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
  • H01R13/02—Contact members
  • H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
  • H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
  • H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
• • 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
  • H01R4/10—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 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation
  • H01R4/18—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 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping
  • H01R4/183—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 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section
  • H01R4/184—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 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion
  • H01R4/185—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 effected solely by twisting, wrapping, bending, crimping, or other permanent deformation by crimping for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion combined with a U-shaped insulation-receiving portion

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a spring contact for electrical connector of reduced volume as well as a connector comprising such a contact. It finds more particularly its use in the field of telecommunications, in particular within the framework of the miniaturization of portable telephones.
• This type of contact is generally but not exclusively used to connect, reversibly, a battery and a printed circuit located inside a mobile phone. More generally, this type of contact is intended to electrically connect any two pieces of equipment.
• this spring contact is soldered by a first surface end on a printed circuit, and has at a second end a flexible tab which is bent over the first end. This flexible tab can come in particular into contact with the studs of a battery presented above the connector containing the contacts.
• the connectors mounted in mobile phones have a generally parallelepiped shape.
• This type of connector has housings or compartments, which contain the spring contacts. These housings open on the one hand on a first face, called the bottom, and on the other hand on a second face, called the top, of the connector. The lower face comes into contact on a printed circuit and the upper face comes into contact on the battery.
• a spring contact, inserted in this housing has a substantially U-shape having two branches or arms, and a base or elbow of the U, connecting the two branches by one of their ends.
• the base of the U has the shape of an arc of a circle and extends in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the first and second faces of the connector.
• Each branch is intended to establish electrical contact with equipment.
• the first branch of the U is fixed, for example soldered, to a printed circuit placed against the first face of the connector.
• the second branch forms a bump protruding from the second face of the connector.
• the total height of the U is formed by the addition of three heights. These heights are defined by the shortest distance separating two planes, parallel to the plane of the printed circuit, containing points of the spring contact.
• a first height is formed by the distance separating a solder point from the first branch with the printed circuit from a junction point between the first branch and the base.
• a second height is equal to a chord of the base corresponding to the distance between the two extreme points constituting the arc of a circle.
• a third height is formed by the distance separating a point from the second branch, the highest relative to the base, from a point of contact between the second branch and the base.
• a thickness of the connector is defined by the shortest distance connecting the first face to the second face. The thickness of the connector is less than the total height of the contact, since the spring contact is designed to partially sink inside the connector housing, when it is constrained. In one example, such a connector has a thickness of 3.2 millimeters.
• the reduction in the thickness of the connectors and the total height of the spring contacts which they contain is only possible at the cost of a significant increase in the width or the length of these connectors and these contacts.
• the current structure of the spring contacts requires that the reduction in total height of the spring contacts can only be obtained by playing on the first and third heights of the spring contact.
• the reduction of the first and third heights requires thickening or widening of the blades of these contacts, especially for the blade of the second branch.
• the enlargement of the contact blades results in an overall enlargement of the connector. Therefore, the overall reduction in volume of the connector cannot be obtained.
• the current structure of spring contacts therefore poses a problem of miniaturization of these connectors.
• this type of connector to be mounted on the surface on a printed circuit, is grasped by suction pipettes. These pipettes should only be brought into contact with areas of the connector that do not have locally spring loaded contacts. The presence of such a zone, generally in the central position of this type of connector, necessarily implies an increase in the width of the connector. Consequently, this type of connector is currently apprehended by two pipettes, each disposed at one end of the connector. This represents another problem of difficulty in handling the connectors of the technique.
• the object of the invention is to remedy the problems cited by proposing a spring contact for connector, having a substantially U-shaped shape, having two branches and a base connecting the two branches by one of their ends, each branch being intended to establish electrical contact with equipment.
• the two branches extend in planes which are divergent from one another, the intersection of these two planes being contained in the base of the U.
• the spring contact then has a lower overall height than the spring contact of the prior art.
• one of the branches and the base of the U are in the same plane.
• the electrical contact of at least one of the branches is positioned on the free end of said branch.
• the invention relates to a connector electric, provided with a first face and a second face opposite the first face, and comprising at least one housing for receiving a spring contact according to the invention.
• the housing is open on both sides of the connector, and the spring contact is positioned in the housing so that the plane in which the base of the U extends extends substantially parallel to the plane of the faces of the connector.
• the base connecting the first and the second branch is located inside the housing.
• This base has a plane of curvature which is substantially parallel to the first and second faces.
• the increase in width of the spring contact here implies a slight increase in the width of the connector.
• the contacts are arranged in such a way that the first branches of the contacts, on the first face, are opposite with intermediate spaces of the second branch on the second face.
• the connector includes means for guiding the spring contact.
• it further comprises holding means.
• the connector has several housings, receiving respectively a U-shaped spring contact.
• the spring contacts are positioned in two adjacent housings, so as to extend in a substantially identical direction but in opposite directions relative to each other, a branch d 'a contact being adjacent to a branch of the neighboring contact.
• the arrangement of the branches of the spring contacts is organized so as to generate a contactless spring area in the middle of the second face. This area can be used to apply a pipette.
• the connector can be grasped by a single suction pipette.
• FIG. 1 a perspective view of a connector according to the invention
• FIG. 2 a perspective view of a spring contact according to the invention
• Figure 3 a view of the face not visible in Figure 1 of the connector according to the invention.
• the connector of the invention comprises a body 1, provided with a first face 2 (visible in FIG. 1) opposite to a second face 3 (visible in FIG. 3), each of the faces extending in planes respectively 2.1 and 3.1.
• the body 1 has housings 4 open on both sides.
• a housing 4 has a first entry 5 opening onto the first face 2, and a second entry 6 opening onto the second face 3.
• the two entries 5 and 6 are separated by an intermediate wall 4.1.
• the connector comprises spring contacts 7, each placed in a housing 4.
• the body 1 has a thickness 8.
• the thickness 8 is preferably less than or equal to 1.8 mm.
• the body 1 has a width 9 and a length 10. In the example shown, the body 1 comprises four housings 4 and four spring contacts 7.
• the width 9 is preferably equal to 8.3 mm, and the length 10 is preferably equal to 15.3 mm.
• the connector according to the invention may comprise one or more housings each provided with a spring contact. And the dimensions can be adapted according to the number of spring contacts or the technical characteristics required.
• the spring contact 7 has a first branch 1 1 extending in a plane 1 1 .1 and a second branch 12 extending in a plane 12.1.
• the first branch 11 and the second branch 12 are connected by a base 13.
• the two branches are intended to establish electrical contact with equipment such as a battery or a printed circuit.
• the contact can be permanently fixed to the printed circuit by one of its branches, here 1 1, the battery coming into contact with the other branch, here 1 2.
• the base 13 has a plane of curvature 13.1. which once the contact mounted in the connector, is parallel to the planes 2.1 and 3.1 defined by the first and second faces. However, it can also be oblique to these same planes.
• the term plane of curvature designates the plane in which this curvature is projected, along an axis perpendicular to the first and second faces.
• the two branches 1 1 and 12 extend in planes 1 1 .1 and 12.1 respectively divergent from one another and the intersection I of these two planes is contained in the base 13 from the U.
• the plane 1 1 .1 of the branch 1 1 and the plane 13.1 are substantially combined.
• the first branch 1 1 has a rectangular shape having two steps or bayonet steps 14 and 15. These two steps 14 and 15 thus define three portions on the first branch 1 1.
• a first portion 1 6 is formed by the end of the first branch 1 1.
• the end 1 6 is a free end, intended to be connected and in particular soldered on a printed circuit.
• a second portion 1 7 located between the steps 14 and 15 is a flat surface.
• the portion 1 7 is intended to be maintained in the housing 4 of the body 1.
• a third portion 18 is defined between the step 15 and the basel 3.
• the portion 18 is movable in a plane orthogonal to the plane formed by the portion 1 7.
• the portion 18 is movable relative to the portion 1 7 via d 'a hinge formed by the step 15.
• This step 15 also has the role of reinforcing the stiffness of the branch 11.
• the second branch 12 has a first zone 19 forming a shoulder and a return 20.
• a first portion 21 of the second branch 12 is defined between the zone 19 and the return 20.
• the zone 19 acts as a hinge for the portion 21 relative to in the plane of curvature 13.1.
• the first portion 21 has a flat rectangular shape.
• the return 20 and the portion 21 are intended to come into contact with one of the studs of a battery, which will be forced against the branch 12, protruding from the second face 3.
• the return 20 separates the first portion 21 of a second portion 22 of the second branch 12 by forming a salient angle, so that the second portion 22 is bent slightly under the first portion 21.
• the portions 21 and 22 of the second branch 12 are movable relative to the base 13 in a plane perpendicular to the plane of curvature 13.1. Furthermore, the branch 12 is movable in a separate plane but parallel to the mobility plane of the branch 11.
• a total height of the spring contact 7 is formed by the addition of a first height equal to the height of the first branch 11 and a second height constituted by the height of the second branch 12.
• the height of the base is almost zero, because its height is equal to the thickness of the blade constituting the spring contact.
