JPH0527956B2

JPH0527956B2 -

Info

Publication number: JPH0527956B2
Application number: JP59504431A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Rotsuko Notsushesu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-11-23
Filing date: 1984-11-20
Publication date: 1993-04-22
Also published as: DE3483887D1; AU570292B2; EP0162109A4; EP0162109B1; AU3740885A; BR8407187A; WO1985002499A1; JPS61500516A; EP0162109A1

Description

[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図は本発明のコネクタ装置を複数個用いる
横入れカードハウジングの斜視図、第２図は本発
明のコネクタ装置を複数個用いる直入れまたは上
入れカードハウジングの斜視図、第３図および第
３ａ図は複数の接点セグメントを含む本発明のコ
ネクタ装置の分解斜視図、第４図は低挿入力機構
がモジユール盤すなわち子盤を挿入するための開
放位置にある、バツクプレーンすなわち親盤に装
着されている本発明のコネクタ装置の斜視図、第
５図は挿入されているモジユール盤に対する固定
機構と整列機構を示すために部分的に切り欠いて
示す第３図に図示のコネクタ装置の斜視図、第６
図は低挿入力機構がそれぞれ開放位置と閉じた位
置にある本発明の隣接する２つのコネクタ装置の
端部および横断面図、第７図は固定機構と整列機
構を示す本発明のコネクタ装置の分解斜視図、第
８図は本発明のコネクタ装置の一端の上面図、第
９図は第８図に示すコネクタ装置の一端の側面
図、第１０図は第８図に示すコネクタ装置の端部
の図、第１１図は第８図〜第１０図に示すコネク
タ装置の端部に配置されている固定および整列レ
バーの正面図、第１２図は本発明のコネクタ装置
の向き合う端部の分解斜視図、第１３図は第１２
図に示すコネクタ装置の向き合う端部の図、第１
４図は第１２図のコネクタ装置の向き合う端部に
おける固定レバーと整列レバーを露出させるため
に部分的に切り欠いた上面図、第１５図は第１２
図に示すコネクタ装置の向き合う端部の側面図、
第１６図は第１２図のコネクタ装置の向き合う端
部の底面図である。１０……レセプタクル、１１……子盤、１２…
…親盤。 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a side-loading card housing using a plurality of connector devices of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a direct-loading or top-loading card housing using a plurality of connector devices of the present invention, FIGS. Figure 3a is an exploded perspective view of the connector device of the present invention including a plurality of contact segments, and Figure 4 shows the low insertion force mechanism mounted on a backplane or master board with the low insertion force mechanism in an open position for insertion of a module or daughter board. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connector device shown in FIG. 3, partially cut away to show the fixing mechanism and alignment mechanism for the inserted module board; FIG. , 6th
7 is an end and cross-sectional view of two adjacent connector devices of the present invention with the low insertion force features in the open and closed positions, respectively; FIG. 8 is a top view of one end of the connector device of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a side view of one end of the connector device shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is an end portion of the connector device shown in FIG. 8. 11 is a front view of the fixing and alignment lever located at the end of the connector device shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the opposite ends of the connector device of the present invention. Figure 13 is the 12th
View of the opposite ends of the connector device shown in Figure 1.
4 is a top view partially cut away to expose the locking and alignment levers at opposite ends of the connector device of FIG. 12; FIG. 15 is a top view of the connector device of FIG.
a side view of the opposite ends of the connector device shown in the figure;
FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the opposing end of the connector device of FIG. 12; 10...Receptacle, 11...Slave board, 12...
...Main board.

