Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-05-01
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
C439S067000, C439S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224388
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical connectors, and in particular, electrical connectors for use with printed circuit boards.
The height or thickness of electronic components continues to be reduced. This allows for thinner electronic assemblies on products because the thickness of a product is typically dictated by the largest components on a circuit board. Because of the miniaturization of other electronic components, the largest components on a circuit board are often the electrical connectors. Accordingly, there is a continuing need to miniaturize electrical connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one feature of the present invention, a printed circuit board includes first and second faces spaced from each other by a thickness of the printed circuit board, a circuit on at least one of the first and second faces, a first edge surface extending from the first face towards the second face and bounding a receptacle into which an electrical connector can be inserted, and a conductor applied to the first edge surface to define a contact pad electrically connected to the circuit on the at least one of the first and second faces, the contact pad positioned to make electrical contact at a location between the first and second faces with an electrical connector inserted into said receptacle to thereby electrically connect the electrical connector to the circuit on the at least one of the first and second faces.
As one feature, the contact pad comprises a conductor plated onto the first edge surface.
As one feature, the conductor is formed from a single L shaped piece that is bonded to the at least one of the first and second faces.
In accordance with one form of the invention, a printed circuit board includes first and second faces spaced from each other by a thickness of the printed circuit board, a circuit on at least one of the first and second faces, a first edge surface extending from the first face toward the second face and bounding a receptacle into which an electrical connector can be inserted, and a contact pad electrically connected to the circuit on the at least one of the first and second faces. The contact pad includes a spring element having a portion positioned between the first and second faces, spaced from the first edge surface and movable biasably toward the first edge surface by an electrical connector inserted into said receptacle which makes electrical contact with the circuit on the at least one of the first and second faces through the portion of the spring element.
In one form, the first edge surface and the receptacle extend from the first face to the second face through the printed circuit board.
In one form, the spring element includes a resilient, arcuate shaped, cantilever supported member.
In one form of the invention, an electronic assembly is provided and includes an electrical connector and a printed circuit board receiving the electrical connector. The electrical connector includes an electrically insulative body, a first contact pad carried on the body, a second contact pad carried on the body, and an electrical conductor carried on the body and arranged to electrically connect the first and second contact pads. The printed circuit board includes first and second faces spaced from each other by a thickness of the printed circuit board, a circuit on at least one of the first and second faces, a first edge surface extending from the first face toward the second face and bounding a receptacle into which the electrical connector can be inserted, and a third contact pad electronically connected to the circuit on the at least one of the first and second faces. The third contact pad is positioned to make electrical contact at a location between the first and second faces with the first contact pad with the electrical connector inserted into the receptacle. At least one of the first and third contact pads comprises a spring element positioned to deflect in response to insertion of said electrical connector into said receptacle to biasably engage the first and second contact pads into electrical contact.
In one form, the third contact pad on the printed circuit board includes a conductor plated onto the first edge surface.
In one form, the third contact pad on the printed circuit board includes the spring member in the form of a resilient, arcuate shaped, cantilever supported member.
In one form, the third contact pad on the printed circuit board is formed from a single L shaped piece that is bonded to the at least one of the first and second surfaces.
In one form, the first contact pad on the connector includes a spring member in the form of a resilient, arcuate shaped member.
As one feature ofthe invention, the electrical conductor and the first and second contact pads are formed from a single piece of material.
As one feature, the electrical connector further includes a fourth contact pad carried on the body and electrically connected to the first and second contact pads by the electrical conductor.
In accordance with the invention, a method is provided for electrically connecting to a printed circuit board having first and second faces spaced from each other by a thickness. The method includes the steps of inserting an electrical connector into a receptacle formed in the printed circuit board, and, in response to the insertion of the electrical connector, engaging a contact pad carried on the electrical connector with a contact pad carried on the printed circuit board in the receptacle between the first and second faces to urge the contact pads into electrical contact between the first and second faces.
In one form, the engaging step includes the step of deflecting at least one of the contact pads to biasably urge the contact pads into electrical contact between the first and second faces.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5244395 (1993-09-01), DeSantis et al.
patent: 5397239 (1995-03-01), Zaderej et al.
patent: 5629839 (1997-05-01), Woychik
patent: 5675888 (1997-10-01), Owen et al.
Ahr Sean M.
Snyder Thomas D.
Bradley Paula
Ericsson Inc.
Ta Tho D.
Woods, Phillips, VanSanten, Clark & Mortimer
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