GB2176350A - Surface-mounting a connector on a printed circuit board - Google Patents
Surface-mounting a connector on a printed circuit board Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2176350A GB2176350A GB8613377A GB8613377A GB2176350A GB 2176350 A GB2176350 A GB 2176350A GB 8613377 A GB8613377 A GB 8613377A GB 8613377 A GB8613377 A GB 8613377A GB 2176350 A GB2176350 A GB 2176350A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- connector
- printed circuit
- circuit board
- assembly
- ofthe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
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
- H01R12/71—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
- H01R12/724—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 containing contact members forming a right angle
Abstract
An assembly of a surface mounting two-part printed circuit board connector and a printed circuit board, the edge of the printed circuit board and the connector being shaped to enable mutual engagement therebetween. The printed circuit board connector comprises two connector parts designed for mutual engagement, each connector part having a main body portion housing respective rows of contacts. The main body portions have a ramp or stepped portion whereby during their assembly portions are displaced relative to one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to their central axes to provide an optimum contact force between the contacts. A low initial insertion force is developed between the connector parts during assembly.
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvementsin or relating to printed circuit board connectors
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board connector.
Atraditional type of printed circuit board (PCB) comprises a laminate having components ozone side and etched or deposited circuitry on the other side.
Component leads are fed through holes in the laminate and soldered to conductor pads associated with the components.
With the ever-increasing need to increase circuitry and packaging densities a technology known as surface mounting has been developed. Surfacemount technology involves producing "lead-less" componentwhich are mounted directlytothecircuit- carrying side of the PCB. This in turn has given rise to the need for printed circuit board connectors to be surface-mounted, that is to say the connectors do not require feed through holes but have their contacts electrically connected directly or indirectly to the lead circuit pads on the PCB.
Accordingto the present invention there is provided an assembly of a surface mounting printed circuit board connector and a printed circuit board, wherein the connector is adapted to be located within a notch havingtwo or more sides formed in the edge of the printed circuit board, location means being provided for locating the connector in a fixed position relative to the edge ofthe printed circuit board whereby connector contacts are electrically connected to contacts on the surface ofthe printed circuit board, and the connector is provided with one or more surface mounting feet for securing the connectorto one or more respective attachment areas defined on the surface of the printed circuit board.
The notch may be formed with two or more sides. In one embodimentthe notch has three sides, a portion ofthe connector being located within the space defined between thethree sides ofthe notch.
The surface mounting foot orfeet may be secured to the printed circuit board by means ofsolder or by means of an adhesive.
In another embodiment the mounting of the foot or feet is reinforced by means of a clamp or clamps which clamp the surface mounting foot orfeetto the printed circuit board.
In apreferred embodimentthe connectoris secured to the printed circuitboard by means of two surfaces mounting feet positioned one on each sideofthe notch formed in the edge ofthe printed circuit board, and at least one row of surface mounting connector contacts is positioned between the feet.
In a further preferred embodimentthe connector comprises two connector parts designed for mutual engagement, and the location means forlocating the connector in a fixed position relative to the edge ofthe printed circuit board comprises a pair of location feet integral with one connector part.
In a further embodiment of the present invention the conoector fs arrangedto utilise "Low lnsertionForcef' contacts whereby mating forces that may otherwise damage the printed circuit board mounting are avoided.
In a preferred embodiment the male mating part is providedwith ramping means to provide satisfactory pressures between the mating contacts.
According to another aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a printed circuit board connector, the connector comprising two connector parts designed for mutual engagement, each connector part having a main body portion housing respective rows of contacts, at least one ofthe main body portions ofthe connector parts is provided with a ramp or stepped portion to define a ramping means whereby during assembly the main body portions are displaced relative to one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to their central axes during their assembly to provide the optimum contact force between the contacts.
