JP3300944B2 - Edge card connectors for printed circuit boards - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connectors commonly referred to as "edge card connectors" for receiving the edges of a printed circuit board.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Primary printed circuit boards ("motherboards")
Electrical connectors for interconnecting secondary printed circuit boards (also referred to as "daughterboards") with secondary printed circuit boards are also well known. The connection between the two printed circuit boards is usually made along the edge of the secondary printed circuit board and is therefore commonly referred to as an edge card.

[0003] Such edge card connectors generally include an insulative housing that can be attached to a primary or motherboard. The insulating housing has a card receiving slot for receiving an edge of a secondary printed circuit board or daughter board. A plurality of terminals are attached to the insulated housing along one or both sides of the card receiving slot, and the terminals are routed to the card receiving slot to engage appropriate circuit traces on one or both sides of the secondary printed circuit board. It has a protruding flexible contact portion.

[0004]

One of the problems with such an edge card connector is that during insertion of the edge card into the card receiving slot of the insulated housing, the sharp edge of the inserted edge card causes the sharp edge of the terminal to be inserted. Engaging and wiping the flexible contact portion. At least the contact portions of the terminals are usually plated with a highly conductive noble metal. The substrate of the edge card is usually made of an abrasive material such as glass fiber. If the leading edge of the edge card engages and wipes this plated contact portion, contact plating degradation occurs.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a zero insertion force (ZIF) for inserting an edge card into a card receiving slot of an electrical connector with zero or minimal wiping action on a plated contact portion of a terminal. ) The connector is designed. In some electrical connectors, a minimal wiping action is still provided to remove oxides on the contact surfaces, but the force is not so great that the edge card will significantly damage the plating on the contact surfaces. Until now,
Such a ZIF connector is very difficult because actuators, springs, cams, and the like are attached to the insulating housing in order to engage the terminals or contacts after the edge card is completely inserted into the card receiving slot of the insulating housing. It's complicated. The present invention uses a simple actuator attached to the edge card and supported by itself, while at the same time allowing a very simple and efficient use of a variety of daughterboard thicknesses without degrading the spring performance of the electrical connector. Thus, it is directed to overcoming the above problems with a unique device that is cost effective.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical connector arrangement for terminating the edges of a printed circuit board or edge card. The electrical connector device of the present invention includes an edge card connector including an insulating housing having a pair of wings facing each other, with a card receiving slot formed between the wings. The card receiving slot is adapted to be able to change in the direction of increasing and decreasing the slot thickness by the movement of the wing. The insulating housing Ru mounted a plurality of terminals. This terminal is formed on the wing
An elongated U-shaped arrangement in the terminal receiving passage and engaging with the wing
With a contact arm of
Contact portions formed at the distal end portion of the inner leg extending in a holding state are arranged on both sides of the card receiving slot. The edge card has an edge inserted into a card receiving slot. An actuator is attached to the edge card and supported . The actuator includes a pair of arms extending along the outside of each of the pair of wings. Each arm is operatively associated with a terminal, biasing the contact portion of the terminal in response to the edge of the edge card being inserted into the card receiving slot, and engaging both surfaces inside the edge of the edge card. Let it. Also this via
Simultaneously, the arm presses the wing to push the wing,
Move in the direction approaching the inserted edge card, and
Therefore, the thickness of the formed card receiving slot is
Change .

The arm of the actuator extends substantially parallel to the edge card and projects toward the edge. These arms are located at a distance from the edge of the edge card and the edge of the edge card passes through the contact portion of the terminal before the contact portion of the terminal is biased to engage both sides inside the edge of the edge card It is configured to

In the first embodiment, the terminals are mounted such that their contact portions are movable with respect to the wings of the insulating housing. The terminal includes a working portion connected to the contact portion, to which the arm of the actuator engages to bias the contact portion to engage both surfaces inside the edge of the edge card, while the arm is connected via the terminal. On
Press the wings to move the wings closer to the inserted edge card
Is moved in the direction, wings thus formed card-receiving Ro
The slot thickness of the slot . Each terminal is generally U-shaped, with its first leg (inner leg ) forming a contact portion on the inside of the wing at the card receiving slot, and its second leg (outer leg ) Forming a working portion exposed to the outside of the receiving slot.

