JP2010108951A - Connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To miniaturize a connector; and to facilitate an operation of the connector. <P>SOLUTION: The connector includes a body 1 having a first face 2 (Fig.1) and a second face 3 (Fig.3) at the opposite side, and respective faces extend to planes 2.1, 3.1, respectively. The body 1 includes a housing 4 which opens to two faces. Thus, the housing 4 has a first inlet 5 opened to the first face 2, and a second inlet 6 opened to the second face 3. Two inlets 5, 6 are separated by a wall 4.1 located between two inlets. The connector includes a plurality of spring contacts 7 respectively arranged on the housing 4. Furthermore, the spring contact 7 is arrange by a specific method in order to make a zone 33 sufficient for a pipette free on the second face 3. The zone 33 is required to be arranged in the center. The connector can be picked up by at least one pipette with a diameter of 2.5 mm by making use of the zone. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spring contact for a small electrical connector and a connector including such a contact. The present invention is particularly used in the field of communications, especially in the range of miniaturization of mobile phones. This type of contact is generally, but not limited to, reversibly connecting a battery and a printed circuit disposed inside a mobile phone. More generally, this type of contact is for electrical connection of two arbitrary devices. Currently, the spring contact is welded to the surface of the printed circuit by a first end and has a flexible tongue at the second end, which is bent over the first end. The flexible tongue can in particular contact a battery terminal which is arranged on a connector containing contacts.

  The shape of the connector attached to the mobile phone is a substantially parallelepiped. This type of connector comprises a housing or compartment containing spring contacts. These housings communicate with the first surface, the so-called lower surface, and the second surface, the so-called upper surface, of the connector. The lower surface contacts the printed circuit and the upper surface contacts the battery. The spring contact inserted into the housing is generally U-shaped and has two branches or arms and a U-shaped base or crank connecting the two branches at one end. The U-shaped base is arcuate and extends in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the first and second faces of the connector. Each branch is configured for electrical connection with one device.

  The U-shaped first branch is fixed to a printed circuit disposed on the first surface of the connector and is welded, for example. The second branch forms a protrusion protruding from the second surface of the connector.

  The overall height of the U-shape is formed by adding three heights. These heights are determined by the shortest distance that separates two planes parallel to the plane of the printed circuit and includes multiple points of spring contact. The first height consists of the distance separating the weld point between the first branch and the printed circuit from the junction between the first branch and the base. The second height is equal to the base chord corresponding to the distance between the two arcuate end points. The third height consists of the distance separating the point of the second branch that is highest relative to the base from the contact point between the second branch and the base. The thickness of the connector is determined by the shortest distance connecting the first surface to the second surface. The thickness of the connector is less than the total contact height because the spring contacts are configured to partially fit within the connector housing when stress is applied. In one example, the thickness of such a connector is 3.2 millimeters.

  Due to the current trend of miniaturization of electronic devices such as mobile phones, it is desired to reduce the dimensions of various elements constituting these devices. In particular, the connectors included in such devices must be miniaturized so that their thickness is at most 1.8 millimeters, for example, and all other dimensions are proportional to thickness.

  In the prior art, reducing the thickness of the connector and the overall height of the spring contact included in the connector is only possible under the condition that the width or length of the connector and contact is significantly increased. In fact, with the current structure of spring contacts, the total height of the spring contacts can only be reduced by changing the first and third heights of the spring contacts. By the way, in order to maintain the technical characteristics of these contacts, when the first and third heights are reduced, the contact piece, particularly the second branch piece, is increased in thickness or width. It is necessary to spread. Thus, increasing the width of the contact piece increases the overall width of the connector. Therefore, the overall volume of the connector cannot be reduced. Therefore, current spring contact structures pose the problem of miniaturization of these connectors.

  On the other hand, this type of connector is picked up by a suction pipette for mounting on the surface of a printed circuit. The suction pipette must only contact locally with a connector zone that does not have a spring contact. Such a zone is generally present in the central position for this type of connector, so the width of the connector must be increased. As a result, this type of connector is currently picked up by two pipettes, each placed at one end of the connector. This represents another problem that the prior art connector is difficult to operate.

  The present invention proposes a spring contact for a connector that is generally U-shaped and has two branches and a base that joins the two branches at one end thereof, each branch establishing an electrical contact with one device. It aims at solving said problem by this.

  According to the present invention, the two branches extend in two planes separated from each other, and the intersection of the two planes is included in the U-shaped base.

  At this time, the overall height of the spring contact is lower than that of the prior art spring contact.

  To further reduce the overall height of the contacts, one U-shaped branch and base are on the same plane.

  Furthermore, in order to simplify the connection, at least one branch electrical contact is arranged at the free end of said branch.

  According to a second aspect, the present invention comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and includes an electrical device comprising at least one housing for receiving a spring contact according to the present invention. Provide a connector. The housing is open on both sides of the connector, and the spring contacts are disposed on the housing such that the plane in which the U-shaped base extends is substantially parallel to the plane of the connector face.

