Electrical connectors – Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-08
2001-10-16
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Energy cell substitution device including plural contacts or...
C439S862000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302727
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electronic devices, and more particularly to electrical connectors for use in electronic devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An electronic device, such as a radiotelephone, may include one or more removable modules. For example, a radiotelephone may include a removable battery module that supplies electrical power to the radiotelephone. Radiotelephones generally refer to communications terminals which provide a wireless communications link to one or more other communications terminals. Radiotelephones may be used in a variety of different applications, including cellular telephone, land-mobile (e.g., police and fire departments), and satellite communications systems.
Electrical connectors with in-line, spring-actuated contacts are often used as an interface between radiotelephones and removable battery modules because the spring-actuated contacts may allow for easy engagement and disengagement of the battery modules. However, because radiotelephones may be subjected to impact shocks (e.g., a radiotelephone may be dropped) and vibrations during operation, conventional electrical connectors having in-line, spring-actuated contacts may experience momentary breaks in electrical continuity if a force is in a direction transverse to a direction of the in-line contacts. A break in electrical continuity between a radiotelephone and a battery module may result in a loss of power to the radiotelephone which, in turn, may result in dropped calls and/or lost data.
Plug and socket-types of connectors may provide a reliable electrical interface between a radiotelephone and a battery module, even in the presence of impacts and vibrations. Unfortunately, these types of electrical connectors are generally considered less desirable for use in connecting a battery module with a radiotelephone because they may be difficult to engage and disengage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above discussion, electrical connectors for use within electronic devices such as radiotelephones are provided that may reduce the risk of electrical circuit breaks caused by impacts and/or vibrations. In particular, a multi-axis electrical connector is configured to electrically communicate with an electronic module via a corresponding multi-axis electrical interface.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a multi-axis electrical connector includes a housing having opposite end portions. One end portion of the housing includes first and second walls that are oriented transversely to each other in a substantially perpendicular, intersecting configuration. A plurality of first apertures are formed within the first wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship, and a plurality of second apertures are formed in the second wall in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. The opposite end portion of the housing includes a third wall having a plurality of third apertures formed therein in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship.
A plurality of first and second conductive members are disposed within the housing in respective sets of pairs. End portions of these conductive members extend outwardly from the respective apertures along respective directions. A portion of one end of each of the first conductive members extends outwardly from a respective one of the first apertures and serves as a first electrical contact. A portion of the opposite end of each of the first conductive members extends outwardly from a respective one of the third apertures and serves as a second electrical contact. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second electrical contacts may have an arcuate configuration.
Each of the first electrical contacts is configured to be elastically deflected towards the first wall when a force is applied thereto by an electrical contact of an electronic module. Similarly, each of the second electrical contacts is configured to be elastically deflected towards the third wall when a force is applied thereto by an electrical contact of an electronic module, substrate, printed circuit board (PCB), or other component.
A portion of one end of each of the second conductive members extends outwardly from a respective one of the second apertures and serves as a third electrical contact. A portion of the opposite end of each of the second conductive members extends outwardly from a respective one of the third apertures and serves as a fourth electrical contact.
Each of the third electrical contacts is configured to be elastically deflected towards the second wall when a force is applied thereto by an electrical contact of an electronic module. Similarly, each of the fourth electrical contacts is configured to be elastically deflected towards the third wall when a force is applied thereto by an electrical contact of an electronic module, substrate, printed circuit board (PCB), or other component.
The first and third electrical contacts extend outwardly along substantially transverse (e.g., “X” and “Y”) directions. As such, electrical contact may be maintained between the first electrical contacts and an electrical interface of an electronic module when electrical contact is lost between the third electrical contacts and the electrical interface. Conversely, electrical contact may be maintained between the third electrical contacts and an electrical interface of an electronic module when electrical contact is lost between the first electrical contacts and the electrical interface.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, each conductive member includes an intermediate portion that is configured to restrain movement within the housing when various forces are applied to the conductive member ends.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electrical connector includes a housing having opposite first and second end portions. First and second electrically conductive members are disposed within the housing. The first electrically conductive member has opposite first and second ends, and a portion of the first end extends from the housing first end portion. The first end can be elastically deflected along a first direction when a force is applied to the first end. The second end extends from the housing second end portion.
The second electrically conductive member has opposite third and fourth ends, and a portion of the third end extends from the housing first end portion. The third end can be elastically deflected along a second direction transverse to the first direction when a force is applied to the third end. The fourth end extends from the housing second end portion. The first and second directions may be substantially perpendicular to each other, such as “X” and “Y” directions in a Cartesian coordinate system.
The first electrically conductive member second end and the second electrically conductive member fourth end are in adjacent spaced-apart relationship. Preferably, the second end of the first electrically conductive member can be elastically deflected along a third direction when a force is applied to the second end, and the fourth end of the second electrically conductive member can be elastically deflected along the third direction when a force is applied to the fourth end. The third direction may be transverse to the first and/or second directions.
Electrical connectors according to the present invention may be particularly well suited for use within a variety of electronic devices including radiotelephones that may be subjected to impacts and vibrations during operation. Arranging electrical contacts transversely to each other in a substantially perpendicular configuration may reduce, and preferably eliminate, the possibility of breaks in electrical continuity caused by vibrations or shock. In addition, electrical connectors according to the present invention can be small in size which may save internal radiotelephone space and which may lead to manufacturing cost savings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3270311 (1966-08-01), Deer et al.
patent: 5473242 (1995-12-01), McKenna
patent: 563480
Hyeon Hae Moon
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
Patel Tulsidas
Telefonaktiebolaget L.M. Ericsson
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