US3517376A - Connector for use between an integrated-circuit and a circuit panel - Google Patents

Description

June 23, 1970 i u SARAZEN ETAL 3,517,376

CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT,PANEL Filed Aug. 16, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet l 25 25 -1 J r P M M \MM w J. c. SARAZEN ETAL 3,517,376 CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT June 23, 1970 AND A CIRCUIT PANEL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16, 1968 June 23, 1970 J SARAZEN ET AL 3,517,376

CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL Filed Aug. 16, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet '5 June 23, 1970 J SARAZEN ET AL 3,517,376

CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL Filed Aug. 16, 1968 6 Sheets-Sheet i 4 4 33 a 35 vfifi 3/ c q 2 55 f 33) V 4 a T FWGU FIG.1O FIG.I2

June 23, 1970 J. C. SARAZEN ET AL CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRGUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL FIG.|7

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG June 23, 1970 C SARAZEN ET AL 3,517,376

CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED-CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL 6 SheetsSheet 6 Filed Aug. 16, 1968 FIG. 25

3,517,376 CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTE- GRATED-CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL John C. Sarazen, Mansfield, John M. Pierini, South Attleborn, and Reidar G. Larsen, North Attleboro, Mass., assignors to Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 16, 1968, Ser. No. 753,287 Int. Cl. H01r 33/72, 33/04, 21/02 US. Cl. 339-192 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A block of insulating material is provided with a row of openings through each side wall for registration with corresponding rows of openings in a circuit panel or board. The openings in the block are formed with inlets and outlets. A conductor extends through and from each opening. Each conductor comprises a male terminal extending from an outlet and a female jack in an inlet. The jacks are for the reception of pins of so-called dual, dual, i-n-line, pin-type integrated circuit units. These pins generally have rectangular cross sections. Each jack is made of two spring leaves forming a pin receiving clip. The leaves of each clip are deflected apart by ribs in an in-line, pin-type integrated circuit units. These pins tension in the leaves before reception of a pin and provides a comparatively wide space for such reception. The rib design also provides excellent contact position control relative to other contacts in the same socket. The arrangement of the leaves is such that the narrow edges of the pins engage the leaves over small areas and further spring the leaves to provide improved contact pressure. Each conductor is provided with means for making a removable interference fit in a hole of the block. A number of blocks are mounted on one side of the circuit panel which may be of the printed type. The male portions of the conductors extend through a panel for attachment of circuitry on its other side. To effect changes in circuitry conductor replacements may readily be made.

Prior art connectors of the class herein considered have been arranged to receive the terminal pins of integrated circuit units with the clip-forming leaves of their jacks engaging the wide sides of such terminals. Since the terminals were small in cross section, for example about .015 inch wide and .004 to .005 inch in thickness, the pin-receiving clip space and spring opening movement of its leaves were both small, while the area of contact was comparatively large. These factors made difficult the insertion of the thin circuit terminals and after insertion resulted in low contact pressure. Therefore it was difficult not only to insert and push home the somewhat delicate integrated circuit pins without damage thereto, but, once home, the low-pressure contacts were not as reliable as desired. By means of the present invention the leaves of each female jack engage the narrow edges of an integrated circuit terminal and are deflected some distance apart before convenient insertion of a pin. This affords a larger space for easy pin entry and greater, more reliable contact pressure when the pins are driven home into the jacks. Another advantage is that conductors may be replaced in the blocks without removal of the blocks from United States Patent "ice Patented June 23, 1970 the printed circuit panels to which they are attached. This avoids the costly removal of an entire connector block assembly from a printed circuit panel in order to revise only a few connections.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a connector block with one form of conductor in place;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right-hand end view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of FIG. 1, parts being broken away to show several conductors in place;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a block opening without a conductor in place;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sections taken on lines 88 and 9-9 respectively of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of one form of conductor such as illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a left-side elevation of FIG. 10, parts being shown in section;

FIG. 12 is a right-side elevation of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are cross sections taken on lines l414, 1515 and 1616 respectively of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 17, 18, 19 and 20 are views similar to FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 13 but showing another form of conductor;

FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 are cross sections taken on lines 21-21, 2222 and 2323 respectively of FIG. 17;

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary view of a mounting-hole layout in a printed circuit panel for registration of a connector block therewith;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the use of connector terminals such as shown in FIGS. l7-23;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the type of integrated circuit unit which the connector of the invention receives; and

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a spring clip in place and spread by an integrated circuit terminal shown in section.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. The drawings are greatly enlarged with respect to the actually very small parts.