Claims

[Scope of Claims] 1. A receptacle 10 having a plurality of contacts 67 arranged in at least two opposing rows, and selectively spacing the contacts of one row from the contacts of the opposing row to facilitate insertion of the plug member 11. low insertion force means for bringing the contacts of the one row into contact with the contacts of the opposing row such that the contacts of the receptacle electrically contact the desired contacts of the plug member; 30, wherein: (a) the plug member 11 inserted between the contacts of one row of the receptacle and the contacts of the opposite row is brought into secure contact within defined limits; (b) an actuating means 36 for actuating the low insertion force means 30 and the aligning/fixing means 22 in a multi-stage operation, the actuating means being configured to actuating the low insertion force means to selectively separate the contact rows when the plug member is inserted into the receptacle between the contact rows; , the alignment and fixing means aligns and fixes the plug member in a predetermined position within the receptacle, and the low insertion force means brings the receptacle contact into contact with the desired contact of the plug member. A low insertion force circuit board connector device configured as follows. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating means releases the fixation of the plug member by separating the contacts of the receptacle, and extracts the plug member from the receptacle with a small force. Apparatus for actuating the low insertion force means and the alignment and fixation means so as to enable 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the plug member constitutes at least one electronic module and the first slave board 11. 4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the receptacle is mounted on the second master board 12 and electrically connected thereto. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said row and opposing rows of contacts of the receptacle include alternating high and low contacts. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each high contact in said one row faces a respective low contact in said opposing row, and each low contact in said one row faces a respective low contact in said opposing row. Devices each facing a high point of contact. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receptacle contacts constitute a first portion of a respective spring member 64, and the low insertion force means deflects the spring members so that the receptacle contacts Apparatus comprising cam means 33 and follower means 34 for separating and unwarping the spring member 64 to bring the contacts of the receptacle into contact. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said alignment and fixing means comprises at least one first lever means 23, said first lever means being pivoted by said receptacle, said lever means at least one first protrusion 27 at its free end;
, the protrusion of which is adapted to be inserted into a corresponding hole 25 of said plug member. 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said alignment and fixing means include at least two said first lever means 23, 24, said lever means being located at opposite ends of said receptacle. . 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the actuating means comprises two second lever means 37, 99.
, the second lever means are respectively fixed to both ends of the cam means and to the ends of the receptacle, and the second lever means contacts the first lever means to respectively control the first lever means. device including a tab portion 38 for pivoting between a locked position and an unlocked position. 11. The device according to claim 10,
The receptacle is a device in which the plug member can be inserted from a direction parallel to a direction in which contact rows facing one contact row of the receptacle are arranged and from a direction perpendicular to that direction. 12. The device according to claim 10,
The first protrusion of the first lever means aligns the plug member in a direction in which a row of contacts faces one row of contacts of the receptacle, and the first lever means aligns the plug member in a direction in which a row of contacts facing one row of contacts of the receptacle is aligned; The apparatus further includes means for preventing insertion of the plug member into the receptacle when the force means is actuated. 13. The device according to claim 12,
The means for preventing insertion of the plug member is a second protrusion of the first lever means, the receptacle including a base wall limiting the depth to which the plug member can be inserted, the base wall being connected to the follower. means for securing said plug member with said follower means and said second protrusion. 14. The device according to claim 13,
The spring member is configured to push the contacts of the receptacle into contact with the plug member, and the low insertion force means is adapted to deflect the spring member to separate the respective rows of contacts of the receptacle. . 15. The apparatus of claim 4, including a plurality of receptacles mounted in parallel spaced relation to said second circuit board, each receptacle having said low insertion point associated therewith. A device comprising force means, said alignment and fixing means, and said actuation means. 16. The device according to claim 14,
Each spring member includes a second contact portion at the end opposite the first contact portion, the second contact portions being arranged in two opposing rows within the receptacle and extending outwardly from the bottom thereof. biased toward the second
The contact portion of the device is adapted to be brought into contact with a corresponding desired contact point of the second circuit board. 17. The device according to claim 14,
The receptacle includes a body shell member and a plurality of contact segments, each contact segment including a contact row opposite the one contact row, the segments being floatingly supported within the body shell member, and each of the segments The device includes an alignment protrusion inserted into a respective alignment hole of the second circuit board. 18. The device according to claim 17,
The apparatus wherein said follower means comprises a separate follower member supported by each said segment and said cam means comprises a unitary member extending through all said segments. 19. The device according to claim 18,
a plurality of receptacles mounted in parallel spaced relation to said second circuit board, each receptacle having associated therewith said low insertion force means, said alignment and securing means, and said actuation. an apparatus having means. 20. The device according to claim 19,
Each spring member includes a second contact portion 66 at the end facing the first contact, the second contact portions being arranged in two opposing rows within the receptacle and extending outwardly from the bottom thereof. the second contact portion is adapted to be brought into contact with a corresponding desired contact of the second circuit board. 21. The device according to claim 20,
The spring member biases the respective contacts into contact with the plug member, and the low insertion force means deflects the spring members to separate the respective rows of receptacle contacts. 22. The device according to claim 21,
The apparatus further includes means for operating the actuating means remotely from the second circuit board. (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a circuit board connector device. The invention is particularly suited for use in computer systems in which a series of slave boards are connected to a master board. The connector device of the present invention allows a computer user to easily insert a slave board into the connector device. Prior Art No. 554,663, filed Nov. 23, 1983, entitled "Circuit Board Connector Assembly with Independent Contact Segments".