The present invention will be described further, by way of examples, with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an exploded diagrammatic view of partof surface mountingtwo-part printed circuit board connector in accordance with an embodimentofthe present invention,
Figure 2 illustrates the shaping of an edge of a printed circuit board accommodate the connector of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a sectional view th rough unmated contacts 14 in the connector parts of Figurel, Figure 4 is a sectional view through mated contacts in the connector parts of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a graph comparing a conventional contactforce engaging cycle with a "Low Insertion
Force" engaging cycle associated with the contacts of
Figures 3 and 4,
Figure 6 is a view taken along the arrow A of Figure 2 ofthe connector part attached to the edge of the printed circuit'board and Figure 7 is a detailed sectional view through the connector part of FigureS, Figures is a cross-section th roughthe contact ofthe male connector part and
Figure 9 is a plan view ofthe spring contact in Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings a surface mounting printed circuit board connector comprises two mutually-engageable con nector parts 2 and 4.
The connector part 2 comprises an elongate support member 6 to a major surface of which is mounted a generalLy U-shaped elongate housing 8. The h-ousing 8 has a groove formed along its length the wails ofthe groove defining a channel 10. Onewall ofthe channel 10 is stepped to define a ramp 11 running along the wall.Thechannel 10 housestwo rowsofspaced 'U' section male contacts 12 which are welded to spills 14.
The spills 14 are wire wrapped, soldered or of a "press fit" type and extend through holes in the support member6.
The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced is taken
from a later filed formal copy.
The connectoF part 4 has a main body portion
comprising an dblong block 15 provided with a
stepped portion-16 along its uppersurface. An 'L'
shaped shoulder orfoot 18 and an integral foot 20 are located at each end ofthe block 1 Two rows of socket
holes 22 are defined within thebody of the block 15,
each socket hole 22 being provided to receive a
respective oneofthe 'U' shaped-male contacts 12 of
the connector part 2. Only one socket is illustrated in
Figure3 for simplicity of drawing.Within each socket
is housed a bent end portion 24 of a spring contact, the
other end portion 25 ofthe spring contact defining a
terminal extending outthrough the other side of the
block 15 and being bent downwardly so thatthe
terminals can engage conductor pads on a printed
circuit board (PCB) 26.
Referring tb Figure 2 each ofthe 'L' shaped
shoulders 18 are provided on their bottom and
upstanding faces with metallised pads 28 for solder
mounting.Theshoulders 18 being 'L'shaped permit eitherhorizontal orvertical mounting ofthe connector
part 14 relative to the PCB. Between the 'L' shaped
shoulders 18 and between the location feet 20 is
located the row ofterminals 25 each of which is
positioned in a respective slot 27. Adjacent terminals 25are spaced apart by 0.05 inches. The connector part
4 is also provided with a recess 30 for ease of soldering
and inspection.
The edge ofthe PCB 26 is shaped to definea notch
32 for locatingthe connector part4 and thereby
providing meansformutual engagement between the connecwrpart4 and the edge ofthe PCB 26. On each side ofthe notch 32 is provided a mounting pad 34
which provides an attachment area to which one ofthe
metallised pads on the 'L' shaped shoulder 18 is
soldered during assembly. In order to further secure, if
desired, the mounting ofthe shoulder 18 to the mounting pad a bracket36 may be provided.
When the connector part 4 is assembled to the edge
ofthe PCB each terminal 25 makes electrical contact
with a conductor pad and track38formed on the surfaceofthePCB(seeFigure4).
Themounting ofthe connector part4to the PCB26
is also illustrated in Figure 6the same reference
numerals being employed to identify identical fea
tures illustrated in earlier drawings.
The embodiment described above provides a sur
face-mounting connector design which lends itselfto
automatic assembly processes. Theconnector can be
'pick and place' mounted in common with the other
components on the PCB 26 andthe board area can be
minimised. For example, the useofthecut-out notch
32inthe board edge to co-operate with integral
location feet20 on the connectorto positively locate
conductors facilitates automatic assembly to the
board and the use of refiowsoldenng techniques. The reflow soldering and automatic assemblytechniques are further facilitated by the provision ofthe surface
mounting pads 28 which are capable ofeither soldering orglue-bonding to the board surface.
In orderto offsetthe mechanical forces to which the
connector is subjected during the mating ofthe male connector part2 and thefemale connector part 4a 'Low Insertion Force' assembly design is provided.
This may be seen more clearly by comparing Figures 3 and4withthegraph of Figure5.
