WO1997004505A2 - Connecteur electrique pour plaquette de circuits imprimes, dote d'une cavite de logement etanche - Google Patents

Connecteur electrique pour plaquette de circuits imprimes, dote d'une cavite de logement etanche Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997004505A2
WO1997004505A2 PCT/US1996/011727 US9611727W WO9704505A2 WO 1997004505 A2 WO1997004505 A2 WO 1997004505A2 US 9611727 W US9611727 W US 9611727W WO 9704505 A2 WO9704505 A2 WO 9704505A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
contact
plug
mating
receptacle
housing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/011727
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO1997004505A3 (fr
Inventor
Dimitry Grabbe
Iosif Korsunsky
Original Assignee
The Whitaker Corporation
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/502,654 external-priority patent/US5667393A/en
Priority claimed from US08/502,786 external-priority patent/US5700151A/en
Application filed by The Whitaker Corporation filed Critical The Whitaker Corporation
Publication of WO1997004505A2 publication Critical patent/WO1997004505A2/fr
Publication of WO1997004505A3 publication Critical patent/WO1997004505A3/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
    • H01R13/405—Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting
    • H01R13/41—Securing in non-demountable manner, e.g. moulding, riveting by frictional grip in grommet, panel or base
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/716—Coupling device provided on the PCB
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/02—Soldered or welded connections
    • H01R4/028—Soldered or welded connections comprising means for preventing flowing or wicking of solder or flux in parts not desired

Definitions

  • This invention is related to soldering electrical components, such as electrical connectors, to substrates, such as printed circuit boards. More particularly, this invention is related to soldering sub iniature multiposition electrical connectors to printed circuit boards using surface mount processes, such a ⁇ laser reflow, hot oil and other surface mount techniques. This invention is specifically related to eliminating contamination of contact surfaces of electrical connectors during soldering operations, including fluxing and flux removal and cleaning operations in general. This invention is also related to subminiature electrical connectors of this type in which connectors of substantially the same design can be used to interconnect printed circuit boards that must be spaced apart by different distances.
  • the two typical methods of soldering electrical or electronic components, such as electrical connectors, to printed circuit boards are through hole soldering and surface mount soldering.
  • surface mount soldering offers certain advantages over through hole soldering, primarily the ability to achieve higher component density and therefore smaller overall printed circuit board assembly size. Therefore surface mount soldering i ⁇ the preferred technique for applying large numbers of components to printed circuit boards having a relatively small available circuit board surface area.
  • Devices such as laptop or notebook or pocket computers, personal digital assistants, portable computer accessories, and cellular telecommunications devices are typical examples of applications in which a large number of components must be soldered to relatively small printed circuit boards.
  • Electrical connectors for connecting traces on one printed circuit board to another printed circuit board represent one of the relatively larger components employed in ⁇ uch applications.
  • Surface mount electrical connectors typically employ a number of electrical contacts mounted in an insulative connector housing.
  • these connectors comprise mating plug and receptacle connector member ⁇ .
  • Mating terminals or contact ⁇ in the receptacle and plug connector ⁇ must have mating or contact surface ⁇ for e ⁇ tablishing and maintaining electrical continuity with the mating terminal or contact. Typically this contact is maintained by resilient engagement of the mating contacts.
  • Each of these mating terminals must also include a surface mount solder lead positioned on an exterior surface of the connector housing.
  • a surface mount solder lead positioned on an exterior surface of the connector housing.
  • the conventional surface mount lead used for surface mount electrical connectors includes a section soldered to a surface mount pad on a printed circuit board with this solder section extending parallel to the printed circuit board and substantially at a right angle relative to the terminal or contact.
  • These solder lead section ⁇ ⁇ hould also be visible for inspection and therefore clearance is normally provided along the lower edge of the connector housing.
  • These terminals are inserted into cavities in a connector housing from the top or from the bottom with the solder lead section extending parallel to the base of the connector housing.
  • the opening in the housing base through which the contact is in ⁇ erted must either provide clearance for the contact portion of the terminal or the parallel lead section.
  • this opening expo ⁇ es the contact portion of the terminal to the ⁇ older proce ⁇ .