• the heights are defined absolutely by the shortest distance between two planes parallel to the plane 13.1.
• the first height is equal to the sum of a height 23 corresponding to the height of the end 16, a height 24 corresponding to the height of the step 14, and a height 25 corresponding to the height of the step 15.
• the second height is equal to a height 26 of the first portion 21.
• the second portion 22 has a height 27.
• the height 27 is as large as possible, so that the second branch 12 does not come completely out of the body 1.
• the portion 22 may have tabs at one end which allow it to be retained in the second inlet 6.
• the spring contact 7 is maintained in the housing 4 of the body 1 by holding means.
• the holding means comprise lugs 28 holding the portion 1 7 in abutment against an edge 29 of the first inlet 5.
• the lugs 28 are for example drops of plastic melted on the spring contact 7, after its positioning in the housing 4.
• the spring contact 7 is introduced into the body 1 through the first inlet 5 of the first face 4.
• the size of the first inlet 5 is such that it leaves a passage to the entire spring contact 7.
• the second inlet 6 leaves only the second branch 1 2 of the spring contact 7. In fact, the branch 1 1 is retained in the first entrance 5 through the intermediate wall 4.1.
• the housing 4 thus has a hole, opening from the first inlet 5 to the second inlet 6, having an opening restricted to the size of the opening, the second inlet 6 alone.
• an object for example a battery
• the branch 1 2 sinks, the height 26 decreases and the portion 22 s 'pushed into housing 4.
• the maximum stroke of branchel 2 is 1.5 mm.
• the object applied against the second face 3 must exert a force of between 0.5 and 1.5 newtons to drive a branch 12 inside its housing 4.
• the connector has an axis of symmetry 30 orthogonal to the first and second faces 2 and 3, and passing through the center of each of them.
• the axis of symmetry 30 is a feature linked to the number of spring contacts 7 included in the body 1. In fact, the axis of symmetry 30 exists only in the case where the connector has an even number of spring contacts 7.
• the connector comprises several housings for example 4a; 4b, receiving respectively a spring contact 7a; 7b.
• the contacts are positioned so as to extend in a substantially identical direction but in opposite directions with respect to each other, a branch l i a of a contact 7a being adjacent to a branch 12b of the neighboring contact 7b.
• the arrangement of the contacts with respect to each other in the body 1 is made so as to alternately distribute the steps 20 on the second face 3. In return, in this way the distribution of the ends 16 is homogenized on either side of the first face 2.
• the spring contacts 7 are placed one next to the other in the body 1.
• the space separating two successive branches 12 on the second face 3 is superimposed at the location, on the first face 2, of a branch 11 connected to one of the two branches 12. From a contact 7 to a following , the position of the ends 16 is alternated. Indeed the ends 16 protrude either from a first side 31 of the first face 2 or from a second side 32 opposite to the side 31 of the first face 2.
• the connector is fixed on the two sides 31 and 32 of the printed circuit. Its fixing being more solid, it is therefore not necessary to make additional welds to guarantee the mechanical placement of the connector.
• the spring contacts 7 are arranged in a particular way.
• This zone 33 is sought in the central position. It allows gripping by a single pipette with a diameter of at least 2.5 mm.
• the connector also has recesses or cavities 34.
• the cavities 34 are cut in two lateral faces 35 and 36 on the sides 31 and 32 respectively of the connector 1.
• the cavities 34 are cut so that free ends 16 of the spring contacts 7 inserted in the body 1 protrude from the sides 31 and 32 at the place where these cavities 34 are arranged.
• the ends 16 are visually accessible from the second surface 3 to be welded. The welding of the ends 16 on a printed circuit is thus facilitated.

Landscapes

• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
• Connection Of Batteries Or Terminals (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9543052

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 1999
  • 1999-03-11 FR FR9902996A patent/FR2790874B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2000
  • 2000-03-10 AT AT00400667T patent/ATE386350T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-03-10 CN CNB00800319XA patent/CN1212693C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-03-10 PT PT00400667T patent/PT1037319E/pt unknown
  • 2000-03-10 DE DE60037980T patent/DE60037980T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-03-10 ES ES00400667T patent/ES2302683T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-03-10 JP JP2000604496A patent/JP4700814B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-03-10 WO PCT/FR2000/000591 patent/WO2000054374A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2000-03-10 EP EP00400667A patent/EP1037319B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2000-03-10 AU AU32960/00A patent/AU3296000A/en not_active Abandoned
• 2010
  • 2010-02-19 JP JP2010035018A patent/JP4638957B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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