Board Connector Assembly Having
Independent Contact Segments” (Representative Reference Number B83-0029). It is known to connect the master board and slave board using pin connectors soldered to each of the boards. Alternatively, the pins can be electrically interconnected by wraparound connections. It is also known in a general sense to make high-density connections between slave and master boards. Several techniques are also known to reduce or eliminate insertion force. A typical low insertion force connector is
U.S. Patent No. 3,553,630 to Scheingold et al., Lapraik.
US Pat. No. 4,179,117 to Yeager; US Pat. No. 4,047,782 to Yeager;
U.S. Patent No. to Yeager et al.
No. 3,899,234, U.S. Patent No. 3,130,351 to Giel, Stepowey.
US Patent No. 3,022,481 to Walkup, US Patent No. 3,022,481 to Walkup
No. 3683317. UK patent application 2028015A for a similar device to Otsuki and UK patent application 2028015A for Leather
Also disclosed in 2022329A. In the various patents and patent applications cited above, the connector assembly includes opposing rows of spring-type contacts.
Low insertion force mechanisms or zero insertion force mechanisms vary to some extent, but generally include some mechanism that deflects the spring contacts to space them apart to facilitate insertion of the printed wiring board into the connector. The contacts are then engaged with corresponding pads on the printed wiring board to make the desired electrical connection. In some cases, the spring contacts are typically pressed against the printed circuit board, and a low insertion force mechanism spreads the spring contacts to allow the printed circuit board to be inserted into the connector. In other techniques, contact members are typically spaced apart and deflected into engagement with a printed wiring board by a low insertion force mechanism. It is also known to use cams and cam followers as low insertion force connector mechanisms. The cam member is operable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired. (Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention provides a connector device that allows a slave board to be easily inserted into and removed from a master board. Furthermore, the slave boards can be easily aligned within the receptacle of the electrical connector. Additionally, the present invention provides an improved low insertion force electrical connector system that is capable of making high density connections and is easy to maintain by the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a low insertion force electrical connector device that includes a receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows. The device of the present invention separates one row of electrical contacts from the opposite row of electrical contacts during insertion of an electrical plug member so that insertion requires low insertion force, and the electrical contacts of the receptacle are electrically connected to the desired contacts of the plug member. electrical contacts in one row and in opposing rows to ensure a positive connection. The plug member can be part of an electronic module or part of a circuit board, such as a printed wiring board. The connector apparatus further includes means for aligning and securing the electrical plug members after insertion between the respective opposing rows of electrical contacts of the receptacle.
The present invention provides an actuation device or alignment and fixation device for actuating the low insertion force device. An actuator selectively separates the rows of electrical contacts prior to inserting the plug member into the receptacle. The actuators operate in sequence to first actuate the alignment and locking device to align and lock the plug member within the receptacle. A low insertion force device then contacts the electrical contacts of the receptacle with the predetermined contacts of the plug member. The actuating device is also configured to actuate the low insertion force device, the alignment device, and the securing device in series in reverse order to first space the electrical contacts of the receptacle, unsecure the plug member, and release the plug member. Make it possible to pull it out from the receptacle with a small amount of force. The receptacle of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on a circuit board such as a master board. Although the low insertion force device may be of any conventional construction, the electrical contacts may include a spring member and deflection of the spring member to perform a spacing function or deflection of the spring member to perform a contact function. Preferably, a cam and cam follower mechanism is provided for returning the cam to the cam and cam follower mechanism. In one embodiment, each row of contacts has alternating low and high contacts. The high contacts of one contact row face the low contacts of the other contact row. The receptacle of the present invention is preferably configured such that a plug member or a printed wiring board can be inserted from the side or