JP2660133B2 - Connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical connector assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies that must be operated in an extremely flat configuration. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, limited to
It is useful to connect a printed circuit board to an electrical device in cases where dimensional requirements require a minimum space between the electrical device and the printed circuit board.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Electronic devices typically combine several electrical components which need to be interconnected with high reliability to obtain proper operation of the device. And As the complexity of such devices has increased, there has been a trend toward device designs that allow individual components to be removed and replaced. To achieve this, it is clearly necessary to obtain a reliable connection between the various components, whether they are original or replacement components.

[0003] Many connector assemblies have been designed and developed for use in making electrical connections between components of electrical devices. One type of connector assembly that is widely used for this purpose is to use a deflectable or bendable contact beam,
The contact beam has one free end and one end fixedly attached to one of the members at the connection. To form an electrical connection between these members, the members are connected to one another such that the free ends of the contact beams are pressed against the other members to be mated.

[0004] In some applications, spatial conditions are of paramount importance. In fact, there may be many examples where it is desired that the space between the engaged electrical members be as small as possible. In this case, the design of the connector becomes important. In special cases where a flexible contact beam type connector assembly must be used, considerations that must be incorporated into the design effort include: 1) ensuring a frictional and reliable electrical connection. The required force to be generated between the contact beam and other electrical components in order to make the appropriate electrical connection; 3) the life and reproducibility of the electrical connection between the members to be engaged, and 4) the integrity of the combination of the electrical member and the connector assembly.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which can operate in an extremely flat shape. It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that will support a contact beam having sufficient flexibility to generate the contact force required to obtain a proper connection. is there.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that will maintain the integrity of the combination when used to connect electronic components. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector that is easy to use, relatively easy to manufacture, and is quite cost effective.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A connector assembly according to the present invention includes a base that can be placed or mounted on a substrate, such as a die cast casting.
At least one contact beam is cantilevered and mounted on the base. In this combination with the base, each of the contact beams has a deflectable free end spaced from the base and a fixed end attached to the base. The connector assembly also includes at least one rigid reactive beam.
This reactive beam is integrated with the base,
Also, the contact beam extends from the base and flexes to counteract the forces generated on the base.

[0007] As intended for the connector assembly of the present invention, the free end of the contact beam is flexed to deflect the beam into a first shape position where the beam is unstressed, and It is possible to move between the generated second shape position.
Further, the connector assembly is positioned on the substrate such that the free end of the contact beam is pressed against the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is mated with the substrate. This moves the contact beam from its first shape position to the second shape position to establish electrical contact between the contact beam and the printed circuit board.

The end of each contact beam fixed to the base has an exposed end portion, forming a point for connecting the contact beam to the electronic device. The substrate can itself be part of the device, or it can be other connectable to the device. In each case, electrical leads from the device are coupled to respective exposed portions of the fixed end of the contact beam to establish electrical contact between the electronic device and the printed circuit board via the contact beam. be able to.

The novel features of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of the invention itself, will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate similar members.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, a connector assembly according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. As shown, this connector assembly 10 is intended to be part of a connected combination 12. This combination includes the printed circuit board 14 and the connector assembly 1
0, the base 16, and the electronic device 18. For purposes of the present invention, the printed circuit board 14 is merely an example and can be replaced with any other suitable electronic components. Similarly, the electronic device 18 can be any suitable member. Further, the electronic device 18 and the substrate 16 can be integrated with each other or connected to each other in a manner as is well known by appropriate technology.

As shown in FIG. 1, a substrate 16 (often referred to in the art as die cast) is formed with a recess 20 for receiving the connector assembly 10. Preferably, the connector assembly 10 is glued into the recess 20, but the assembly 10 may be coupled to another way 16 of the day, or merely be seated in the recess 20. it can. In either case, the printed circuit board 14 may be connected to the base 16 with the connector assembly 10 disposed on the base 16 by, for example, a screw connection using screws 22a and 22b. it can. By this engagement, the connector assembly 10 is sandwiched between the printed circuit board 14 and the base 16 so as to electrically connect the printed circuit board 14 to the connector assembly 10. Electronic device 18
Thereafter, electrical leads 24 extending from the electronic device 18 can be connected to the connector assembly 10.

The actual components of connector assembly 10 will probably be best appreciated with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the connector assembly 10 is
And a plurality of contact beams 28
It will be seen that a-28d are attached to base 26 in a cantilevered manner. With this attachment, the contact beams 28a-28d have similar characteristics. Taking the contact beams 28a as an example, each contact beam 28 has a free end 30 spaced from the base 26 such that the free end 30 flexes when the contact beam 28 is bent. You can see that it has been done. On the other hand, each contact beam 28 also has a fixed end 32 that is rigidly attached to the base 26. As shown, a portion 34 at the fixed end 32 of each contact beam 28 is exposed so that the contact beam 28 can be electrically connected to an electrical lead 24 extending from the electronic device 18.