The initial engaging force acting between the connector parts2 and4 islowbecausethe-spring portions 24 are deflected only a small amount by engagement with the contacts 12. Full contactforce is developed between the spring portions 24 and the contacts 12atthe end oftheirengagementtravel by the provision ofthe ramp 11 and the stepped portion 16 associated withlhe main body portions of connec torparts2and4.Theramp 11 andthestepped portion 16 together define a ramping means which, during assembly ofthe connector parts 2 and 4, displaces the bodies ofthe connector parts 2 and 4 relative to each other in a direction orthogonal to their central axes thereby developing a full contact force between the contacts 12,24.
The edge orface ofthe PCB 26 absorbs most ofthe forces developed during theassembly ofthe connector parts 2 and 4, and as described earlierseparately fitted board to connector clamps 36 (screw or spring operated) may be employedto reinforce the attachmentareas agai nst fo rces tendi ngto lift the connector from the PCB 26.
The connector body design permits a low initial insertion forcethereby minimisingwear-rate and mechanical sock forces and develops optimum cqntactforces between the contacts 12 and 24 bythefinal 'lifting' ofthespring contact 24. Furthermore;the mate contact 12 has a shape of u form which givesthe contact 12 rigidity with small size. The cantilever female spring contact 24/terminal 25 is shaped as one-piece which is relatively inexpensiveto manufac turn, easy to assemble and reliable in operation.
Figure 7 shows in more detail the section through the connectorpart4the same reference numerals being adopted to identify identical features illustrated in earlier drawings. It will be noted that Figures 3 and 4 illustrated only one spring contact 24in the connector part 4 this being forsimplicity of d rawing and and explanation ofthe engagement with the male corinec- torpart 2.
Figure 8 illustratesthe U-shaped cross-section of the contact T2 and Figure 9 illustrates a bifurcated end onthespring portion 24.
Claims (12)
1. An assembly of a surface mounting printed circuit board connector and a printed circuit board, wherein the connector is adapted to be located within a notch having two or more sides formed in the edge ofthe printed circuit board, location means being providedfor locating the connector in a fixed position relative to the edge ofthe printed circuit board wherebyconnector contacts are connected to contacts on the surface of the printed circuit board, and the connector is provided with one or more surface mountingfeetfor securing the connectorto one or more respective attachment areas defined on the surface ofthe printed circuit board.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface mounting printed circuit board connector comprises two connector parts designed for mutual engagement.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein the location means for locating the connector in a fixed position relative to the edge ofthe printed circuit boardcomprises a pair of location feet integral with oneoftheconnectorparts.
4. An assembly as claimed in any one of the claims 7 to 3 wherein the surface mounting foot orfeet are secured to the printed circuit board by means of solder or adhesive.
5. An assembly a s claimed in any oneof claims 1 to 4wherein the connector is secured to the printed circuit board by means of two surface mounting feet positioned one on each side ofthe notch formed in the edge ofthe printed circuit board, and at least one row ofsurface mounting connector contacts is positioned between the feet.
6. An assembly as claimed in anyone ofclaims 1 to 5 wherein the mounting ofthe surface mounting foot or feet to the printed circuit board is reinforced by means of a clamp or clamps which clamp the surface mounting foot orfeetto the printed circuit board.
7. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the notch has three sides and a portion of the connector is locatable within the space defined between the three sides of the notch.
8. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the two connector parts has a main body portion housing respective rows of contacts,the main body portions being designed to provide means whereby-a low initial insertion force is developed between the connector parts during their assembly and whereby an optimum contact force is developed between the rows of contacts.
9. Anassemblyasclaimed inclaim8inwhich at least one ofthe main body portions ofthe connector parts is provided with a ramp or stepped portion to define a ramping means whereby during assembly the main body portions are displaced relative to one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to their central axes during their assemblytoprovide the optimum contact force between the contacts.
10. A printed circuit board connector comprising two connector parts designedformutual engagement, each connector part having a main body portion housing respective rows f of contacts wherein at least one ofthe main body portions of the connector parts is provided with a ramp or stepped portion to define a rampingmeans whereby during assembly the main body portions are displaced relative to one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to their central axes during their assembly to provide the optimum contactforce between the contacts.