from above. In another aspect of the invention, a printed wiring board, printed circuit board, or electronic module is provided with a plug member for insertion into a receptacle. Two rows of contact pads are arranged on the plug member. The pads in one row are staggered with respect to the pads in the other row. This increases the number of connections that can be made to a circuit board of a given size. Preferably, the circuit board plug member further includes alignment holes and fixing holes for accurately aligning the circuit board within the receptacle. In the most preferred embodiment, a locating notch is also provided on one side of the plug member. Preferably, the locating notch allows the circuit board to be inserted into the electrical receptacle in only one orientation. (Example) First, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The receptacle 10 of the present invention is designed to provide a high density of individual connections to increase the speed of signals within the device. In the field of personal computers, it is particularly important that the computer is easy to maintain and easy to use for the user. With the receptacle 10 of the present invention,
A personal computer owner can add additional features by purchasing additional modules or boards 11 that can be easily inserted into the receptacle 10 of the present invention. This connector device can be mounted on the main board 12 or backplane, thereby adding more features to the computer. In this embodiment, a pad 35 constituting an electrical contact is provided on one side of the slave board, and is itself an electrical plug member. The receptacle 10 of the present invention can be mounted on the master board 12 in one plane. In FIG. 1, the card housing 13 and the master board 12 are configured to receive the slave board by sliding the slave board in a direction parallel to the surface of the master board. The receptacle 10 of the present invention acts as a bottom guide for the master plate 12. Card housing 13 also includes an upper U-shaped eye or guide 14 . Those guides are receptacles 10
At the same time, it functions to align the slave board 11 that is slid into the card housing 13 from the side. A feature of the connector device of the present invention is that the slave board can be inserted from the side as shown in FIG. 1 or from above as shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, card housing 15 includes a plurality of receptacles 10 arranged in parallel and mounted within master board 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. The card housing 15 includes a U-shaped lateral guide 16. These lateral guides are positioned along each side 17, 18 of the card housing 15 in alignment with the receptacle 10. In this embodiment, the slave plate 11 is inserted into the receptacle 10 by sliding the slave plate 11 down along the lateral guide 16 and inserting it into the top of the receptacle 10 . The receptacle 10 of the present invention does not need to be soldered to the master board 12. Receptacle 10 does not include pins that are likely to be damaged or bent when connected to master board 12. Preferably, the receptacle 10 is of a low insertion force type or a zero insertion force type so that the slave plate 11 can be easily inserted or extracted as desired. In the embodiment of the invention best shown in FIG. 3, receptacle 10 has a body shell 19. As shown in FIG. This body shell has a plurality of contact segments 20
It is designed to be supported in a floating state. Each segment 20 can be tailored to its function in the receptacle 10. certain segment 2
0 can be configured to carry signals and another segment can be configured to carry power. The various segments 20 can therefore perform completely different functions. Since the segments 20 are supported in a floating structure within the body shell 19, they can align themselves with respect to the master plate 12. The reason this is possible is that the various segments 20 can slide inside the body shell 19 so that they can be precisely positioned on the contact pads 21 of the master plate 12. This allows the circuit designer to concentrate the contact pads 21 on the motherboard 12 with high accuracy, while reducing the accuracy within the receptacle 10 itself. According to another aspect of the invention, a device 22 is provided inside the receptacle 10 for aligning and fixing the child disks 11. This apparatus is shown schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5. Fixing levers 23 and 24 for aligning and fixing are pivotally supported at both ends of the body shell 19. The slave board 11 has a corresponding alignment hole pair 25, 2
6 (Figure 4). In FIG. 4, the receptacle 10 is shown in an open position in which it is adapted to receive and be inserted into the slave plate 11. FIG. 5 shows the receptacle 10 with the slave plate 11 fully inserted and the alignment and locking device 22 in the closed position. In this position, the protrusion 27 of each fixing lever 23, 24 is inserted into the hole 2.
