Edge mount connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9407020-B2
Application number	US-201213605691-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2012
Priority date	Sep 6, 2011
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

Connector receptacles that have a reduced height when combined with a printed circuit board and reduce wasted space inside an electronic device. One example provides a connector receptacle having contacts that may connect to edge contacts along an edge of a printed circuit board. This edge may be formed along a side of printed circuit board, by a hole or opening in a printed circuit board, or by a notch in a printed circuit board. Edge contacts may have straight surfaces, rounded surfaces, or they may have other types of surfaces. Connector receptacle contacts may have a “U,” fishhook, or other shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having an opening, the opening having a first inside edge, a plurality of edge contacts along the first inside edge, each of the plurality of edge contacts having a semicircular concave shape and formed at the first inside edge of the opening, and a via near at least one of the edge contacts, wherein the via and the at least one edge contact are connected by a trace on at least one layer of the printed circuit board; and
a connector receptacle having a plurality of signal contacts, each soldered to a corresponding one of the plurality of edge contacts at the first inside edge of the opening.

2. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the signal contacts has a “U” shape.

3. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the signal contacts has a dimpled surface facing a corresponding edge contact.

4. A method of attaching a connector receptacle to a printed circuit board, the method comprising:
providing a printed circuit board having a plurality of edge contacts, each of the plurality of edge contacts having a semicircular concave shape and formed along an inside edge of an opening in the printed circuit board;
providing a connector receptacle having a housing and a plurality of contacts;
inserting the connector receptacle into the opening in the printed circuit board such that the plurality of connector receptacle contacts are aligned with the plurality of edge contacts; and
soldering the plurality of connector receptacle contacts to the plurality of edge contacts; and
reinforcing at least one of the edge contacts by providing a via near the at least one of the edge contacts, and connecting the via and the at least one edge contact using a trace on at least one layer of the printed circuit board.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the opening in the printed circuit board is formed using a router.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of edge contacts are formed by forming a via in the printed circuit board, plating the via, and removing approximately one-half the via using a router.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein providing a printed circuit board having a plurality of edge contacts along edges of an opening in the printed circuit board comprises:
forming a plurality of vias;
plating the plurality of vias; and
forming the opening in the printed circuit boards such that approximately one-half of the vias are removed.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein providing a connector receptacle having a housing and a plurality of contacts comprises:
providing a plurality of contacts having a “U” shape.

9. A connector receptacle assembly comprising:
a printed circuit board having a plurality of edge contacts, each of the plurality of edge contacts having a semicircular concave shape and formed along an inside edge of a first opening in the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board further comprising a via near at least one of the edge contacts, wherein the via and the at least one edge contact are connected by a trace on at least one layer of the printed circuit board; and
a connector receptacle having a plurality of contacts arranged to mate with the plurality of edge contacts.

10. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 9 wherein at least one of the signal contacts has a “U” shape.

11. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 9 wherein at least one of the signal contacts has a dimpled surface facing a corresponding edge contact.

12. The connector receptacle assembly of claim 9 wherein the connector receptacle comprises a housing, wherein the housing fits in the opening in the printed circuit board.

Assignees

• Gao Zheng
• Funamura Joshua
• Satterfield Phillip
• Andre Bartley K
• Springer Greg
• Minahan Jason Richard
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Gao Zheng
• Funamura Joshua
• Satterfield Phillip
• Andre Bartley K
• Springer Greg
• Minahan Jason Richard

Classifications

• H05K1/184

  associated with components inserted in holes through the PCBs and wherein terminals of the components are connected to printed contacts on the walls of the holes or at the edges thereof or protruding over or into the holes · CPC title

• H05K2201/10189

  Non-printed connector · CPC title

• H05K2201/09181

  Notches in edge pads · CPC title

• Y10T29/49149

  by metal fusion bonding · CPC title

• H01R12/7082 Primary

  Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB · CPC title