Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-13
2001-05-15
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C361S807000, C439S698000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231370
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to electrical connectors and more particularly to electrical connectors for mounting a leaded electronic component to a circuit bearing article.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of leaded electronic components in electrical devices is well known. The components may include surface mountable leads, or through-hole leads, which can be mounted to a circuit bearing article by various methods as known in the art. For purposes of illustrating the invention, the connector will be described with reference to a pager and quartz crystal used with the pager. It is to be understood that the invention is suitable for use with other electronic devices and components as well, such as personal communication system devices, or the like. In pagers and similar electronic devices, it is necessary to key or encode a circuit board and a specified component with a unique telephone or pager number.
Typically a pager will include a leaded quartz crystal having a specific code. In the prior art, this quartz crystal was hand soldered to a circuit board. The circuit board was then marked with the unique coding for use in a pager by a customer. If the customer wanted to change the pager number, it was necessary to return the circuit board with the crystal soldered thereto to the manufacturer to provide a new board with another crystal. It is desirable, therefore, to provide a system whereby a crystal could be readily mounted to the circuit board of the pager and the resulting telephone number or code be changed without having to return the circuit board to the manufacturer for reworking or replacement.
Furthermore, hand soldering of the leads of the crystal is a time consuming process. It is also desirable therefore, to have a system for securing the leaded component to the circuit bearing article without the need for hand soldering, thereby facilitating assembly of the pagers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to connecting an electronic component to a circuit bearing article, such as a circuit board, that eliminates problems associated with the prior art. An electrical connector for mounting a leaded component to a board includes a housing having a base with at least one end wall and opposed side walls extending upwardly therefrom, altogether defining a component-receiving cavity. The housing further includes at least first and second terminal-receiving passageways having first and second terminals desposed therein. The component-receiving cavity extends to an entrance along an insertion face. Each of the first and second terminals include a lead-terminating section and connecting section for electrical connection to a circuit terminus of a circuit bearing article. Each lead-terminating section is exposed to the insertion face for terminating to a respective component lead during component insertion. Each of the two opposed side walls include an inwardly directed retention portion substantially parallel to and spaced above the base and dimensioned to engage and extend over a respective portion of an upper surface of an electronic component to secure the component in the cavity upon full insertion thereof.
In one embodiment the housing includes a second end wall and a further retention or latching portion. The side walls may be formed of dielectric material or may be metal.
The advantages of the present invention include that the electronic components for a pager, or the like, can be readily changed, without having to “unsolder” the leads as in the prior art. Thus, in the case of a pager, the pager retailer can change “calling numbers” for the pager without having to return the entire assembly to the pager manufacturer. Additionally in manufacturing the pager, the electrical connector can be secured to the circuit board at the same time other permanently mounted components are mounted thereto, by means known in the art. The structure of the electrical connector as well as the electronic component permits pick-and-place equipment to be used to facilitate manufacturing. Furthermore, the capability of loading the component from the top of the connector housing, rather than inserting the component into an end of the housing allows other electrical devices to be mounted close to the connector on the circuit board, thereby helping to minimize the size of the circuit board used within the pager.
In one example of the connector, the housing defines a top mountable cavity in which the leaded component includes right angle leads. In another example, the electronic component includes straight leads. It is to be understood that the housing may be orientated in either a horizontal or vertical direction relative to the circuit board. It is to be further understood that the electronic component may have two or more leads and that the housing will include a corresponding number of terminals, one for each lead.
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Abstract of the Invention, Docket No. 16768, Serial No. 08/768,875, Filed Dec. 17, 1996.
Derstine Michael Paul
Morin Scott Frederick
Hyeon Hae Moon
Sircus Brian
The Whitaker Corporation
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