Connector adaptor to facilitate coupling of a mating card edge with a female card-edge connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9257767-B2
Application number	US-201414158808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2014
Priority date	Jan 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A connector adaptor facilitates coupling of a mating card edge with a corresponding female card-edge connector disposed on a circuit board. A gathering bevel at the face of the connector adaptor guides the mating card edge from the face of the connector adaptor to the slot at the connection surface of the female card-edge connector, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the female card-edge connector or the mating card edge during a blind mating attempt. In some embodiments the connector adaptor includes at least one connector tab such that the adaptor can be securely inserted into a cage preceding the slot opening of the female card-edge connector. In another embodiment the connector adaptor overlies the female card-edge connector to protect at least the connection surface of the female card-edge connector and can be fastened to the circuit board with any variety of fastening components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A removably attachable connector adaptor to facilitate coupling of a mating card edge of a first circuit board with a slot at a connection surface of a female card-edge connector disposed on a second circuit board, the connector adaptor comprising:
a slot opening at a face of the connector adaptor, the slot opening to align with the slot of the female card-edge connector;
a gathering bevel circumscribing the slot opening at the face of the connector adaptor, the gathering bevel to guide the mating card edge from the face of the connector adaptor through the connector adaptor to the slot at the connection surface of the female card-edge connector; and
at least one connector tab extending substantially perpendicular to and in an opposite direction from the face of the connector adaptor, the at least one connector tab to removably affix the connector adaptor within a metal cage disposed on the second circuit board and in front of the connection surface of the female card-edge connector.

2. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the connector adaptor is dimensioned to provide a friction coupling with the metal cage when inserted into the metal cage.

3. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one base support extending from the face of the connector adaptor substantially parallel to the at least one connector tab.

4. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the width of the face of the connector adaptor is greater than the width of the metal cage.

5. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the connector adaptor is composed of plastic.

6. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector tab comprises at least one of: a grapple; a hook; a clamp; a grip; a bracket; and a clasp.

7. The removably attachable connector adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the female card-edge connector is an internal mini-SAS (Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface) receptacle connector.

8. A connector adaptor to facilitate coupling of a mating card edge of a first circuit board with a slot at a connection surface of a female card-edge connector disposed on a second circuit board, the connector adaptor comprising:
a slot opening at a face of the connector adaptor, the slot opening to align with the slot of the female card-edge connector;
a gathering bevel circumscribing the slot opening at the face of the connector adaptor, the gathering bevel to guide the mating card edge from the face of the connector adaptor through the connector adaptor to the slot at the connection surface of the female card-edge connector; and
a housing, the housing to overlie at least a portion of a housing of the female card-edge connector.

9. The connector adaptor of claim 8 , further comprising:
a depressible ramp extending from the face of the connector adaptor toward the slot of the female card-edge connector.

10. The connector adaptor of claim 8 , further comprising:
a lip extending beyond the face of the connector adaptor.

11. The connector adaptor of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one fastening component to facilitate fastening of the connector adaptor to the second circuit board.

12. The connector adaptor of claim 11 , wherein the at least one fastening component comprises at least one of: a screw; a bolt; adhesive; and solder.

13. The connector adaptor of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one hole to receive a fastening component to fasten the connector adaptor to the second circuit board.

14. The connector adaptor of claim 8 , wherein the female card-edge connector is an internal mini-SAS (Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface) receptacle connector.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a first circuit board;
a female card-edge connector disposed on the first circuit board, the female card-edge connector having a slot at a connection surface;
a metal cage disposed on the first circuit board and in front of the connection surface of the female card-edge connector; and
a removably attachable connector adaptor disposed in the metal cage to facilitate coupling of a mating card edge of a second circuit board with the female card-edge connector disposed on the second circuit board, the connector adaptor comprising:
at least one connector tab extending substantially perpendicular to and in an opposite direction from a face of the connector adaptor, the at least one connector tab to removably affix the connector adaptor within the metal cage;
a slot opening at the face of the connector adaptor, the slot opening to align with the slot at the connection surface of the female card-edge connector; and
a gathering bevel circumscribing the slot opening at the face of the connector adaptor, the gathering bevel to guide the mating card edge of the second circuit board through the connector adaptor from the face of the connector adaptor to the slot at the connection surface of the female card-edge connector.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the connector adaptor is dimensioned to provide a friction coupling with the metal cage when inserted into the metal cage.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the connector adaptor further comprises:
at least one base support extending from the face of the connector adaptor substantially parallel to the at least one connector tab.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the width of the face of the connector adaptor is greater than the width of the metal cage.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the female card-edge connector is an internal mini-SAS (Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface) receptacle connector.

Assignees

• Advanced Micro Devices Inc

Inventors

• Lewis Donald C

Classifications

• H01R13/6273

  comprising two latching arms · CPC title

• H01R12/721 Primary

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

• H01R12/732

  Printed circuits being in the same plane · CPC title

• H01R13/506

  assembled by snap action of the parts · CPC title

• H01R12/718

  Contact members provided on the PCB without an insulating housing (contacts for abutting H01R12/714) · CPC title