  A base connecting the first and second branches is disposed inside the housing. The base includes a curved surface that is substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces. Here, even if the width of the spring contact is increased, the width of the connector is only slightly increased. In fact, the contacts are arranged such that the first branch of the contact on the first face faces the space between the second branch on the second face. Thus, the overall volume of the connector is reduced. This is something that was not possible before.

  In order to properly place the contacts in the housing, the connector includes means for guiding the spring contacts.

  In order to hold such a proper position, the connector further includes holding means.

  If it is necessary to use multiple connections, the connector includes multiple housings that each receive a U-shaped spring contact.

  In order to keep the volume of the connector sufficiently small, the spring contacts are arranged in two adjacent housings so as to extend in the same direction but in opposite directions, and one of the contacts A branch is adjacent to the other branch of the adjacent contact.

  Further, the arrangement of the spring contact branches is configured to generate a zone without a spring contact in the middle of the second surface. This zone can be used to pipette it. Thus, the connector can be picked up by a single suction pipette.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention by way of example only and not limitation.

1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a spring contact according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view of the side of the connector according to the invention not shown in FIG. 1.

  The connector of the present invention includes a body 1 having a first surface 2 (FIG. 1) and an opposite second surface 3 (FIG. 3), each surface being a plane 2.1 and a plane 2.1, respectively. 3.1. The body 1 includes a housing 4 that is open on two sides. For this purpose, the housing 4 has a first inlet 5 leading to the first surface 2 and a second inlet 6 leading to the second surface 3. The two inlets 5, 6 are separated by a wall 4.1 between them. The connector includes a plurality of spring contacts 7, each disposed on the housing 4. The body 1 has a thickness 8. The thickness 8 is preferably 1.8 mm or less. The main body 1 has a width 9 and a length 10. In the illustrated example, the body 1 includes four housings 4 and four spring contacts 7. In this case, the width 9 is preferably 8.3 mm and the length 10 is preferably 15.3 mm. However, a connector according to the present invention can include one or more housings, each with a spring contact. The dimensions can also be adapted depending on the number of spring contacts or the required technical characteristics.

  The spring contact 7 has a first branch 11 extending in the plane 11.1 and a second branch 12 extending in the plane 12.1. The first branch 11 and the second branch 12 are connected by a base 13. The two branches are configured to be electrically connected to a device such as a battery or a printed circuit. In the case of a mobile phone, the contacts can be permanently fixed to the printed circuit by one branch, here branch 11, and the battery contacts the other branch, here branch 12. The base 13 has a curved surface 13.1, which when connected to the connector is parallel to the planes 2.1 and 3.1 defined by the first and second surfaces. However, the curved surface may be inclined with respect to these planes 2.1 and 3.1. In this case, the expression curved surface means the surface on which this curvature is projected along an axis perpendicular to the first and second surfaces.

  According to the invention, the two branches 11, 12 extend in mutually spaced surfaces 11. 1, 12.1, and the intersection I of these two surfaces is included in the U-shaped base 13. It is.

  Furthermore, in the example shown, the planes 11.1 and 13.1 of the branch 11 are substantially coincident.

  The first branch 11 is generally rectangular and has two steps or bayonet-shaped offsets 14,15. These two steps 14, 15 define three parts at the first branch 11. The first portion 16 is configured from the end of the first branch 11. The first portion 16 is a free end that is specifically configured to be welded for connection to a printed circuit. The second portion 17 disposed between steps 14 and 15 is a plane. The second portion 17 is configured to be held by the housing 4 of the main body 1. A third portion 18 is defined between step 15 and base 13. The third portion 18 moves on a plane orthogonal to the plane formed by the second portion 17. This third part 18 moves relative to the part 17 via a hinge consisting of step 15. Step 15 also serves to increase the rigidity of the branch 11.

  The second branch 12 includes a first zone 19 that forms a shoulder and barb 20. The first portion 21 of the second branch 12 is defined between the zone 19 and the return portion 20. The zone 19 serves as a hinge of the part 21 with respect to the curved surface 13.1. The first portion 21 is a flat rectangle. In the illustrated example, the return portion 20 and the first portion 21 are configured to contact one terminal of a battery that protrudes from the second surface 3 and is pushed against the branch 12. The return portion 20 separates the first portion 21 from the second portion 22 of the second branch 12, forming an angle that is less than 180 degrees, and the second portion 22 is below the first portion 21. Bend slightly. The parts 21, 22 of the second branch 12 move relative to the base 13 in a plane perpendicular to the curved surface 13.1. Furthermore, the branch 12 is different from the movable surface of the branch 11, but moves in a plane parallel to this plane.

  The total height of the spring contact 7 is obtained by adding a first height equal to the height of the first branch 11 and a second height composed of the height of the second branch 12. In fact, the base height is almost zero because the base height is equal to the thickness of the flakes that make up the spring contact. The height is completely determined by the shortest distance separating two planes parallel to the plane 13.1. The first height is the sum of a height 23 corresponding to the height of the first portion 16, a height 24 corresponding to the height of step 14, and a height 25 corresponding to the height of step 15. be equivalent to. The second height is equal to the height 26 of the first portion 21.

