Contacts Within Slot Engage Opposite Sides Of Printed Circuit Board Patents (Class 439/636)
  • Patent number: 5919049
    Abstract: A card edge connector having a housing, signal contacts and a four bladed ground contact. The housing has a card edge receiving area. The signal contacts are connected to the housing and the four bladed ground contact is also connected to the housing. The four bladed ground contact has a one piece frame with two pairs of opposing contact blades on opposite sides of the card edge receiving area in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Framatome Connectors USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Petersen, Ronald P. Sidor, Robert J. Shiley, II
  • Patent number: 5822193
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for rigidly stabilizing or restraining circuit boards is provided. The apparatus has a rigid cross member (20) and a circuit board clamp (10). These provides stabilization of commercial off the shelf (COTS) circuit boards for use in harsh environments. A one piece clamp has hooks with notched ends that attach to opposite sides of each circuit board. The clamp has a surface parallel to the hook. The parallel surface has threaded holes. Threaded shafts are used with the threaded holes to contact the clamp hook and provide pressure on the printed circuit board. A threaded hole is used with a threaded shaft to engage a rigid cross member. The cross member has unthreaded holes to allow for attaching to the clamps with threaded fasteners. The rigid cross member is then attached to the chassis with a fastener. This eliminates flexing of the circuit board under vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark David Summers, Ronald Newell Hamilton, Frederick Conrad Ehorn, Brian Mitchel Cover
  • Patent number: 5725389
    Abstract: An edge connector is provided for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a board-receiving slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of spring contact elements are mounted in the housing along at least one side of the slot. The spring contact elements have first spring contact portions extending into the slot for contacting respective ones of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. A surface of the housing at the one side of the slot defines a datum plane beyond which the spring contact portion of at least one of the spring contact elements extends into the slot. Some of the spring contact elements include second spring contact portions formed in a unique arcuate configuration for biasing the printed circuit board against the surface, thereby deflecting the first spring contact portions a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Dennis Keith Scheer
  • Patent number: 5713764
    Abstract: A method and structure of an electrical connector is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a receptacle for receiving a complementary mating connector. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions located in the housing and contact portions located at the receptacle for engaging appropriate terminals of the mating connector when inserted into the receptacle. The areas of the body portions of the terminals are selectively varied to vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Brunker, Frank A. Harwath
  • Patent number: 5711690
    Abstract: An electrical contact comprises an electrically conductive body which is made from sheet material. The body has opposite major surfaces and a peripheral edge defined by a thickness of the sheet material. The body has first and second arms each with a contact surface arranged to engage a respective opposite side of a circuit card which is inserted between the arms. The contact surface of the first arm is defined on the peripheral edge of the body, and the contact surface of the second arm is defined on one of the major surfaces of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Roger Lee Thrush, Timothy James Kinross
  • Patent number: 5676559
    Abstract: A zero insertion force electrical connector (60) having a housing (61) which includes a support block (62) reciprocably mounted therein. The housing (61) also includes a contact array (65) with a plurality of contact elements (66,67) extending therefrom for electrical engagement with circuit traces (63a,64a) on printed circuit boards (63,64). The contact array (65) includes a flexible etched circuit (76) thereon for signal transmission and impedance matching; and the contact elements (66,67) include arcuate sections (66a,66b,67a,67b) for ensuring compliancy, conformity, and contact wiping action at the electrical contact interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Frederick Laub, David Joseph Goetzinger, James Stover Hileman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5644839
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching components to a substrate to form an edge connector thereon. In particular, the invention is useful for attaching an edge connector to a printed circuit board. The connector components are provided in a form that can be mounted on one side of a substrate, such as in a pick-and-place operation. The connector components may include pins for male connectors or sockets for female connectors. The pins or sockets of the connector are removably coupled to a carrier, forming a carrier assembly. The carrier assembly is configured to operably engage a carrier support that is integrally formed with the printed circuit board substrate. After the connector components are fastened, as by soldering, to the printed circuit board, the carrier and carrier support can be removed to leave the connector attached to the printed circuit board. A shroud may be installed over the connector pins to provide a shrouded connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Xetel Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Stone
