Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-02-06
Patel, T. C. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S066000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183269
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many applications, the multiple contacts of a connector must be terminated to locations on a circuit board that holds circuit components. The most direct approach is to provide plated holes in the circuit board, insert pinlike contact tails into the holes, and solder the pins in the holes. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of this approach is that the multiple pins and holes occupy a considerable area of the circuit board, and circuit components cannot be mounted there. Another disadvantage is that this approach usually requires reflow soldering to solder the pins in place, and the soldering not only adds cost but can damage solder joints where components are already soldered to the circuit board. It has been suggested to form holes only part way through the circuit board, but plating such blind holes is difficult and expensive. A system for connecting multiple contacts of a connector to multiple locations on a circuit board, which was simple and of low cost, and which avoided holes in one face of the circuit board so circuit components could be mounted thereon, would be of value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, apparatus is provided that includes a connector with contacts and a circuit board with locations that are to be connected to the contacts, which enables connection of the contacts and circuit board locations in a low cost manner that facilitates use of one face of the circuit board to hold circuit components. Both the upper and lower faces of the circuit board are provided with conductive traces. Circuit components such as integrated circuits, capacitors, inductors, and resistors, of the surface mount type, have their terminals soldered to traces on the upper face of the board. The traces on the lower surface are connected to the connector contacts through intercontacts. The intercontacts can be separate elements with lower ends connected to the contact ends and upper ends forming resilient beams for pressing against the traces. As a circuit board is mounted in place, its traces downwardly deflect the resilient beams of the intercontacts to establish reliable contact with them.
In one system, the intercontacts lie in passages of an intercontact frame that is sandwiched between the circuit board and connector. The connector contacts have projecting pin-like tails that project into the passages of the intercontact frame. Lower ends of the intercontacts have clamps that to automatically clamp to the contact tails. The connection of the intercontacts with the contact tails and with the circuit board traces do not require solder connections. This reduces the cost of assembling the intercontacts to the connector and circuit board, and avoids heating the circuit board with soldered components already in place thereon.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Moore James Stanley
Sarkissian Vicken Roben
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Patel T. C.
Peterson Thomas L.
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