Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-19
2003-02-25
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S629000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06524118
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in connectors comprising any of various jacks such as so-called pin jacks or single-headed jacks.
2. Description of the Related Art
Two types of connectors attached to printed circuit boards for connecting mainly various types of electronic device to electrical and electronic circuit components on the printed circuit board are conventionally known, namely the board plug-in type and the surface mounting type. The former type is configured such that connector terminals are plugged into through holes in the printed circuit board, while the latter type is configured such that the connector is mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board.
Both of these types of connectors require soldering for securing them to the board and for electrically connecting the circuit components on the board. With the board plug-in type of connector, because it must undergo the processes of flux coating, reflow treatment, solder dipping, and washing, it is necessary to consider flux resistance, reflow heat resistance, solder heat resistance, chemical resistance, and solder wettability. With the surface mounting type of connector, on the other hand, because the processes of reflow treatment and washing must be undergone, it is necessary to consider reflow heat resistance, chemical resistance, and solder wettability.
In recent years, however, in order to avoid such problems as the destruction of the natural environment on a global scale, and the depletion of natural resources, the rapid transition from so-called use and throw away economics to so-called recycle economics has become a top priority. There is a high probability that in the near future manufacturers will be obligated to implement product recycling operations wherein it is presumed that, after various types of electrical products have once passed through the hands of a consumer, the original electrical equipment manufacturer will take those products back, disassemble them into their many components, and sort those components into reusable components which will be used in new products and unreusable components which will be disposed of.
Both of the connectors described earlier are configured such that they are securely attached to a board by soldering. In the case of the board plug-in type connector, in particular, the strength with which it is secured by soldering is comparatively great in view of the attachment structure thereof, wherefore it is impossible in practice to separate the connector and the printed circuit board without damaging both the connector and the printed circuit board. In the case of the surface mounting type of connector, on the other hand, the strength wherewith it is secured by soldering is weak, so the structure is made such that, when used, the area surrounding the points of attachment of both members is reinforced so that the pattern on the printed circuit board does not peel away, wherefore, as in the case described above, it is impossible in practice to separate the connector from the printed circuit board without damaging the connector and the board.
With the current level of technology, moreover, it is very difficult to manufacture connectors or printed circuit boards of materials that are highly resistant to heat, wherefore alloys that have too high a melting point cannot be used for the solder. Hence there is no alternative but to use solder made of alloys of tin and lead considered to have comparatively low melting point while fully cognizant of the adverse effects which lead has on the environment. Furthermore, so long as solder is used for securely attaching the connector to the printed circuit board, other problems arise because of the various processes required in soldering operations which are unfavorable to the natural environment, namely flux coating, reflow treatment, solder dipping, and washing, etc.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can be attached to a board with adequate attachment strength but without requiring soldering, and which can be easily removed from the board without causing damage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The connector according to the present invention comprises: a mechanism for determining the attachment position on the board, so that electrical connection is effected between the board and other electrical or electronic devices; and a mechanism for clamping the board for which the prescribed position was determined by the position determining mechanism with such pressing force that the connector will not break away from that prescribed position under conditions of ordinary use.
According to the configuration described above, the board positioned at the prescribed position by the positioning mechanism is clamped with such pressing force that [the connector] will not break away from the prescribed position, under conditions of ordinary use, due to the clamping mechanism. In other words, [the connector] can be attached to the board with adequate attachment strength without performing soldering. For that reason, the connector can be removed from the board easily without damaging either the connector or the board.
In a first preferred embodiment aspect relating to the present invention, the positioning mechanism described in the foregoing is a board insertion part for making electrical connection between an inserted board and another electrical or electronic device, with the board insertion part and the clamping mechanism deployed inside a main casing. The board inserted in the board insertion part is electrically connected to another electrical or electronic device through an electrical connection mechanism that reaches from the board insertion part to a jack for inserting a plug of the other electrical or electronic device or devices. That jack is either one or a plurality of pin jacks.
The pin jack comprises an outer contact that configures the outer shape and an insulator deployed about the inner circumference of the interior space bounded by the outer contact. The electrical connection mechanism described above comprises the outer contact and a center contact that reaches from the inner circumference of the insulator to the vicinity of an opening in the board insertion part. The center contact comprises a plug contact piece deployed on the inner circumference of the insulator and a board contact piece provided in the board insertion part, while the outer contact comprises a plug contact piece deployed on the outer circumference of the insulator and a board contact piece provided in the board insertion part. The plug contact pieces clamp a plug inserted into the pin jack with such pressing force that it will not break away from the plug contact piece under conditions of ordinary use. The board contact piece described above clamps the board inserted into the board insertion part with such pressing force that it will not break away from the board contact piece under conditions of ordinary use.
The clamping mechanism described in the foregoing is a center contact and board contact piece of outer contact. The board insertion part is provided with ribs at the opening thereof to prevent deformation. The board insertion part is configured so that the board insertion position is secured at the position where (a) wiring round(s) positioned on the board is/are clamped by the board contact piece. At suitable locations on the outer contact are formed fixation holes, and at suitable locations on the main casing are formed catches that engage the fixation holes. By releasing the fixation of the catches in the fixation holes, the attached condition described in the foregoing between the outer contact, insulator, center contact, and main casing is undone.
The main casing is provided with through holes for inserting fasteners for fixing the board with an attached panel or panels.
In a second preferred embodiment aspect relating to the present invention, the jack mentioned earlier is a single-headed jack. The single-headed jack has a rough
Kikuchi Eiji
Yamakawa Hiroji
Armstrong Westerman & Hattori, LLP
Nguyen Khiem
Nippon Dics Co., Ltd.
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