  • Patent number: 5588878
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle connector assembly (4) for application to a printed circuit board consists of an insulating housing (6) and spring contacts (8) received in cavities (9) in the housing. The cavities are T-shaped having a portion that is substantially rectangular, constant cross section from a contact receiving face (12) of the housing (6) up to a position proximate to a mating face (10) of the housing and a contact retention slot (15) along one side thereof. Each spring contact (8) consists of a forward leaf contact spring (32), an intermediate retention portion (33) with retention ears (48), and a rearward contact tail (34) for soldering to a conductor on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Bernadette M. Flinchbaugh, Andrew J. Gabany, Adrian L. Melnyk, Christopher J. Schmid
  • Patent number: 5573408
    Abstract: An electrical edge connector housing (1), for mounting onto a printed circuit board substrate (100), has walls that form a plurality of slots (3) and a respective plurality of chambers (2). Each slot (3) is positioned on an opposite side of a substrate receiving groove (13) from a chamber (2). Each slot (3) and chamber (2) receives a contact (18) therein for connection to the substrate (101) received within the groove (13). A retention clip (40) cooperates with an alignment block (50) to align and retain the substrate (101) within the housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Michael F. Laub, William J. Schnoor
  • Patent number: 5551883
    Abstract: An electrical connector, comprising: an insulating housing 2, a contact receiving cavity 3 in the housing 2, an electrical contact 4 in a first cavity portion 5 of the cavity 3 for connection to a mating electrical contact 7 of another, mating electrical connector 8, a contact portion 15 of the contact 4 extending along the cavity 3, a tip 17 of the contact portion 15 received in a first channel 24 of the cavity 3, and the contact portion 15 projecting into a second cavity portion 6 of the cavity 3, the second cavity portion 6 being open along two intersecting sides 9, 10 of the housing 2 for connection to a mating electrical contact 7 of another, mating electrical connector 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Wayne S. Davis
  • Patent number: 5525071
    Abstract: A low connection force electrical connector system includes an elongated housing (1); a connection recess (2) extending in a longitudinal direction of said elongated housing and having a regulation face (8) and a guide face (7) in a plane parallel to a bottom face of said elongated housing; at least one upper and one lower channel (3, 4) formed on upper and lower inside walls of said connection recess, respectively; at least one upper and one lower contact element (10, 11) fitted in said upper and lower channel, respectively; and a circuit board (P) having an insertion slope (P1) at a lower front edge thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shu Obara, Satoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 5509197
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching components to a substrate to form an edge connector thereon. In particular, the invention is useful for attaching an edge connector to a printed circuit board. The connector components are provided in a form that can be mounted on one side of a substrate, such as in a pick-and-place operation. The connector components may include pins for male connectors or sockets for female connectors. The pins or sockets of the connector are removably coupled to a carrier, forming a carrier assembly. The carrier assembly is configured to operably engage a carrier support that is integrally formed with the printed circuit board substrate. After the connector components are fastened, as by soldering, to the printed circuit board, the carrier and carrier support can be removed to leave the connector attached to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Xetel Corporation
    Inventor: William M. Stone
  • Patent number: 5480316
    Abstract: A socket for electrically connecting a circuit card to a substrate comprises a dielectric housing (10) having a card receiving slot (12) and a plurality of contacts (30). Each of the contacts (30) comprises an electrically conductive body including a portion rigidly secured with respect to the housing, a lead for engaging a respective circuit trace on the substrate, and an elastic portion extending from the rigidly secured portion along a course which includes first a stress loop (44) and then a contact loop (46). The contact loop (46) is open in a direction toward the slot opening. A pair of opposed contact points (50, 52) at ends of the contact loop 46 extend into the slot (12) through opposite sides thereof for engaging respective contact pads on the circuit card. The stress loop (44) is open in a direction substantially opposite to the contact loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kinross, Roger L. Thrus
  • Patent number: 5407365
    Abstract: A new structure for a printed circuit board slot connector for securing the inserted printed circuit board and provides electrical contacts between the inserted printed circuit board and the mother board. Said connector mainly comprises a plurality of electrical conducting plates which are grouped together in a band. Said band of conducting plates can be installed into the connector from the bottom of the shell body in a single operation. Mechanical operation is used to cut and isolate the conducting plates from one another. The internal contact pins are longer than the external contact pins. Below the point of contact of the conducting plate with the printed circuit board is a projected portion which strengthens the conducting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Inventor: Yu-Chuan Lin
  • Patent number: 5408384