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, there is shown at numeral 1 a hollow connector block of molded electrically insulting material such as glass-filled nylon, a polysulfone or the like. The block is formed by bottom, side and end walls 3, 5 and 7 respectively. The lower portions of the side Walls 5 are exteriorly stepped to provide for tapered wedges 9 located at intervals (FIG. 2). In one end wall 7 is an identification notch 11. In the bottom wall 3 are openings 13 surrounded by outside raised collars 15 to prevent inflow of adhesive (when used) for attachment to a panel. A bottom rim 28 surrounds the outside of the bottom wall 3. Openings 13 are for screws which in the alternative may be used for attachment to a panel.

A row R of openings is provided in each wall 5. Each opening consists of a rectangular tapered inlet 19, beveled at its entrance as shown at 21 and having a smaller straight square outlet 23 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9). On the long sides of the rectangular inlet openings 19 are centrally located ribs 25, the uses of which appear below.

Conductors C (shown in detail in FIGS. 10-23) extend through the rows of holes R. Each conductor is formed with a female jack portion 29, the latter being shaped by two jaws in the form of spring leaves 31 having flaring outer ends 33 and connected at their bottom ends by a bridge portion 35.

Referring now to a first form of conductor shown in FIGS. 10-16, there extends from the bridge 35 a male terminal part 27 which is in the form of a flat solderable tongue having sidewise lands 37 and tapered at its lower end as shown at 39. When conductors C, such as shown in FIGS. 10l6, are pushed into the empty openings illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, they become fixedly mounted as illustrated in FIG. 5, since the lands 37 provide interference slip fits in the outlets 23 when a conductor is pushed in. However, since the block 1 is composed of nylon or the like, the conductor C may be pushed out when required. When pushed in, spring leaves or jaws 31, 33 of the jack 29 become supported and spread somewhat on opposite sides of the centering ribs 25 in the inlets 19. This as shown in FIG. 5 initially centers, separates, and tensions the leaves 31, 33 somewhat before insertion of the terminals 17 of an integrated circuit unit U such as shown in FIG. 26. The general planes of the flared portions 33 or clips 29 are transverse to the widths W of the rectangular sections of the terminals 17 of units U when the later are in position to be plugged into a connector block 1. This places the narrow edges N of such terminals 17 in contact with the leaves 31, 33 and spreads them away from the ribs 25 thus further tensioning them to improve contact as a unit U is plugged into the block (FIG. 27). Heretofore it has been the widths W of terminals 17 that have engaged the jaws of jacks which were positioned at 90 to their positions according to the invention. The advantages of our features are that the integrated circuit terminals can easily be pushed into the partially separated leaves 31, 33 and a more substantial contact pressure obtained. This is further enhanced by the fact that the small area of contact is on the narrow edges N of terminals 17, thus providing substantial unit pressure under a comparatively modest total pressure supplied by each spring leaf 31, 33 of the jaws of a female jack.

After the conductors C have been inserted into their respective openings in the blocks 1, the resulting assembly such as shown in FIG. 5 or 25 may be applied to a printed circuit panel P (FIG. 24). The male terminals 27 are inserted through the prepared openings 42 in panel P. Final attachment may be made by means of an epoxy adhesive which is contained by the rim 2%; or screws extending through openings 13' in blocks 1 and 45 in panel P may be used for attachment. After assembly the male terminals 27 appear on the opposite side of the panel where its circuitry is carried. Connections to terminals 27 are made by soldering. If repairs or changes are needed in connections to be made With a male terminal 27, the soldered connection therewith may be undone and part of terminals 27 cut off from its jack 29 which may then be readily extracted from the block 1 Without removal from the panel, unless desired. Extraction may in some cases be effected without cut-off. A new conductor may then be inserted for making a new connection.

In FIGS. 1723 is shown a second form of conductor, lettered C, in which like numerals indicate like parts. In this case the male terminals are numbered 27 and each is in the form of a comparatively stiff post for making a wire-wrap type of connection thereto. Near the connection between each terminal 27 and its jack 29 there are formed barbs 43 for anchoring in the respective outlet 23 when the conductor C is pressed into an opening 19, 23. Then after application to a panel, connections with terminals 27 are made by Wire wrapping. The conductors in the form shown in FIGS. 17-23 are to be pushed out for replacement. This may be accom- 4 plished by insertion of a rod through jack 29 and against a step 47, as illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 18. Tapping this rod severs terminal 27 at a thin breakable connection 49. Then the jack 29 may be withdrawn and a new conductor C inserted.