  • solder flux from the circuit board enters the housing cavities and forms a flux film on the mating portion of the terminal ⁇ . These flux films, may not be completely removed during the washing or cleaning proces ⁇ . Even where "no wash 1 solder flux is used, there may still be some contamination due to flux re ⁇ idue ⁇ on the mating contact portion ⁇ of terminals. These flux residues contaminate the contacts and adversely affect the performance and reliability of the connectors.
  • solder flux and other fluids can be controlled during normal surface mount proce ⁇ se ⁇ , these problems can also arise during repair of defective solder joints where it i ⁇ not possible to control the application of solder flux and other fluids to the same extent as during the initial soldering process.
  • One prior art approach to this problem is to seal the bottom of the connector after the contacts have been inserted. Some have suggested that plugs be inserted into the cavity openings.
  • the mo ⁇ t common means of flux blockage that has been attempted in the industry is the use of a sealant dispen ⁇ ed into or onto the connector after connector a ⁇ embly to seal the cavity openings. Application of a sealant after the connector has been as ⁇ embled i ⁇ a cumbersome, expensive and undesirable process.
  • circuit board real estate is generally at a premium, different connectors are needed for different applications in which the spacing of parallel boards is different. In other words different connector heights are needed.
  • one commercially available parallel board to board plug/receptacle connector as ⁇ embly is available in twelve different heights ranging from 5 mm (0.197 in) to 16 mm (0.630 in).
  • Four plug connectors and three receptacle connectors are required to provide twelve different mating connector assemblies ranging from 5-16 mm in increment ⁇ of one mm.
  • the problems due to solder flux contamination are addressed by incorporating a ⁇ ealing pad on a receptacle plug contact.
  • the receptacle contact has a mating portion and a solder tail on opposite ⁇ ides of the sealing pad.
  • Each receptacle contact i ⁇ in ⁇ erted through an opening on the bottom of the receptacle connector hou ⁇ ing.
  • the receptacle contact ⁇ are then moved laterally and the sealing pad closes off the contact insertion opening.
  • the sealing pad comprises a flat section that is inserted into a channel located at the bottom of the housing cavity containing the contact mating portion. The sealing pad forms an interference fit in the channel and engages the housing around the periphery of the insertion opening.
  • the flat section of the terminal used to ⁇ eal the contact in ⁇ ertion opening in the preferred embodiment can also be used to anchor the contact terminal in the housing.
  • This flat contact section can be anchored in the laterally extending channel even in applications where it is not necessary to seal the contact opening.
  • the contact terminal can be anchored in thi ⁇ way for surface mount contacts and for through hole contacts and for applications in which parallel or non parallel printed circuit boards are to be interconnected.
  • the mating receptacle contact can employ a resilient arm that can be deflected upon engagement with a mating plug contact.
  • the resilient arm is deflectable about the anchoring engagement between the flat section of the contact terminal and the housing channels.
  • the mating portion of the contact consists of a section adjacent to the anchoring section and extending along the floor of the housing cavity.
  • a bowed section joins this initial section with the upwardly extending resilient arm and a contact point or cu ⁇ p i ⁇ located near the top of the resilient arm.
  • the laterally extending mounting or anchoring of this contact can be used with contacts in which the solder lead or tail section is preformed or where the ⁇ older tail i ⁇ formed after contact in ⁇ ertion.
  • the lateral insertion of the contacts simplifie ⁇ a ⁇ embly.
  • the lateral insertion of the contact po ⁇ itions the solder tail ⁇ ection along an unob ⁇ tructed ⁇ ide of the connector hou ⁇ ing where forming tooling can be u ⁇ ed to fabricate gull wing lead ⁇ . Coplanarity of the solder pad sections of the gull wing lead ⁇ can then be maintained even in applications where the housing may be bowed or warped.
  • FIG. 1 is a per ⁇ pective view of a multipo ⁇ ition electrical connector for connecting two parallel printed circuit boards.
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a section taken along section lines 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the receptacle connector housing in section and showing the position of a receptacle contact in one cavity in the housing.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the receptacle contact ⁇ .
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view ⁇ howing oppo ⁇ ed cavitie ⁇ of the receptacle connector hou ⁇ ing.
  • Figure ⁇ 5, 6 and 7 are per ⁇ pective view ⁇ ⁇ howing three positions during insertion of a receptacle contact into the receptacle housing.
  • Figure ⁇ 8, 9 and 10 are section views corresponding to Figures 5, 6 and 7 respectively.