    Abstract: In order to provide a small-sized card and a connector device therefor having no fear of damages and stains of terminals, the card according to the invention has a structure comprising a casing with an opening, and a double-faced substrate on which electronic parts are provided and a plurality of terminals are attached in the vicinity of one end of the substrate, in which the terminals are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate, the lower surface of the substrate is disposed in contact with the inner surface of the casing, the terminals on the lower surface of the substrate are covered with a cover which is swung or slid to be opened/closed freely, so that when the card is inserted in a connector device, the cover is opened to expose the lower-surface terminals and to fit them closely in a connector of the connector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Gannyo, Hiroyuki Yamada, Motoyoshi Kitagawa
  • Patent number: 5387115
    Abstract: A electronic module socket for interconnecting an electronic module to a circuit board includes an insulative housing having an elongated central cavity having multiple formed tuning fork contacts to provide electrical connection and retain an electronic module within the central cavity. The contacts include a contact end which extends transversely from the socket and engages conductive members of a circuit board for surface mounting of the socket thereon. The socket includes a latch to provide a locking and an ejector mechanism for an electronic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Kozel, Steven Hiller, Joseph Ufheil
  • Patent number: 5383792
    Abstract: An electrical connector (2) has a dielectric housing with contact terminals (22) which extend therethrough. The contact terminals (22) are provided to electrically connect a mother board (4) to a daughter card (6). A board-receiving opening (20) is provided in the housing for reception of the daughter card (6) therein. Proximate to the board-receiving opening (20) are latch receiving openings (24) which are dimensioned to receive insertable latch members (40) therein. The latch members (40) are manufactured from material having the desired resilient and strength characteristics, thereby insuring that the latch members (40) will be effective over many cycles. Each latch member (40) has a resilient section (42) for cooperating with the daughter card (6) and a mounting section (44) for cooperating with the mother board (4). The resilient section (42) is able to accommodate a range of board sizes without taking a permanent set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Iosif Korsunsky, Richard C. Schroepfer, Monte L. Kopp
  • Patent number: 5366390
    Abstract: A socket for electrically connecting a circuit panel to a substrate comprises an insulative housing (10) defining an elongated slot (12) for receiving the circuit panel (14). A plurality of terminal receiving cavities (16) are spaced apart along a length of the slot, and each of the cavities is open to the slot on opposite sides (22, 24) thereof. The housing includes a rib (20) extending beneath the slot along its length. A plurality of electrically-conductive terminals (30) are disposed in respective ones of the cavities. Each of the terminals comprises an integral body including a housing engaging section (32) having opposed surfaces (34, 36) each gripping a respective opposite side (46, 48) of the rib. Each terminal has a lead (58) extending to an exterior of the housing for electrically engaging a substrate, and a pair of resilient contact arms (52, 62) extending into the slot from respective opposite sides of the slot for electrically engaging opposite sides of the circuit panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Kinross, Roger L. Thrush
  • Patent number: 5336094
    Abstract: Apparatus for electrically interconnecting a lead of an integrated circuit device to a terminal spaced at a distance from the lead, such as on a printed circuit board. The apparatus is also useful for interconnecting two printed circuit boards. The apparatus includes a housing which has at least two flanges extending therefrom. The flanges are spaced a distance with an elastomeric element captured thereby and extending therebetween. A conductive contact is mounted on the elastomeric element and thus freely suspended for contact with terminals to be interconnected. A multiplicity of such contacts may be arranged in a suitable pattern for interconnecting specified integrated circuit devices with a printed circuit board. The contact shape can be generally disk-like to provide maximum wiping action and to facilitate air-tight contact between the terminal and interconnect apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: JohnsTech International Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5263867
    Abstract: A surface mount connector comprises two assemblable housing parts for engagement with a circuit board and for mating with a complementary connector respectively. A series of contacts are anchored in the board engaging part and the other mating part is provided with contact locating surface portions which engage and press the contacts into a coplanar circuit board engaging position when the two housing parts are assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Kel Corporation
    Inventors: Etsuro Doi, Kiyoshi Atoh, Mutsuo Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 5239748
