Electrical connector for FPC

Details Electrical connector for FPC Electrical connector for FPC

1999-11-29

2001-04-03

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including or for use with tape cable

With mating connection region formed by bared cable

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210209

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector and particularly to an electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) with a complementary connector and in turn to a circuit board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electrical connectors are normally used to aid in connecting a FPC to a conventional circuit board. One example of the related art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,506. As is shown in
FIG. 4
, a conventional connector for a FPC comprises an insulative housing
5
, a plurality of electrical terminals
6
mounted in the housing
5
, and a rotatable cover plate
7
mounted at a fulcrum portion
8
of the terminal
6
facing an open space above the terminals
6
. While the cover plate
7
is in the open position as shown in phantom in
FIG. 4
, the FPC
9
is inserted into a cavity
10
of the housing
5
between the terminals
6
and the cover plate
7
at a zero insertion force. Then the cover plate
7
is turned clockwise around the fulcrum portion
8
through an angle of nearly 90° to a closed position and a pressure edge
71
at the lower surface thereof directly presses the FPC
9
to the electrical terminals
6
.
The FPC
9
can be electrically connected with the connector in the way described above, but the pressure exerted on the FPC
9
by the cover plate
7
is applied to the terminals
6
directly. The terminals
6
may be permanently deformed by use, resulting in decreased resilience and an increase in the gap between the terminals
6
and the cover plate
7
which in turn can result in unstable signal transmission and unstable retention of the FPC
9
in the housing
5
. Furthermore, the cover plate
7
is loose when in an open position and can readily cause deformation or damage to the housing
5
if acted upon by an unintentional external force or vibration. Lastly the connector occupies a relative large area of precious space in a computer, which runs counter to the present trend toward miniaturization and integration of computer elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for connecting a FPC with a board-mounted connector such as a board to board connector and resolving the above mentioned problems of the prior art.
An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing, a plurality of generally U-shaped electrical contacts disposed in the housing, and a stuffer mountable to the housing.
The dielectric housing defines a receptacle portion on one side for receiving a FPC and a plug portion on an opposite side for mating with the board-mounted connector. The receptacle portion of the housing defines an elongated channel and the plug portion has a pair of grooves and a central portion separating the two grooves. The central portion of the plug portion defines a contact retention structure comprising a plurality of passages in opposite sides thereof and a plurality of supporting posts separating opposite passages. The plug portion of the housing has a pair of engaging members projecting from lateral end walls thereof.
Each U-shaped contact laterally straddles one of the supporting posts and is retained by the contact retention structure of the central portion to positively engage with a corresponding terminal of the board-mounted connector. Each contact comprises a curved contacting finger extending into the elongated channel of the receptacle portion.
The stuffer comprises a pressing portion and an engaging portion depending from and perpendicular to the pressing portion. The engaging portion has a main body and a pair of arms relatively longer than the main body to adjustably engage with the engaging member of the housing thereby adjusting the relative position of the stuffer and the housing. The main body of the engaging portion presses the FPC, which is inserted between the main body and a mating wall of the elongated channel, against the curved contacting fingers of the electrical contacts situated close to the mating wall. The distal edge of the main body of the engaging portion and the bottom corner of the channel of the housing form ramps complementary with each other.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5458506 (1995-10-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5525072 (1996-06-01), Kunishi
patent: 5906504 (1999-05-01), Igarashi et al.
patent: 5921785 (1999-07-01), Ii
patent: 5928027 (1999-07-01), Kunishi
patent: 5928029 (1999-07-01), Lam

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