Electrical connectors – Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-30
2001-11-20
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
C310S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319054
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to electrical connectors, and in particular, miniature connectors that enable secure and efficient electrical interconnections between electronic subassemblies such as printed circuit boards (PCB's) and electronic devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior art methods have been employed for some time to interconnect electronic subassemblies, such as printed circuit boards. For example, in connecting electronic components such as loudspeakers and the like to circuit boards within cellular phones, connectors have been used to mate such electronic components to the circuit board.
A primary concern for cellular phones and other relatively small electronic devices is the limited space available to connect boards or subassemblies within the electronic device. Using conventional connectors, conductive electrical metallic alloy contacts are used to flex in a pressing action against other electrical devices, such as a contact pad on a circuit board. This pressing action forms a secure electrical pathway. As the need for smaller connectors has increased, it has become more difficult to provide for a secure electronic connection in a limited amount of space.
Electrical connectors using metallic electrical contacts must provide for a certain minimum beam length in order to facilitate enough flexibility to engage an electrical surface securely. Without a certain minimum or threshold length, the metal used to construct the elongated contacts cannot withstand the stress and pressure of flexibly engaging an electrical contact surface. The miniaturization of connectors, therefore, has made it more difficult to provide for a metallic contact beam of sufficient length and strength to provide a secure connection. In modern connectors, the beam length of the metallic contacts has been minimized such that the total length of the beam approaches the size (or diameter) of the insulative body which itself holds these metallic contacts in place. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide for a minimum beam length for electrical contacts using a smaller total connector body diameter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical connector particularly suited for interconnecting loudspeakers, microphones, and other electronic subcomponents.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector that exhibits, in a small overall size or package, a maximized beam length for electrical contacts to facilitate greater miniaturization of the overall connector.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An electrical connector device for engaging a loudspeaker to another conductive member is provided in one embodiment of the invention. The device includes a circuit board. Further, the connector comprises an insulating body having an inner surface and an outer surface. In general, the connector is integrated into the electronic device, or loudspeaker, and is not a separate entity. At least one pair of connector elements are configured within said body, each said connector element comprising contact feet having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the contact feet extend generally beyond the outer surface of the insulating body for electrical contact with a conductive member. Further, the proximal end of the contact feet extend into the receptacle for electrical contact with the loudspeaker. The contact feet are configured to flex along their length to provide for pressing contact against the conductive member.
Additionally, a conductive can having an outer engaging surface operatively connected to the loudspeaker is provided. The can also includes an interior, and contains at least one channel on its interior.
The channel of the can is configured to receive the foot of a connector element, thereby facilitating a path for the connector element within the channel that provides for pressing contact of the connector element against the conductive member. This pressing contact enables the overall length of the connector element to be maximized relative to the diameter of the electrical connector device.
The electrical connector device further comprises, as one option, an orientation slot to facilitate placement of the connector during manufacture. The electrical connector device is provided, in another embodiment, such that the proximal end of the contact feet comprise electrical contact pads.
In one aspect of the invention, the electrical connector device is provided wherein the contact feet are S-shaped. The electrical connector device is also provided in which the length of the contact feet is greater than the diameter of the insulative body.
In one embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector device is provided in which the can comprises an upper flat surface, wherein the can electrically engages a loudspeaker upon its upper surface.
In another embodiment of the invention, the electrical connector contact feet extend across the width of at least a portion of the can and at least a portion of the body. In other aspects of the invention, the can comprises a portion of a carrier strip for a plurality of electrical connector devices.
In one aspect of the invention, an electrical connector device is provided in which the contact feet flex along their length to provide for pressing contact against a printed circuit board (PCB). In one optional embodiment, the electrical connector device includes a carrier strip that comprises iron.
In one embodiment, an electrical connector device is provided for engaging a loudspeaker to another conductive member, including a circuit board, in a stacked configuration. In this alternative embodiment, the connector comprises an insulating body having an inner surface and an outer surface. Further, at least one connector element is configured within the body. The connector element comprises contact feet, a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the connector element extends beyond the outer surface of the insulating body for electrical contact with a conductive member, and the proximal end of the connector element extends into the receptacle for electrical contact with the loudspeaker. In addition, a pad projection is located along the length of the connector element. A can having an outer engaging surface operatively connected to the loudspeaker is also provided, the can further comprising at least one channel. The channel of the can is configured to receive the connector element.
In one aspect of the invention, the electrical connector also comprises a top ridge which facilitates “pick and place” automated manufacturing. In one embodiment, the electrical connector is provided with at least one connector element that is L-shaped. The electrical connector device also is provided in which the connector element has no more than one stress point along its length while flexed. In other embodiments, more than one stress point is provided in the connector element.
An electrical connector device is also provided in which the body comprises at least one keyway aperture. In one embodiment, the electrical connector device provides at least two connector elements generally parallel to each other within the body, the elements forming a top space between each other. In one aspect of the invention, the electrical connector device is provided in which the pad projections to interact with speaker connection wires.
One embodiment of the invention further includes a top space that occupied by an air flow reduction means. In loudspeaker applications, the air flow between and around the electrical contacts (i.e. through the device) is very important to maintain the acoustical quality of the loudspeaker that is associated with the connector. An air flow reduction means may increase the sound quality of the loudspeaker to which the connector is attached.
The electrical connector device also is provided
AVX Corporation
Dority & Manning P.A.
Patel Tulsidas
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