In a second embodiment, the terminals are mounted such that their contact portions are exposed in the card receiving slot. The inner leg of the terminal forming the contact part is fixed with respect to the wings of the insulating housing. The actuator arm engages and biases the wing and inserts the wing,
The edge card close to the edge card
The thickness of the formed card receiving slot
Is allowed, thus, biased toward the contact portions to the card-receiving slot and edge card. In this embodiment,
The wing comprises a part independent of the insulating housing and is movable with respect to the body part of the insulating housing. Complementary interengaging cams are provided between the wings of the insulating housing and the arms of the actuator.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, FIG.
Has an edge card connector 12 for receiving an edge 14 of an edge card 16 such as a printed circuit board. Edge card 16 is inserted into edge card connector 12 in the direction of arrow A and supports actuator 18. More specifically, the edge card connector 12 is attached to a primary printed circuit board or “mother” board or backplane 20. If primary printed circuit board 20 is a motherboard, edge card 16 is commonly referred to as a secondary printed circuit board or daughter board.

The edge card connector 12 includes an insulating housing 22 having a body portion 24 mounted on the primary printed circuit board 20. Edge card connector 12 and body portion 24 are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the drawing and include a T-shaped flange 26 that projects forward (to the right in the drawing). The insulating housing 22 includes a pair of wings 2 facing each other.
8, these wings 28 project forward of the body portion 24 and terminate at a distal tip forming a chamfered outer surface 28a and a chamfered inner surface 28b. Wings 28
It is an independent part of the insulating housing 22 and is attached to the body part 24 by surrounding a T-shaped flange 26. Wing 28 may pivot slightly about point 30 relative to body portion 24. The wings 28 form an elongated circuit or card receiving slot 32 therebetween. The slot thickness T of the card receiving slot 32 can be changed in the increasing and decreasing directions by the pivotal movement of the wing 28.

A plurality of terminals 34 are mounted in two rows along the elongated insulating housing 22. The tail portion 36 of each terminal 34 is connected to circuit traces on the surface 20a of the primary printed circuit board 20 by soldering or press-on. The terminal 34 is fixed in a hole 38 in the body portion 24 of the insulating housing 22. The elongated U-shaped contact arm of terminal 34 protrudes forward from body portion 24 into a terminal receiving passage 40 formed in wing 28. U-shaped end of the contact arm, the engaging relation between the blade 28 is wound around the boss 42 across the terminal-receiving passage 40 is Ru is formed. The U-shaped contact arm has a contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 at the tip.
And the outer leg that defines the working portion 46 of the terminal 34. Inner leg to card receiving slot 32
It extends cantilevered. When the edge card connector 12 shown in FIG. 1 is not connected, the contact portion 44 is located in the terminal receiving passage 40 and does not protrude into the card receiving slot 32. The working portion 46 of the terminal 34 is
Project outward beyond the outer boundary of the

Further, as is apparent from FIG. 1, the edge 14 of the edge card 16 can be inserted in the direction of arrow A into the card receiving slot 32 between the wings 28 of the edge card connector 12. The actuator 18 includes a bolt,
Secured to the edge card 16 by any suitable means such as rivets or screws 48. Actuator 18 includes a pair of arms 50 spaced from edge card 16.
The arm 50 has an inner cam 52. The arm 50 is
The inner cam 52 extends substantially parallel to the edge card.
Are spaced inward from the edge 14 of the edge card 16.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the edge card 16 has been partially inserted into the card receiving slot 32 of the edge card connector 12. The edge 14 of the edge card 16 is
Clearly, though the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34, the inner cam 52 of the arm 50 of the actuator 18 has not yet engaged the active portion 46 of the terminal 34. Therefore, the edge 14 of the edge card 16 is
The plating of the contact portion 44 of No. 4 is not damaged. During insertion, the chamfered inner surface 28b of the wing 28 engages the edge 14 of the edge card 16 with the card receiving slot 32.
Help guide you to Also, the chamfered outer surface 28a of the wing 28 engages the inner cam 52 of the arm 50 of the actuator 18 to further facilitate the insertion operation .

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the edge card 16 is completely inserted into the edge card connector 12. The inner cam 52 of the arm 50 of the actuator 18 engages the working portion 46 of the terminal 34 and biases the working portion 46 inward in the direction of arrow B. Since the terminal 34 is U-shaped and the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 is connected to the working portion 46, the contact portion 44
And move inward in the direction of arrow C to engage the circuit traces on both sides inside edge 14 of edge card 16. Slot thickness T of the card receiving slot 32
When the thickness of the edge card 16 is smaller than that of
28 pivots in the direction approaching the edge card 16 respectively
The slot thickness T is changed.
You. The wiping action between the edge card 16 and the contact portion 44 is exerted to the extent that the inner cam 52 of the arm 50 of the actuator 18 causes the movement of the terminal 34, and not the sharp edge 14 of the edge card 16 but the edge card 16.
Limited to smooth sides. Also, the actuator 18
The working height or distance between the arm 50 and its inner cam 52 has nothing to do with the thickness of the edge card 16. Therefore, the reliability of the right-angle force is not related to the thickness of the edge card 16. Therefore, even if the thin edge card 16 is inserted into the edge card connector 12 that has received the thick multilayer board, the right-angle force does not decrease. Further, the edge card connector 12 allows some misalignment in the "x" direction (FIG. 3) without affecting normal forces.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show an electric connector device 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The electrical connector device 10A includes an edge card connector 12A for receiving an edge card 16 supporting an actuator 18A. Electrical connector devices 10 and 10A
Are substantially the same, and the same parts described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIGS.

For example, the edge card 16 includes the insertion edge 14. The actuator 18A is fixed to the edge card 16 by a screw 48. Actuator 18A
Includes an arm 50 and an inner cam 52. Edge card connector 12A is attached to primary printed circuit board 20. The insulating housing 22 of the edge card connector 12A includes a body portion 24 and a body portion 2 around the boss 30.
And a pair of opposing wings 28 that can move with respect to the wing 4. Two rows of terminals 34 are attached to the body portion 24 of the insulating housing 22, and the tail portions 36 are connected to circuit traces on the primary printed circuit board 20. The generally U-shaped contact arm of terminal 34 has contact portions 44 on both sides of card receiving slot 32. Two rows of terminals 34 extend in the longitudinal direction of edge card connector 12A, and the contact arms of terminals 34 extend into terminal receiving passages 40 formed in wing 28.

The main difference between the electrical connector device 10 and the edge card connector 12 and the electrical connector device 10A and the edge card connector 12A is that the contact arm of the terminal 34 attached to the edge card connector 12A.
Inner leg 60 of is that it is engaged in a fixed state in the compartment 62 across the terminal-receiving passageway 40 of the blade 28. The insulating housing parts of the edge card connectors 12 and 12A are:
It can be formed of an insulating material such as plastic. Therefore, the inner leg 60 of the contact arm of the terminal 34
Can be overmolded. Of the contact arm
With the inner leg 60 secured to the wing 28, the contact portion 44 projects permanently into the card receiving slot 32. Further, an outer cam 64 is provided outside the wing 28,
This engages the inner cam 52 of the arm 50 of the actuator 18A.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the edge card 16 is only partially inserted into the card receiving slot 32 between the wings 28 of the edge card connector 12A. It is clear that the edge 14 of the edge card 16 passes through the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 and the inner cam 52 of the actuator 18A has not yet engaged the outer cam 64 of the wing 28. Therefore, the sharp edge 14 of the edge card 16
Will engage contact portion 44 with minimal negligible force without causing significant damage to the plating of contact portion 44.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the edge card 16 is completely inserted into the card receiving slot 32 of the edge card connector 12A. Arm 50 of actuator 18A
Inner cam 52 is engaged with the outer cam 64 of the wing 28,
The wings 28 are biased inward in the direction of arrow D toward the edge card 16. With the inner leg 60 of the contact arm and the contact portion 44 secured to the compartment 62 of the wing 28, this biasing force acts to bias the contact portion 44 inward, and the inner side of the edge 14 of the edge card 16. Make sure to engage the circuit traces on both sides. Also in this case, the distance between the arm 50 of the actuator 18A and its inner cam 52 has nothing to do with the thickness of the edge card 16.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, the present invention allows the use of a simple actuator mounted on an edge card and supported by itself,
A very simple, efficient and cost-effective unique electrical connector arrangement has been provided which allows the use of various daughterboard thicknesses without degrading the spring performance of the edge card connector.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a stage before an edge card is inserted into an edge card connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a step of inserting an edge card into an edge card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where the edge card is completely inserted into the edge card connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10A Electrical connector device 12, 12A Edge card connector 14 Edge 16 Secondary printed circuit board (edge card or daughter board) 18, 18A Actuator 20 Primary printed circuit board (motherboard) 22 Insulated housing 24 Main body part 28 Wing 32 Card receiving Slot 34 Terminal 36 Terminal tail part 40 Terminal receiving passage 42 Boss 44 Terminal contact part 46 Terminal working part 50 Actuator arm 52 Actuator inner cam 60 Contact arm inner leg 62 Section 64 Outer cam

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-10-41025 (JP, A) JP-A-9-92410 (JP, A) JP-A-4-245183 (JP, A) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01R 12/18

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] 1. An insulating housing having a pair of wings opposed to each other, wherein the wings are insulated housings.
And the card receiving slot 3 between the wings 28
2 are formed, and the edge card connectors 12, 12 are configured such that the movement of the wings 28 allows the slot thickness T of the card receiving slot 32 to change in a direction of increasing and decreasing.
A, and a plurality of terminals 3 attached to the insulating housing 22
4, a terminal receiving passage 40 formed in the wing 28.
Elongate U-shaped contacts located at the bottom and engaging the wings 28
Arm and cantilevered from the part that engages the wing 28
A contact portion 44 formed at the tip of the extending inner leg is provided with terminals 34 arranged on both sides of the card receiving slot 32.
An edge card 16 having an edge 14 that can be inserted into the card receiving slot 32; and an actuator 18, 18A attached to the edge card 16 and supported by the edge card 16. Wing 28
A pair of arms 50 extending along the outer sides of each of the arms, each arm 50 being operatively associated with at least some of the terminals 34 and responsive to the edge card 16 being inserted into the card receiving slot 32. At the same time, the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 is biased so as to engage with both surfaces inside the edge 14 of the edge card 16, and at the same time, the arm 50 presses the wing 28 to insert the wing 28.
In the direction approaching the edge card 16 that has been
8 of the card receiving slot 32 formed by
G , wherein the thickness T is changed . 2. The electrical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the arms of the actuators extend substantially parallel to the edge card. 3. The arm 50 passes the edge 14 of the edge card 16 past its contact portion 44 before the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 is biased to engage both sides inside the edge 14 of the edge card 16. 2. The electrical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connector device is arranged at a certain distance from the edge of the edge card. Wherein the terminal 34, mosquito the contact portions 44
Mounted so as to be exposed to the over-de-receiving slot 32, the contact portion 44 is engaged in a fixed state relative to the wing 28 of insulating housing 22, and actuator 18,
The arm 50 of 18A engages and biases the wing 28 and thus the contact portion 44 to the card receiving slot 3
2. A bias toward the edge card 2 and the edge card 16.
10. The electrical connector device 10, 10A according to 1. 5. The electrical connector device according to claim 4, wherein the wing is independent of the insulating housing and is movable with respect to the main body portion of the insulating housing.
0, 10A. 6. The electrical connector device of claim 4, further comprising complementary interengaging cams between the wings of the insulated housing and the arms of the actuator. 7. The terminal (34) is mounted such that its contact portion (44) is movable with respect to the wing (28) of the insulating housing (22), and the working portion (46) of the terminal (34) is connected to the contact portion (44). The contact portion 44 is engaged by the arm 50 of the actuator 18 and the edge card 1
The electrical connector device (10) of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector device (10) is biased to engage both sides inside the edge (14). 8. The terminal (34) is generally U-shaped, with its first leg forming a contact portion (44) inside the wing (28) at the card receiving slot (32) and its second leg. The electrical connector device (10) of claim 7, wherein the operative portion (46) forms a working portion (46) exposed outside the wing (28). 9. The electrical connector device according to claim 1, wherein the wing is independent of the insulating housing and is movable with respect to the main body of the insulating housing.
0, 10A. 10. An insulating housing having a pair of wings opposed to each other, wherein a card receiving slot is formed between the wings, and movement of the wings increases and decreases the slot thickness of the card receiving slot. Edge card connector 12 which can be changed in
A, and a plurality of terminals 3 attached to the insulating housing 22
4, a terminal receiving passage 40 formed in the wing 28.
An elongated U-shaped contact arm disposed at
The side leg 60 is fixed to the wing 28, and the tip of the inner leg 60
The contact portion 44 formed in the portion is the card receiving slot.
A terminal 34 that is exposed in the card receiving slot 32 on both sides of the edge card 32; an edge card 16 having an edge 14 that can be inserted into the card receiving slot 32; A supported actuator 18A, the actuator 18A including a pair of arms 50 extending along the outside of each of the pair of wings 28, the arm 50 of the actuator 18A extending substantially parallel to the edge card 16. To engage the wings 28 and, in response to the edge 14 of the edge card 16 being inserted into the card receiving slot 32, press the wings 28 to insert the wings 28.
The edge card 16 is moved in a direction to approach the
Of the card receiving slot 32 formed by
The thickness T is changed , and thus the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34
Are biased to engage both sides inside the edge 14 of the edge card 16, and the arm 50 is provided with a cam 52 at a distance from the edge 14 of the edge card 16 so that the contact An electrical connector device (10) characterized in that the edge (14) of the edge card (16) passes through its contact portion (44) before the portion (44) is biased into engagement with both sides inside the edge (14) of the edge card (16).
A. 11. The electrical connector device 10A according to claim 10, wherein the wing is independent of the insulating housing and is movable with respect to the main body portion of the insulating housing. 12. The electrical connector device 10A of claim 10, including complementary interengaging cams 52, 64 between the wings 28 of the insulated housing 22 and the arms 50 of the actuator 18A. 13. The electrical connector device of claim 10 wherein said edge card is a secondary printed circuit board and said insulating housing is mounted on a primary printed circuit board. 14. An insulating housing having a pair of wings opposed to each other, wherein a card receiving slot is formed between the wings, and movement of the wings increases and decreases the slot thickness T of the card receiving slot. Edge card connector 12 which can be changed in
And a plurality of terminals 3 attached to the insulating housing 22.
4, a terminal receiving passage 40 formed in the wing 28.
Elongate U-shaped contacts located at the bottom and engaging the wings 28
Arm and cantilevered from the part that engages the wing 28
Contact portions 44 formed at the tips of the extending inner legs are disposed on both sides of the card receiving slot 32 and are movable with respect to the wings 28 of the insulating housing 22. And an edge card 16 having an edge 14 that can be inserted into the card receiving slot 32, and an actuator 18 attached to and supported by the edge card 16. A pair of arms 50 extending along the outside of each of the wings 28 of the
, And engages the working portion 46 of the terminal 34, and in response to the edge 14 of the edge card 16 being inserted into the card receiving slot 32, the contact portion 44 of the terminal 34 At the same time, the arm 50 is biased so as to engage with both surfaces inside the edge 14.
Pushes the wing 28 through the terminal 34 to insert the wing 28.
Move it in the direction approaching the inserted edge card 16 and
Slot of the card receiving slot 32 formed by
Tsu DOO Yes as to vary the thickness T, and, on the arm 50, the cam 52 at a distance from the edge 14 of edge card 16 has been arranged, the contact portions 44 of the terminal 34 of the edge card 16 The electrical connector device (10), characterized in that the edge (14) of the edge card (16) passes through its contact portion (44) before being biased into engagement with both sides inside the edge (14). 15. The terminal (34) is generally U-shaped, with its first leg forming a contact portion (44) inside the wing (28) at the card receiving slot (32) and its second leg. The electrical connector device (10) of claim 14, wherein the operative portion (46) forms a working portion (46) exposed outside the wing (28). 16. The electrical connector device of claim 14, wherein the edge card is a secondary printed circuit board, and wherein the insulating housing is mounted on a primary printed circuit board.