KR20210114951A - spring loaded electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector or electrical connector assembly having a housing, a contact carrier, one or more spring members, and an interposer. The contact carrier is movable relative to the housing between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position.

Description

spring loaded electrical connector

Related applications

This application is a continuation of U.S. Application No. 16/054,746, titled Spring Loaded, to U.S. Application No. 15/615,470, entitled Spring Loaded Electrical Connector, filed June 6, 2017, current U.S. Patent No. 10,050,367. Priority to U.S. Application No. 16/262,085 (Title: Spring Loaded Electrical Connector, Filed on January 30, 2019), a continuation-in-part of Electrical Connector, filed August 3, 2018, current U.S. Patent No. 10,249,973 claim, and each of these earlier applications is incorporated herein in its entirety.

technical field

The present invention relates to an electrical connector having a mating connector for consistent signal integrity and a spring-loaded core or contact carrier designed to ensure optimum mating force.

Conventional high-density electrical connectors often suffer from intermittent contact breaks and mating reliability issues for mating interfaces due to the tight pitch and density required to achieve small package sizes, thereby leading to connection failures related to tolerance build-up. In addition, conventional high-density connectors are expensive to manufacture and bulky as the signal count increases. Accordingly, there is a need for an electrical connector that provides a high density of contacts that provide stability and consistent signal integrity to the connector system when mated with other connectors in the connector system without increasing the size of the electrical connector.

Accordingly, the present invention may provide an electrical connector comprising a housing having a mating interface end section, an opposing cable termination end section, and an inner support member. The core is slidably coupled to the inner support member of the housing and includes a receiving end and a spring-engaged end. A spring member is received within the housing and behind the core for abutting a spring-engaged end of the core. An interposer may be received within the receiving end of the core and away from the spring member. The core is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the housing between an unmated position in which the spring member pushes the core outward away from the cable termination end of the housing and a mated position in which the core is pushed inward by the spring member. It is axially slidable relative to the inner support member along the axis.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector includes a contact member coupled to the core, wherein the contact member has one end adjacent the interposer and the other end at or near the cable termination end section of the housing. The contact member may be a flexible printed circuit board having an end face and an opposing tail end. The interposer may include at least one contact surface for electrically connecting to the contact member. The interposer may be supported at the receiving end of the core by an inner support member of the housing.

In another embodiment, the at least one contact side comprises a plurality of individual contacts in electrical connection with a contact member coupled to the core; the interposer includes a second contact side opposite the at least one contact side for electrical connection with the mating connector; One or more alignment pins may be provided that extend through the interposer and into the core to align the interposer with the contact member. These alignment pins may be fine alignment features that extend to the mating connectors to ensure fine enough alignment between the connectors so that all contacts are in line with the mating pads of the flex circuit. In another embodiment, the inner support member of the housing is a longitudinally extending central post, the central post having a distal free end extending through the interposer beyond the mating interface end section of the housing. In one embodiment, the spring member is one or more corrugated springs.

The present invention may also include an electrical connector comprising a housing having a mating interface end section, an opposing cable termination end section, and an inner support member, the core being slidably coupled to the inner support member of the housing, the receiving end and a spring an engagement end. A spring member is received within the housing and behind the core for abutting a spring-engaged end of the core. A first contact member is coupled to the core. The double-sided contact interposer is receivable within the receiving end of the core and remote from the spring member, and comprising opposing first and second contacting sides, the first contacting side being configured to be electrically connected with the first contacting member; The second contact side is configured to electrically connect with the mating connector. The core is axially coupled to the inner support member along a longitudinal axis of the housing between an unmated position in which the spring member pushes the core outward away from the cable termination end of the housing and a mated position in which the core is pushed inwardly by the spring member. can slide in any direction.

In one embodiment, the first contact member coupled to the core is a flexible printed circuit having an end face contacting the first contact side of the double-sided contact interposer and a tail end positioned at or near the cable termination end portion of the housing. is the substrate. In another embodiment, the contact member may be a conventional rigid printed circuit board. The first and second contact sides of the double-sided contact interposer may include a plurality of individual contacts. In another embodiment, the double-sided contact interposer has a wafer body supporting a plurality of individual contacts, each individual contact being a C-clip. The inner support member of the housing may be a longitudinally extending central post having a distal free end extending through the double-sided contact interposer beyond the mating interface end section of the housing.

