages. Because the two connectors on the board locate with opposite ends of the spacer member 10, correct spacing of the two connector members from one another is ensured. The spacer member 70 on the rack also serves the same purpose. The spacer member 10 on the board 1 also gives the board assembly greater rigidity I this is achieved because of the contact of the underside of the spacer with the board and also because engagement of the flat ends of the spacer with the ends of the connectors maintains alignment of the two connectors with one another. Various cooperating end surfaces with alternative shapes could be used on the spacer and connectors. Another advantage of the spacer is realised because the provision of the guide pin 76 and guideway 18 aids correct location of the board assembly relative to the rack. The coding pins and apertures of the spacers enable them to provide a compact arrangement for coding the board assemblies.

Claims

1. An electrical circuit board assembly including an electrical circuit board, a first two connector means mounted on said board in a spaced relationship and adapted for mating with a second two connector means separate from said board, wherein the board assembly includes spacer means interposed between and locating with both said first two connector means.

2. An electrical connector assembly including a first two connector means mounted on an electrical circuit board in a spaced relationship with one another and adapted for mating with a second two connector means separate from said board, wherein the connector assembly includes spacer means interposed between and locating with both said first two connector means.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first two connector means and the spacer means have a flat surface that contacts the surface of the circuit board.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer means has opposite end surfaces that are arranged to cooperate with respective end surfaces on each said first two connector means.

5. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spacer means and said first two connector means have abutting flat end surfaces.

6. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a portion at opposite ends of the spacer means overlies a part of a respective one of said first connector means.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said first connector means is secured to the said board by means of a bolt at opposite ends of each connector means, and wherein the bolt on each said first connector means also secures said spacer means to said board.

8. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spacer means is arranged to mate with second spacer means mounted between the said second two connector means.

9. An assembly according to Claim 8, wherein said spacer means includes a first guide means that is arranged to cooperate with a second guide means on said second spacer means.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, wherein one of said guide means comprises an aperture, and wherein the other guide means comprises a pin that is arranged to enter said aperture.

11. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said spacer means includes first coding means arranged to cooperate with second coding means mounted between said second two connector means.

12. An assembly according to Claim 11, wherein one of said coding means comprises a plurality of pins, and wherein the other of said coding means comprises a plurality of apertures arranged to receive said pins, said apertures being blockable to define the coding.

13. An assembly according to Claim 9 or 10 and Claim 11 or 12, wherein the first and second guide means are arranged to engage one another before the first and second coding means engage one another.

14. An assembly according to Claim 13, wherein the first and second coding means are arranged to engage one another before the first and second connector means engage one another.

15. An electrical circuit board assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. An electrical connector assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Spacer means for an assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

18. Spacer means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the acompanying drawings.

19. Any novel feature or combination of features as hereinbefore described.