Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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Electrical Connector
The present invention relates to a device according to the generic
clause of claim 1, i.e. to an electrical connector comprising a multiplicity
of
contact elements.
Electrical connectors have been known for many years in a
multitude of forms.
For reducing the problems of correct alignment of the contact
elements of connectors, there have already been created connectors
having a temporary or permanent floating support of contact elements.
It is known from EP 0 924 806 A1 to design contact elements which
are provided in contact chambers of an integral connector housing and
have a tuning fork-shaped portion for pluggable receipt of the contact pins
of a complementary connector, in resilient fashion in a portion adjoining the
tuning fork-shaped portion so that the tuning fork-shaped contact pin
receiving portion is provided with certain movability within the contact
chamber.
US 4,998,887 A reveals a pin header connector adapted to be
mounted on a circuit board and having its contact pins distributed to several
modules supported in floating fashion in a two-part connector housing. Each
of these modules has a positioning pin cooperating with a positioning hole
in the circuit board, such that the contact pins of the respective module are
correctly aligned with the associated contact areas on the circuit board.
Upon mounting of this connector, the modules thereof are fixed, i.e. are no
longer supported in floating fashion.
EP 0 579 053 shows a connector assembly comprising two matable
connectors each mounted on a different circuit board. One of the two
connectors comprises an integral housing which has a housing part fixedly
connected to the associated circuit board and a movable housing part
provided with contact elements and integrally connected to the fixed
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housing part via U-shaped resilient connecting elements. The effect
achieved in this manner is that the movable contact part and thus the
contact elements received therein are supported so as to be movable or
floating in the longitudinal direction of this connector. It is thus possible
to
compensate alignment errors between the two connectors and the two
circuit boards supporting the same, respectively, in the longitudinal
direction
of the connector provided with the movable housing part, but not in the
other direction.
Due to the continuous increase in complexity and efficiency of
electronic systems, there are also ever increasing requirements as to the
electrical connections between the system components. In this regard,
there is an increasing demand of electrical connectors which on the one
hand operate reliably under all circumstances, i.e. also under high
mechanical and electrical loads, and which on the other hand have as many
contacts as possible while being as small as possible.
There are already various electrical connectors known in which
attempts have been made of fulfilling the requirements mentioned.
In this context, the electrical connectors should be mentioned that
are used for connecting LCD units to the apparatus controlling the same. To
this end, there are usually employed electrical connectors having press-on
contacts, with the press-on contacts being realized by a very dense
arrangement of conductive elastomer portions in a non-conductive
elastomer. The connections to be established via such electrical connectors
are of relatively high impedance and moreover necessitate extremely clean
conditions.
These problems can be solved at least in part by making use of
correspondingly small and multi-position connectors.
These problems can be solved at least in part by making use of
correspondingly small and multi-position connectors.
Multi-position connectors of miniaturized configuration are known
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from WO 95124748 and WO 96108056. However, connectors of this type are
not susceptible of reliable control, both in manufacture and in handling
thereof, and the same thus holds analogously for the electrical connections
established by such electrical connectors.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a multi-
position miniaturized connector that is capable of reliably establishing
electrical connections of high quality.
According to the invention, this object is met by the features claimed
in the characterizing part of claim 1.
The latter provides that the electrical connector contains one or
more connector modules, each thereof comprising at least one contact
support and a multiplicity of contact elements supported by the same, and
in that the contact supports are movable relative to each other andlor to
other components of the electrical connector.
Due to the floating arrangement of the individual contact supports,
various contact element groups (contact elements supported by different
contact supports) can be moved independently of each other. It is thus
possible to align the various contact element groups independently of each
other with the respective contact element groups to be contacted. The
positive effect hereof consists in that even electrical connectors containing
a
very large number of contact elements may be contacted without or only
with minimum mechanical load on the contact elements and the remainder
of the connector components. Electrical connectors of this type thus can be
made very small andlor have a very high contact density.
If the contact elements used are contact elements of good electrical
conductivity, such as e.g. metallic contact elements, which is possible
without any problem with the claimed electrical connector, the claimed
electrical connectors can be designed as multi-position miniature
connectors by means of which electrical connections of high quality can be
reliably established.
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Advantageous developments of the invention are indicated in the
dependent claims, the following description and the drawing figures.
In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by way
of embodiments with reference to the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of connector modules of the
electrical connectors described in more detail hereinafter,
Fig. 2 shows a frontal plan view of a connector plug containing a
plurality of plug modules according to Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 shows a frontal plan view of a connector coupling member
containing a plurality of coupling modules according to Fig. 1,
Fig. 4A shows a cross-sectional view of the plug according to Fig. 2,
Fig. 4B shows a cross-sectional view of the coupling member
according to Fig. 3,
Fig. 4C shows a cross-sectional view of an assembly in which a plug
according to Fig. 2 and a coupling member according to Fig. 3 are mated,
Fig. 5 shows a bottom plan view of a base of the plug according to
Fig. 2 or of the coupling member according to Fig. 3, said base being
mountable on a circuit board by way of the BGA technology, and
Fig. 6 shows a bottom plan view of a modified base of the plug
according to Fig. 2 or of the coupling member according to Fig. 3.