In a preferred embodiment, when the core is in the mated position, the second contact member of the mating connector is received in the core and electrically connected with a second side of the double-sided contact interposer, and the first contact member is of the double-sided contact interposer. A mating connector is coupled to the housing for electrical connection to the first side. The second contact member may be a flexible printed circuit board having an end face abutting the second contact side of the double-sided contact interposer. In another embodiment, an external mating member is received on a mating interface end section of the housing to couple the mating connector to the housing. In another embodiment, the inner support member of the housing is a longitudinally extending central post, wherein the post extends beyond the mating interface end section of the housing and through the double-sided contact interposer to engage a corresponding post of the mating connector. having a free end; one or more alignment pins may extend through the first contact member, the double-sided contact interposer, and the second contact member for alignment; The spring member is one or more corrugated springs. In another embodiment, a keyway may be provided on the connector and mating connector that acts as an overall alignment feature to properly align the connector.

The present invention may further provide an electrical connector comprising a housing having a mating interface end section and an opposing cable termination section, the housing having an inner support member, the contact carrier slidably coupled to the housing, the contact carrier comprising: a receiving end and a spring-engaged end, the contact carrier supporting the at least one contact member, the at least one spring member receiving within the housing and adjacent the contact carrier for abutting a spring-engaged end of the contact carrier, the interposer may be received within the receiving end of the contact carrier and away from the spring member. The contact carrier is slidable relative to the housing along a mating axis between an unmated position and a mated position.

In certain embodiments, the interposer includes at least one contact side for electrically connecting with the contact member; at least one contact side comprises a plurality of individual contacts in electrical connection with a contact member coupled to the contact carrier; and/or the interposer includes a second contact side opposite the at least one contact side for electrically connecting with the mating connector. In another embodiment, there are one or more alignment pins extending through the interposer and into the contact carrier for alignment through the interposer with a mating member and/or contact member associated with the housing for mating the mating connector to the housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an electrical connector comprising a housing having a mating interface end section and an opposing cable termination section, and a contact carrier slidably coupled to the housing, the contact carrier comprising a receiving end and a spring-engaged end, the contact carrier comprising: supporting at least one contact member, the at least one spring member received within the housing and adjacent the contact carrier for abutting a spring-engaged end of the contact carrier, the interposer being within and away from the receiving end of the contact carrier and wherein the electrical connector is received remotely and the coupling member is coupled to the housing. The contact carrier is slidable relative to the housing along a mating axis between an unmated position and a mated position.

In some embodiments, the contact member is a flexible printed circuit board; the interposer has a wafer body supporting a plurality of individual contacts, each individual contact being a C-clip; and/or one or more alignment pins extend through the first contact member, the interposer, and the second contact member for alignment.

The present invention may also provide an electrical connector comprising a housing having a receiving area and a mating interface, and a contact carrier received in the housing. The contact carrier may include a receiving portion and a spring engaging portion and supporting the contact member. The interposer is mounted to the receiving portion of the contact carrier with the contact member interposed therebetween. One or more spring members are provided operatively associated with a spring-engaged portion of the contact carrier. The contact carrier is movable relative to the housing between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position along an axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal mating axis.

In a particular embodiment, the contact member is a flexible printed circuit board; the interposer includes at least one contact side for electrically connecting with the contact member; at least one contact side includes a plurality of individual contacts in electrical communication with a contact member coupled to the contact carrier; and/or the interposer includes a second contact side opposite the at least one contact side for electrical connection with the mating connector. In one embodiment, the electrical connector may further include one or more alignment pins extending through the contact carrier into or through the interposer to align the interposer with the contact members of the mating connector.

The present invention relates to a housing having a receiving area, a contact carrier accommodated in the housing, the contact carrier comprising a receiving portion and a spring engaging portion, the contact carrier supporting the first contact member, and the receiving portion of the contact carrier with the contact member interposed therebetween. It may further be provided an electrical connector assembly comprising a receptacle comprising an interposer mounted to the , and one or more spring members operatively associated with a spring-engaged portion of the contact carrier. The contact carrier is movable relative to the housing between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position. The assembly may further include a plug comprising a housing having a mating interface configured to be inserted into the receiving area of the housing, and a second contact member configured to engage an interposer of the housing opposite the first contact member.

In one embodiment, the contact carrier of the assembly moves between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position along an axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal mating axis of the receptacle and plug. In another embodiment, one or more alignment pins extend through the first contact member, the interposer, and the second contact member for alignment.

