Power connector and a pluggable connector configured to mate with the power connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9806471-B2
Application number	US-201514741787-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2015
Priority date	Jun 17, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Power connector includes a connector housing having a mating side and a mounting side. The connector housing includes a receiving cavity that opens to the mating side. The mounting side is configured to interface with an electrical component. The power connector also includes first and second power contacts disposed within the receiving cavity and configured to be terminated to the electrical component. The power connector also includes a multi-function contact configured to be terminated to the electrical component. The multi-function contact includes a switch segment that is disposed within the receiving cavity. The switch segment has a mating interface that is configured to engage the first power contact and is capable of flexing between first and second positions. The mating interface engages the first power contact in the first position and is separated from the first power contact in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power connector configured to mate with different types of pluggable connectors, the power connector comprising:
a connector housing having a mating side and a mounting side, the connector housing including a receiving cavity that opens to the mating side, the mounting side configured to interface with an electrical component;
first and second power contacts disposed within the receiving cavity and configured to be terminated to the electrical component; and
a multi-function contact configured to be terminated to the electrical component and having a switch segment disposed within the receiving cavity, the switch segment having a mating interface and being configured to flex between first and second positions, the mating interface of the switch segment engaging the first power contact in the first position and being separated from the first power contact in the second position.

2. The power connector of claim 1 , wherein the power connector is configured to mate with a two-wire pluggable connector when the switch segment is engaged with the first power contact and a three-wire pluggable connector when the switch segment is deflected away from the first power contact.

3. The power connector of claim 1 , wherein the switch segment is configured to be deflected from the first position to the second position during a mating operation between the power connector and one of the pluggable connectors.

4. The power connector of claim 1 , wherein the multi-function contact includes a mating segment that is disposed within the receiving cavity, the mating segment configured to engage a corresponding contact of one of the pluggable connectors.

5. The power connector of claim 4 , wherein the mating segment and the switch segment extend generally parallel to respective planes, the respective planes being orthogonal to each other.

6. The power connector of claim 4 , wherein the mating segment is a first mating segment and the multi-function contact includes a second mating segment, the first and second power contacts being positioned generally between the first and second mating segments.

7. The power connector of claim 4 , wherein the connector housing includes a sidewall that is configured to interface with the electrical component, the sidewall existing within a three-dimensional space, wherein at least a majority of the mating segment is positioned within the three-dimensional space when the mating segment is in an engaged position.

8. The power connector of claim 4 , wherein the connector housing includes a sidewall that is configured to interface with the electrical component, wherein the sidewall has a segment-receiving opening, at least a portion of the mating segment being positioned within the segment-receiving opening.

9. The power connector of claim 1 , wherein the first power contact has a distal end positioned proximate to the mating side and the mating interface engages the first power contact at a designated location, the mating interface and the distal end defining a terminating region therebetween, the terminating region being sized and shaped to engage a corresponding contact of one of the pluggable connectors when the power connector is mated with the corresponding pluggable connector.

10. The power connector of claim 1 , wherein the first power contact, the second power contact, and the multi-function contact operate as separate electrical pathways when the switch segment is in the second position.

11. A pluggable connector comprising:
a connector body having a main housing and a plug housing that projects from the main housing, the plug housing configured to be inserted into a receiving cavity of a power connector during a mating operation, the plug housing having a mating end that leads the plug housing into the receiving cavity, the plug housing defining a housing cavity that opens to the mating end;
first and second power contacts disposed within the housing cavity and configured to engage corresponding contacts of the power connector during the mating operation; and
an outer contact having a contact surface, at least a portion of the contact surface extending between the main housing and the mating end of the plug housing, the contact surface being exposed to an exterior of the plug housing and configured to engage a corresponding contact of the power connector during the mating operation, wherein the first power contact, the second power contact, and the outer contact operate as separate electrical pathways.

12. The pluggable connector of claim 11 , wherein the pluggable connector is a three-wire connector configured for alternating current (AC) applications.

13. The pluggable connector of claim 11 , wherein the outer contact is a first outer contact, the pluggable connector further comprising a second outer contact having a contact surface that is exposed to the exterior of the plug housing.

14. The pluggable connector of claim 13 , wherein the first and second outer contacts are electrically common.

15. The pluggable connector of claim 13 , wherein the contact surfaces of the first and second outer contacts face in opposite directions, the first and second power contacts being positioned between the first and second outer contacts.

16. The pluggable connector of claim 11 , wherein the outer contact has a leading edge that is positioned in front of the first and second power contacts.

17. The pluggable connector of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second power contacts includes opposing mating segments that are configured to engage the corresponding contact therebetween.

18. The pluggable connector of claim 11 , wherein the plug housing includes a front edge, the mating end having a switch activator that projects from the front edge and leads the plug housing into the receiving cavity of the power connector.

19. An interconnection system comprising:
a power connector configured to be mounted to an electrical component, the power connector including a connector housing having a mating side and a receiving cavity that opens to the mating side, the power connector including first and second power contacts disposed within the receiving cavity and a multi-function contact having a switch segment that is disposed within the receiving cavity, the switch segment being capable of flexing between first and second positions; and
a pluggable connector including a plug housing configured to be inserted into the receiving cavity of the power connector, the plug housing having a mating end that includes a switch activator, the plug housing defining a housing cavity that opens to the mating end, the pluggable connector including first and second power contacts disposed within the housing cavity; and
wherein the power connector and the pluggable connector are configured to mate with each other during a mating operation, the switch activator of the pluggable connector leading the plug housing into the receiving cavity during the mating operation and engaging the switch segment of the multi-function contact of the power connector, the switch activator deflecting the switch segment from the first position to the second position or from the second position to the first position, the first and second power contacts of the pluggable connector and the first and second power contacts of the power connector, respectively, being engaged after the mating operation.

20. The interconnection system of claim 19 , wherein the multi-function contact includes a mating segment that is disposed within the receiving

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp
• Te Connectivity Nederland Bv
• Tyco Electronics Svenska Ab
• Te Connectivity Corp
• Te Connectivity Nederland Bv

Inventors

• Orris David
• Neerincx Sebastiaan
• Hyving Hacan
• Barrefelt Rickard

Classifications

• H01R11/01

  characterised by the form or arrangement of the conductive interconnection between the connecting locations · CPC title

• H01R13/703

  operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, {e.g. dual-continuity coupling part}(H01R13/71 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01R13/707 Primary

  interlocked with contact members or counterpart · CPC title

• H01R27/02

  for simultaneous co-operation with two or more {dissimilar} counterparts · CPC title

• H01R13/70

  with built-in switch · CPC title