The electrical connectors described hereinafter are circuit board
connectors. However, it is to be pointed out already here that there is no
restriction thereto. The special features of the electrical connectors
described may also be applied to electrical connectors employed for other
purposes.
As is usual with pluggable connectors, an electrical connection is
established by mating an electrical connector in the form of a plug and an
electrical connector in the form of a coupling member.
In the embodiment illustrated, the plug comprises a multiplicity of
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identical plug modules arranged side by side andlor on top of each other.
The same holds for the coupling member. The latter comprises a multiplicity
of identical coupling modules arranged side by side andlor on top of each
other. However, the invention is not restricted to this. The plug and the
coupling member may also contain only one module or a plurality of not
identical modules.
A plug module and a coupling module are shown in a perspective
view in Fig. 1. The plug module is designated SM and the coupling module
is designated KM. The plug module SM is adapted to be inserted into the
coupling module KM.
In the embodiment illustrated, each connector module (each plug
module and each coupling module) comprises 32 contact elements.
However, the number of contact elements may also be arbitrarily higher or
lower.
If a plurality of such plug modules SM are arranged above each
other and/or beside each other on a base that is preferably common to all
plug modules and if these are enclosed by a common housing, one arrives
at the electrical plug described in more detail herein. The front view of such
an electrical connector is shown in Fig. 2.
The same holds for the coupling modules KM in corresponding
manner. If a plurality of such coupling modules KM are arranged above
each other andlor side by side on a base that is preferably common to all
coupling modules and if these are enclosed by a common housing, one
arrives at the electrical coupling member described in more detail herein.
The front view of such an electrical connector is shown in Fig. 3.
Figs. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate cross-sectional views of the electrical
connectors according to Figs. 2 and 3. To be precise, Fig. 4A shows a
cross-sectional view of the plug according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4B shows a cross-
sectional view of the coupling member according to Fig. 3, and Fig. 4C
shows the plug according to Fig. 2 and the coupling member according to
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Fig. 3 in the mated state.
The plug illustrated in Fig. 4A comprises a base 1 (already
mentioned hereinbefore), a housing 2 (also already mentioned) and one or
more plug modules SM, with each plug module SM consisting of a contact
support 3 and a multiplicity of contact elements 4.
In the embodiment shown, there is provided one single contact
support 3 for each plug module SM; each contact support 3 has mounted
thereon all contact elements of the respective plug modules. However, the
invention is not restricted to this design. Basically, there may be an
arbitrary
number of contact supports provided for each plug module SM.
As can be seen in particular from Figs. 1 and 2, the contact
elements 4 are arranged on the contact support 3 carrying the same in the
form of two mutually opposing contact element rows. Although this is
presently deemed to be the optimum arrangement, the invention is not
restricted thereto.
In the embodiment shown, the contact elements 4 are constituted by
relatively long and relatively narrow metal strips with as high rigidity as
possible. In a portion 41 located relatively far to the rear, they have a
(preferably multiply) curved or kinked path (e.g. of zigzag shape). The
contact elements 4 of the plug andlor of the coupling member in addition
thereto have in the front portion (the portion provided for establishing
contact with the contact elements of the coupling member and the plug,
respectively) at least one, but preferably two or more bulges or equivalent
designs of the contact elements. In the embodiment shown, it is the contact
elements 4 of the plug that are provided with these bulges; these bulges
bear the reference numeral 42.
The bent or kinked portion 41 of the contact elements 4 renders
possible that the parts of the contact elements located on either side, i.e.
both sides of said portion are movable relative to each other. In the properly
assembled condition of the electrical connector, portion 41 comes to lie in a
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cavity 11 of the electrical connector present between base 1 and contact
support 3, and thus renders possible that the location of the contact
element, and more strictly speaking the location of the plug modules
containing the same may still vary andlor be changed to a certain extent
with respect to the proper normal position also in the assembled state of the
plug, both in the longitudinal~direction of the contact elements 4 and in the
direction transverse to said longitudinal direction. This turns out to be
advantageous both in terms of manufacture of the electrical connector and
in terms of use thereof.
The bulges 42 (or comparable designs of the contact elements)
constitute resilient contact locations via which the contact elements 4 of the
plug are contacted with the contact elements of the coupling member. If, as
in the embodiment shown, there are provided several contact location
establishing bulges or the like on each contact element, the respective
contact elements may be contacted at multiple locations with the contact
elements to be contacted, and thus are multiple contact elements permitting
particularly good and reliable connections to be established with other
contact elements.
