Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-05-08
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a contact of an electrical connector, and in particular to a contact structure that meets the requirements of high-speed signal transmission.
2. The Prior Art
Electrical connectors provide electrical connections between electrical devices. Signals transmitted between the electrical devices are sent through the electrical connectors. The operational speed of electrical devices is substantially increased recently and it requires high speed transmission of signals therebetween in order to maintain the performance thereof. Thus, the electrical connectors have to be capable to transmit signals in high speed/frequency. For high-speed applications, contacts of an electrical connector must have low inductance. A general way to achieve the low inductance requirement for a contact is to increase the cross-sectional area of the contact through which electrical current flows and/or to reduce length of the contact for shortening the current path. Increasing the cross-sectional area or shortening the length of a contact, however, increases the magnitude of the normal force acting upon a mating contact engaging therewith thereby increasing the insertion force between mating connectors.
It is thus desired to provide a contact of an electrical connector which eliminates the dilemma discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a contact of an electrical connector which reduces the inductance thereof while maintaining a low mating force.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a contact of an electrical connector which allows easy adjustment of the inductance thereof while maintaining a low mating force.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for making a contact of an electrical connector of which the inductance is readily adjusted while the mating force is maintained low.
To achieve the above objects, a contact of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a base fixed in a corresponding slot defined in a housing of the connector and a spring beam extending from the base for resiliently engaging with a circuit board inserted into the connector. The contact is made from a thin metal sheet by blanking. The spring beam of the contact has a cross-sectional area determined by first and second dimensions thereof. The second dimension corresponds to the thickness of the metal sheet and the first dimension is parallel to the surface of the metal sheet and thus is allowed to increase as desired in the blanking process. The increase of the first dimension increases the cross-sectional area thereby reducing the inductance of the spring beam. The spring contact is then twisted to switch the first and second dimensions thereof whereby bending rigidity of the spring beam is substantially reduced leading to a reduction of the normal force acting upon the spring beam when the circuit board is inserted into the connector. Thus, the mating force for connecting the circuit board to the connector is reduced, while the inductance is kept low. Electrical and mechanical requirements for a high transmission speed connector are thus met simultaneously.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3348191 (1967-10-01), Kinkaid
patent: 3530422 (1970-09-01), Goodman
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Paumen Gary F.
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