Intermediate electrical connector

Details Intermediate electrical connector Intermediate electrical connector

2000-05-10

2001-08-28

Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

Including elastomeric or nonmetallic conductive portion

Adapted to be sandwiched between preformed panel circuit...

C439S066000, C439S591000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280207

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intermediate electrical connectors.
2. Related Art
An intermediate electrical connector is used to connect two circuit broads or corresponding circuit portions of connection objects. The intermediate electrical connector comprises a support plate of dielectric material and a conductive member extending through the support member. The conductive member is a molding of a conductive elastomer or a mixture of elastic polymeric material and conductive powder.
FIG. 1
shows an example which comprises a support member
51
of dielectric material and a conductive member
52
with upper and lower conic surfaces
52
A attached thereto by integral molding. The upper and lower flat end faces
53
and
54
make elastic contact with the circuit portions of connection objects. The number of conductive members
52
provided on the support member
51
corresponds to the number of circuit portions of the connection objects.
In
FIG. 2
, two connection objects or circuit boards
55
and
56
are provided on both sides of the support member
51
. The circuit boards
55
and
56
have circuit portions
55
A and
56
B which are pressed against the contact faces
53
and
54
, compressing the conductive member
52
. Thus, the two circuit portions
55
A and
56
B of the circuit boards
55
and
56
are connected to the conductive member
52
and short-circuited via the conductive member
52
.
However, the above conventional intermediate electrical connector provides no satisfactory amount of elastic deformation of the conductive member
52
. Since the conductive member
52
increases in diameter from the upper and lower contact faces
53
and
54
to the support member
51
and held by the edges of the support aperture
51
A, not only the pressure upon the contact face
53
is distributed to the whole body but also a tension is produced on the conic surface
52
between the flange portion
52
B and the contact face
53
of the conductive member
52
, providing no satisfactory amount of deformation.
When a number of conductive members are molded with a support member, there are variations in their heights. In addition, the circuit boards and the support member are warped so that more variations are added to the conductive members. Moreover, when the intermediate electrical connector receives an external force, the circuit boards momentarily moves in the compression direction of the conductive member, causing poor contact of the conductive member. Consequently, it is necessary for the conductive member to provide a sufficient amount of deformation to absorb the above variations. However, the above conventional connector provides no satisfactory amount of deformation, thus causing poor contact.
The conductive elastomer has such a tendency that when compressed, its resistivity in the compression direction decreases. However, the amount of elastic deformation is so small that the contact resistance is high.
When it is compressed, the conductive elastomer decreases in electrical resistance at the initial stage but increases in electrical resistance beyond the initial stage. Thus, when it is compressed beyond the initial compression stage, the electrical characteristics deteriorates even though the mechanical contact is improved. In addition, if this high compression is applied to a number of conductive members, the combined force applied to the mating circuit boards is disadvantageously high.
When a number of conductive members are molded with a support member, their heights are not equal. In addition, the circuit boards and the support member are warped to worsen the variations in the contact points of the conductive members. Moreover, when the intermediate electrical connector receives an external force, the circuit boards are moved in the compression direction of the conductive member, causing poor contact of the conductive member. Consequently, it is necessary for the conductive member to have sufficient elasticity to absorb the above variations. However, too much elasticity causes lower electrical characteristics described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an intermediate electrical connector with the conductive member having stable contact and lower contact resistance.
It is another object of the invention to provide an intermediate electrical connector with the conductive member capable of providing a large amount of deformation and stable contact and low electrical resistance without applying a high pressure.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an intermediate connector and an electrical connection system capable of providing a large amount of replacement without applying high pressure on the conductive elastomer, thereby providing good contact without increase in electrical resistance.
An intermediate electrical connector comprises a support plate which is made of a dielectric material and has at least one support aperture having an inside diameter; and at least one conductive member provided through the support aperture to short-circuit circuit portions of connection objects.
According to one aspect of the invention, the conductive member being made of a conductive elastomer and comprises a retention section with flange portions for engage with the support aperture to attach the conductive member to the support plate and an elastic protruded section.
The elastic protruded section extends from the retention section in a direction of thickness of the support plate to form at opposite ends contact faces for elastic contact with the circuit portions of the connection objects and has, adjacent to the retention section, shoulder portions having an outside diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the support aperture.
Since the outside diameter of the shoulder portions is smaller than the inside diameter of the support aperture, the elastic deformation of the protruded section is larger than that of the retention section; that is, the conductive member is deformed to a large extent regardless of the retention section. Thus, the circuit portions of two connection objects are short-circuited via the conductive member. The large amount of deformation in the conductive member makes the contact stable and the electrical resistance low.
Various modifications may be made to the conductive member. The conductive member has a longitudinal section which is symmetric or asymmetric relative to an axis of the conductive member. The longitudinal section of the conductive member changes in a circumferential direction. The asymmetric conductive member moves the contact point upon contact with the circuit portions of connection objects to produce the wiping or cleaning effects. Especially, the spiral configuration moves the contact points in the circumferential direction.
The protruded section has a cylindrical or conic surface. The faces each have a flat, convex, concave, or tilted surface at right angles to the axis. It preferred in some cases that the shoulder portions are rounded as a countermeasure for fatigue.
According to another aspect of the invention, the conductive member being made of a conductive elastomer and comprises a retention section for engagement with the support plate; an elastic protruded section extending from the retention section in a direction of thickness of the support plate to form at opposite ends bearing faces for elastic contact with the circuit portions of the connection objects; and a displacement cavity to allow the protruded section to undergo elastic displacement in the direction of pressure.
The protruded section undergoes elastic compression and deformation under the contact pressure of a connection object and moved into the displacement cavity. The bearing face moves by the sum of the compression deformation and the displacement of the protruded section so that a large amount of movement is secured by a small amount of compression.
The displacement means is a space made between a face opposite to the bearing

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Intermediate electrical connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Intermediate electrical connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Intermediate electrical connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2472600