Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-09-11
Luebke, Renee (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S066000, C439S940000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287151
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector which is adapted for vacuum transfer and placement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vacuum transfer and placement mechanisms are well known in the electronic assembly art and are used for retrieving electronic components, such as connectors, from a supply source and transferring them by applying negative air pressure to the connectors and placing them onto a printed circuit board in preselected positions for soldering. Typically, such mechanisms are used with robotic assemblers and include a transfer arm with an engagement end that is pneumatically connected to a source of negative air pressure. This negative air pressure creates a vacuum at a vacuumsuction nozzle at the engagement end of the transfer arm which can be used to effectively “grab” a connector so that the connector may be robotically transferred into a placement position with great accuracy onto a circuit board or like component.
With the ever-increasing miniaturization of electronic circuits and components, it often is difficult to provide a surface area of a size sufficient for engagement by a vacuum-suction nozzle. In fact, most electrical connectors, particularly electronic connectors for mounting on a printed circuit board, are devoid of large flat portions which can be engaged by the vacuum-suction nozzle. For instance, one type of connector adapted for mounting on a circuit board includes a plurality of terminals arranged side-by-side in a generally parallel array, with each terminal having an inclined cantilever-like spring contact arm extending upwardly and having a contact portion projecting above the top surface of the connector housing. The cantilevered spring contact arms are inclined in opposite directions alternatingly lengthwise of the connector to provide balanced forces when the contact portions of the arms are engaged by a complementary mating connector, a second A printed board or the like. By alternating the terminals, there is no room whatsoever for a flat surface area engageable by a vacuum-suction nozzle.
One solution to the above problem would be to simply enlarge the connector to provide an adequate surface area for the vacuum-suction nozzle to engage. This solution is unacceptable because the enlarged connector would take up too much valuable “real estate” on the printed circuit board. Another solution to the problem would be to eliminate the alternating arrangement of the terminals and have all of the terminals with their cantilevered spring contact arms being oriented in only one direction, leaving sufficient area behind the cantilevered arms for engagement by the vacuumsuction nozzle. This solution in unacceptable because the mating forces on all of the spring contact arms oriented in only one direction will create undesirable stresses concentrated at one lateral side of the connector. Such undue stresses could actually destroy the solder connections of the terminals to the circuit traces on the printed circuit board. The present invention is directed to solving these problems by uniquely arranging the terminals in groupings which allow for a sufficient surface area on the housing for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle, while avoiding concentration of mating stresses to one side of the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector adapted for manipulation by a vacuum-suction nozzle.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes a dielectric housing having a top surface. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing, and each terminal includes a spring contact arm extending above the top surface of the housing. The terminals are arranged into a plurality of distinct groups, with the spring contact arms of the terminals in one group being oriented different from the spring contact arms of the terminals in at least one other group. The groups are arranged to leave a surface area of the housing top surface of a size sufficient for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle.
As disclosed herein, the spring contact arms comprise upwardly inclined cantilevered arms having contact portions projecting above the top surface of the housing. The cantilevered spring contact arms of the terminals in the one group are inclined upwardly in a direction opposite the inclination of the spring contact arms of the terminals in the at least one other group.
In the preferred embodiment, the housing includes opposite lateral sides. The spring contact arms of the terminals in the one group are located along one lateral side of the housing, and the spring contact arms of the terminals in the at least one other group are located along an opposite lateral side. Preferably, two of the other groups of terminals are located at opposite ends of the one group of terminals to provide a good balancing of the overall mating forces on the terminals.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Matsuzaki Shin-ichi
Niitsu Toshihiro
Figueroa Felix O.
Luebke Renee
Molex Incorporated
Weiss Stephen Z.
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