In another embodiment, the assembly further comprises a latching mechanism for securing the contact carrier in the mated electrical position; the latching mechanism is a cam member configured to rotate between an inactive position and an active position to move the contact member of the plug respectively moving the contact carrier or contact system of the receptacle between the unmated electrical position and the mated electrical position; The cam member may be moved at a selected or predetermined angle, such as, for example, about 45 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 135 degrees, about 180 degrees, or about 225 degrees (or any other suitable angle) from an inactive position to an active position. can be rotated with; the cam member includes a stem having a width and a thickness, the width being greater than the thickness; the cam member has one end coupled to a connecting nut of the plug; the latching mechanism is a sliding latch member configured to slide between an inactive position and an active position to move the contact member of the plug respectively moving the contact carrier or contact system of the receptacle between the unmated electrical position and the mated electrical position; and/or the plug includes an elevator support associated with the second contact member, the elevator support configured to move between a first position and a second position respectively corresponding to an inactive position and an active position of the slide latch member; and/or the latching mechanism includes a latch activator at the mating interface of the plug configured to be depressed when the plug is engaged with the receptacle.

In another embodiment, the latching mechanism may include a latch activation release system that allows activation of the latching/mating mechanism only when the system is engaged within the mating receptacle (ie, fully mated). The latch activation release system may include a spring probe system in the nose of the plug that, when mated with the receptacle, is depressed to engage the engagement mechanism to activate the latching.

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the many advantages attendant thereto, will be readily apparent as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
1 is a front perspective view of an electrical connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 ;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in Fig. 1, showing the core or contact carrier of the electrical connector in an unmated position;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown in Fig. 1, showing the electrical connector mated to the mating connector and showing the core or contact carrier in a mated position;
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of one side of an interposer of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1 ;
Figure 5b is an enlarged view of the individual contacts of the interposer shown in Figure 5a;
Fig. 6 is an exploded view of a mating connector mated with the electrical connector shown in Fig. 1;
7A and 7B are perspective and exploded views of a mated electrical connector pair according to an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the electrical connector assembled state;
8 is an exploded view of one of the electrical connectors shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B ;
9A and 9B are exploded views and perspective views of another electrical connector among the electrical connectors shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B .
10A and 10B are cross-sectional views illustrating an assembled state of the electrical connector of FIG. 7A , respectively, illustrating an unmatched electrical position and a mated electrical position;
11 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled state of an electrical connector assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

1 to 4, 5A, 5B and 6, the present invention generally provides a secure electrical contact with a mating connector 200 to thereby ensure consistent signal integrity across the connector system, i.e., An electrical connector (100), preferably a high-density electrical connector, comprising a spring-loaded core or contact carrier (110) designed to ensure that intermittent contact interruptions do not occur prior to or during use of the system. The spring-loaded core or contact carrier 110 is designed to overtravel to overcome the tolerance build-up of the mating connector to ensure that each contact is fully engaged. Additionally, the spring-loaded core or contact carrier 110 maintains an electrical connection between the connectors even when the respective mating surfaces are not in plane with each other during mating. In a preferred embodiment, the spring-loaded core or contact carrier 110 of the electrical connector 100 cooperates with the double-sided contact interposer 112 to provide a consistent electrical connection between the connector 100 and the connector 200 . . Another advantage of the connector of the present invention is that it can have an increased density, such as 1 mm pitch, and can be mated or unmated up to 5,000 times. Additionally, the connector of the present invention provides reliable increased high density signal contact for up to 5K cycles at low cost. The design of the connector of the present invention allows the user to increase the signal count while maintaining the same size connector and raw cable.

In general, the electrical connector 100 includes a housing 102 slidably supporting a core or contact carrier 110 , a spring member 114 housed in a housing 102 behind the core 110 , and a core 110 housed therein. an interposer 112 , and a contact member 116 . The core or contact carrier 110 is positioned in an unmated position (FIG. 3) where the core 110 is biased outwardly ready to mate with the mating connector 200, and the core 110 is pushed inward by the spring 114 ) to slide axially along the longitudinal axis of the housing 102 between a mated position ( FIG. 4 ) in electrical engagement with the mating connector. The spring member 114 may be any biasing member, such as one or more corrugated springs.

