Electrical connectors – With indicating or identifying provision – Connection indicating provision
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-05
2001-08-14
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With indicating or identifying provision
Connection indicating provision
C439S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273747
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of priority based on German Patent Application No. 19941845.4, filed Sep. 2, 1999, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The claimed invention relates to a connector in which a flat flexible cable (FFC) is fixed between a connector body and a catch. The claimed invention also relates to a method for checking electrical contact between conductors in the FFC and contact pins on the connector body.
Conventional FFC connectors clamp the cable between a connector body and a catch. These conventional FFC connectors can be produced cheaply and allow compact connector dimensions for a large number of contact pins. The process of using these conventional FFC includes clamping the flat cable such that mechanical fixing and electrical contact between the conductors of the cable and the contact pins of the connector are achieved concurrently. For this process, the contact pins normally have contact surfaces that produce the contact with the conductors of the flat cable. However, when fitting conventional FFC connectors to a flat cable, it is possible for faults to occur if the cable is not clamped sufficiently firmly in the connector, or if the conductors in the cable are slightly misaligned with respect to the contact surfaces. This is particular disadvantageous in automotive applications in which good resistance to vibration is required.
An example of such a conventional FFC connector is disclosed in German Patent Specification No. 196 09 522 C2. A plug connection between a connector and a mating connector includes an additional lock in order to prevent it from being released inadvertently. Another example is disclosed in German Laid-Open Specification No. 44 41 137 A1. A connection having a connector and a mating connector includes a short-circuiting contact element with elastic contact pieces that make it possible to detect whether contact has been made correctly. However, only correct joining of the connector and mating connector is ensured with these connectors. There is no assurance that the conductors in a cable make contact with the contact pins in the connector or the mating connector.
German Laid-Open Specification No. 25 37 421 A1 discloses a connector for flat cables that aligns the individual parts of the connector with respect to one another and simplifies the insertion of the flat cable. The connector has a connector body through which the contact pins pass, a bearing surface on which the flat cable makes electrical contact with the contact pins, and a catch that makes electrical contact with the flat cable.
German Laid-Open Specification No. 38 38 657 A1 discloses a plug connector in which two contacts are arranged on one connector half and two mating contacts are arranged on the other connector half. A short-circuiting link connects the two mating contacts, so that the connector can be monitored for inadvertent disconnection.
It is known from the abstract for Japanese Application No. 6-231834 A that a plurality of contact elements, i.e., contact pins and contact sockets, in a plug connector can be used to check the contact status. Pairs of contact elements on each side of the connector are connected to one another in such a way that a closed monitoring circuit is formed when the connector is joined.
It is also known from the abstract for Japanese Application No. 11296262 A that an arrangement for a printed circuit connector can include two contacts located on the connector and two short-circuited mating contacts located on the printed circuit. This arrangement can be used to check the status of the contact between the printed circuit and the connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The claimed invention provides a connector for a flat flexible cable, e.g., a data cable, and a method for checking the electrical contact between the connector and the flat flexible cable. Moreover, the electrical contact between the conductors in the flat flexible cable and contact pins in the connector can be checked reliably and easily.
The claimed invention provides a connector for a flat flexible cable having a plurality of electrical conductors electrically isolated from one another by an insulating jacket. The connector comprises body having a surface adapted for contiguously engaging the flat flexible cable; at least one pin extending through the body, each at least one pin adapted for electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of electrical conductors; a set of first contacts arranged on the surface, each one of the first contacts being electrically interconnected with a respective pin; a catch cooperatively engaging the body and adapted for mechanically fixing the flat flexible cable against the surface; a set of second contacts arranged on the catch, each one of the second contacts cooperatively mating with a respective one of the first contacts; and a link electrically interconnecting the second contacts.
The claimed invention also provides an electrical connection system that comprises a flexible cable extending between first and second ends, the flexible cable having a plurality of electrical conductors electrically isolated from one another by an insulating jacket; a first connector at the first end of the flexible cable, and a second connector at the second end of the flexible cable. The first connector includes a first body having a first surface contiguously engaging the first end of the flexible cable; a set of first pins extending through the first body, each one of the first pins electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of electrical conductors; a set of first contacts arranged on the first surface, each one of the first contacts being electrically interconnected with a respective first pin; a first catch cooperatively engaging the first body and mechanically fixing the first end of the flexible cable against the first surface; a set of second contacts arranged on the first catch, each one of the second contacts cooperatively mating with a respective one of the first contacts; and a first link electrically interconnecting the second contacts. The second connector includes a second body having a second surface contiguously engaging the second end of the flexible cable; a set of second pins extending through the second body, each one of the second pins electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of electrical conductors; a set of third contacts arranged on the second surface, each one of the third contacts being electrically interconnected with a respective second pin; a second catch cooperatively engaging the second body and mechanically fixing the second end of the flexible cable against the second surface; a set of fourth contacts arranged on the second catch, each one of the fourth contacts cooperatively mating with a respective one of the third contacts; and a second link electrically interconnecting the fourth contacts.
The claimed invention further provides a method for testing an electrical connection system. The method comprises providing a flexible cable extending between first and second ends, the flexible cable having a plurality of electrical conductors electrically isolated from one another by an insulating jacket; providing a first connector at the first end of the flexible cable, providing a second connector at the second end of the flexible cable, providing a measuring device electrically interconnecting a first contact and its respective first pin; applying an electrical signal with the measuring device; and determining an existence of an electrical loop. The first connector includes a first body having a first surface contiguously engaging the first end of the flexible cable; a set of first pins extending through the first body, each one of the first pins electrically contacting a respective one of the plurality of electrical conductors; a set of first contacts arranged on the first surface, each one of the first contacts being electrically interconnected with a respective
Patel Tulsidas
Prasad Chandrika
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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