  The second portion 22 has a height 27. The height 27 is as high as possible so that the second branch 12 does not come out of the body 1 completely. In another example, the second portion 22 can include a leg at one end that allows the portion to be secured to the second inlet 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the spring contact 7 is held in the housing 4 of the main body 1 by holding means. The holding means includes a pawl 28 that holds the second portion 17 at the edge 29 of the first inlet 5. The pawl 28 is, for example, a small amount of plastic material that is melted at the spring contact 7 after placement in the housing 4. The spring contact 7 is inserted into the body 1 by the first inlet 5 in the first surface 2. The dimensions of the first inlet 5 are configured to leave a passage to the entire spring contact 7. Conversely, the second inlet 6 allows only the second branch 12 of the spring contact 7 to exit. In fact, the branch 11 is fixed to the first inlet 5 by a wall 4.1 in between. Thus, the housing 4 includes a hole leading from the first inlet 5 to the second inlet 6, which has an opening limited only to the size of the opening of the second inlet 6. For example, when an object such as a battery is pressed against the second surface 3 of the body 1, and thus the branch 12 of the spring contact 7, the branch 12 is pushed down, the height 26 is lowered and the part 22 is pushed down into the housing 4. . In the example, the maximum travel of the branch 12 is 1.5 mm. The object pressed against the second surface 3 must exert a force of 0.5 to 1.5 Newtons in order to push the branch 12 down into the housing 4.

  The connector has an axis of symmetry 30 passing through the center of each surface perpendicular to the first surface 2 and the second surface 3. The symmetry axis 30 is a characteristic associated with the number of spring contacts 7 included in the main body 1. Indeed, the axis of symmetry 30 exists only if the connector has an even number of spring contacts 7.

  If it is necessary to have a plurality of contact points, the connector includes a plurality of housings, for example 4a; 4b, which receive spring contacts 7a; The contacts are positioned so as to extend in substantially the same direction but in opposite directions, and the branch 11a of one contact 7a is adjacent to the branch 12b of the adjacent contact 7b.

  In the main body 1, the contacts are arranged with each other so as to alternately distribute the steps 20 on the second surface 3. In this way, the distribution of the first portions 16 on both sides of the first surface 2 is made uniform. The spring contacts 7 are arranged adjacent to each other in the main body 1. The spacing separating the two consecutive branches 12 on the second face 3 is superimposed on the location of the first face 2 of the branch 11, which is joined to one of the two branches 12. Between the contact 7 and the next contact 7, the position of the first portion 16 is alternated. Indeed, the first portion 16 protrudes from the first side 31 of the first surface 2 or from the second side 32 opposite the side 31 of the first surface 2. Thus, the connector is secured to the printed circuit on two sides 31, 32. Since such a fixation is more rigid, there is no need to add a weld to ensure mechanical positioning of the connector.

  Furthermore, the spring contacts 7 are arranged in a specific way in order to free up sufficient zones 33 for the pipette on the second face 3. This zone 33 needs to be arranged in the center. This zone allows the connector to be picked up by at least one pipette with a diameter of 2.5 mm.

  The connector further includes a cutout or cavity 34. The cavity 34 is cut at the two side surfaces 35, 36 on each side 31, 32 of the connector 1. The cavities 34 are cut so that the first portion 16 of the spring contact 7 inserted into the body 1 protrudes from each side 31, 32 where these cavities 34 are provided. Thus, the first portion 16 is visually accessible from the second surface 3 during welding. Accordingly, welding of the first portion 16 to the printed circuit is facilitated.

Claims (2)

In a connector for electrically coupling a plurality of devices,
A plurality of spring contacts (7), each spring contact (7) being substantially U-shaped and coupled together by a base (13) a first branch (11) and a second branch (12) The first branch (11) and the second branch (12) are respectively disposed in mutually separated planes (11.1 / 12.1) intersecting at the base (13). A spring contact (7),
A housing (4) having a first surface (2) and a second surface (3) substantially parallel to each other;
The first surface (2) has a plurality of first inlets (5), each first inlet (5) receiving the plurality of spring contacts (7) one by one,
The second surface (3) has a plurality of second inlets (6), and the second branch (12) of each spring contact (7) is exposed from each second inlet (6). Configured to couple with one of the plurality of devices;
The second surface (3) covers at least part of the first branch (11) of each of the plurality of spring contacts (7),
The plurality of spring contacts (7) are disposed in the housing (4) and a portion of the second surface (3) picks up the connector with a single pipette having a radius of at least 2.5 mm. Forming a centrally arranged region (33) large enough for
The first branch (11) comprises a first part (16) and a second part (17) coupled to the first part (16) via a first step (14); A third part (18) which is coupled to the second part (17) via a second step (15) functioning as a hinge and is coplanar with the base (13);
The second branch (12) is coupled to the base (13) via a region (19) functioning as a hinge, and is different from the third portion (18) of the first branch (11). A first portion (21) existing inside the first portion (21) via a return portion (20) and a plane (20) from which the base (13) exists. 13.1) A connector comprising a second part (22) extending upward.   The first portion (16) of the first branch (11) and the return portion (20) and the first portion (21) of the second branch (12) are coupled to the plurality of devices. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to.

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