    Abstract: A method for the construction of a high density electrical connector for connecting a printed circuit board with a burn-in board in a burn-in system. The method comprises the steps of attaching a standard edge connector to a printed circuit board to form a first set of contacts, attaching two outer contact strips to the printed circuit board to form a second set of contacts, and enclosing the outer contact strips and the edge connector in an outer housing. The edge connector and the outer contact strips are secured to the printed circuit board through soldering. A burn-in board having a plurality of contact pads thereon can be inserted into the electrical connector such that the contact pads come into contact with the first and second set of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Micro Control Company
    Inventor: Harold E. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5238411
    Abstract: In a connector A for a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board 3 is adapted to be held between and connected to a resilient contact piece 5 of each connection terminal 1, received in a terminal receiving chamber 13 of a connector housing 2, and a top plate portion 8 of the connection terminal 1 disposed in opposed relation to the resilient contact piece 5. A guide projection 16 to which the top plate portion 8 is adapted to be fitted is formed on an end wall 14a of the terminal receiving chamber 13 of the connector housing 2. The deformation of connection terminals attached to a connector housing can be prevented, thereby enabling a smooth, positive connection of the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Keishi Jinno, Tamio Watanabe, Sakai Yagi, Takayoshi Endo
  • Patent number: 5233451
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a chamfer formed along at least one of the ends of a substrate having a terminal electrode disposed thereon for producing a substantially unimpeded flow of an electric current between a connect pin clip and the terminal electrode. The chamfer is a planar chamfer or an R chamfer and has a chamfer angle and chamfer quantity which can be optimized depending on the substrate thickness. After the connect pin is inserted and disposed, molding agents are applied to cover the connect pin clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Iguchi
  • Patent number: 5207598
    Abstract: A connector for an edge card has a plurality of contact terminals spaced apart in an elongated connector housing. Each terminal has a general U-shape contact portion which extends transverse through a contact cavity slot. The contact portion is horizontally cantilevered from a vertical cantilevered positioning portion which is disposed within a recess associated with the contact cavity, and is further displaceable therein in response to insertion of an edge card into the connector card slot. The insertion of the edge card into the card slot causes the terminal to partially deflect within the recess to bring an opposing contact surface into reliable contact with the edge card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Shoji Yamada, Yoshihisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5203725
    Abstract: An edge connector is provided for a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a board-receiving slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of spring contact elements are mounted in the housing along at least one side of the slot. The spring contact elements have spring contact portions extending into the slot for contacting respective ones of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. A surface on the housing at the one side of the slot defines a datum plane beyond which the spring contact portion of at least one of the spring contact elements extends into the slot. A biasing spring on the housing biases the printed circuit board against the surface, thereby deflecting the spring contact portion of the at least one spring contact element a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: David L. Brunker, Frank A. Harwath, Kent E. Regnier
  • Patent number: 5199895
    Abstract: A edge connector socket for printed circuit boards comprises an elongate insulative housing having a channeled receiving space extending between respective end portions thereof, and a plurality of conductive contact members disposed on corresponding slots formed perpendicularly along the receiving space. Each end portion has a vertical post with a protruding pin on a first side of the housing and an inclined ramp for guiding the insertion of a daughterboard on a second side of the housing. Each contact member has a resilient spring appendage and a fulcrum appendage formed spacedly thereon so as to define a receiving space for an inserted edge portion of a daughterboard. The spring appendages deflect upon the insertion of a daughterboard and apply a torque thereon so as to rotate the board about a pivot axis defined by the fulcrum appendages in contact with an opposing side thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Lien-Ker Chang
  • Patent number: 5131874
    Abstract: A female contact is used in an electrical connector for a computer or electronic equipment. An elongated conductive piece of the contact is punched with a press and has narrower end portions at both ends. One narrower portion is symmetrical to the other around the center of piece. When the piece is folded on itself at the center, the overlapped narrower portions form a forked receiver suitable to receive a male contact terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Witco of Jupiter Dentsu Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masami Seido
  • Patent number: 5108294
    Abstract: An electrical termination connector includes a substrate mounted to an insulating housing where the substrate includes conductive paths at a front edge of the substrate interconnected to electrical traces deposited on an upper and lower surface of the substrate. The electrical traces are electrically interconnected to electronic passive devices such as resistors and capacitors to simulate an impedance load to a mateable electrical connector. The assembled substrate and housing are shielded by a front shield member having a shroud surrounding the conductive paths and by upper and lower clam shell shield members which are latched in place to the front shield member. An outer insulating housing is overmolded over the assembled shielded connector to encapsulate the upper and lower shield within the outer insulating housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward K. Marsh, Keith H. Dormer
