Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
Patent
1998-09-04
2000-06-27
Abrams, Neil
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Coupling part for receiving edge of planar board moving...
H01R 1362
Patent
active
060800003
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connector for mating with a printed circuit board by means of a pivoting cam-in assembly, for applications such as Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMM).
SUMMARY OF THE PRIOR ART
In applications such as SIMM (Single In-Line Memory Module) and DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module) cards for computer systems, memory chips on a printed circuit are interconnected by circuit traces to a plurality of juxtaposed circuit pads arranged along the edge of the card, which can then be plugged into a connector, for interconnecting the memory modules to a computer. In many applications, the card must be unpluggable in order to exchange or replace the card. The contact pads arranged along the edge of the card are usually provided on either side of the card.
In SIMM cards, aligned contact pads on opposite sides of the board are electrically interconnected. The connector typically has edge-stamped contacts for contacting contact pads on both sides of the board, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,172, where each contact has a pair of contact points abutting opposed aligned contact pads of the PCB. Adjacent contacts are closely spaced together, in order to have a large number of connections in one connector. Due to the high mating forces, low insertion force (LIF) plugging systems are therefore provided. One common LIF means is to cam-in the board by pivoting action as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,1272.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,790, an example of both direct plug-in and pivot cam-in is shown for a connector with leaf-spring contacts. Contacts used in DIMM connectors are electrically separate on either side of a printed circuit board. It is typical to use leaf-spring contacts that have a greater flexibility than the edge-stamped contacts often used in SIMM card connectors. In DIMM card connectors the contacts are usually gold plated. The gold plating permits lower contact forces as the formation of resistive oxide layers is avoided. Due to the lower contact forces, it is typical to simply plug-in edge-cards into DIMM connectors in a linear direction, although it is also known to pivotly cam-in the board if mating force reduction is required.
One of the problems of edge-card connector systems, in particular with a large number of contacts extending over a significant length, is that the contact may not be effected reliably if the printed circuit board is excessively warped. The longer the edge-card, the greater this problem becomes. The problem is aggravated by the desire to have a higher density of connections, which leads to smaller terminals, resulting in a reduction of their elastic displacement range. Such problems affect both DIMM and SIMM card connectors.
Manufacturing the boards within certain tolerances increases their costs. In view of the large number of applications, it is also difficult to ensure that boards with specified tolerances will always be used with a particular connector, therefore affecting the reliability of such connections. It would therefore be desirable to provide a connection system that accommodates the above mentioned problems in a more reliable, yet cost effective manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an edge-card connector that provides a reliable connection to an edge card, in particular to overcome problems of tolerances in thickness or bending of the edge card.
It is an object of this invention to provide a low insertion force edge-card connector that ensures reliable and secure connection.
It would be advantageous to provide a reliable low insertion force edge-card connector that ensures reliable contact to an edge-card with tolerances in bending or thickness, in a cost effective manner.
Objects of this invention have been achieved by providing an edge-card connector according to the claims. In particular, by providing an edge card connector comprising a housing having a slot for receiving the edge of a printed circuit board therein and electrical terminals extending alongsid
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patent: 5411408 (1995-05-01), DiVesti et al.
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See PCT International Search Report for any references that are not enclosed herewith.
Baker Robert William
Braithwaite Jim
Turnbull Robert Scott
Abrams Neil
Hyeon Hae Moon
The Whitaker Corporation
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