FIG. 2 also shows that the base 26 is formed with a plurality of reactive beams (support fingers) 36a-36c. The reactive beam extends rigidly from the base 26. These reactive beams 36a-36c are juxtaposed with at least one of the contact beams 28a-28d, respectively, and are arranged on the base 26 so as to form recessed slots during the task. The slot 38 is a typical example. Base 26 and reactive beam 3
Preferably, 6a-36c are made of plastic and surround these contact beams 28a-28d so as to substantially retain the contact beams 28a-28d as shown. However, base 26 and reactive beams 36a-36c can be made of any suitable electrical material known in the relevant art. Contact beams 28a-28d need to be made of a conductive material such as metal.

The bending or flexing of contact beam 28 may be best appreciated with reference to FIG. According to this, the contact beam 28 has a first shape position where the contact beam 28c is in a stress-relaxed state as represented by the contact beam 28c and a stress acting on the contact beam 28c 'as represented by the contact beam 28c'. It will be seen that it can flex between the second shape position in the state. Accordingly, the contact beam 28c 'tends to return to the stress-relaxed state as indicated by the contact beam 28c.

In the mated combination 12, the connector assembly 10 is positioned in the recess 20 of the base 16 and the leads 24 of the electronic device are connected to the exposed portions 34 of the contact beam 28 in a manner well known in the relevant art. Connected. Next, the printed circuit board 14 is
a, 22b to the substrate 16. This coupling of the printed circuit board 14 to the substrate 16 is effected by protrusions 40 on the free end 30 of each contact beam 28.
To electrical pads (not shown) on the printed circuit board 14. Also, this connection is made by each contact beam 28.
From its first shape position (disengaged shape position) to a second shape position (engaged shape position). As shown in FIG. 3, when the contact beam 28 is in the first unstressed disengaged position, its free end 30 is stabilized above the slot 38. vice versa,
When the contact beam 28 is in the second stressed mating configuration, its free end 30 is
Pressed into, ie, pressed into. As contemplated by the present invention, the contact beam 28 has a tendency to revert from the second shape position to the first shape position, which establishes contact between the contact beam 28 and the printed circuit board. Generates the necessary force to

As mentioned above, the miniaturization of the connector assembly as disclosed herein is not compatible with the combined combination 12.
Is extremely important to the effective use of available space in Accordingly, the dimensions in FIGS. 2 and 3 are now provided to provide some applications as to how the connector assembly 10 of the present invention can be made smaller. Regarding the connector assembly 10, the dimension 42 is about 8.0 mm,
Dimension 44 is 7.58mm, Dimension 46 is 1.1mm
The dimension, and dimension 48, can be on the order of 1.7 mm. As will be appreciated by the cross-reference between FIGS. 2 and 3, the amount of deflection of each contact beam 28 between the first and second shape positions will be about 0.6 mm.

While the particular electrical connector as shown and disclosed in detail herein is sufficient to achieve the objects set forth above and to provide advantages, this is the presently preferred practice of the invention. It is to be understood that the examples are merely illustrative and that no limitations are set forth in the structure and shape details presented herein except as set forth in the appended claims. .

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a highly reliable electrical connection can be achieved by a small connector, so that various electrical devices and the like using this can be reduced in size and reliability. It has the effect that improvement is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly in an exploded state with electronic components intended to be electrically connected.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector assembly.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connector assembly as viewed along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connector assembly 12 Combined combination 14 Printed circuit board 16 Substrate 18 Electronic device 20 Depression 22a-22b Screw 24 Lead 26 Base 28a-28d Contact beam 30 Free end 32 Fixed end 34 Exposed part 36a-36c Reactive beam 38 slot 40 protrusion 42,44,46,48 dimensions

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A connector assembly for connecting an electronic device to a circuit board, comprising: a base; and a base including a recess for receiving the base, wherein the base is located between the base and the printed circuit board. And a plurality of bendable contact beams mounted on the base, the base being cantilevered by the base and having a first shape position. A free end adapted to move between the second shape position and a fixed end rigidly attached to the base and exposed for making an electrical connection to the electronic device. A bendable contact beam each having a plurality of rigid reactants formed on the base juxtaposed with the bendable contact beam; A beam extending from the base substantially parallel to the contact beam, wherein the contact beam is moved from the first shape position to the second shape position so that the free end is electrically connected to the circuit board. And a reactive beam adapted to hold the base stationary when contacted with the connector assembly. 2. A connector assembly for engaging an electronic device with a printed circuit board, the base having a plurality of aligned support fingers, the fingers extending from the base and juxtaposed. Said base forming a recessed slot between said fingers, and a base including a recess for receiving said base, wherein said printed circuit board is sandwiched between said base and said printed circuit board. A substrate adapted to support; means for mounting the substrate on the printed circuit board; and a plurality of electrical contact beams mounted on the base substantially parallel to the support fingers. Each contact beam is mounted on the base and exposed so as to be electrically connected to the leads of the electronic device. A disengaged feature positioned at a distance from one of the slots and in the slot until contact is made with the printed circuit board supported on the substrate. And a free end positioned to move between a pressed engagement feature position and the free end is adapted to be in electrical contact with an electrical pad of the printed circuit board. A connector assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical contact beams;