  • Figure 11 is a ⁇ ectional view of a mated plug and receptacle connector.
  • Figure 12 i ⁇ a sectional view of a plug connector employed for connecting two parallel printed circuit boards spaced apart by a first distance.
  • Figure 13 is a sectional view of a plug connector employed for connecting two parallel printed circuit board ⁇ paced apart by a distance significantly greater than the first distance.
  • Figure 14 is a view of an alternate embodiment ⁇ howing the manner in which gull wing solder tail leads can be formed after insertion of the contacts into the hou ⁇ ing.
  • the ⁇ urface mount multiple po ⁇ ition electrical connector a ⁇ sembly 2 shown in Figure 1 i ⁇ representative of a parallel board connector as ⁇ embly embodying this invention.
  • the connector a ⁇ embly 2 includes a receptacle connector 4 that mate ⁇ with a corre ⁇ ponding plug connector 6.
  • One of the ⁇ e two connector halves would be ⁇ oldered to one printed circuit board and the other would be ⁇ oldered to a ⁇ econd printed circuit board.
  • two printed circuit boards can then be connected parallel to each other by mating the receptacle connector 4 to the plug connector 6.
  • Both the receptacle and plug connector ⁇ ⁇ hown in Figure 1 are ten position connectors with two rows of five contacts.
  • the preferred surface mount receptacle connector 4 has two rows of receptacle contacts or terminals 8 mounted in a receptacle housing 12.
  • the plug connector 6 also includes two rows of plug contacts or terminals 10 mounted in a plug housing 14. Corre ⁇ ponding receptacle terminal ⁇ 8 and plug terminal ⁇ 10 engage each other to form a mating interface when the two connector ⁇ 4 and 6 are mated.
  • the receptacle hou ⁇ ing 12 i ⁇ configured to mate with the plug hou ⁇ ing 14.
  • the receptacle contact ⁇ 8 and the plug contact ⁇ 10 can each be stamped and formed using a conventional resilient electrically conductive material, such as a copper alloy.
  • Each terminal can be plated with a tin lead plating on the solder contact section ⁇ and with a noble metal plating, ⁇ uch a ⁇ gold, on the mating interface in accordance with the prior art practice in the electrical connector indu ⁇ try.
  • the receptacle housing 12 and the plug hou ⁇ ing 14 can each be fabricated from a conventional insulative material such as liquid crystal polymer, that can withstand the temperatures encountered during conventional ⁇ urface mount ⁇ oldering processes.
  • Each receptacle contact or terminal 8 is mounted in a receptacle housing cavity 34 in the receptacle housing 12 as shown in Figure 2.
  • the receptacle contacts 8 comprise one piece stamped and formed member ⁇ of relatively ⁇ hort overall length and ⁇ uitable for transmission of relatively high speed electrical signal ⁇ .
  • a receptacle contact ⁇ urface mount leg or tail 16 is located at one end of each receptacle contact 8 and is integral with a resilient receptacle contact arm 26.
  • a receptacle contact mating surface or cusp 28 is located adjacent the top end of each resilient section 26 of the receptacle contacts 8.
  • the resilient contact arm 26 is located in the housing cavity 34 and the solder tail or leg 16 projects outwardly from the housing 12 along the housing base and is exposed along one side.
  • This solder tail configuration is generally referred to as a gull wing solder tail having a pad that extends parallel to the base of the connector housing. It should be understood that this pad section may not extend precisely parallel. For example, the pad section could extend at as ⁇ mall angle, for example five degrees, in which ca ⁇ e the ⁇ older pad contact could be ⁇ lightly deflected when it engage ⁇ a ⁇ older pad on the printed circuit board to which it i ⁇ mounted.
  • the ⁇ older tail 16 i ⁇ therefore in position to be soldered to as surface mount pad on a corresponding printed circuit board, and the resilient arm 26 is positioned to engage as mating plug contact 10 is inserted into the housing cavity 34.
  • each receptacle contact 8 includes a relatively flat section or sealing pad 18 between the ⁇ older tail 16 and the re ⁇ ilient contact arm 26.
  • This sealing pad 18 prevents the entry of fluids, such as solder flux, into the corresponding housing cavity 34 to prevent contamination of the contact mating interface at the cu ⁇ p 28.
  • the ⁇ ealing pad 18 al ⁇ o function ⁇ a ⁇ a contact anchoring section to anchor each contact in the housing as will be discu ⁇ sed in more detail ⁇ ub ⁇ equently.
