GB2267001A

GB2267001A - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2267001A
Application number: GB9209869A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chor Wang Wong
Original assignee: BELFRY TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Current assignee: BELFRY TECHNOLOGIES Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-07
Filing date: 1992-05-07
Publication date: 1993-11-17
Also published as: GB9209869D0

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a first pan (16) having resiliently-biassed electrical contacts (23), a second part (24) having electrical contacts (31), and guiding means provided at either one of the first and second pans (16 and 24) for guiding the other part in order to align the electrical contacts (23 and 31). The resiliently- biassed electrical contacts (23) are moved when electrical contact is made, against the resilient biassing action in the direction of movement of the second pan (24) relative to the first pan (16). The pan (24) may be in the form of an electronic security key. A guideway is formed as a slot in a casing (10, Fig. 2, not shown) for the first pan (16). <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MAKING ELECTRICAL CONTACT The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of making electrical contact.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for making electrical contact, which apparatus comprises a first part having a series of resiliently-biassed electrical contacts, a second part having a series of electrical contacts, and guiding means provided at either one of the first and second parts for guiding the other part in order to align the two series of electrical contacts for electrical contact therebetween to be made when the two parts are brought relatively together, said resiliently-biassed electrical contacts being moved when the electrical contact is made against the resilient biassing action in the direction of movement of the second part relative to the first part.

In a preferred embodiment, the guiding means is provided at the first part.

Preferably, the electrical contacts on the second part are fixed relative thereto.

It is preferred that the electrical contacts of the second part have a flat surface on which said electrical contact is to be made.

Preferably, the second part includes a printed circuit board on which the corresponding electrical contacts are supported.

It is preferred that the resiliently-biassed electrical contacts are each biassed by a coil spring.

In a preferred embodiment, each resiliently-biassed electrical contact is provided by a spring probe.

In a specific arrangement, the second part is in the form of a card, with the associated electrical contacts exposed through one edge of the card.

Preferably, the guiding means is provided by a slot.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making electrical contact, which method comprises providing a first part having a series of resiliently-biassed electrical contacts, providing a second part having a series of electrical contacts, providing guiding means at either one of the first and second parts for guiding the other part in order to align the two series of electrical contacts for electrical contact therebetween to be made, and moving the two parts relatively together and aligning the two series of electrical contacts by means of the guiding means in order to make said electrical contact, the resiliently-biassed electrical contacts being moved when said electrical contact is made against the resilient biassing action in the direction of movement of the second part relative to the first part.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a first part of an embodiment of apparatus for making electrical contact in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side view of a casing of the first apparatus part of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional underneath plan view of the first apparatus part casing of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of an electrical contact support of the first apparatus part of Figure 1; Figure 5 is an end view of the electrical contact support of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of the electrical contact support of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a front view of a second part of the embodiment of apparatus for making electrical contact in accordance with the invention; and Figure 8 is a sectional side view of the second apparatus part of Figure 7.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a first part in the form of a base unit 10 of the apparatus for making electrical contact embodying the invention. The base unit 10 has a moulded plastics casing 11 which is provided with a slot 12 formed by an integral portion 13 extending rearwards from a front wall 14 of the casing 11. The slot 12 extends horizontally across the middle portion of the casing front wall 14. The integral portion 13 is formed with two blind holes 15 in its rear end on opposite sides of the slot 12.

In Figures 4 to 6, an electrical contact support 16 is shown which has a moulded plastic body 17 formed by a elongate portion 18 and two central integral side portions 19 in each of which a hole 20 is provided. A series of five electrical contact spring probes 21 is carried by the support 16, disposed at equal intervals along the longitudinal extent of the elongate portion 18 and passing therethrough.

Each spring probe 21 is formed by a tube 22 closed at one end and a pin 23 inserted partially into the tube 22 through the open end. The tube 22 holds a coil spring (not shown) which co-acts between the closed end of the tube 22 and the inner end of the pin 23. The pin 23 is retained joined with the tube 22 by its inner end engaging behind the open end of the tube 22. Each spring probe 21 is held in position by frictional engagement along its open end portion with a correspond hole through the elongate portion 18 of the support 16, whilst the associated pin 23 is freely extendable into or out of the tube 22 or the support body 17. The free ends of the pins 23 are sharpened or provided with sharp projections for enhancing electrical contact made thereat.