Some panels and boards are provided with sockets for the reception of connector blocks. The purpose of the tapered webs 9 in the offsets in the side walls 5 of the block 1 is to form means for wedging and holding a block in place when inserting it into such a socket in a panel or board.

In use, an appropriate number of blocks 1 are fastened to a panel P so that the terminals 27 or 27' of the conductors C or C extend to the circuit side of the panel through the holes 42. The terminals 27 and 27 are then appropriately connected to the circuitry by soldering terminals C or wire wrapping on terminals C, as the case may be. Then appropriate integrated circuit units U (FIG. 26) are plugged into the respective blocks with individual contacts being made between the jaws 31, 33 and the narrow sides N of the terminals 17 (FIG. 27). To make a replacement of a conductor C, its terminal 27 is unsoldered and C may then be easily removed by pushing out 27, or pulling out its jack 29. In the case of a conductor C, its wire-wrap connection is unfastened and by inserting and tapping a rod against offset 47, the weak connection 49 is broken and terminal 27 driven out after which its jack 29 may be picked out. In either case removal of the block 1 from the circuit board P is unnecessary, although this may be done if screw connections are used.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A connector comprising an insulating block having a top and a bottom and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from said top to said bottom, each of said openings having walls defining a relatively large inlet portion of said opening adjacent said block top and defining a relatively smaller outlet portion of said opening adjacent said block bottom, said openings being arranged in a pair of straight rows and having equal space between each pair of openings within each row, and a plurality of electrical conductors disposed in respective block openings, said conductors having respective male terminal portions extending from said block bottom and having respective female jack portions disposed in said inlet portions of said openings accessible from said top of said block, said female jack portions each being formed of a pair of spring leaves disposed in spaced, facing relation to each other, said spring leaves of each of said pairs having respective leave ends connected to a bridging con- .ductor portion and having respective opposite ends of said spring leaves which flare away from each other, said spring leaves of each pair having said opposite ends thereof disposed in spaced relation to said walls of said inlet portions of said openings, said conductors being oriented in said openings with each pair of said spring leaves in each row facing each other in a direction parallel to the direction in which said row extends.

2. A connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring leaves of each conductor are resiliently biased toward each other and wherein opposed ribs in each inlet portion of each opening are disposed between spring leaves in each of said female jack portions for holding each pair of said spring leaves in spaced relation to each other against said bias.

3. A connector for making electrical connection between circuitry on a first side of a perforated circuit panel and at least one terminal pin of a circuit-forming unit located on a second side of the panel, comprising an insulating block attachable to the second side of the panel and having at least one opening therethrough for registration with a perforation in the panel, said opening having an inlet and an outlet,

a conductor held in and extending through said opening, said hold between said conductor and opening being of the releasable interference type for conductor removal and replacement in the block, said conductor having a male terminal portion extending from said outlet for insertion through a perforation in said panel to reach said circuitry for connection thereto, said conductor including a female jack portion located in said inlet, said jack portion comprising spring leaves flared outwardly in said inlet,

and means in said inlet disposed between said leaves to hold them sprung apart to some extent in the absence therebetween of a terminal pin, said means comprising a pair of oppositely disposed centering ribs in said inlet extending between said leaves from opposite sides thereof, said leaves being disposed to be further sprung apart by insertion therebetween of said pin.

4. A connector for making electrical connections between circuitry on a first side of a circuit panel having at least two rows of spaced panel openings therethrough, and two rows of equally spaced terminal pins of a dual-inline, integrated circuit unit to be located on a second side of the panel, said pins having substantially flat sides in common planes in their respective rows and having comparatively narrow edges in said planes, comprising:

An insulating block attachable to the second side of the panel and having two rows of spaced conductor openings therethrough for registration with said respective panel openings, each conductor opening in the block having an inlet and an outlet, said block being of hollow configuration formed by end and side walls and a rimmed bottom wall, said bottom wall having additional mounting openings therein, the outlets of said additional mounting openings being surrounded by raised portions of said bottom wall around said mounting openings to permit reception of screws therein to attach said block to a panel or to permit reception of adhesive on the bottom wall within its rim to attach said block to a panel, which adhesive is prevented by said raised portions from entering said additional mounting openings when the latter are not used for screw attachment of said block to a panel,

a conductor extending through each conductor opening in said block, each conductor having a releasable interference fit in its respective conductor opening and having a male terminal portion extending from its outlet for insertion through one of said panel openings to reach said circuitry for connection thereto, said releasable interference fits of said conductors in said conductor openings being between said male terminal portion of said conductors and said block at said outlet portions of said conductor openings, each conductor including a female jack portion located in its inlet, each jack portion comprising at least two spring leaves flared outwardly within its inlet,

opposed ribs in each inlet disposed between the leaves therein to hold the leaves sprung apart to some extent in the absence therebetween of a terminal pin, said leaves being disposed to be further sprung apart by insertion between them of a pin,

said leaves being so disposed relative to said planes of said terminal pins inserted between said leaves that said narrow edges of the pins engage the leaves for electrical conduction.