The housing 102 generally comprises a mating interface end section 104 for interfacing with the mating end 202 of the mating connector 200, a cable termination end section 106 for receiving the prepared end of the cable C, a core ( an inner support member 108 for slidably supporting 110 , and an inner support member 108 for receiving at least a portion of the core 110 within the housing 102 and for receiving a spring member 114 . and an inner receiving area 109 . The cable termination end compartment 106 may also receive a strain relief member 12 such as a boot and a potting member 10 for the prepared end of the cable C, as is well known in the art. The inner support member 108 is preferably a longitudinally extending central post or barrel as shown in FIGS. The post 108 extends outwardly beyond the mating interface end section 104 so that the distal free end of the mating connector 200 when the connector 100 and connector 102 are mated as best shown in FIG. 4 . ) to provide stability to the connector system. In one embodiment, the post 108 has a hollow at its distal end to receive a corresponding component 204 of the mating connector 200 , the corresponding component being inserted into the distal end of the post 108 . It can have any number of post sizes.

The core or contact carrier 110 is mounted to and slides along the inner post 108 of the housing 102 between the unmated and mated positions. The core 110 may also be slidably attached to the housing 102 by, for example, a snap fit or the like. The core 110 generally has a spring-engaged end 120 that abuts the spring member 114 when the core 110 is compressed inwardly into a mated position, and a receiving end sized and shaped to receive the interposer 112 . end 122 . The contact member 116 is preferably at the spring-engaged end 102 of the core such that one end is adjacent the interposer 112 and the other end is at or near the cable termination end section 106 of the housing 102 . is mounted The contact member 116 is, for example, a flexible printed circuit having a tail end 128 connected to the cable C and an end face 126 received in the core 110 configured to electrically engage the interposer 112 . It may be a substrate. The tail end 128 of the flexible printed circuit board is designed to flex due to the spring-loaded movement of the core 110 along the inner post 108 between the unmated and mated positions.

The interposer 112 preferably includes at least one contact side 130 for making electrical contact with the contact member 116 at the end face 126 . In a preferred embodiment, the interposer 112 is a double-sided contact interposer having a second contact side 132 opposite the contact side 130 and configured to electrically contact the contact member 216 of the mating connector 200 . am. The contact member 216 of the mating connector 200 may also be a flexible printed circuit board having an end face 226 and a tail end 228 as shown in FIG. 6 , and is similar to the contact member 116 . The end face 226 is configured to abut the second contact side 132 of the interposer 112 .

In one embodiment, the interposer 112 has a wafer body 136 that may include a central opening 138 sized to receive the posts 108 of the housing 102 . Each contact side 130 and 132 of the interposer 112 may include a plurality of individual contacts 140 as shown in FIG. 5A for making electrical contact with the contact members 116 and 216, respectively. The individual contacts 140 may be, for example, conductive C-clips, as shown in FIG. 5B . The biasing force of the spring member 114 is preferably mounted to the interposer 112 to move the core or contact carrier 110 over the full mating compression of the C-clip for consistent contact with the spring member 114 . higher than the mating force of each individual C-clip 140 . This ensures that the end faces 126 of the contact members are fully compressed with the individual contacts 140 so that the connector system, ie the mated connector, has a consistent mating force, which is determined by the spring member 114 . because it becomes The mating force of the connector system can be adjusted to use different spring members. For example, the number of individual contacts 140 of the interposer 112 may be increased or decreased to increase or decrease the biasing force, respectively, wherein the biasing force of the spring member 114 is the core or contact carrier 110 . ) can be compensated for increasing or decreasing the biasing force of the contact portion 140 to move the excess. As such, the connector system can be structured to have the minimum and maximum insertion force achievable for a given number of contacts.

Once the connector 100 and connector 200 are mated, a mating member 150, such as a mating nut, may be used to latch these connectors together. The engagement nut 150 may be designed to be spring loaded, for example, to automatically rotate and then latch into place. Although it is preferred to use mating nut 150 to latch connector 100 and connector 200, any known latching mechanism and/or friction fit mechanism can be used to hold connector 100 and connector 200 together. It can be latched or fixed.

In one embodiment, the central post 108 of the mating connector 200 and its corresponding component 204 generally provide overall alignment of the connector system, while one or more alignment members 160, such as alignment pins, are In general, it provides fine alignment of the connector system. One or more alignment pins 160 extend into core 110 through contact end face 226 , interposer 112 , and contact end face 126 to engage interposer 112 , particularly its individual contacts 140 . The connector 100 and the connector 200 may be aligned with the end faces 126 and 226 of the contact members 116 and 216, respectively, respectively. Alignment pins 160 may also extend to the mating connectors to ensure sufficient fine alignment between the connectors so that all contacts are in line with the mating pads of the flex circuit.

