Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-14
2001-05-01
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Distinct contact secured to panel circuit
C439S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224399
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of electrical connectors, particularly connectors capable of being surface-mounted to a PCB (Printed Circuit Board). More specifically, the invention relates to an electrical connection device including a plurality of terminal members held in a predetermined spacial relationship that can be surface-mounted to a PCB. The invention also extends to a method for mounting an electrical connection device on a circuit board and to a circuit board including such electrical connection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the advancement of circuit board assembly has come a technique known as surface-mount technology, which consists in the mounting of electronic circuit components and their electrical connections on the surface (through solder-anchoring) of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), rather than through holes (also called “vias”). The PCB itself is a flat board whose front contains slots for integrated circuit chips and connections for a variety of electrical components, and whose back is printed with electrically conductive pathways between the components. An example of such an electrical component is the electrical connector which, when mounted on the PCB, creates an interface between discrete wires and the PCB. Automation of the circuit board assembly process typically involves the use of automated pick-and-place machinery for placement of the electrical components onto the PCB.
Existing de-plugable type electrical connections are usually created on the PCB in the form of surface-mount pins. These pins are built and sold separately, each individually surface-mounted onto the PCB by the pick-and-place machinery.
Unfortunately, dune to the individual mounting of these surface-mount pins, the accuracy of the distance between each pin on the PCB depends entirely on the accuracy of the pick-and-place machine. If the pins are not precisely positioned with relation to one another on the PCB, it may be difficult, even impossible, for the mating electrical component to engage the pins of the electrical connection.
The background information herein clearly shows that there exists a need in the industry to provide an improved electrical connection device for a circuit board.
SUMMARY OF ME INVENTION
The present invention provides an electrical connection device for receiving a mating electrical component. The electrical connection device includes a body and at least two elongated terminal members mated to the body. Each terminal member includes a retaining surface for establishing an electrical contact with a circuit board, where this retaining surface is capable of being solder-anchored to the circuit board for fixing the terminal member on the circuit board. The retaining surfaces of all of the terminal members are coplanar with each other. Each terminal member further includes a contact portion for engaging a mating electrical terminal member of the mating electrical component when the mating electrical component is mounted to the electrical connection device. The contact portions of all of the terminal members are substantially parallel with one another. The body of the electrical connection device is operative to maintain the terminal members in a predetermined spatial relationship, and is removable from the terminal members once the retaining surfaces of the terminal members have been solder-anchored to the circuit board.
The electrical connection device provides for an accurate inter-terminal member spacing once solder-anchored to the circuit board. Further, an electrical connection device including multiple terminal members may be placed on the circuit board in a single step. Thus, the automation of the surface-mount assembly operation is greatly simplified.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4475284 (1984-10-01), Jonson
patent: 4678250 (1987-07-01), Romine et al.
patent: 4927372 (1990-05-01), Collier
patent: 5373626 (1994-12-01), Youngfleish
patent: 5706952 (1998-01-01), Bianca et al.
patent: 5749458 (1998-05-01), Bianca et al.
patent: 5957739 (1999-09-01), Bianca et al.
patent: 198 13 932 A1 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 9419334 (1995-03-01), None
English Translation of DE 198 13 932 A1, Mar. 1995.
Patel Tulsidas
Schweitzer Cornman Gross & Bondell LLP
Weco Electrical Connectors Inc.
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