Multiple row connector with zero insertion force

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10658779-B2
Application number	US-201916256434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2019
Priority date	Jul 29, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

A connector for establishing electrical connections with a PCB comprises first and second sets of contact pads arranged in first and second rows on a same surface of the PCB. The connector includes a first set of elongated contacts, a second set of elongated contacts, and a contact block. The first set of contacts have contact surfaces that form a first row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with the first set of contact pads of the PCB. The second set of contacts have contact surfaces that form a second row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with the second set of contact pads of the PCB. The contact block supports the first and second sets of contacts and causes the contact surfaces to wipe against the first and second sets of contact pads when making and breaking electrical connectivity therewith.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector comprising:
a contact block comprising a first section and a second section, the first and second sections configured to rotate relative to each other during assembly and disassembly of the connector;
a first plurality of elongated contacts supported by the first section; and
a second plurality of elongated contacts supported by the second section in an opposing spaced-apart relationship from the first plurality of contacts, wherein each of the first and second plurality of elongated contacts comprises:
a first set of contacts having contact surfaces forming a first row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with a first set of contact pads of a PCB;
a second set of contacts having contact surfaces forming a second row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with a second set of contact pads of the PCB;
a third set of elongated contacts having first contact surfaces forming a third row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with a third set of contact pads of the PCB; and
a fourth set of elongated contacts having first contact surfaces forming a third row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with a fourth set of contact pads of the PCB.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first section comprises a male portion and the second section comprises a female portion adapted to receive the male portion.

3. The connector of claim 2 , wherein the male portion is adapted to pivot into and out of the female portion.

4. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the first section includes one or more coupling features and the second section includes one or more coupling features and the coupling features are adapted to connect the first section to the second section.

5. The connector of claim 4 , the one or more coupling features comprise latches and catches.

6. The connector of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the contacts comprises a tail surface spaced apart from the contact surface; and
the first and second sections of the contact block are configured to receive a plurality of electrically conductive pins each having an engagement surface, and to cause the tail surfaces of the first and second sets of contacts to wipe against the engagement surfaces.

7. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the contact surfaces have a toroid shape.

8. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contacts and the contact block comprise separable modules that are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the connector.

9. A connector for establishing electrical connections with a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising contact pads, the connector comprising:
a contact module comprising:
a plurality of elongated contacts having contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with, and providing wiping to, the contact pads of the PCB;

a lever coupled to the contact module and comprising a longitudinal groove oriented in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the contact module and dimensioned to receive an edge of the PCB, the lever configured for actuation between an open position, to facilitate loading of the PCB, and a closed position, to facilitate contact and wiping between the contact surfaces of the plurality of contacts and the contact pads of the PCB;
an actuator coupled to the lever and configured to provide the relative movement between the plurality of elongated contacts and the contact pads of the PCB;
a contact block supporting the plurality of contacts and having the bosses disposed therealong; and
a contact organizer disposed adjacent the plurality of contacts, the contact organizer comprising one or more faces each having engagement surfaces configured to direct the plurality of contacts into and out of engagement with the contact pads with actuation of the lever between the open and closed positions.

10. The connector of claim 9 , wherein actuation of the lever between the open and closed positions causes relative movement of the contact module between a loading configuration and a testing configuration.

11. The connector of claim 9 , wherein:
the plurality of contacts makes electrical connectivity with the contact pads when the contact module is in the testing configuration; and
the plurality of contacts breaks electrical connectivity with the contact pads when the contact module is in the loading configuration.

12. The connector of claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises an elongated rail movable along the longitudinal axis and causing the plurality of contacts to move in a second direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis.

13. The connector of claim 12 , wherein the elongated rail has a plurality of slots therein that are adapted to carry bosses that move the plurality of contacts.

14. The connector of claim 9 , the contact module further comprising:
a base configured to receive a plurality of electrically conductive pins that contact tail surfaces of the plurality of contacts; and
a cover configured to receive a portion of the PCB and couple the contact organizer to the base.

15. The connector of claim 14 , wherein the cover comprises opposing first and second cover portions, each cover portion coupling the contact organizer to the base by pivoting over the contact organizer.

16. The connector of claim 9 , wherein the PCB comprises first and second sets of contact pads arranged in first and second rows on a same surface of the PCB, and wherein the plurality of contacts comprises:
a first set of elongated contacts having contact surfaces forming a first row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with the first set of contact pads of the PCB; and
a second set of elongated contacts having contact surfaces forming a second row of contact surfaces configured to make and break electrical connectivity with the second set of contact pads of the PCB.

17. The connector of claim 9 , wherein the longitudinal groove acts as a guide for loading of the PCB into the contact module.

18. The connector of claim 9 , wherein the contact module further comprises:
a base coupled to the lever along an end portion thereof and having a cam surface therealong that receives a boss of the lever; and
an actuator coupled to the lever by a slot that receives the boss to allow for relative movement between both the lever and the actuator and the base.

19. The connector of claim 18 , wherein the cam surface is adapted to allow for travel of the boss between a first cam position when the lever is in the closed position and a second cam position when the lever is in the open position.

20. The connector of claim 19 , wherein the boss travels within the slot from a first slot position when in the first cam position to a second slot position when disposed along upper edge of the cam surface and returns to the first slot position when disposed in the second cam position.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Scherer Richard J
• Castiglione Joseph N
• Cronch Daniel F
• Mann Jesse A
• Schmidt Leon D
• Neu Steven A
• Twigg Richard D
• Couture Gregg R
• Wessman James A

Classifications

• H01R13/514

  composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them · CPC title

• H01R12/89 Primary

  acting manually by moving connector housing parts linearly, e.g. slider · CPC title

• H01R12/721

  cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits · CPC title

• H01R13/193 Primary

  Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction} · CPC title