  • Thi ⁇ ⁇ ealing pad 18 seals any opening on the bottom of the housing cavity 34 when positioned as shown in Figure 2.
  • this sealing pad 18 is wider than tho ⁇ e portions of the terminal on each end thereof, and the sealing pad 18 has as beveled or chamfered or radiused surface 20 on the front edge on opposite sides of the portion of the contact 8 that extends into the housing 12. Oppositely facing side edges 22 of the sealing pad 18 are therefore wider than adjacent terminal portions.
  • the thickness of each terminal is constant.
  • the mating portion or the solder tail can be thinner than the ⁇ ealing pad 18, and the ⁇ older tail can be a ⁇ wide a ⁇ the sealing pad 18.
  • the ⁇ older tail 16 i ⁇ formed downwardly from the ⁇ ealing pad 18 and is sub ⁇ tantially parallel to the sealing pad and spaced below it.
  • the surface mount tail 16 is also narrower than the sealing pad 18.
  • This bowed section 24 is curved so that the re ⁇ ilient arm 26 in it ⁇ unflexed condition, extends at an acute angle relative to the ⁇ ealing pad 18, ⁇ uch that it will extend at an angle relative to an adjacent wall when in ⁇ erted into the corresponding housing cavity 34.
  • the curved contact cu ⁇ p 28 or mating interface point forms the innermost portion of the resilient arm 26 and is spaced further from the adjacent cavity wall where it can engage a mating plug contact when mated.
  • An outwardly formed or curved receptacle contact entry ⁇ ection 30 is formed at the upper end of the contact 8 to form a smooth contour so that the contacts will not stub during mating.
  • This curved contact entry section is also po ⁇ itioned to engage, when flexed, an adjacent cavity wall section 44 that serves as a stop to prevent the contact from being overstressed.
  • Dividing ribs 35 extend from the inner housing wall to separate adjacent receptacle contacts 8.
  • the receptacle housing 12 has two rows of side by side hou ⁇ ing cavities 34 in which individual receptacle contacts 8 are located. Each cavity 34 is open at the top. A ⁇ shown in Figures 1 and 4, a slot 33 extends through all of the cavities in each row of cavitie ⁇ in the multipo ⁇ ition receptacle connector 4.
  • a contact insertion opening 38 extends from each cavity 34 through the housing base 32 to a corresponding receptacle housing ⁇ urface mount pocket 36.
  • Each of these pockets 36 is open on the side of the housing so that a surface mount solder tail 16 positioned in a pocket 36 is expo ⁇ ed.
  • each pocket 36 has a ledge 40 on each side of the pocket.
  • a sealing channel 42 is located at the top of each pocket 36 on each side of the pocket 36 adjacent to the insertion opening 38.
  • the top ⁇ of ledges 40 form the lower surface of the channels 42.
  • Each sealing channel 42 extends inwardly beyond the pocket 36 and a shoulder 41 on the bottom of the cavity 34 i ⁇ on the ⁇ ame level a ⁇ the upper surfaces of the adjoining ledges 40.
  • a downwardly facing surface 43 at the outer side of each pocket 36 is located at the top of each channel 42 and an extension 45 of this surface faces the top surface of the corresponding ledge 40 to form the top of the channel 42.
  • Each channel 42 i ⁇ deep enough to receive ⁇ ealing pad 18 and to form an interference fit with the edges of the sealing pad.
  • the top of ledges 40, the surface 41 and the surfaces 43 and 45 thus engage the entire periphery of sealing pad 18 to close off and seal opening 38.
  • the channel 42 functions as a contact anchoring channel since the sealing pad 18 is inserted into the channel and serves to anchor the receptacle contact 8 in the housing 12.
  • the cavities 34 extend inwardly beyond the corre ⁇ ponding ⁇ older tail pocket 36 and the lower ⁇ urface 47 and inner wall 49 of the cavity 34 provide ⁇ ufficient clearance for the re ⁇ ilient arm 26 of the receptacle contact 8.
  • Ribs 35 extending between the lower cavity ⁇ urface 47 and the top of the connector, ⁇ eparate adjacent contact arm ⁇ 26.
  • a recess 44 at the top of the inner cavity wall 49 provides clearance for the entry section 30 of the contact and provides an over ⁇ tre ⁇ ⁇ top so that the contact entry section 30 engages the inner surface of recess 44 before the contact 8 can be overstressed and damaged.
  • Two slightly different versions of the receptacle housing 12 are depicted herein.
  • the version of the receptacle housing 12 shown in Figures 2 and 4-7 include a central core or slot section 46 between two cavities 34 on opposite side ⁇ of the hou ⁇ ing.
  • the embodiment ⁇ of Figures 1 and 11 have no such central slot.
  • the receptacle connector 4 of Figures 1 and 11 are therefore narrower than the embodiments including as central core ⁇ ection 46.
  • Figures 5-7 show the manner in which the receptacle contacts 8 are inserted into and positioned in the housing cavities 34.
  • Figure ⁇ 8-10 are section views corresponding respectively to Figures 5-7. These figures show three succe ⁇ ive insertion position ⁇ .
  • Figures 5 and 8 show the first insertion step in which the receptacle contacts 8 are inserted into the receptacle housing 12 from the bottom.
  • the opening 38 is big enough for insertion of the resilient contact arm 26, and the remaining portions of the contact that are to be positioned within the contact cavity 34.
  • the contact arm 26 When the contact arm 26 is inserted through opening 38, it will be positioned adjacent to the out ⁇ ide wall of the cavity 34 instead of its final position.
  • Each contact 8 is inserted into the cavity 34 through opening 38 until it reaches the po ⁇ ition shown in Figures 6 and 9.
  • the ⁇ ealing pad 18 will be po ⁇ itioned in the wider portion of the pocket 36 on the outside of the channel 42.
  • the sealing pad 18 will engage the downwardly facing surface 43 and will then be aligned with the channel 42.
  • the receptacle contacts 8 can now be laterally pu ⁇ hed into the final insertion position shown in Figures 7 and 10. Since the sealing pad 18 is wider than the solder tail 16, two shoulders are formed on sealing pad 18 on opposite sides of the solder tail 16.
  • a ⁇ imple insertion tool can then engage these two shoulder ⁇ and the ⁇ ealing pad 18 can be pushed into the channel 42 so that the resilient contact arm 26 can be moved to its final operative position in cavity 34.
  • the chamfered surfaces 20 on the front of the ⁇ ealing pad help align the sealing pad 18 with the channel 18 for insertion.
  • housing surfaces engage the complete periphery of the sealing pad 18 to seal the opening 38 and to isolate the mating contact surfaces within cavity 34 from the lower surface of the hou ⁇ ing 12 and from the printed circuit board and from all of the ⁇ teps of the surface mount solder process.
  • the mating contact surfaces cannot be contaminated by ⁇ older, ⁇ older flux or any other chemical ⁇ or ⁇ teps of as conventional soldering process or associated with conventional processes employed in mounting surface mount components on as printed circuit board.
  • FIG 11 show ⁇ the mating engagement of the plug connector 6 with the receptacle connector 4.
  • Figure ⁇ 12 and 15 show two plug connectors 6, each having a different overall height, but both mating with the same universal receptacle connector 4.
  • Each plug contact 10 include ⁇ a mating contact section 48 adjacent one end that is configured to engage the resilient contact arm 26 of as receptacle contact 8 in the vicinity of the receptacle contact cusp 28.
  • a central plug contact ⁇ ection 54 joins the mating contact section 48 with a surface mount solder tail 56 located at the opposite end of the plug contact 10.
  • the plug surface mount ⁇ older tail 56 is formed at right angles to the central section 54 ⁇ o that the solder tail can be positioned on a ⁇ urface mount contact pad on a printed circuit board in conventional fashion.
  • the mating contact section 48 is folded over at section 52 so that the mating contact section 48 is parallel to and spaced form the central plug contact section 54.
  • the free ends 50 of the mating contact section 48 are formed outwardly to serve as stabilizing tang ⁇ .
  • This mating contact ⁇ ection 48 can al ⁇ o be formed a ⁇ a resilient ⁇ ection that deflect ⁇ when the plug connector 6 is mated v/ith a corresponding receptacle connector 4. This additional deflection provides for additional tolerance due to misalignment including the position tolerance between multiple connectors located on the ⁇ ame printed circuit board.
  • the plug housing 14 is molded with two parallel wall ⁇ 60 extending from the top to the bottom joined by a ⁇ central web 62. The central web 62 and the portion of the wall ⁇ 60 extending above it form the male mating portion of the plug housing 14.
  • the plug housing noses 68 which are formed at the upper end of each plug hou ⁇ ing wall 60 is ⁇ paced from the central web by a con ⁇ tant di ⁇ tance regardless of the overall height of the plug connector 6.
  • the mating section 70 of the plug connector 6 is always the same size so that it can be mated with the univer ⁇ al receptacle connector 4.
  • Two groove ⁇ 64 are formed on the top surface of the central web 62.
  • the stabilizing tangs 50 on the plug contacts 10 fit within these stabilizing groove ⁇ 64 to ⁇ tabilize the ends of the plug contact ⁇ 10.
  • the plug hou ⁇ ing 12 al ⁇ o include ⁇ contact retention ledge ⁇ 66 at the bottom of the hou ⁇ ing wall ⁇ 60 in the plug mounting section 72.
  • Window ⁇ 74 are formed in these ledges 66 and the central section 54 of the plug contacts 10 extend through corresponding windows 74. An interference fit can be established by the central sections 54 of the plug contacts in the windows 74 to prevent fluids from wicking up the central section ⁇ 54.
  • the plug contact ⁇ 10 are stamped and formed and are inserted onto the plug housing 14 from the top as viewed in Figures 11-13.
  • the ⁇ older tail 56 is bent outwardly to its final position only after it i ⁇ in ⁇ erted through the ⁇ lot formed by retention ledge 66.
  • a movable forming die 102 and a ⁇ tationary die 104 can be u ⁇ ed to form the ⁇ e solder tail ⁇ 56 in the manner ⁇ hown in Figure 12.
  • the portion of the contact 10 ultimately forming the solder tail 56 is simply a straight extension of the central contact section 54.
  • the plug contact 10 is ⁇ upported at both end ⁇ .
  • the solder tail ⁇ ection ⁇ 56 of the plug contacts 10 can be preformed and the contacts can be laterally inserted into T-shaped windows, open to the outside, for retention of the contacts adjacent the bottom of the plug housing.
  • the central plug contact section ⁇ 54 being exposed when the plug connector 6 is mated to the receptacle connector 4, improve the heat tran ⁇ fer characteri ⁇ tics and can be u ⁇ ed to di ⁇ ipate heat generated by active component ⁇ with which thi ⁇ connector assembly may be used.
  • Figure ⁇ 12 and 13 ⁇ how two plug connector ⁇ of different height ⁇ .
  • the plug connector ⁇ hown in Figure 12 i ⁇ representative of a plug connector that can be u ⁇ ed to connect two parallel printed circuit board ⁇ that are ⁇ paced apart by a di ⁇ tance of 6 mm.
  • the plug connector shown in Figure 13 can be used to connect printed circuit boards that are spaced apart by as distance of 25 mm.
  • Each of these plug connector ⁇ 6 mate ⁇ with the ⁇ ame universal receptacle connector 4.
  • the only differences between the two plug connectors 6 shown in Figures 12 and 13 is the length of the plug contacts 10 and the height of the two plug connector walls 60. Note that it is the height of the walls 60 below the central web 62, as viewed in Figures 12 and 13, that changes. The height of the walls 60 above the central web 62 remains the same since this portion forms the mating interface of the plug connector 6.
  • the plug connector 6 is both a simpler ⁇ tructure and a more easily manufactured component than the receptacle connector 4.
  • connector a ⁇ emblie ⁇ for different heights, or different printed circuit board spacings, are formed, according to this invention, by u ⁇ ing a universal receptacle connector 4 and multiple plug connectors 6, each with a different height and each matable with the one universal receptacle connector.
  • different applications may require connectors with different numbers of positions. For example, typical applications could require connector ⁇ ranging from forty positions to two hundred positions, in intervals of twenty positions for a total of nine separate connectors.
  • the plug connector hou ⁇ ing 14 i ⁇ a phy ⁇ ically ⁇ impler part than the receptacle connector hou ⁇ ing 12 and i ⁇ easier to manufacture in different heights.
  • the plug hou ⁇ ing 12 does not have the individual cavities or pockets in which contacts are positioned in the receptacle connector hou ⁇ ing 12, making the mold for thi ⁇ hou ⁇ ing quite simple, regardles ⁇ of the number of po ⁇ itions.
