Electrical connector assembly

Details Electrical connector assembly Electrical connector assembly

2000-07-14

2001-08-14

Paumen, Gary (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including or for use with tape cable

With mating connection region formed by bared cable

C439S660000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273748

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to an electrical connector assembly for connecting a flat flexible circuit and a printed circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various electrical connector assemblies have been designed for terminating a flat flexible circuit, including board-to-board connector assemblies for connecting the flat flexible circuit to a printed circuit board. Such board-to-board connector assemblies often include a female or receptacle connector and a mating male or plug connector. The flat flexible circuit is terminated to one of the connectors typically by inserting an end of the flexible circuit into an elongated mouth of the connector and biasing conductors of the flexible circuit into engagement with conductive terminals of the connector while somehow securing the flexible circuit in the mouth of the connector.
Connector assemblies of the character described above continue to suffer deficiencies and create problems due to the inadequacies and inconsistent contacts at the connecting interface of the connectors of the assembly as well as in the termination area between the flat flexible circuit and one of the connectors. This invention is directed to solving those problems by providing a more efficient and reliable connector assembly than has heretofore been available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector assembly for electrically interconnecting a flat flexible circuit and another connecting device such as a printed circuit board.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector assembly includes an elongated female connector having a dielectric housing with a mating face in a top side of the housing and an elongated receptacle in the mating face. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing and are spaced along opposite sides of the receptacle. The terminals have flexible contact portions projecting into the receptacle and tail portions for connection to appropriate conductors of the flat flexible circuit at a bottom side of the housing.
An elongated male connector includes a dielectric housing adapted for mounting on the printed circuit board. The housing has an elongated plug portion for inserting into the receptacle of the female connector in a mating direction. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and are spaced along the plug portion. The terminals have contact portions on opposite sides of the plug portion for engaging the contact portions of the terminals of the female connector, and tail portions for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board.
According to one aspect of the invention, the dielectric housing of the female connector includes a plurality of terminal-receiving passages communicating with the receptacle in the housing. The passages are open at lateral sides of the housing for insertion thereinto of the terminals of the female connector in a direction transversely of the mating direction.
According to another aspect of the invention, the tail portions of the terminals of the female connector penetrate the flat flexible circuit and are bent beneath the circuit to secure the circuit to the bottom side of the housing of the female connector.
According to a further aspect of the invention, each conductive terminal of the female connector includes a base portion engaged in the housing of the female connector and an S-shaped flexible portion extending from the base portion. One end of the S-shaped flexible portion is integral with the base portion. The contact portion of the terminal is located at an opposite end of the S-shaped flexible portion. The contact portion is bent back adjacent itself to a tip end of the terminal. The tip end is aligned for abutment with the S-shaped portion to provide an anti-overstress means for the contact portion.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4252397 (1981-02-01), Eigenbrode et al.
patent: 5667393 (1997-09-01), Grabbe et al.
patent: 5975916 (1999-11-01), Okura

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