5, 26, and the child board 11 is inserted into the main board 12.
are aligned in the desired relationship with respect to the surface. The protrusion 27 of the locking lever 23 aligns the slave disk at a desired position laterally within the receptacle 10. On the other hand, a protrusion 29 is formed on the fixed lever 23,
When the receptacle is in the closed position, one end of the slot 40 is blocked to prevent horizontal or vertical insertion of the slave board 11 until the receptacle is opened. When the daughter board is in the correct position and the lever 23 is in the closed position, a notch 28 in the daughter board 28 provides clearance for the projection 29. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the receptacle 1
0 is a zero or low insertion force device 30 having spring contacts 31, 32, a cam 33 and a follower 34.
is used. The cam and the follower are connected to spring members 31, 3
In the open position shown in the receptacle 10 on the left side of FIG. 6, the force required to insert the daughter plate into the device is zero or small. Conversely, in the closed position shown in the right-hand receptacle 10 of FIG. 6, electrical contact is made between the spring contact and the respective contact pad 35 of the slave board 11. According to yet another aspect of the invention, each spring contact is alternately raised and lowered to provide a high density of electrical contacts. According to yet another aspect of the invention, an actuation device 36 (FIGS. 7-16) is provided for sequentially actuating each alignment and fixation device 22 and low insertion force device 30. The actuating device 36 has an actuating lever 37 . This actuating lever includes a tab 38 which is operated as an actuating cam. The actuating device 36 has a follower 39 on each fixed lever 23,24. Turning the actuation lever 37 causes the tab 38 and follower 39 to actuate the respective alignment and locking device 22 and low insertion force device 3.
0 to perform the desired sequential operation. Receptacle 10 and various aspects of the invention embodied therein will now be described in detail to clarify preferred embodiments of the invention. 3, 4, 7, and 12 in which a connector device having a receptacle for attachment to a circuit board 12, such as a motherboard or backplane, is shown.
See diagram. The receptacle 10 is adapted to receive a portion of the slave board 11 constituting the electrical plug member. In this embodiment, the electrical plug member is constructed as part of an electronic module or circuit board, such as a slave board. As mentioned above, the receptacle 10 is comprised of a body shell 19 and a contact segment 20. The body shell 19 has opposing side walls 41, 42 and an end wall 43.
It has an elongated slot 40 formed by.
The region 44 facing the end wall 43 of the slot is open. Therefore, the secondary board 11 is
It can be inserted into the receptacle 10 from above or from the side in the orientation shown in Figure). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 12, contact segment 20 is inserted into body shell 19 from the bottom. Body shell 19 includes an internal dividing wall 47 . This internal dividing wall divides the shell into a plurality of chambers 48. room 4
The number 8 corresponds to the number of contact segments 20 supported by the body shell 19. A series of recesses 49 in the side walls 41, 42 mark the respective locations of the internal walls 47. A rectangular hole 50 is provided generally centrally in each side wall 41, 42 of each respective chamber 48.
This constitutes the part of the device that supports the contact segments 20 independently and floatingly within the body shell 19, allowing each contact segment 20 to be independently aligned with the master plate 12. Another element of the floating support device 51 is a correspondingly centrally located protrusion 52 on the side walls 53, 54 of each contact segment 20. The projections 52 are arranged so that when the contact segment 20 is inserted into the chamber 48 the projections 52 spread apart the respective side walls 41, 42 until the projections 52 snap into the holes 50.
2 is pyramid-shaped. The height and width of hole 50 is greater than the height and width of protrusion 52 so that contact segment 20 has limited degrees of freedom vertically, side-to-side, and back-to-back within chamber 48. do. A step 55 in each sidewall 41, 42 defines a corresponding internal stop surface 56 that limits vertical movement of the contact segment 20 when the receptacle 10 is attached to the base plate 12. This provides an effective means for sandwiching the contact segments with the master board 12. Each contact segment 20 includes a longitudinal ledge 57 on each sidewall 53,54. The shelves are engaged with respective stop surfaces 56. body shell 1
9 further includes an alignment protrusion 58 at one end (region 44 side). The alignment protrusions are adapted to be inserted into corresponding alignment holes in the master board 12. Contact segment 20 includes an alignment protrusion 61 at one end. The alignment protrusion 61 is inserted into the corresponding alignment hole 62 of the parent plate 12 when the contact segment 20 is inserted into the chamber 48 of the body shell 19. alignment protrusion 58,
61 extend across the entire receptacle 10 in a spaced apart manner, and their protrusions align with the alignment holes 59, 62.