  • Patent number: 5100337
    Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of contact elements each contact element formed with two spring arm members and two contacting protrusions disposed in a slot formed in a connector base for homogeneously exerting multiple elastic forces on the contact element for firmly clamping a daughter printed circuit board thereon in order to efficiently clamp the daughter board to a mother printed circuit board connected with the electrical connector. The electrical connector also includes a pair of metal latches respectively embedded on two opposite end portions of a connector base of the electrical connector for resiliently holding the daughter board for prolonging a service life of the latches of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Inventor: Kuei L. Lee Chao
  • Patent number: 5052936
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly ( b 10) includes a connector (22) for interconnecting circuit boards such as a daughter board (12) to a mother board (102) wherein contact pads on the boards are on very small centers. Connector (22) includes a housing having an upper housing portion (24) and a pair of lower housing subassemblies (60), each subassembly including housing (62) having first and second contact members (74, 92) affixed thereto with the contact members having upper ends (78, 92) made to lie on a common plane and engage one side of a circuit board (12) inserted into the connector (22) in a resilient engagement therewith, anfd having lower ends which form solder tails (88, 96) held for soldering to pads (106, 108) on a mother board with such contact membrs being formed with the solder tails (88, 96) interdigitated to lie in a common row and a common plane on center spacings substantially less than center spacings of the upper ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incroporated
    Inventors: Donald t. Biechler, Warren C. Hillbish, John W. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 5051099
    Abstract: A card edge electrical connector 10 includes a dielectric housing member 12, a card receiving cavity 30, a plurality of contacts including signal contact members 35,35a arranged in opposed pairs along opposite sides of the card receiving cavity 30 and ground contact member 54 associated with each pair of signal contact members 35,35a. Each signal contact member 35,35a has a first contact surface 43 for engaging corresponding signal traces 184 on the daughter card 172 and second contact sections 52,52a respectively exposed along the mounting face 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to be engaged to corresponding signal contact means 92 of another electrical article 86. A ground contact member 53 is mounted into the housing 12 at each contact location and includes first ground contact sections 62 engageable with ground contact means 180 of card 172 upon full card insertion, the first ground contact sections 62 being spaced both vertically and horizontally from the associated first signal contact surfaces 43.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles S. Pickles, Matthew M. Sucheski
  • Patent number: 5049511
    Abstract: A resilient connector capable of being inserted into a printed circuit board comprises a clamp head portion and a leg portion. Moreover, the clamp portion has a long arm, a short arm and a base connected between the long arm and the short arm. The leg portion is formed by longitudinally severing a part of the intermediate portion of the clamp head portion, which extends from an intermediate position of the long arm to an intermediate position of the base. Thus, the printed circuit board can be inserted into, and brought into contact with, the contact surface of the clamp head portion. Subsequently, the printed circuit board may be pivoted to a second angular position from a first angular position. Preferably, the second angle is selectively designed at a 25 degrees orientation to assure the conservation of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Silitek Corporation
    Inventor: Mu-Gen Yu
  • Patent number: 5046955
    Abstract: An active connector assembly (10) for use in acting on electrical signals is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a receptacle (14) for mounting on a printed circuit board (30), a pin header (12) for receiving signals from other data handling systems and a circuit card (16) attached electrically and mechanically along one edge (16a) to contact elements (26) in the pin header (12) and having an opposing edge (16b) for insertion into the receptacle (14) and electrical engagement with contact elements (28) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Billy E. Olsson
  • Patent number: 5026292
    Abstract: A card edge electrical connector 10 includes a dielectric housing member 12, a card receiving cavity 30, a plurality of contacts including signal contact members 36, 36a arranged in opposed pairs along opposite sides of the card receiving cavity 30 and ground contact member 54 associated with each pair of signal contact members 36, 36a. Each signal contact member 36, 36a has a first contact section 44 for engaging corresponding signal traces 84 on the daughter card 72 and second contact sections 52, 52a respectively exposed along the mounting face 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to be engaged to corresponding signal contact means 92 of another electrical article 86. A ground contact member 54 is mounted into the housing 12 at each contact location and includes ground contact sections 62 engageable with ground contact means 80 of card 72 upon full card insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles S. Pickles, Matthew M. Sucheski, Mark R. Thumma