7A-11 show a connector 100' that is an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Connector 100' also has a rear spring overtravel design as described in the above embodiment. And connector 100' and its mating connector 200' each have interconnecting features similar to those described above, except that they engage each other in a direction generally perpendicular to the mating or longitudinal axis of the connector assembly. The design of the connector 100' advantageously provides for a reduced outer diameter of the connector which allows the length of the connector to be extended for a higher density of contact counts. This can be particularly useful in handheld applications where a smaller outer diameter (ie, generally fits the user's hand) is preferred for the user to handle and operate the connector, such as a catheter handle or the like.

Like connector 100, connector 100' generally includes a housing 102' that movably supports a core or contact carrier 110', a contact carrier 110', as shown in FIG. a spring member or members 114 ′ housed in an associated housing 102 ′, an interposer 112 ′, and a contact member 116 supported by a contact carrier 110 ′. The connector 100' has an unmated position (FIG. 10A) in which the contact carrier 110' is biased towards the mating connector 200' so that it is ready to be electrically mated with the mating connector, and the contact carrier 110'. The longitudinal mating axis of the connector assembly is compressed by the spring member 114' to act as an overtravel cushioning agent between the mated position (FIG. 10B) in electrical engagement with the contact member 216' of the mating connector 200'. The contact carrier 110' is designed to move in the housing 102' in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to (L). The spring member 114' may be any biasing member, such as one or more corrugated springs, compression springs, resilient materials, or the like.

The housing 102' generally includes a mating interface end section 104' for interfacing with the mating end 202' of the mating connector 200', and a contact carrier 110' inside the housing 102', an inter and an inner receiving area 109' for receiving a poser 112' and a spring member 114'. The contact carrier 110' is mounted to the housing 102' and is movable between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B. Contact carrier 110' generally includes a spring engaging portion 120' that engages spring member 114' when contact carrier 110' is compressed into a mated position by mating connector 200', and a contact. and a receiving portion 122' supporting the member 116' and the interposer 112'. The contact member 116 ′ has, for example, one side 126 ′ mounted to the receiving portion 122 ′ of the contact carrier 110 ′, and an opposite side configured to electrically engage the interposer 112 ′. It may be a flexible printed circuit board having (128').

The interposer 112 ′ is opposite to the first contact side 130 ′ and a first contact side 130 ′ for making electrical contact with the contact member 116 ′, preferably at a face 126 ′. It is similar to the interposer 112 described in the embodiment above because it includes a second contact side 132' configured to be electrically connected with the contact member 216' of the mating connector 200'. Like interposer 112 , interposer 112 ′ of this embodiment may have a wafer body 136 ′, each contact side 130 ′ and 132 ′ having a plurality of individual, such as conductive C-clips, or the like. Contacts may be included. The biasing force of the spring member 114' is preferably applied to the interposer 112' to move the contact carrier 110' over the full mating compression of the individual contacts for consistent contact with the contact member 216'. higher than the mating force of each individual contact mounted. This ensures that the contact members are fully compressed into the individual contacts of the interposer 112' to ensure that the connector system or assembly, ie, the mated connector, has a consistent mating force.

9A and 9B , the mating connector 200' may have a housing 202' having an interface end 204' and a mating nut 150' opposite it. The housing 202' includes an interior elevator support 208' that includes a second contact member 216'. The elevator support 208 ′ moves between a first position ( FIG. 10A ) and a second position ( FIG. 10B ) corresponding to an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position of the contact carrier 110 ′, respectively. Elevator support 208' is spring loaded in an unmated position, for example by elevator biasing spring 208A', to prevent "collision" during full alignment axial engagement with mating connector 100' prior to electrical connection. can be The contact member 216' of the mating connector 200' may also be a flexible printed circuit board having a contact surface 226' similar to the contact member 116'.

Connector 100' may be, for example, a receptacle, and mating connector 200' may be, for example, a plug that is inserted into a receptacle. When connector 100' and connector 200' are axially assembled, i.e., interface end 204' of plug 200' is received in housing 102' of receptacle 100', the latching mechanism engages. It can be activated to complete and secure an electrical connection between the receptacle and the plug. The latching mechanism is designed to move the contact member 216' of the plug toward the interposer 112' of the receptacle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the plug for receptacle mating.