Although this is not shown in the drawings, the support 16 is attached to the rear end of the integral portion 13 behind the base unit front wall 14 by two screws each passing through the corresponding hole 20 of the support 16 and engaged within the respective hole 15 of the integral portion 13. The free ends of the pins 23 of the corresponding spring probes 21 extend forwards into the slot 12.

Reference is now made to Figures 7 and 8 which show a second part of the electrical contact making apparatus of the invention, in the form of a moulded plastics rectangular card 24. One end 25 of the card 24 has a side recess 26 in which a printed circuit board 27 is located.

The printed circuit board 27 has a series of five holes 28 lying adjacent and parallel to the side of the card end 25, supports an integrated circuit chip 29, and bears a printed circuitry of conducting paths extending from the chip 29 to the holes 28.

In relation to each hole 28, a U-shaped electricallyconducting strip 30 is fixed which has its first limb passing through from below the corresponding hole 28 and its second limb crossing from below the side of the printed circuit board 27 adjacent the free end 25 of the card 24.

The strips 30 are soldered in position at their first limbs on the top side of the printed circuit board 27. The second limbs are flat and disposed at equal intervals (same spacing as the probes 21) immediately behind the free end 25 of the card 24, providing a series of five electrical contacts 31. The recess 26 is covered by a panel 32, with the electrical contacts 31 remaining exposed through the edge of the card end 25.

In use, the base unit 10 is fixed on a surface by screws, for example in this particular embodiment only, on a wall adjacent a door for which the base unit 10 houses a microprocessor-based security circuitry (not shown) controlling an electric door lock. The security circuitry is electrically connected to the contact probes 21 at the free ends of the corresponding tubes 22. The chip 29 of the card 24 contains a user identity code. In order to open the electric door lock, the card 24 is inserted at its end 25 by the user into the slot 12 of the base unit 10.

The slot 12 has a cross-section corresponding to that of the card end 25, and serves to guide the card end 25 to pass into the base unit 10, aligning the series of electrical contacts 31 with the pins 23 of the respective contact probes 21 inside the base unit 10. When the card electrical contacts 31 come into electrical contact with the corresponding control probes 21, the respective pins 23 of the latter are pushed inwards, namely in the direction of the inserting movement of the card 24.

At the same time, the chip 29 in the card 24 is activated and provides the stored user identity code to the security circuitry of the base unit 10 through the two series of electrical contacts 31 and 21. If the input user identity code matches with the one pre-stored in the security circuitry, the electric door lock is opened or permits its opening with the use of an appropriate key.

It will be appreciated that the electrical contact making apparatus and method described above may be used for any purposes other that security.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Apparatus for making electrical contact, which apparatus comprises a first part having a series of resiliently-biassed electrical contacts, a second part having a series of electrical contacts, and guiding means provided at either one of the first and second parts for guiding the other part in order to align the two series of electrical contacts for electrical contact therebetween to be made when the two parts are brought relatively together, said resiliently-biassed electrical contacts being moved when the electrical contact is made against the resilient biassing action in the direction of movement of the second part relative to the first part.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding means is provided at the first part.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the electrical contacts on the second part are fixed relative thereto.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the electrical contacts of the second part have a flat surface on which said electrical contact is to be made.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part includes a printed circuit board on which the corresponding electrical contacts are supported.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the resiliently-biassed electrical contacts are each biassed by a coil spring.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each resiliently-biassed electrical contact is provided by a spring probe.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part is in the form of a card, with the associated electrical contacts exposed through one edge of the card.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding means is provided by a slot.

10. Apparatus for making electrical contact, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of making electrical contact, which method comprises providing a first part having a series of resiliently-biassed electrical contacts, providing a second part having a series of electrical contacts, providing guiding means at either one of the first and second parts for guiding the other part in order to align the two series of electrical contacts for electrical contact therebetween to be made, and moving the two parts relatively together and aligning the two series of electrical contacts by means of the guiding means in order to make said electrical contact, the resiliently-biassed electrical contacts being moved when said electrical contact is made against the resilient biassing action in the direction of movement of the second part relative to the first part.

12. A method of making electrical contact, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.