Electrical generator or motor structure – Non-dynamoelectric – Piezoelectric elements and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-12-25
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Non-dynamoelectric
Piezoelectric elements and devices
C439S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333588
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates on one hand to a piezoelectric transformer-accommodating case for use to hold therein the transformer as one of devices constituting a power supply inverter circuit, wherein this circuit will activate the back-light device for a liquid crystal plate-shaped display, and on the other hand relates also to a base connector mating with the piezoelectric transformer-accommodating case and a socket connector for bringing wires into electric communication with the case.
2 Prior Art
Piezoelectric transformers are considerably narrow in width as compared with the conventional coil type transformers. Such piezoelectric transformers are advantageous to reduce size and thickness of the power supply circuits in which they may be incorporated to build the back-light devices for liquid crystal panels. Notebook type personal computers have recently been required not only to be highly efficient but also thinner and more compact in configuration. Therefore, those piezoelectric transformers are nowadays employed sometimes in their back-light inverter devices for liquid crystal panels. The Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 9-260737, for instance, discloses a protective case for piezoelectric transformer, wherein the case is of such a design that the area width for surface mount of the transformer will be decreased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a piezoelectric transformer-accommodating case as well as a base connector and a socket connector, with these connectors being adapted to adjoin the case so as to connect wires thereto, and the case and the connectors are sophisticated in the following fashion. In detail, the case and connectors have to be of such a structure that a back-light inverter with the transformer activating liquid crystal panels will be made thinner and more compact. Further, a sufficient linear distance and a sufficient spatial distance will nevertheless be afforded between a pair of positive and negative electric members such as electrodes or contacts to thereby enhance high-voltage resisting property of the case and the connectors. The linear distance is defined herein as a distance measured along surfaces intervening between the pair of those electric members that are incorporated herein in combination.
In order to achieve this object, a piezoelectric transformer-accommodating case provided herein and made of an insulating material is of a flat and rectangular box-like shape. This case has input terminals and output terminals that are for connection with two input electrodes and two output electrodes of the piezoelectric transformer, respectively. The two input terminals are disposed respectively at opposite end walls of the case and arranged fore and aft longitudinally thereof. The case has an opening defined between the opposite end walls and elongate lateral walls, and comprises a lead electrically communicating with the two input terminals and held in a groove that is longitudinally formed in the case and along one of the lateral walls thereof. The lead is isolated within the groove so as not to be in contact with wall surfaces thereof. A plurality of support lugs formed integral with a rim surrounding the opening, the support lugs being of such a shape as to bear against a circuit board in a manner that the case set in place will be lifted out of the circuit board. The case further comprises an adapter secured to one of the opposite end walls of the case so as to mate with a base connector for connecting two wires to the case.
The base connector for connecting the two wires to the piezoelectric transformer-accommodating case comprises an insulated housing, an input pin contact and an output pin contact that are arranged in parallel with each other in the insulated housing. The pin contacts are respectively disposed in part in discrete compartments that are separated one from another with a partition formed in the insulated housing. The input pin contact is for electric connection with the input terminal, with the output pin contact being for electric connection with the output terminal. Preferably, the input pin contact may be inserted through one of the opposite end walls so as to electrically communicate with the input terminal. The output pin contact may have a rearwardly extending lead that is bent sideways and outwards to be soldered to the circuit board so that a circuit pattern thereon brings the output terminal into an electric communication with the output pin contact.
A socket connector also provided herein to be coupled with the base connector so as to bring the two wires into electric communication with the respective pin contacts. The socket connector may comprise a bifurcated and insulated housing, and a pair of cylindrical chambers constituting the bifurcated and insulated housing. The socket connector further comprises socket contacts securing therein ends of the wires and lying in respective cylindrical chamber in such a state that said socket contact isolated from each other. One of the socket contacts is designed to mate with the input pin contact, and one of the cylindrical chamber accommodating the one socket contact is made longer than the other cylindrical chamber in which the other socket contact is secured. This feature will afford linear and spatial distances increased enough to enhance high-voltage resisting property of the socket connector. The socket connector may further comprise lances for latching the socket contacts and causing each of them to lie on its side, wherein these lances may be disposed along the sidewalls of the cylindrical chambers.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5847491 (1998-12-01), Taihaku et al.
patent: 6057633 (2000-05-01), Inoi et al.
patent: 6077091 (2000-06-01), McKenna-Olson et al.
patent: 6147439 (2000-11-01), Takagi et al.
Kodani Isao
Kuroda Keiji
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
J.S.T. Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Sircus Brian
Zarroli Michael C.
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