In one embodiment, the latching mechanism may include a cam member 300 supported by the plug and rotatable between an inactive position and an active position. The cam member 300 may include an elongate stem 302 having one end 304 connected to the mating nut 150 ′ of the plug and an opposing locking end 306 . The elongate stem 302 may be generally flat, ie, the stem may be wider than it is thick, so that the cam member 300 can, for example, move from an inactive position ( FIG. 10A ) to an active position ( FIG. 10B ). ), when rotated by a predetermined angle, eg, 90 degrees or about 90 degrees, the stem 302 moves the elevator support 208' of the plug, which supports the contact member 216' of the plug, into a first position. to the second position (downward in FIGS. 10A and 10B ) towards the interposer 112' of the receptacle. That is, when the engagement nut 150' is rotated, the cam member 300 is activated to engage the contact member 216' through the elevator support 208' from the unmated electrical position towards the mating receptacle contact system. It is moved to an electrical position, thereby electrically connecting the plug and receptacle. In this position, the locking end 306 locks or abuts the housing 202' of the plug.

The latching mechanism may alternatively be a sliding latch member 400 as shown in FIG. 9 . The slide latch member 400 is configured to slide between an inactive position and an active position. That is, when the slide latch member moves and slides from the inactive position to the active position, the elevator support 208' of the plug is forced to move from the first position towards the interposer 112' of the receptacle into the second position, thereby making contact. The carrier 110' is moved from the unmated electrical position to the mated electrical position to electrically connect the contact member 216' of the plug with the interposer 112' of the receptacle. Slide latch member 400 may have features 402, such as snap engagement features, that prevent premature mating of components before the plug/receptacle is assembled. In this embodiment, the receptacle 100 ′ may push the feature 402 out of the plug 200 ′ to allow the sliding latch member 400 to engage.

In another embodiment, it may be provided to latch the plug to the receptacle when fully seated, such as, for example, a friction fit, a spring clip latch, or a locking latching mechanism. The latching mechanism may include a latch activation release system configured to prevent activation of the contact system engagement nut without engaging the plug and receptacle. This can ensure that the plug and receptacle are seated without damaging the plug contact system. A spring-loaded mechanism, such as a spring probe, may be included at the interface end 204' of the plug, thereby interfering with the interface end 204' of the cam member (which also acts as a locking feature on the receptacle when engaged and activated). This prevents the user from activating/rotating the cam member 300 . When the interface end 204' of the plug fully reaches the bottom in the receptacle, the spring-loaded mechanism can be pressed away from the cam member 300, whereby the user rotates the engagement nut 150' to contact the plug. The system engages the receptacle contact system and additionally allows the plug to be latched into the receptacle so that the plug cannot be removed unless the user manually disconnects it by rotating the mating nut 150' back to the inactive state until mating. can do.

In one embodiment, the coupling nut 150' may be spring loaded in the locked state. The engagement nut 150 ′ may have a mating orientation feature, such as a protruding boss, that engages a corresponding receptacle mating feature, such as a protruding boss, that rotates the engagement nut 150 ′ to an unlocked state during mating. . When the receptacle and plug are assembled together, the engagement nut 150 ′ orientation features overcome the receptacle orientation features and are latched in place. As such, latching via the latching mechanism and electrical engagement between the components are simultaneous or nearly simultaneous.

In other embodiments, the engagement nut 150' utilizes mating orientation features that correspond to mating orientation features on the receptacle similarly to the above; Latching and electrical engagement do not occur simultaneously. After initial assembly of the receptacle and plug, the mating nut 150' is rotated toward the locking direction to mate the contact system of the plug, ie the elevator support 208' and the contact member 216', the receptacle contact system, ie the interposer. It cams to 112' to thereby fully engage the electrical engagement and overtravel spring 114'. Through this, the user can overcome the high axial mating force by using a latching mechanism such as the cam member 300 for mechanical advantage.

One or more alignment pins 160' are attached to the housing 102' of the receptacle to facilitate alignment with the connector system of the plug upon actuating a latching mechanism, such as cam member 300, to complete electrical engagement of the plug with the receptacle. may be provided. Pin 160' extends through contact carrier 110', contact member 116' into interposer 112' so that ends 162' are contact member 216 of the plug as shown in FIG. 10A. ') and left ready to engage. The contact member 216' of the plug is such that the hole 218' of the plug is properly fine-aligned and in contact with the interposer 112' of the receptacle and the contact member 216' of the plug when the latching mechanism is actuated. may include a hole 218' corresponding to the alignment pin 160' of the receptacle to receive the end 162' of the alignment pin 160' to be inserted into the receptacle. Alternatively, an alignment pin may be provided on the plug 200' that engages a corresponding hole in the receptacle 100'.

While the present invention has been illustrated by selecting specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. A method may be included to prevent the plug and receptacle from engaging and the contact system engagement mechanism from being activated. This can ensure that the plug and receptacle can be seated without damaging the contact system or interposer. A spring-loaded mechanism, such as an embodied spring probe 209', is included in the interface end 204' of the plug, so that the interface end 204 of the cam member (which when engaged and activated also serves as a locking feature to the receptacle) is included. ') to prevent the user from activating/rotating the cam member 300 due to interference. When the interface end 204 ′ of the plug fully reaches the bottom in the receptacle, the spring-loaded mechanism may be pressed away from the cam member 300 by the mating features of the receptacle, whereby the user engages the engagement nut 150 . ') to engage the plug contact system with the receptacle contact system and additionally latch the plug to the receptacle, unless the user manually disconnects the mating nut 150' by rotating the mating nut 150' back to its inactive state. may be inseparable.

Claims (19)

An electrical connector comprising:
a housing having a receiving area and a mating interface;
a contact carrier received in the housing, the contact carrier comprising a receiving portion and a spring engaging portion and supporting a contact member;
an interposer mounted to the receiving portion of the contact carrier with the contact member interposed therebetween; and
one or more spring members operatively associated with a spring-engaged portion of the contact carrier;
and the contact carrier is movable relative to the housing between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position along an axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal mating axis. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is a flexible printed circuit board. 3. The electrical connector of claim 2, wherein the interposer includes at least one contact side for electrically connecting with the contact member. 4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein said at least one contact side comprises a plurality of individual contacts in electrical communication with said contact member coupled to said contact carrier. 4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the interposer includes a second contact side opposite the at least one contact side for electrically connecting with the mating connector. 2. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising one or more alignment pins extending through the contact carrier and into the interposer to align the interposer with a contact member of a mating connector. An electrical connector assembly comprising:
as a receptacle,
a housing having a receiving area;
a contact carrier received in the housing, the contact carrier comprising a receiving portion and a spring engaging portion and supporting a first contact member;
an interposer mounted to the receiving portion of the contact carrier with the contact member interposed therebetween; and
one or more spring members operatively associated with a spring-engaged portion of the contact carrier;
the receptacle, the contact carrier being movable relative to the housing between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position; and
a plug having a mating interface configured to be inserted into a receiving area of the receptacle housing and including a housing having a second contact member configured to engage an interposer of the receptacle housing opposite the first contact member; electrical connector assembly. 8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second contact members is a flexible printed circuit board. 8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the contact carrier moves between an unmated electrical position and a mated electrical position along an axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal mating axis of the receptacle and plug. 8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, further comprising a latching mechanism for securing the connector assembly in the mated electrical position. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism is between an inactive position and an active position to move a second contact member of the plug that respectively moves a contact carrier of the receptacle between the unmated electrical position and the mated electrical position. and a cam member configured to rotate in 12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein said cam member is rotated from said inactive position to said active position in one of about 45 degrees, about 90 degrees, about 135 degrees, about 180 degrees, or about 225 degrees. 12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the cam member includes a stem having a width and a thickness, wherein the width is greater than the thickness. 12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the cam member has an end coupled to a mating nut of the plug. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plug includes an elevator support associated with the second contact member, the elevator support being configured to move between a first position and a second position respectively corresponding to an inactive position and an active position of the cam member. An electrical connector assembly comprising: 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism is between an inactive position and an active position to move a second contact member of the plug that respectively moves a contact carrier of the receptacle between the unmated electrical position and the mated electrical position. and a sliding latch member configured to slide in the electrical connector assembly. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the plug includes an elevator support associated with the second contact member, the elevator support being moved between a first position and a second position corresponding respectively to an inactive position and an active position of the slide latch member. An electrical connector assembly configured to 11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism includes a latch activation release portion on the mating interface of the plug configured to be depressed when the plug is mated with the receptacle. 8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein one or more alignment pins extend for alignment through the first contact member, the interposer, and the second contact member.

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