When the receptacle is inserted into the main board 12
Provides an effective means of aligning on top. Since each contact segment 20 has its own alignment protrusion 61, the contact segment 20 can float within the body shell 19 to a limited extent. Highly accurate alignment of each contact segment
2 without accumulating misalignment over the length of the receptacle 10. This is a very important feature. This is because it is desirable to implement as many contacts as possible in each contact segment. It is a unique feature of the present invention that a very high density of electrical contacts can be used while maintaining proper alignment with the corresponding contact pads 21 on the mother plate 12. Each contact segment 20 has a segment body 63
has. The segment body is configured to support two rows of spring contact members 64 forming spring contacts. One end 65 of each spring contact member constitutes a contact portion that contacts the corresponding contact pad 35 of the slave board 11. Opposite end 6 of spring contact member 64
Reference numeral 6 constitutes a lever-shaped contact portion that engages and contacts the contact pad 21 of the main board 12. By using this lever-shaped contact portion 66 and the contact pad 21, a high-pressure airtight connection is obtained. Contact part 66
The end of the contact pad 21 is pressed into the contact pad, thereby breaking the oxide on the surface of the pad and making good electrical contact. This type of contact structure eliminates the need for gold contact pads or gold plating on the contact portion 66. Thereby,
A much cheaper tin-tin connection is possible. However, the contact pads 35 of the slave board are usually gold plated. The spring contact members 64 can be selectively arranged to have narrow contact members 32 for transmitting signals and relatively wide contact members 68 for transmitting power or current. Accordingly, contact segments 20 may be configured as desired to handle signals or power, or perform any other functions required. Maximizing the density of spring contact members 64 within contact segment 20 is a preferred feature of the present invention. This is accomplished in part by providing alternating tall contact members 32 and low contact members 31 in each respective contact row. Additionally, each tall spring contact 32 in a row is arranged opposite a lower spring contact 31 in an opposing row of spring contact members 64. Thus, the low spring contacts 31 in one contact row face the high spring contacts of the opposite contact row. These high spring contacts 32 and low spring contacts 31, as shown in FIG. row. The alignment of the contact portion 65 of each contact segment with the pad 35 can be made to relatively large tolerances to provide a high density of contacts. This ensures that the contact portion 65 of the high spring contact 32 and the contact portion 65 of the low spring contact 31 of each contact segment and the contact pad 3
5 is minimized, and the wide spacing of the high spring contacts in any particular row of contacts reduces the chance of a short circuit even if the contacts 65 are bent slightly. . This is also the case for low contact points. With this configuration, the dimensions of the pad 35 can be reduced,
The importance of spacing between pads can be reduced. The series of receptacles 10 may be mounted onto the master plate 12 by any type of conventional retaining or fastening device 70, such as that shown in FIG. The fastening member 71 or 72 is attached to the side wall 4
1 or 42 steps 55 are engaged. The fastening member 71 or 7 is arranged so that the contact portion 66 of the spring contact member 64 comes into contact with the pad 35 of the main board 12.
2 is fixed to the circuit board, ie, the main board 12, by bolts 73 or the like. As previously discussed, stop surface 56 engages shelf 57 of segment 20 to hold segment 20 such that contact portion 66 makes good electrical contact with contact pad 35. Fastening member 7
1 is adopted between adjacent receptacles 10, and the fastening member 72 is adapted to fasten a single side of the receptacle 10. This configuration of the connector device allows for greater flexibility in configuring the computer circuit board device. Receptacle 10 may include any number of segments 20, such as 5, 7,
11 etc., can have. A plurality of receptacles 10 can be arranged adjacent and parallel on the master board, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. If desired, the receptacle 10 can be provided with other contact segments and extend beyond the motherboard 12 so that it can be connected to other types of plugs and circuit connectors or components. For example, the receptacle 10 can receive an entirely different type of connection that is located completely separate from the motherboard. Each contact segment 20 includes a low or zero insertion force feature for device 30. The contact members 64 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 are arranged such that when they are in their free state, they assume the position shown in dashed lines in the right receptacle 10 of FIG. It is pushed towards the other spring contacts in the opposing row of contacts. The low insertion force mechanism uses a cam 33 and follower 34. When the cam 33 is turned to the position shown in the left receptacle 10 in FIG. 6, the follower 34 moves upwardly,
One row of spring contact members 64 is separated from the opposite row of spring contact members 64. Thereby, the slave plate 11 can be inserted into the slot 40 with low or zero insertion force. When the cam 33 is turned to the position shown in the right receptacle 10 in FIG. 64
release. Each contact segment preferably includes its own separate follower 34. but,
The cam member 33 preferably comprises an integral member or metal bar extending through all segments 20 of the receptacle 10. The cross section of the cam member 33 is made into an oblong shape. The upper surface 74 of the follower is shaped and arranged to contact the spring contact members 64 to separate them and release the spring contact members 64 for engagement with the slave board 11. The upper cross-section of follower 34 is U-shaped. In order to receive the slave plate 11, the follower member 34 is connected to the left receptacle 10 in FIG.