5. A connector according to claim 4 wherein said block is formed with side walls having wedging ribs for insertion and retention in panel recesses provided therefor.

6. A connector comprising an insulating block having a top and a bottom and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from said top to said bottom, said openings being arranged in a pair of straight rows and having equal space between each pair of openings within each row, and a plurality of electrical conductors extending through respective block openings, said conductors having respective male terminal portions extending from said block bottom and having respective female jack portions accessible from said top of said block, said male terminal portions of said conductors each comprising a post having a barb thereon engaging said block within a respective block opening, each of said barbs having a tapered surface facing said block bottom and a flat surface forming an acute angle with said tapered surface facing said block top, said male terminal portions of said conductors each having a breakable portion of lower strength than the remainder of said terminal portion located between said barb and said female jack portion of said conductor for permitting breaking of said conductor and removal of said female jack portion from said block top, said female jack portions of said conductors each being formed of a pair of spring leaves disposed in facing relation to each other and resiliently biased toward each other, said conductors being oriented in said openings with each pair of said spring leaves in each row facing each other in a direction parallel to the direction in which said row extends.

7. A panel system comprising a panel member having electrical circuitry on one side thereof and having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from one panel side to an opposite panel side, said openings being arranged in a pair of straight parallel rows with equal spaces between each pair of openings within each row, at least one insulating block having a top and a bottom disposed with said bottom facing said opposite panel side, said block having a plurality of openings extending therethrough from said top to said bottom, said block openings being arranged in a space of straight parallel rows in registry Wtih respective panel openings, a plurality of electrical conductors extending through respective block openings, said conductors each having a male terminal portion extending from said block bottom through a panel opening with at least some of said male terminal portions being electrically connected to said circuitry on said one panel side, said conductors having respective female jack portions accessible from said block top each formed of a pair of spring leaves disposed in facing relation to each other and resiliently biased toward each other, said conductors being oriented in said block and panel openings with each pair of said spring leaves facing each other in a direction parallel to the direction in which said rows extend, and at least one dual-in-line integrated circuit unit having a plurality of male terminal portions extending therefrom into respective female jack portions of said conductors to be resiliently engaged by respective pairs of said spring leaves.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein block means are disposed between the pair of spring leaves in each female jack portion for holding said pair of spring leaves in spaced relation to each other in the absence of said integrated circuit unit terminal portions for facilitat ing replacement of said integrated circuit unit in said system.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said male terminal portions of said conductors have releasable interference fits in respective block openings.

10. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said male terminal portions of said conductors each comprise a post having a barb thereon engaging said block within a respective block opening, each of said barbs having a tapered surface facing said block bottom and having a 7 8 fiat surface making an acute angle with said tapered sur- 3,337,833 8/1967 Creedon 339-14 face facing said block top. 2,468,368 4/1949 Jackson 173328 11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said male 2,73 6,875 2/1956 Protz 339-198 terminal portion of each of said conductors has a break- 3,015,083 12/1961 Juris 339--l76 able portion of relatively lower strength than the remainder of said male terminal portion located between 5 FOREIGN PATENTS said barb and said female jack portion of said conductor 202 209 2 1959 Germany for permitting breaking of said conductor and removal of said female jack portion of said conductor from said block MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner top.

References Cited 10 L. J. STAAB, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R. 2,156,319 5/1939 Steele 175-183 195 3,325,766 6/1967 Kolb et a1. 339-18 Disclaimer 3,517,376. 07m 0. Samze'n, Mansfield, John M. Pier'z'm', South Attleboro, and Reizlar G. Larsen, North Attleboro, Mass. CONNECTOR FOR USE BETWEEN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND A CIRCUIT PANEL. Patent dated June 23, 1970. Disclaimer filed June 13, 1973, by the assignee, Tamas I nstmments lncorpomted. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 7 of said patent.

[(Jfim'ul Gazette Demmlmr II, 7973.]

Images