11. An assembly of a surface mounting two-part printed circuit board connector and-a printed circuit board, the assembly being substantially as hereinbefore described with references to, and as illustrated in,
Figures 1 to 9 ofthe accompanying drawings.
12. A printed circuit board connector substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8514204A GB8514204D0 (en) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-06-05 | Printed circuit board connectors |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8613377D0 GB8613377D0 (en) | 1986-07-09 |
| GB2176350A true GB2176350A (en) | 1986-12-17 |
Family
ID=10580216
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8514204A Pending GB8514204D0 (en) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-06-05 | Printed circuit board connectors |
| GB8613377A Withdrawn GB2176350A (en) | 1985-06-05 | 1986-06-03 | Surface-mounting a connector on a printed circuit board |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8514204A Pending GB8514204D0 (en) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-06-05 | Printed circuit board connectors |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0224546A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS63500060A (en) |
| GB (2) | GB8514204D0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1986007498A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5035649A (en) * | 1989-01-10 | 1991-07-30 | Itt Industries Limited | Shielded electrical connectors |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH01319278A (en) * | 1988-05-17 | 1989-12-25 | Thomas & Betts Corp <T&B> | Surface mount connector |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0147039A2 (en) * | 1983-12-13 | 1985-07-03 | AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) | Surface mount connector |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE561443A (en) * | 1956-10-08 | |||
| US3408611A (en) * | 1966-06-03 | 1968-10-29 | Katz Jack | Printed circuit board connector |
| US4392705A (en) * | 1981-09-08 | 1983-07-12 | Amp Incorporated | Zero insertion force connector system |
-
1985
- 1985-06-05 GB GB8514204A patent/GB8514204D0/en active Pending
-
1986
- 1986-06-03 EP EP19860903500 patent/EP0224546A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-06-03 WO PCT/GB1986/000312 patent/WO1986007498A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1986-06-03 GB GB8613377A patent/GB2176350A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-06-03 JP JP50325386A patent/JPS63500060A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0147039A2 (en) * | 1983-12-13 | 1985-07-03 | AMP INCORPORATED (a New Jersey corporation) | Surface mount connector |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5035649A (en) * | 1989-01-10 | 1991-07-30 | Itt Industries Limited | Shielded electrical connectors |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8613377D0 (en) | 1986-07-09 |
| GB8514204D0 (en) | 1985-07-10 |
| JPS63500060A (en) | 1988-01-07 |
| WO1986007498A1 (en) | 1986-12-18 |
| EP0224546A1 (en) | 1987-06-10 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4275944A (en) | Miniature connector receptacles employing contacts with bowed tines and parallel mounting arms | |
| US6071152A (en) | Electrical connector with inserted terminals | |
| US7484969B2 (en) | Electrical connector assembly | |
| US5192232A (en) | Electrical connector system utilizing thin male terminals | |
| EP0724313A2 (en) | Printed circuit board mounted electrical connector | |
| JP3360178B2 (en) | Electrical connector having integral support structure | |
| US5735696A (en) | Right-angle board to board connector with anti-wicking characteristics and terminal for same | |
| JPS61292395A (en) | Electric circuit board assembly | |
| JPH03119981U (en) | ||
| US6599140B1 (en) | Electrical connector assembly having a placement member | |
| EP0856922B1 (en) | Board straddle mounted electrical connector | |
| US6827588B1 (en) | Low profile board-to-board connector assembly | |
| EP0584577B1 (en) | Surface mounted electrical connector for printed circuit boards | |
| US5409386A (en) | Surface mount electrical connector and terminal therefor | |
| CN110829085B (en) | Electrical connector | |
| JPH0414873Y2 (en) | ||
| GB2176350A (en) | Surface-mounting a connector on a printed circuit board | |
| US6273748B1 (en) | Electrical connector assembly | |
| JPH0751736Y2 (en) | Thin female connector for electrical connection | |
| EP0724782B1 (en) | Gang modular jack | |
| JPH051174U (en) | Connector pin structure | |
| US5911584A (en) | Circuit card connector with isolation base assembly | |
| US6719567B2 (en) | Contact for electrical connector | |
| US5984722A (en) | Printed board connector | |
| US6109932A (en) | Three-dimensional electrical interconnection system |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |