GB2352096A

GB2352096A - Connector for circuit boards

Info

Publication number: GB2352096A
Application number: GB9916416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marc Simon Anthony Norridge; Denise Jane Palmer; Simon David Foulser; Michael Hans Arthur Riedlin
Original assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Current assignee: NEC Technologies UK Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-13
Filing date: 1999-07-13
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-13
Also published as: GB2352096B; GB9916416D0

Abstract

A connector block 1 can be used to connect circuit boards. The block 1 has one or more spring elements 3 which have electrical contacts 4,5. The contacts 4,5 are each associated with an engagement member 11,8 which locates in the connector to resist rotation of the spring element 3 when circuit boards are connected thereto. One engagement member 8 can locate in a recess in a face (14, fig.1) of the block 1 to lay flush with the surface and the other 11 can locate against a ledge portion 18. The location of the engagement members 8,11 acts to resist rotation of the spring element 3 when the contacts 4,5 are pushed during use. The spring element 3 can be constructed from a single piece of sheet metal. One of the contacts 4 can be carried on a spring arm 6 which has its width in the plane in which it is caused to bend by pressure on the contact 4. The other contact 5 can be carried on a spring arm 7 having its width transverse to the plane in which it is caused to bend by pressure on the contact 5.

Description

2352096 1 CONNECTOR FOR CIRCUIT BOARDS This invention relates to a

connector for circuit boards.

The design of electronic units generally and mobile phones in particular is directed toward a reduction in the size and the number of components without compromising performance. Circuit boards need to be separated physically, maintained in a spaced relationship with each other and to be connected together electrically. Many types of connector exist capable of providing electrical connection and separation of two or more circuit boards to be assembled one above another.

The prior art connectors do not include, however, a sufficiently compact but robust design which can also provide the required levels of contact stress. The hard usage inflicted on portable terminals such as mobile phones also demands that connectors incorporated within the terminals be resilient to shock in any axis.

Features of a connector for a circuit board to be described below, by way of example in illustration of the present invention are that it is compact and robust in construction and able to provide good and reliable electrical contact with a circuit board when in use.

A connector illustrative of the invention will now 2 be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of one end and one face of an assembled connector, Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the one face of the assembled connector, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled connector showing the opposite face and the other end of the assembled connector, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a double contact spring element which is incorporated in the assembled connector, Fig. 5 is a side view of the spring element of Fig.

4, and Fig. 6 is a view from the other end of the assembled connector of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a connector 1 for circuit boards has a single piece moulded block 2 providing a housing in which there is housed a series of double contact spring elements 3. The block 2 is made from a plastics insulating material,-for example from PC/ABS. The spring elements 3 provide a row of electrical contacts 4 each of which projects from the block 2, and a row of electrical contacts 5, each of which is within the block 2. The spring elements 3 which, in the particular arrangement being described, are made from a metal sheet of a uniform thickness, for example a sheet of beryllium copper, are each in one piece. The contacts 4 are at the 3 ends of spring arms 6, whose widths lie in their planes of bending caused by pressure on the contacts 4, and which therefore have a considerable degree of stiffness.

The contacts 5 are provided by portions 7 of the elements 3 which are folded and which have their widths in directions which are transverse to their directions of bending. The flexibility and the width of the portions 7 enable the contacts 5 to exert firm contact o ver a certain width with any circuit board with which they provide an electrical connection.

The spring elements 3 have an engagement member 8, and the folded portions 7 extend directly from and in line with the member 8. The arms 6 are supported via a bend 9 and an arm 10 by a part 11, which also acts as an engagement member, and which extends from, but is to the side of, the engagement member 8.

The engagement member 8 fulfils the functions of locating the spring elements 3 in the block 2 and restraining the elements 3 against rotation.

In describing the assembly of the spring elements 3 in the block 2, particular reference is made to Figs. I to 3. From Fig. 1, it can be seen that there are slots 13 running from the one face 14 across the upper portion, as viewed in the drawings, of the block 2. In the other face 15 of the block 2, there is a longitudinal slot 16 running f rom one end to the other, and f rom the other f ace 15, there extends into the block 2, a series of ledge portions 18 which are associated with recesses 19 4 for housing the spring elements 3.

Considering the spring elements 3 shown in Fig. 4 in relation to the block 2 as shown in Fig. 1, it may be seen that in assembling the spring elements 3 into the block 2, the contact 4 enters the slot 13 from the one face 14 and the folded portions 7 of the spring elements 3 pass into the recess 19 with the arm 11 resting on the ledge portion 18. Finally, the engagement member 8 engages in a recess in the one face 14 of the block 2, so that the member 8 lies flush with the one face 14.

In this way, the engagement member 8 acts against the block 2 to resist any tendency of the spring elements 3 to rotate as a result of pressure exerted upon the. contact 5 f rom. below, as it is viewed in the drawing.

Similarly the ledge portion 18, upon which the arm 11 rests, resists any tendency of the spring element to rotate in the other direction as a result of pressure exerted in a downwardly direction, as it is viewed in the drawing, upon the contact 4.

It will be appreciated that, in use, the edge of a circuit board will be inserted into the slot 16, so that contact elements on the circuit board will make connection with the contacts 5 of the spring elements 3.

The connector block I may be positioned, as shown in the drawings, with the contacts 4 extending upwardly, or with the contacts 4 extending downwardly. Connections may be made by the contacts 4 with, in the first mentioned case, the contact elements of a circuit positioned above the connector 1, and in the second case mentioned above, with the contact elements of a circuit positioned below the connector 1.

It will be appreciated that, although a particular arrangement has been described, by way of example in illustration of the invention, variations and modifications, as well as other arrangements may be made within the scope of the invention.

For example, although the spring elements 3 are push fits in the block 2 in the particular arrangement described, and are "locked" in place in the block by the frictional forces exerted upon the elements 3, particularly on the member 8 by the block 2, other ways of locking the elements in the block, including the use of barbs extending from the sides of the elements 3, may be used.

It will also be understood that, although a connector has been described having a plurality of double contact spring elements, it is within the scope of the appended claims to have only one double contact spring element 3.

6

Claims

1 A connector including a housing, and a spring element which has two electrical contacts and two engagement members, each engagement member being associated with a respective one of the electrical contacts, engaging the housing, and providing resistance against the rotation of the spring element in the housing in an opposite direction from that of the other.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 in which the spring element is in one piece and has been formed from a metal sheet.

3. A connector as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 including a ledge in the housing upon which an engagement member engages.

4. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a recess in the housing upon which an engagement member engages.

5. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including an electrical contact which is carried on a spring arm, the spring arm having its width in the plane in which it is caused to bend by pressure on the contact.

6. A connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a second electrical contact which is carried on a second spring arm, the second spring arm having its width transverse to the plane in which it is caused to bend by pressure on the second contact.

7. A connector including a housing and a spring element 7 as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.