  • plug housings of different heights The only difference between plug housings of different heights is the length of the plug housing walls 60 between the plug housing webs 62 and the retention straps 66. Therefore the same mold sections can be used for the mating portion 70 above the web 62 and the retention ledge ⁇ ections at the housing base regardless of the overall height of the plug connector housing 14 and regardless of connector height. Simple mold sections can be inserted between common upper and lower mold pieces and as large number of different plug connector housings can be molded using common mold tooling. Les ⁇ tooling means less cost.
  • plug contacts 10 for connectors with different heights i ⁇ the overall length of the different contacts. Since the plug solder tails 56 are only formed after insertion into the housing, longer contacts ⁇ imply require an extension of the straight plug contact central section. Simple in ⁇ erts in progressive dies could be used, again simplifying and reducing the cost neces ⁇ ary for manufacturing tooling for thi ⁇ entire family of connector ⁇ .
  • Printed circuit board extending at right angles could also be connected using a slightly modified ver ⁇ ion of the ⁇ e connectors.
  • the receptacle connector could employ receptacle contacts in which the contact would extend at right angles below the ba ⁇ e of the connector housing. These contacts could still be surface mount contacts and two printed circuit boards extending at right angles to the base of the receptacle housing could be soldered to these contacts. The receptacle connector would then be po ⁇ itioned along an edge of the printed circuit board.
  • thi ⁇ invention could employ through hole contact tails instead of the surface mount contacts depicted in the embodiment of Figures 1-13.
  • the same lateral insertion, anchoring and sealing could still be employed v/ith this through hole receptacle and plug connector configuration.
  • Other surface mount ⁇ older tail ⁇ could also be employed with both the receptacle and the plug contacts.
  • the solder tails could be formed under the base of the housing in a J-lead configuration.
  • Figure 14 shows still another configuration in which the receptacle contact solder tail is formed after the receptacle contact 8 is fully in ⁇ erted into the hou ⁇ ing.
  • the ⁇ older tail would initially be a ⁇ traight section extending downward from an adjacent side of the housing. This tail would be exposed both above the contact along the adjacent housing side and below the hou ⁇ ing.
  • Two forming dies could then be used to form the contacts where a movable receptacle contact forming die is positioned below the housing and a stationary receptacle forming die is positioned along the adjacent side.
  • each of the receptacle contact cavities would be enclosed on four sides eliminating the continuous slot in each row.
  • the mating portion of each connector could be replaced by other configurations.
  • twin leaf or box mating contacts could be used.
  • the receptacle housing would also be modified to incorporate other contact configurations.
  • the size of the insertion opening would probably have to be changed to accept other contact configurations.
  • the sealing pad and/or contact anchoring pad aspect of this invention could be employed on other connector configurations, ⁇ uch a ⁇ a card edge connector in which a printed circuit card would be inserted into the receptacle housing cavities.
  • these alternate embodiments would not incorporate the same features and advantages of the preferred embodiment of this invention, but would neverthele ⁇ incorporate the invention defined by the following claim ⁇ .

Abstract

Ensemble (2) connecteur électrique à utiliser pour connecter des plaquettes de circuits imprimés parallèles, qui comporte un connecteur de réception (4) et un connecteur fiche (6). Le connecteur de réception (4) comporte des contacts (8), chacun doté d'une queue (16) de soudage pour montage en surface et d'une partie de contact d'accouplement en forme de bras souple (26) sur des côtés opposés d'une plaque d'étanchéité (18) qui ferme de manière étanche une ouverture (38) d'introduction de contact lors que le contact (8) est introduit complètement. La partie de contact d'accouplement se trouve donc isolée de matériaux contaminants, tels que le flux de soudage pendant les opérations de soudage pour montage en surface. La hauteur de l'ensemble connecteur (2) peut être réglée grâce à l'utilisation de connecteurs fiches (6) de différentes hauteurs avec un connecteur de réception (4) universel. La hauteur des parois latérales (60) du logement de fiche (12), entre une partie d'accouplement de fiche et une partie de rétention de contact est modifiée en vue de hauteurs de connecteur fiche différentes. La longueur du contact (10) fiche peut également être modifiée parce que la queue (56) de contact fiche est courbée dans sa position définitive après que les contacts (10) fiches ont été montés sur le logement (12) de fiches.
