Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-24
2001-10-16
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302708
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector assembled to a wiring substrate and particularly, it relates to an improvement of a tab structure of the connector.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the conventional connector, a female connector housing is fixed on the under face of the substrate so as to agree with a rectangular opening in the wiring substrate. The connector housing of this kind is equipped with a plurality of tabs. In spite of one piece of conductive metal plate, each tab can be divided into three sections by folding: a base part; an inner extension part extending from an inner end of the base part upward; an outer extension part extending from an outer end of the base part upward. In this way, the tab is shaped to have a substantial U-shape d configuration. In arrangement, the tab is arranged so that the base part creeps on the bottom of the housing and the inner extension part projects into the interior of the connector housing. The outer extension part is arranged so as to extend along the outer wall of the connector housing upward thereby to project from the top face of the wiring substrate. On the side of the top face, the outer extension part is soldered to a circuit pattern constructed on the substrate for electrical connection.
There is also known another connector structure where a female connector housing is apart from the wiring substrate. In this case, the connector housing is carried by the wiring substrate through the intermediary of tabs. Similarly to the previous connector, each tab of the connector has a substantial U-shaped configuration, consisting of the base part, the inner extension part and the outer extension part. Equally, the tab is arranged in a manner that the base part creeps on the bottom of the housing and the inner extension part projects into the housing, while the outer extension part projects on the back face of the wiring substrate. On the side of the back face, the outer extension part is soldered to a circuit pattern of the substrate.
Since the above-mentioned connectors of two kinds adopt the U-shaped tabs in common, it is necessary to lengthen the outer and inner extension parts corresponding to the height of the housing. That is, in common with the former and latter connectors, each tab has a long length in its unfolded condition and the outer extension parts of the tab exposes itself to the outside of the housing. Consequently, there arises a problem of causing the connector to be large-sized, reducing the reliability.
Additionally, in case of the above connector in which an inner extension part of each tab projects upward, the male connector to be mated with the connector is necessary to have a structure to accept the inner extension part, exhibiting a reduced application for the male connector for flexible wiring substrate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Under the circumstances, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector for a substrate, which is capable of miniaturizing the connector itself and improving the reliability by the improvement of the structure of tabs. Further, it is another object of the invention to provide the connector which can ensure the application for a male connector for a flexible wiring substrate.
The object of the present invention described above can be accomplished by a connector for a wiring substrate having a circuit pattern formed thereon, the wiring substrate having an opening, the connector comprising:
a connector housing provided with a bottom and a fitting port, the connector housing being fixed on the wiring substrate so that the fitting port agrees with the opening of the wiring substrate; and
at least one tab in the form of a conductive metal piece which is arranged inside and outside the connector housing;
wherein, in an arrangement where the connector housing is positioned under the wiring substrate, the tab consists of a lower extension part extending downward, a horizontal part succeeding to an upper end of the lower extension part at substantial right angles and extending horizontally and an upper extension part succeeding to an end of the horizontal part and extending upward; and
the tab is arranged on the connector housing so that the horizontal part traverses in a direction of the thickness of a sidewall forming the connector housing and the lower extension part extends along an inner face of the sidewall, while the upper extension part penetrates the wiring substrate and is soldered to the circuit pattern of the wiring substrate.
With the arrangement of the tab, it is possible to reduce the length of the upper extension part in comparison with that of the conventional connector, thereby decreasing the length of the unfolded tab. Further, since the tab does not expose itself to the outside of the connector housing, it is possible to provide the small-sized connector. With the arrangement of the lower extension part on the inner face of the connector housing, the so-constructed connector can be used in combination with a normal male connector for a flexible wiring substrate.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the connector housing has a groove formed on an inner face of the sidewall of the connector housing for receiving the lower extension part and another groove formed on an upper end face of the sidewall for receiving the horizontal part.
In this case, the lower extension part and the horizontal part can be retained in the grooves certainly. Accordingly, in case of the connector housing equipped with a plurality of tabs, they can be positioned on the connector housing at precise intervals.
According to the third aspect of the invention, the fitting port of the connector housing is shaped to be rectangular.
In this case, the male connector to be mated to the connector housing is also shaped to be rectangular.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a connector for a wiring substrate having a circuit pattern formed thereon, the wiring substrate having an opening, the connector comprising:
a connector housing provided with a bottom and a fitting port, the connector housing being adjusted in position so that the fitting port agrees with the opening of the wiring substrate; and
at least one tab in the form of a conductive metal piece which is arranged inside and outside the connector housing;
wherein, in an arrangement where the connector housing is positioned under the wiring substrate in a distance, the tab consists of a lower extension part extending downward, a horizontal part succeeding to the upper end of the lower extension part at substantial right angles and extending horizontally and an upper extension part succeeding to an end of the horizontal part and extending upward; and
the tab is arranged on the connector housing so that the lower extension part extends in the connector housing toward the bottom of the housing, the horizontal part penetrates a sidewall forming the connector housing, and the upper extension part extends outside the connector housing upward and penetrates the wiring substrate and is soldered to the circuit pattern on the wiring substrate.
With the arrangement of the tab, it is possible to reduce the length of the upper extension part subjected to exposure to the outside of the connector housing. Therefore, the length of the unfolded tab can be decreased thereby to provide the small-sized connector.
According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the horizontal part is provided, on the side of the fitting port of the connector housing, with a tapered face.
Owing to the provision of the tapered face, it is possible to reinforce the tab's portion to be abutted against a spring part of the male connector. Furthermore, the tapered face of the horizontal part allows the spring part of the male connector to pass through the horizontal part with ease.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the fitting port of the connector housing is shaped to be rectangular in the latter invention.
Also in this case, the male connector to be
Okabe Toshiaki
Torii Chieko
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Le Thanh-Tam
Sircus Brian
Yazaki -Corporation
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