  • Patent number: 5013264
    Abstract: A low insertion force edge card connector having preloaded conductive spring arms that establish an electrical contact between the preloaded spring arms and the edge card. The edge card connector has an insulative housing consisting essentially of a dielectric material, a spring arm coupled to the insulative housing, a contact arm extending from the spring arm, the contact arm having a contact surface to engage the edge card in electrical connection, and a preload tab appended to a junction between the spring arm and the contact arm to engage the insulative housing and establish a preloaded position for the spring arm with respect to the insulative housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Robinson Nugent, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Tondreault
  • Patent number: 5004434
    Abstract: A printed circuit edge connector having a pluraltiy of electrial terminals, each of which has a compliant contact spring opposed to a relatively more rigid support arm is disclosed. The surface of the contact spring is opposed to an edge of the support arm because the contact spring is bent transversely relative to an arm which is coplanar with the support arm. Each of the terminals is received within aligned channels and cavities and an insulative housing, each of which extend parallel to a board receiving slot opening on the upper face of the housing. The base of the terminals are received within the cavities and include terminal retention means engagable with the housing in the cavities to retain the terminals in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard E. Aiello, Donald G. Stillie, Christopher L. Allgood
  • Patent number: 4992052
    Abstract: A modular connector system wherein modules with high contact element density may be surface mounted to a printed circuit board. The connector modules achieve high contact element density by mutually displacing or offsetting the ends of adjacent contact elements in the same column in the direction of the row which extends in the longitudinal direction of the connector housing. The displaced ends are connected by surface mounting means to contact surfaces on the printed circuit board. A unique contact design is disclosed which can be used also in cable and other types of connectors. The modules construction permits many and different types of connectors to be mounted readily to a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Laurentius M. Verhoeven
  • Patent number: 4990097
    Abstract: A socket suitable for use with single in-line memory modules comprises a plurality of terminals positioned within a insulative housing for engaging a module circuit panel inserted into the housing. Extraction members are provided for pivoting the individual circuit panels out of engagement with the socket terminals and out of the slot into which the circuit panel can be inserted. The extraction members are insertable into upright support members on the ends of the housing and are shiftable in a straight line motion between the first and second position. A projection at the lower edge of the extraction member extends below the circuit panel and a handle at the upper end of the extraction member is accessible on the end of the socket housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Timothy B. Billman, Roger L. Thrush
  • Patent number: 4986765
    Abstract: An electrical connector (2) has a dielectric housing with contact terminals (22) which extend therethrough. The contact terminals (22) are provided to electrically connect a mother board (4) to a daughter card (6). A board-receiving opening (20) is provided in the housing for reception of the daughter card (6) therein. Proximate to the board-receiving opening (20) are latch receiving openings (24) which are dimensioned to receive insertable latch members (40) therein. The latch members (40) are manufactured from material having the desired resilient and strength characteristics, thereby insuring that the latch members (40) will be effective over many cycles. Each latch member (40) has a resilient section (42) for cooperating with the daughter card (6) and a mounting section (44) for cooperating with the mother board (4). The resilient section (42) is able to accommodate a range of board sizes without taking a permanent set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Iosif Korsunsky, Richard C. Schroepfer, Monte L. Kopp
  • Patent number: 4934942
    Abstract: A card edge connector with flexible printed circuit film. More particularly a card edge connector for electrically interconnecting circuits on two circuit boards through flexible printed circuit film mounted in the connector and with the contact pads thereon being biased outwardly by coil springs behind the contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Albert Casciotti
  • Patent number: 4869672
    Abstract: A dual purpose card edge connector which can accept a printed circuit card having conductive pads on one center-line spacing or another printed circuit card having conductive pads on a different center-line spacing. More particularly, contact portions on contact elements disposed in an insulating housing are alternatively located at two different levels to cooperate with positioning members in the card receiving slot so that a circuit card not having edge notches is positioned on the positioning members and the conductive pads are engaged by the contact portions at the upper level while a circuit card having edge notches slide past the positioning members and the conductive pads thereon is engaged by the contact portions at both levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Howard W. Andrews Jr.