When positioned as shown therein, the U-shaped bottom 75 acts as a stop surface to align the daughter disc 11 during insertion. When the follower is retracted as in the right receptacle 10 of FIG.
The lower portion of the follower 34, i.e. the portion of the hook portion 76, has a hook-like shape so that it is held in the retracted position by the engagement between the cam 33 and the hook portion 76. Contact segment body 63 has an outer support member 77 and an inner support member 78 . Spring contact members 64 are held in place between respective support members 77 and 78. Inner support member 78 also functions to support cam 33 and follower 34. Although the low or zero insertion force mechanism 30 has been described with particular reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. Any low insertion force mechanism can be employed. Although the present invention preferably pushes one row of spring contact members 64 toward the opposite row of spring contact members 64, the reverse is possible if desired, as explained in the Background of the Invention. Can be adopted. In the opposite manner, the follower acts to deflect the spring contact member 64 and bring the contact portion 65 into contact with the contact pad 35, or to release the spring contacts so that they are spaced apart. As shown in FIG.
It is fixed at 3. This allows the operator to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 37 between the open position shown in FIG. 4 and the closed position shown in FIG. Lever 37 can be made much better if desired to make it easier to turn. This embodiment also provides greater leverage on the cam 33 for ease of operation. Another way to make it suitable for remote operation is to replace the actuating lever 37 with a lever 79. Lever 79 can be operated remotely by using a suitable linkage 80 which is pivotally connected to end 81 of lever 79. For example, the link mechanism 80
It can be exited through a hole in the top of the card housing 13 (FIG. 1). By pulling up the linkage 80, the cam 33 can be rotated to open the receptacle for inserting the slave plate 11.
The opposite operation can be performed by pushing down the linkage 80. The aligning and fixing device 22 and actuating device 36 will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4-5 and 7-16. As mentioned above, the alignment and fixing device 22 is composed of fixing levers 23 and 24. Body shell 19 includes support extensions 82 at its ends. The lever 23 is pivoted around the extension base 83 by a split cylindrical pin 84 inserted through holes 85, 86 in the lever 23 and the extension base 83, respectively. The second extension base 87 includes a generally square hole 88 through which the cam 33 is inserted.
Before inserting the cam 33, the actuation lever 37 is positioned so that the extension base 87 is between the legs of the fork-like protrusion 89. The slot 90 of the fork-like projection 89 fits tightly into the cross section of the cam 33. After inserting the split pin 91 through the hole 92 of the cam 33 in the slot 93 formed in each contact segment 20, the cam 33 is retained in the receptacle 10. This structure is shown in FIG. Pin 91 acts to secure the cam in position, which in turn secures actuation lever 37 in position. Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11, the body shell 1
The alignment and fixation device 22 and actuation device 36 at the end of 9 will now be described in detail. The fixing lever 23 includes a first protrusion 27 . This protrusion 27 is inserted into the alignment hole 25 on one side of the slave board 11. The fixing lever 23 also includes a second protrusion 29 . The protrusion 29
is inserted into the notch 28 on one side of the slave board 11. The fixing lever 23 also includes a follower portion 39 formed by the upper surface of one support leg 95 . Its follower portion 39 includes a notch S. The actuation lever 37 includes a tab 38 that acts as a cam. Follower section 39 also includes a stop section 96. The stop operates when the lever 37 is in the vertical position as shown. The cam 33 moves away from the segment follower 34 so that the spring contacts 31 and 32 close against the slave plate. In this position, the tab or cam 38
contacts the stop portion 96 and rotates the lever 23 relative to the slave board 11 so that the protrusions 27 and 29 enter the respective holes 25 and slots 28. When the lever 37 is rotated in the opposite direction to the position shown in FIG.
