Electrical connectors – With insulation other than conductor sheath – Plural-contact coupling part
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-12
2001-12-11
Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With insulation other than conductor sheath
Plural-contact coupling part
C439S857000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328606
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to electrical connectors and more particularly to high density electrical connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As electronic devices become smaller and smaller, the electronics industry has an increasing need for high density, compact electrical connectors, that is, connectors having a plurality of closely spaced terminals in a small package. Such connectors are particularly useful in interconnecting circuit boards to one another and in interconnecting cables to circuit boards. It is desirable that the connectors occupy a minimum amount of space on the circuit board while providing a stable interconnection. In cable to board connections, it is particularly desirable to minimize any rocking of the connector on the board to assure that electrical continuity is maintained. It is also desirable to provide polarization for the connectors. When connecting multiple cables of the same size to the same board, it is further desirable to provide keying for the mating connectors to assure the cables are connected to the desired connector on the board.
Cable to board and board to board connectors typically have used pin and socket terminals or cantilevered beams, leaf or ribbon-like contact or the like. As the connectors become smaller and more dense, however, the centerline spacing between adjacent terminals and the dimensions of the terminals must be decreased, thereby making the terminals more fragile. It is desirable, therefore, to configure the terminals and housing in a manner to meet the mechanical and environmental conditions and electrical performance requirements while providing a robust structure. It is further desirable to provide a structure that eliminates the need for external hardware to support the connector system, thus minimizing space needed on a board.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a highly dense and compact connector system that alleviates problems associated with the prior art. The system comprises first and second complementary connectors, each connector including a housing having a mating face, an assembly face and opposed side walls, and a plurality of terminal receiving passageways extending between the mating and assembly faces. The first connector has a plurality of first terminals, each disposed in a respective terminal receiving passageway. The second connector has a plurality of second terminals, each disposed in a respective terminal receiving passageway. Each terminal receiving passageway of the first connector includes a blade receiving slot extending from the mating face and through a portion of an adjacent side wall. Each first terminal has a first connecting portion aligned with the slot in the side wall and adapted to receive a blade contact therebetween upon being mated thereto. The second connector housing includes a shroud extending forwardly from the mating face defining a mating cavity dimensioned to receive a portion of the first connector therein upon mating the first and second connectors. Each second terminal has a first connecting portion defined by a blade extending into the shroud along side walls thereof, each blade including at least one portion that cooperates with a complementary portion of the shroud to assure that the blade is held in a desired position in the shroud, such that upon mating the first and second connectors, the first connector housing portion is received into the mating cavity and each blade is received into a corresponding blade receiving slot and is electrically engaged with the first connecting portion of the first connector terminal.
The invention is further directed to an electrical connector system including first and second complementary connectors, each connector having a housing with a mating face. The first connector has a plurality of first terminals, each disposed in a respective terminal receiving passageway and the second connector has a plurality of second terminals, each disposed in a respective terminal receiving passageway. The first connector housing includes at least one protrusion extending forwardly from the mating face adjacent at least a portion of the first terminals and dimensioned to be received in a corresponding protrusion receiving cavity extending into the mating face of the second connector housing adjacent corresponding second terminals, such that upon mating the first and second connectors, the cooperating protrusion extends into the cavity thereby increasing the length of the housing to housing interface between the mated connectors. By providing the housings of the first and second connectors with one or more protrusions and cooperating cavities, the protrusions and cavities also can be configured and dimensioned to provide polarization and keying features for the system.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4632475 (1986-12-01), Tomita
patent: 5727961 (1998-03-01), Landis et al.
patent: 6142811 (2000-11-01), Lin
Davis Wayne Samuel
Whiteman, Jr. Robert Neil
Nguyen Khiem
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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