Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-04-09
2003-09-02
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
C439S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06612851
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to connector assemblies that electrically connect electronic components. More particularly, certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a high-speed, high-volume connector assembly that electrically connects printed circuit boards.
Because conventional printed circuit boards are manufactured to have limited sizes, some electronic applications require printed circuit boards to be laterally aligned across a desired distance and electrically connected by a connector assembly. The connector assembly transfers electric signals and power between the printed circuit boards.
The typical connector assembly for laterally adjacent printed circuit boards includes socket connectors that are attached to electrical contacts on top surfaces of the printed circuit boards proximate the adjacent edges thereof. The socket connectors have conductive contacts that are soldered to the electrical contacts on the printed circuit boards. The connector assembly also includes a flex circuit having two connected wafers. The wafers have conductive layers and conductive contacts. Each conductive contact on one wafer is connected to a corresponding conductive contact on the other wafer by a trace extending through one of the conductive layers. Each wafer is positioned on a socket connector such that the conductive contacts of the wafer are aligned with corresponding conductive contacts on the socket connectors, thus creating an electrical path between the printed circuit boards. The flex circuit is fastened onto the socket connectors and printed circuit boards by screws that extend therethrough into bolster plates located on opposite sides of the printed circuit boards. The screws apply a load force against the flex circuit and the socket connectors such that the flex circuit, socket connectors, and printed circuit boards are maintained in electrical contact.
Often the typical connector assembly includes a plurality of flex circuits that successively overlap each other along the top surfaces of the printed circuit boards such that each flex circuit extends a different distance laterally along, and vertically above, the printed circuit boards than the other flex circuits.
The typical connector assembly suffers from a number of drawbacks. First, if a thin bolster plate is used with the screws, the screws do not apply enough load force to effectively engage all of the conductive contacts of the flex circuit with the conductive contacts of the socket connectors. Additionally, the screws do not apply enough load force to connect a flex circuit having more than a few conductive layers, so a limited number of traces are available to connect the conducting contacts of the flex circuit. Thus the connector assembly processes a limited number of electrical signals at a slow speed. The screws may be fastened to a larger bolster plate in order to apply a large enough load force to electrically connect a greater number of the conductive contacts of the flex circuit and the socket connectors and effectively retain a flex circuit having additional conductive layers, however, the larger bolster plate further increases the profile of the connector assembly and limits the versatility of the printed circuit boards in electronic applications.
Secondly, because the load forces are mainly applied at the fixed location of each screw, the load force is unevenly distributed across the flex circuit. Many conductive contacts on the flex circuit therefore do not engage corresponding conductive contacts on the socket connector regardless of the size of the bolster plate. The uneven distribution of the load force leads to a limited volume and frequency of the electrical signals traveling through the connector assembly.
Finally, the use of a plurality of flex circuits to increase the volume and frequency of the electrical signals requires thicker bolster plates to absorb the load force of additional screws. Also, the varying lateral and vertical lengths of the different flex circuits result in a different inductance experienced by the electrical signals that pass through each flex circuit. Thus, the electrical signals are conducted through different flex circuits at different speeds and pass through the connector assembly at different times. This differentiation in frequency results in an inconsistent distribution of power and data along the printed circuit boards that limits the operation speed of the electronic application.
Therefore, a need exists for a connector assembly that overcomes the above problems and addresses other concerns experienced in the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for an electrical connector assembly that includes first and second circuit boards configured to be positioned proximate each other and having electrical contacts on top and bottom sides thereof. The electrical connector assembly also includes socket connectors having conductive contacts positioned upon the top and bottom sides of the circuit boards such that the conductive contacts and the electrical contacts are electrically connected with one another. The electrical connector assembly also includes first and second flex circuits having conductive contacts. The first flex circuit interconnects the electrical contacts on the top sides of the first and second circuit board. The second flex circuit interconnects electrical contacts on the bottom sides of the first and second circuit boards such that the first and second flex circuits are located opposite each other. The electrical connector assembly also includes at least one load cell configured to exert a load force against at least one of the first and second flex circuits to compress the first and second flex circuits and the socket connectors against the first and second circuit boards.
Certain embodiments of the present inventions provide for an electrical connector assembly including first and second circuit boards proximate each other, each of first and second circuit boards having a first side and a second side. The electrical connector assembly includes a flex circuit electrically connected to the first sides of the first and second circuit boards that carries electrical signals therebetween. The electrical connector also includes load cells having at least one bowed spring, a base plate, and a cover plate. The spring has a peak portion and end portions and is compressed between the base and cover plates. The peak portion engages one of the base and cover plates and the end portions engage another of the base and cover plates to exert a load force on the base and cover plates. The load cells are located on the first and second circuit boards opposite each other on the first and second sides.
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a load cell including a base adapted to be mounted to a flex circuit having a notched recess located in a contact face of the base. The load cell includes a cover received in the notched recess to define a spring retention chamber extending along a lateral axis arranged parallel to the contact face. The load cell also includes a flex beam located in the spring retention chamber. The flex beam is bowed with opposed end portions engaging one of the base and cover and includes an intermediate portion between the opposed end portions that engages another of the base and cover. The flex beam is compressed between the base and cover to exert a load force on the base and cover.
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Alden, III Wayne S.
Amaral Donald
Goodwin Jonathan W.
Petrocelli William
Patel Tulsidas
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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