  • Patent number: 4850892
    Abstract: A connecting apparatus for electrically connecting memory modules (RAM or ROM) to a printed circuit board (PCB) of a digital electronic computer is disclosed. The apparatus may be used for edge-wise connection of a number of single in-line memory modules (SIMM, a trademark of the present assignee) to the PCB. The apparatus includes the ability to mount multiple memory modules on a single connecting apparatus, and means for electrically selecting a data transfer with one memory module or another on the apparatus. Guide posts of different cross-sectional areas on each side of the apparatus, and longer than various contact pins protruding through the base of the apparatus are provided, so that the mounting of the apparatus on the PCB is polarized. The guide posts also allow for both through-hole and surface mounting of the apparatus. Additionally, securing pegs on the apparatus are inserted into correspondingly sized holes on the memory modules to prevent vertical movement of the memory modules when connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Wang Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Clayton, Hooshang Shamash
  • Patent number: 4834661
    Abstract: A unitary connector for providing a connection between a printed circuit board edge connector and a telephone line jack, wherein a busy-out line condition is indicated when the printed circuit card is removed from the connector according to the present invention. The connector includes a female printed circuit board edge connector and a female telephone connector, each having the appropriate resilient connectors therein and paths for conduction between the two respective connectors. Moreover, the printed circuit board edge connector includes a plurality of electrically independent resilient contacts arranged in opposing rows, wherein at least one contact of one of the rows engages the respective opposing contact in the second row. The two engaged contacts are connected to the appropriate telephone jack pin to provide a busy-out condition indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Universal Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Lonnie S. McMillian
  • Patent number: 4826446
    Abstract: Electrical connector assemblies comprising a housing and a plurality of contact pins engaged therein, the pins having spaced flexible contact arms adapted to receive and be flexed apart by an electrical component such as a printed circuit card during the pivot attachment thereof. The contact pins have a spaced pair of lower contact legs and a spaced pair of upper contact arms, one of which is generally C-shaped and flexible in directions towards and away from the other to provide a flexible gap therebetween which, at rest, is greater than the thickness of the printed circuit card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Juntwait
  • Patent number: 4806103
    Abstract: A high density edgecard connector system includes a first row of cantilever contacts and a second row of cantilever contacts which are longer than those of the first row. The edgecard includes first and second rows of contact pads which are located differing distances from the bottom of the edgecard. Ribs are mounted on the edgecard between each of the contact pads in the first row and lift the cantilever contacts of the second row away from the surface of the edgecard in order to prevent cross connections between the cantilever contacts of the second row and the contact pads of the first row during insertion or withdrawal of the edgecard into or out of the connector. The ribs include ramps on either end and may be integrally molded with a spine which attaches to the bottom edge of the edgecard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Winchester Electronics
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kniese, Otto Schempp
  • Patent number: 4804334
    Abstract: A connector comprises a housing having a longitudinal slot in a top wall thereof for receiving a member being switched. Secured to a lower wall of the housing are contacts placed in recesses provided in side walls of the housing. The housing has a longitudinal passageway for reciprocations of a key therein for opening and closing the contacts. The key is made in the form of a rod having a projection which engages with inner surfaces of arms of the contacts when the key is moved. Projections are made on a wall of each recess, the outside surfaces thereof being embraced by the inner surfaces of the arms of the contacts when they are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventors: Boris V. Alexeenko, Gennady V. Nikolaenko
  • Patent number: 4737120
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrical connector (2) for electrically connecting contact surfaces (74) of a daughter board (18) to contact areas (46) of mother board (34). The connector (2) has contacts (36) positioned therein, the connector (2) having posts (38) which extend from the connector (2) and make electrical engagement with contact areas (46) of the mother board (34). The daughter board (18) is then inserted into the connector (2) under reduced or zero insertion force conditions and rotated to its operating position. As this rotation occurs, contact projections (60, 72) of the contacts (36) engage the contact surfaces (74) of the daughter board (18). The rotation is translated into a positive wiping action between the contact projections (60, 72) and the contact surfaces (74), thereby ensuring that a positive electrical connection is effected. The resilient nature of the contacts (36) ensures that this wiping action occurs under normal force conditions. The configuration and characteristics, i.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventors: Dimitry G. Grabbe, Iosif Korsunsky
  • Patent number: 4684194
    Abstract: A high density, zero-insertion-force electrical circuit board connector is provided comprising an insulator body having walls defined in part by reciprocally movable cams. Contacts with offset terminal portions are arranged in close-packed array and are simultaneously cammed into the closed position by cam followers mounted in a reinforced insulator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Jenkins, William F. Laubach