Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-12-11
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
With provision to conduct electricity from panel circuit to...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328573
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intermediate electrical connectors provided between two connection objects to electrically connect them.
2. Related Art
Japanese patent application Kokai No. 8-330005 discloses such an intermediate electrical connector. As FIGS.
9
(A) and (B) show, a contact element
52
is attached to an insulating board
51
through an aperture
53
. The contact element
52
has a circular section of metallic sheet with a diameter larger than that of the aperture
53
. It is provided with a plurality of spiral grooves
52
A to form a plurality of spiral contact pieces
52
B. The periphery
52
C of the contact element
52
is fixed to the insulating board
51
such that the spiral contact pieces
52
B project from the apertures alternately in opposite directions.
In use, as shown in FIG.
9
(B), the upwardly extending contact pieces
52
B are brought into contact with a spherical contact section
54
A of an upper connection object
54
while the downwardly extending contact pieces
52
B are brought into contact with a flat contact section of a lower connection object
55
, thereby electrically connecting the two connection objects
54
and
55
.
However, the above device has the following disadvantages.
(1) The length of electrical path between the tips of the contact pieces is so large that the inductance and electrical resistance are considerably high. The high inductance causes crosstalk or ground bounce at high signal speeds. The high resistance causes high power consumption, producing large amounts of heat.
(2) There is no wiping effects caused by the contact pressure at the contact area between the contact element and the mating connection object. Consequently, when a film of dirt is formed on the contact surface, no automatic cleaning action is obtained upon contact, thus failing to provide a stable contact.
(3) A plurality of transmission paths are formed so that any difference in the length of the paths causes a signal delay.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an intermediate electrical connector which has a short transmission path and wiping effects and a process for producing such a connector.
According to the invention there is provided an intermediate electrical connector which comprises a plate-like housing having at least one aperture and a contact element supported by the housing for electrically connecting a pair of connection objects provided on opposite sides of the housing.
The contact element comprises a pair of retention sections provided at opposite ends of the contact element and held by the housing; a pair of U-shaped contact sections, one end of each of the contact sections being connected to each of the retention sections; and a transmission path connected between the other ends of the contact sections such that the contact sections project from the aperture.
Since the two contact sections are provided in the middle section, the distance between them is shortened. In addition, the contact sections are not situated at the center of the contact element so that when they are flexed upon contact, the contact sections make sliding contact, producing wiping effects. Furthermore, there is provided only one transmission path so that there is no problem with signal delay.
It is preferred that the transmission path is substantially straight. Also, it is preferred that the retention sections are located outside the aperture. It is preferred that the housing consists of two layers between which the retention sections are held.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a process for producing an intermediate electrical connector, which comprises the steps of forming at least one aperture in each of first and second insulating sheets at a corresponding position; attaching a metal sheet to the first insulating sheet so as to cover the aperture; etching the metal sheet to form a flat contact element; attaching the second insulating sheet to the first insulating sheet such that the apertures in the first and second insulating sheets are aligned; and subjecting the flat contact element to vertical plastic deformation to form a pair of contact sections which project from the aperture in opposite directions.
According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a process for producing an intermediate electrical connector, which comprises the steps of forming at least one aperture in each of first and second insulating sheets at a corresponding position; forming a series of flat contact elements of metal sheet; attaching the series of flat contact elements to the first insulating sheet; removing linking sections between the flat contact elements to form individual flat contact elements attaching the second insulating sheet to the first insulating sheet such that the apertures in the first and second insulating sheets are aligned; and subjecting each of the flat contact elements to vertical plastic deformation to form a pair of contact sections which project from the aperture in opposite directions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5139427 (1992-08-01), Boyd et al.
patent: 5308252 (1994-05-01), Mroczowski et al.
patent: 5395252 (1995-03-01), White
patent: 5800184 (1998-09-01), Lopergolo et al.
patent: 5957703 (1999-09-01), Arai et al.
patent: 6062871 (2000-05-01), Arai et al.
Matsuo Tsutomu
Nagawatari Takashi
Sakata Tsuyoshi
Hirose Electric Co. Ltd.
Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Patel Tulsidas
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