does not turn lever 23. Therefore, lever 3
Even if the tab 38 of the lever 7 moves from the stop part 96 to the stop part 97, the lever 23 does not move. However, the cam 33 is rotated from its closed operating position to its open operating position. Before lever 37 is turned to its fully open position, tab 3
8 engages with the stop portion 97. If the lever 37 is continued to be turned downward after the tab 38 has engaged with the stop portion 97, the lever 23 will be turned away from the circuit board and the protrusions 27 and 29 will be inserted into the respective holes 25 and slots 28. pull away from Therefore, when lever 37 is moved from its closed position to its open position, cam 33 and follower 34
The contacts are first separated under the action of , and then the locking lever is pulled apart. These operations are performed sequentially. When the actuating lever 37 is moved from its open position shown in FIG. 4 to its closed position shown in FIG. 5, the reverse action occurs in sequence. When the lever 37 is in the fully open position, the tab 38 is in the notch S position for pivoting the lever 23. Therefore, when the lever 37 begins to move upward, the lever 37 is attached to the upper side wall 98 of the notch S.
The tabs 38 of the contacts make contact. As a result, lever 37
By slightly turning the lever 23, the lever 23 is rotated about the pin 84 and rotated relative to the slave board 11 to its fixed and aligned position. However, this small rotation is insufficient to sufficiently rotate cam 33 relative to follower 34 to close the contacts. When the pad 38 comes into contact with the stop part 96 of the lever 23 due to the rotation of the lever 37 and is further turned, the lever 23 is moved to the slave board 1.
1 and fixed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the alignment and locking device 22 and the actuation device 36 include a second alignment and locking lever 24 and a second actuation lever 99 (a twelfth
figure). Second lever 24 and second lever 99
is located at the opposite end 43 of the body shell 19. The support extension 100 includes a support 101 about which the lever 24 is pivoted by a split pin 102 . It is the holes 104 and 10 between the base 101 and the lever 24.
3. As previously mentioned, cam 33 extends through slot 93 (FIG. 16) and extends through extension 1.
00 support base 106 square hole 105 (first
3). The second actuation lever 99 has a hole 90. The cross-section of the hole corresponds closely to the cross-section of the cam 33.
The lever 99 is connected to the lever 24 and the support base extension 1.
06 around the cam 33. Lever 99 has tab 3 corresponding to the tab on lever 37.
Contains 8. Similarly, lever 24 has a follower portion 39 that corresponds to the follower portion of lever 23 . Their followers include a notch S including stops 97,98. The lever 99 is operated by the lever 37 by the cam 33.
associated with the behavior of The internal movement of lever 99 with lever 24 through tab 38
Since the internal operation is the same as that previously explained for 7 and 23, it will not be explained again here. Lever 3
When 7 is moved between its open and closed positions, lever 99 moves between the corresponding positions and interacts with lever 24 in the same way that lever 37 interacts with lever 23. . The protrusions 27 for aligning and fixing the slave disc 11 within the receptacle 10 are tapered so that slight misalignment of the slave disc 11 does not prevent the slave disc from aligning and fixing within the receptacle. The taper of the protrusion 27 functions to move the disk into its properly aligned position. Child board 11 is receptacle 1
Contacts 67 of receptacle 10 cannot close unless properly secured and aligned in the 0.0 position. If the position is incorrect, the protrusions 27, 29
are prevented from being inserted into the respective alignment holes 25 and slots 28. For that purpose lever 2
3, 24 are prevented from pivoting to their fully aligned position. If the levers cannot be pivoted to their fully aligned and locked position, the tabs 38 of levers 99 and 37 will contact the stop 96 of their respective followers 39. This further prevents the lever 37 and the cam 33 from rotating, thereby causing the contact point to
prevent contact with. Further, in order to completely close the contacts 67 of the receptacle 10, the protrusions 2 on both sides of the receptacle 10 are
7, 29 into their respective holes 25 and slots 28. Therefore, child board 1
The lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the position shown in FIG. 5 unless both corners of the lever 37 are completely inside the connector housing. If the positions are out of alignment, the operator cannot close the lever 37 completely and must readjust the sub-boards 11 so that they can be aligned. Lever 37 is the fifth
When in the position shown, the slave board 10 must be moved into the receptacle 10, i.e., if the lever 37 is not first turned to its open position shown in FIG.
It cannot be extracted from the side. The foregoing description merely illustrates the invention. Various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims.