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
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/516—Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing, hoods
• • 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
  • H01R12/72—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures
  • H01R12/722—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits
  • H01R12/724—Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures coupling with the edge of the rigid printed circuits or like structures coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits containing contact members forming a right angle
• • 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
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/516—Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing, hoods
  • H01R13/518—Means for holding or embracing insulating body, e.g. casing, hoods for holding or embracing several coupling parts, e.g. frames
• • 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
  • H01R13/46—Bases; Cases
  • H01R13/52—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases

Definitions

• the invention relates to electrical connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to a retention member for aligning and stabilizing lead assemblies in an electrical connector.
• the invention provides a retention member for aligning and stabilizing one or more insert molded lead assemblies (IMLAs) in an electrical connector.
• IMLAs insert molded lead assemblies
• the retention member provides for alignment and stability in the x-, y-, and z-directions. Embodiments of such a retention member are shown in connection with a right angle header connector.
• the retention member provides stability by maintaining the true positioning of the te ⁇ ninal ends of the contacts.
• the retention member is expandable in length, and may be sized and shaped to fit a single header assembly or multiple position configurations.
• FIGs. 1 A and IB show a right angle header connector assembly including an exemplary retention member and exemplary housing in accordance with the present invention
• FIGs. 1C and ID show exemplary protrusions in accordance with the present invention
• FIGs. 3A-3D are isometric, side, front, and top views, respectively, of the retention member shown in FIGs. 1A and IB;
• FIG. 3E is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a retention member shown in FIGs. 1A and IB;
• FIGs. 4A and 4B depict a right angle header connector assembly including a another exemplary housing in accordance with the present invention; and
• FIG. 5 depicts a right angle header connector assembly including another exemplary retention member in accordance with the present invention.
• FIGs. 1 A and IB show a right angle header connector assembly 100 comprising an exemplary retention member 120 in accordance with the present invention.
• the header assembly 100 may comprise a plurality of insert molded lead assemblies (IMLAs) 102A, 102B, which are described in detail with respect to FIGs. 2A and 2B, respectively.
• IMLAs insert molded lead assemblies
• each IMLA 102 A, 102B may be used, without modification, for single-ended signaling, differential signaling, or a combination of single-ended signaling and differential signaling.
• Each BVILA 102 A, 102B comprises a plurality of electrically conductive contacts 104, which are arranged in respective linear contact arrays.
• the header assembly 100 shown comprises ten IMLAs, it should be understood that a connector may include any number of IMLAs .
• the header assembly 100 includes an electrically insulating lead frame 108 through which the contacts 104 extend.
• the lead frame 108 comprises a dielectric material such as a plastic.
• the lead frame 108 is constructed from as little material as possible and the connector is air-filled to the extent possible. That is, the contacts 104 may be insulated from one another using air as a second dielectric.
• the contacts 104 comprise terminal ends 110 for engagement with a circuit board.
• the terminal ends 110 are compliant terminal ends, though it should be understood that the terminals ends could be press- fit or any surface-mount or through-mount terminal ends, for example.
• the contacts also comprise mating ends 112 for engagement with complementary receptacle contacts.
• the connector 100 may also comprise a first embodiment housing 114.
• the housing 114 comprises a plurality of spaced apart dividing walls 114 A, with each dividing wall defining a single notch 114B.
• the dividing walls 114A are spaced along the housing 114 and are spaced apart far enough to create an opening or slot ST that is large enough for the mating ends 112 of each IMLA 102 A, 102B to pass through (approximately 0.9 mm or less, for example), and small enough to prevent the IMLAs 102 A, 102B from moving in a first direction (e.g., in the negative x-direction shown in FIG. 1A, i.e., toward the housing 114).
• the housing 114 defines one or more notches 114B.
• Each notch 114B desirably receives a half taper or half ramp protrusion 114C on each BVILA 102A, 102B, so that the IMLAs 102 A, 102B are locked in the opposite direction (e.g., the IMLAs are generally restrained in the x-direction and the negative x-direction shown in FIG. 1 A) after being inserted into the housing 114.
• the protrusion 114C can be ramped in either or both of two directions, and thus may have a triangular 114C(1) or trapezoidal 114C(2) cross-section, as shown in FIGs. 1C and ID, respectively.
• the header assembly 100 also comprises a retention member 120 which provides for alignment and stability of the IMLAs 102A, 102B in the x-, y-, and z-directions.