PCT/US1996/011727 1995-07-14 1996-07-15 Connecteur electrique pour plaquette de circuits imprimes, dote d'une cavite de logement etanche WO1997004505A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/502,654 US5667393A (en) 1995-07-14 1995-07-14 Printed circuit board electrical connector with sealed housing cavity
US08/502,786 1995-07-14
US08/502,786 US5700151A (en) 1995-07-14 1995-07-14 Adjustable height sealed electrical connector
US08/502,654 1995-07-14

Publications (2)

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WO1997004505A2 true WO1997004505A2 (fr) 1997-02-06
WO1997004505A3 WO1997004505A3 (fr) 1997-03-06

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5885092A (en) * 1996-06-21 1999-03-23 Molex Incorporated Electric connector assembly with improved registration characteristics
WO1999036994A1 (fr) * 1998-01-16 1999-07-22 Molex Incorporated Connecteur de montage en saillie pourvu d'une structure terminale amelioree
US6010370A (en) * 1996-12-20 2000-01-04 Molex Incorporated Insert molded electrical connector and method for producing same
EP0996194A2 (fr) * 1998-10-20 2000-04-26 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Connecteur électrique
EP1020956A1 (fr) * 1999-01-15 2000-07-19 Molex Incorporated Connecteur monté sur une surface ayant une structure de terminaux améliorée
WO2001071857A1 (fr) * 2000-03-24 2001-09-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Raccord coaxial
WO2004077618A2 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-10 Molex Incorporated Ensemble plaquette pseudo-coaxial pour connecteur
SG123574A1 (en) * 2002-11-18 2006-07-26 Molex Inc Circuit board mounted electrical connector

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2587850A1 (fr) * 1985-09-26 1987-03-27 Metallo Ste Fse Embase pour connecteur de peritelevision
EP0374904A2 (fr) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-27 Burndy Corporation Connecteur pour bordure de carte à deux niveaux
EP0568971A1 (fr) * 1992-05-08 1993-11-10 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique avec des moyens contre les surcontraintes
EP0658951A1 (fr) * 1993-12-14 1995-06-21 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique à utiliser pour le couplage de deux cartes à circuit imprimé

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2587850A1 (fr) * 1985-09-26 1987-03-27 Metallo Ste Fse Embase pour connecteur de peritelevision
EP0374904A2 (fr) * 1988-12-21 1990-06-27 Burndy Corporation Connecteur pour bordure de carte à deux niveaux
EP0568971A1 (fr) * 1992-05-08 1993-11-10 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique avec des moyens contre les surcontraintes
EP0658951A1 (fr) * 1993-12-14 1995-06-21 Molex Incorporated Connecteur électrique à utiliser pour le couplage de deux cartes à circuit imprimé

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
JEE JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING, vol. 30, no. 321, September 1993, TOKIO, JP, pages 48-51+68, XP000394841 SHOYI E. YAMADA: "Board connector for small computers permits height modulations" *

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5885092A (en) * 1996-06-21 1999-03-23 Molex Incorporated Electric connector assembly with improved registration characteristics
US6010370A (en) * 1996-12-20 2000-01-04 Molex Incorporated Insert molded electrical connector and method for producing same
WO1999036994A1 (fr) * 1998-01-16 1999-07-22 Molex Incorporated Connecteur de montage en saillie pourvu d'une structure terminale amelioree
EP0996194A2 (fr) * 1998-10-20 2000-04-26 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Connecteur électrique
EP0996194A3 (fr) * 1998-10-20 2000-09-27 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Connecteur électrique
US6336829B2 (en) 1998-10-20 2002-01-08 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Electrical connector free from soldering contamination
EP1020956A1 (fr) * 1999-01-15 2000-07-19 Molex Incorporated Connecteur monté sur une surface ayant une structure de terminaux améliorée
WO2001071857A1 (fr) * 2000-03-24 2001-09-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Raccord coaxial
SG123574A1 (en) * 2002-11-18 2006-07-26 Molex Inc Circuit board mounted electrical connector
WO2004077618A2 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2004-09-10 Molex Incorporated Ensemble plaquette pseudo-coaxial pour connecteur
WO2004077618A3 (fr) * 2003-02-27 2005-06-02 Molex Inc Ensemble plaquette pseudo-coaxial pour connecteur

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