• the retention member 120 provides stability by maintaining the true positioning of the terminal ends 110 of the contacts 104.
• the retention member 120 may have any length, and may be sized and shaped to fit a single header assembly or multiple position configurations.
• the length L of the retention member 120 may correspond with the width W of a single header assembly, as shown, or may correspond to the combined with of a number of header assemblies disposed adjacent to one another.
• An IMLA may have a thickness T of about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters, for example.
• An BVILA spacing IS between adjacent BVILAs may be about 0.75 - 1.0 millimeters.
• Exemplary configurations include 150 position, for 1.0 inch slot centers, and 120 position, for 0.8 inch slot centers, all without interleaving shields.
• the BVILAs are stand-alone, which means that the IMLAs may be stacked into any centerline spacing desired for customer density or routing considerations.
• FIG. 2A is a side view of an BVILA 102 A according to the invention.
• the BVILA 102 A comprises a linear contact array of electrically conductive contacts 104, and a lead frame 108 through which the contacts 104 at least partially extend.
• the contacts 104 may be selectively designated as either ground or signal contacts.
• contacts a, b, d, e, g, h, j, k, m, and n may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts c, f, i, 1, and o may be defined to be ground contacts.
• signal contact pairs a-b, d-e, g-h, j-k, and m-n form differential signal pairs.
• contacts a, c, e, g, i, k, m, and o may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts b, d, f, h, j, 1, and n may be defined to be ground contacts.
• signal contacts a, c, e, g, i, k, m, and o form single-ended signal conductors.
• contacts a, c, e, g, h, j, k, m, and n may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts b, d, f, i, 1, and o may be defined to be ground contacts.
• signal contacts a, c, and e form single-ended signal conductors, and signal contact pairs g-h, j-k, and m-n form differential signal pairs.
• each of the contacts may thus be defined as either a signal contact or a ground contact depending on the requirements of the application.
• contacts f and 1 are ground contacts.
• FIG. 2B is a side view of an IMLA 102B that comprises a linear contact array of electrically conductive contacts 104, and a lead frame 108 through which the contacts 104 at least partially extend.
• contacts 104 may be selectively designated as either ground or signal contacts.
• contacts b, c, e, f, h, i, k, 1, n, and o may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts a, d, g, j, and m may be defined to be ground contacts.
• signal contact pairs b-c, e-f, h-i, k-1, and n-o form differential signal pairs.
• contacts b, d, f, h, j, 1, and n may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts a, c, e, g, i, k, m, and o may be defined to be ground contacts.
• signal contacts b, d, f, h, j, 1, and n form single-ended signal conductors.
• contacts b, c, e, f, h, j, 1, and n for example, may be defined to be signal contacts, while contacts a, d, g, i, k, m, and o may be defined to be ground contacts.
• each of the contacts may thus be defined as either a signal contact or a ground contact depending on the requirements of the application.
• contacts g and m are ground contacts, the terminals ends of which may extend beyond the terminal ends of the other contacts so that the ground contacts g and m mate before any of the signal contacts mate.
• Each IMLA 102A, 102B comprises an arm portion 150 having a button end 152.
• the arm portion 150 may be configured such that the retention member 120 may fit snugly between the arm portion 150 and a first face 156 of the BVILA 102.
• the arm portion 150 may be further configured such that a second face 154 of the BVILA 102 may rest on top of the retention member 120.
• the BVILA 102 may be designed such that the arm portion 150 straddles the retention member 120.
• An example is shown in FIG. 4A, where the arm portion 150 of the BVILA 102 extends over the retention member 120.
• the button end 152 acts to push or bias the retainer 120 in the negative x-direction (toward the housing 114).
• FIGs. 3A-3D provide isometric, side, front, and top views, respectively, of a retention member according to the invention.
• the retention member 120 may be formed, by molding for example, as a single piece of material.
• the material may be an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic, for example.
• the retention member may have a height H of about 14 mm, a length L of about 20 mm, and a depth D of about 2-5 mm.
• the retention member shown is adapted to retain ten IMLAs in a single connector.
• the retention member shown has a length L that corresponds to the typical width of a connector comprising ten IMLAs.
• the retention member 120 comprises a wall portion 122 having a first side 122 A and a second side 122B. When secured to the connector, the first side 122 A of the wall portion 122 abuts the IMLAs. Thus, the wall portion 122 prevents the IMLAs from moving in the x-direction (as shown in FIG. 1A, for example).
• the retention member 120 comprises a plurality of protrusions, or nubs, 124 disposed along and extending from the first side 112A of the wall portion 122.
• the nubs 124 are sized, shaped, and located such that the nubs 124 form a plurality of channels 126.
• Each channel 126 has a channel spacing CS, which is the distance between adjacent nubs 124 in a given row of nubs 124.
• the channel spacing CS is chosen such that an BVILA may be received and fit snugly within each channel 126 between adjacent nubs 124.
• the nubs 124 serve to align the BVILAs truly in the z-direction, and prevent the BVILAs from significantly moving in the y-direction (as shown in FIG. 1A, for example).
• a rib RB can also be added to the second side 122B of each BVILA to help prevent movement of the IMLAs in the negative z-direction.
• the button end 152 of arm portion 150 of each IMLA preferably snap fits over a corresponding rib RB.
• Each nub 124 has a width w, length 1, and depth d.
• each nub 124 is desirably chosen to provide the desired channel spacing CS.
• the width w of each nub is approximately 1 mm
• the channel spacing CS is the same size or slightly larger than the width of each IMLA, so that a clearance fit is obtained between the IMLAs and the retainer.
• other suitable connection methods are also contemplated, such as a dovetail fit between the BVILAs and the retainer.
• the depth d of each nub 124 is desirably chosen to provide sufficient resistance in the y-direction to keep the BVILA from moving in the y-direction. In an example embodiment, the nub depth d is approximately 1 mm.
• each nub 124 is desirably chosen to minimize the amount of material required to form the retention member 120, yet still provide the desired stabilization and alignment of IMLAs.
• the nub length 1 is approximately 1 mm. It should be understood, however, that the nubs 124 may have any width w, length 1, and depth d desired for a particular application. [0035] Minimizing the amount of material in the retention member 120 contributes to minimizing the weight of the connector.
• each nub 124 may have a rounded end 124e, shown in FIG. 3E, which serves to reduce the weight of the retention member 120, as well as to facilitate engagement of the retention member 120 with the IMLAs.
• the retention member 120 also comprises a plurality of seats 128 disposed along and extending from the first side 122A of the wall portion 122.
• the IMLAs preferably pass between seats 128.
• the seats 128 are configured to have a seat spacing SS between them, as shown in FIG. 3C, for example.
• the seat spacing SS may be smaller than the channel spacing CS, as shown, to provide compliance with BVILAs that have a lead frame 108 that does not have a uniform thickness in the area of the seats 128.
• the second side 122B of an exemplary retention member 120 preferably comprises a shoulder 130, a pair of grooves 132, 134, and a foot portion 136, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example.
• the housing 300 is similar to the housing 114 described above, and comprises a plurality of spaced apart dividing walls 300A, each of which may include one or more notches 300B(1), 300B(2).
• the dividing walls 300A are desirably spaced apart far enough to create an opening between them that is large enough for the mating ends 112 of each IMLA 102A, 102B to pass through (e.g., approximately 0.9mm or less), and small enough to prevent the BVILAs 102A, 102B from moving in the x-direction (i.e., toward the housing 300).
• Each notch 300B(1), 300B(2) receives a half taper or half ramp protrusion 300C on each BVILA 102A, 102B, so that the IMLAs 102A, 102B are locked in the negative x- direction (i.e., away from the housing 300) after being inserted into the housing 300.
• the protrusion 300C can be ramped in either or both of two directions, and thus may have a triangular or trapezoidal cross-section, as described above. This design allows individual IMLAs 102A, 102B to be removed in the negative x-direction (i.e., away from the housing 300) after installation of the BVILAs 102 A, 102B.
• the exemplary housing 300 desirably allows for IMLAs to be attached to the housing 300 in a staggered pattern.
• one protrusion 300C can engage a first notch 300B(1) and a protrusion 300C on a neighboring IMLA can engage a second notch 300B(2).
• This arrangement increases stability of the overall connector.
• FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of a retaining member 400 according to the invention.
• the retaining member 400 is generally in the form of a strip 410 that snap fits into recesses 420 defined by a backbone of each IMLA. Spaced apart spacing members 430 extend approximately 1-2 mm, for example, between the individual IMLAs.
• the length of the strip 410 and the number of spacing members 430 is desirably dependent on the number of BVILAs.
• the overall length SL of the strip 410 may be approximately 19 mm
• the overall length L of each spacing member may be approximately 9 mm.

Landscapes

• Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
• Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=34119012

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (39)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (86)

• 2004
  • 2004-05-10 US US10/842,397 patent/US7083432B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-30 CA CA2532345A patent/CA2532345C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-07-30 JP JP2006522636A patent/JP4927539B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2004-07-30 EP EP04757401A patent/EP2143177A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-07-30 KR KR1020067002347A patent/KR20060067951A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2004-07-30 MX MXPA06000937A patent/MXPA06000937A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2004-07-30 WO PCT/US2004/024691 patent/WO2005018052A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-07-30 CA CA2750717A patent/CA2750717A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2006
  • 2006-04-06 US US11/278,849 patent/US7195497B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2010
  • 2010-05-06 JP JP2010106777A patent/JP5129295B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related

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