The contact elements 4 are each arranged so as to extend along
the surface of the contact supports 3 carrying them and are held in the
proper position on the respective contact support 3 by having plastics
material injection-moulded around part thereof.
In case of the plug, the contact supports 3 are constituted by rails
provided with groove-like recesses 31 at those locations where the contact
elements 4 are supposed to come to lie, i.e. on mutually opposing
longitudinal sides.
In assembling the contact elements 4 on the contact supports 3, the
contact elements 4 are inserted into the groove-like recesses 31 and then
are fixed to the respective contact support by injection-moulding around the
rear end of the contact support 3 and the contact element parts located
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there.
The contact elements 4 then are mounted to the contact support 3
such that the front end thereof terminates a distance before the front end of
contact support 3 and that the rear end thereof, inclusive of the bent or
kinked portion 41, projects beyond the rear end of contact support 3.
In the embodiment shown, the portions without injection-moulding of
the parts of the contact elements arranged in the groove-like recesses 31 of
contact support 3 are not attached to the contact support 3. However, the
contact elements are designed and injection-moulded to the contact
supports such that the non-moulded portions thereof extending through the
groove-like recesses 31 are resiliently urged against the bottom of the
recess 31 through which they extend. It is ensured in this manner that the
contact elements - although these are each attached to the contact
supports at one single location only - cannot or, at any rate, cannot easily
leave the groove-like recesses.
By way of the design and assembly of the contact elements as
described hereinbefore, these can be reliably held in their proper position
even if they are of very small andlor weak design and/or if they were
subjected to mechanical loads.
Due to the aforementioned injection moulding operation around
contact support 3, the latter is provided with a collar 32 at the rear end
thereof. This collar, as will still be described in more detail, can be
utilized
for mounting the contact supports (the plug modules containing the contact
supports) within the plug. By way of the afore-described connection of
contact support and contact elements, the plug module thus does not
become larger than without such a connection.
As regards the contact support 3, it is to be noted furthermore that
the same is tapered at the front end thereof (where no contact elements are
provided). This serves for centering the mutually associated plug and
coupling modules during mating of plug and coupling member.
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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A contact support 3 and the contact elements arranged thereon as
just described constitute a plug module SM of the type shown in Fig. 1.
A plurality of the plug modules SM that can be configured and made
as described hereinbefore can be combined with the aforementioned base
1 and the aforementioned housing 2 so as to form a plug of the type
according to Fig. 2.
In the embodiment shown, the base 1 is a plate-like member
designed at the top thereof for placement of a plurality of plug modules SM
and of the housing 2, and designed at the bottom thereof for soldering the
rear ends of the contact elements 4 to the base 1 and for mounting the base
1 on a circuit board, not shown in the drawings. The base 1 is formed in its
bottom with a multiplicity of holes provided for passage of the rear ends of
the contact elements 4. The top side of the base bottom is provided in
addition with the recesses, which, in the assembled state of the plug,
constitute the already mentioned cavities 11. In assembling the plug
modules SM on the base 1, the rear ends of the contact elements 4 are
passed through the holes in the base bottom and are soldered or otherwise
electrically andlor mechanically connected to the base on the bottom side
thereof or to elements provided for connecting the base to the circuit board.
The bent or kinked portions 41 of the contact elements 4 come to lie in the
recesses of base 1 that constitute the cavities 11 of the plug.
In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 2 is a trough-like
structure having a bottom 21 and side walls 22. Bottom 21 is provided with
openings through which the forward parts of the plug modules SM can be
passed. The rear ends of the plug modules SM, which carry the collars 32,
cannot pass the openings in the housing bottom. In the assembled state of
the plug, the plug module parts not fitting through the housing bottom
openings come to lie between the housing 2 and the base 1, as shown in
exemplary manner in Fig. 4A. Housing 2 is connected to base 1, for
example, by an adhesive bond, a locking-type connection or other
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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connection. Thus, base 1, housing 2 and plug modules SM thus are
combined to form an integral unit.
In the assembled state of the plug, as described, the side walls 22
of housing 2 extend around the portion of the plug containing the plug
modules. These walls project beyond the front ends of the plug modules.
The front end of the housing side walls 22 is provided with a taper
23 on the inside thereof. This taper serves for centering plug housing and
coupling member housing when plug and coupling member are mated.
In the embodiment illustrated, the coupling member for connection
to the plug designed and made as described hereinbefore, is of different
construction and manufactured differently than the plug.
As can be seen in particular from Fig. 4B, the coupling member
comprises a base 6, a housing 7 and a plurality of coupling modules KM,
with each coupling module KM consisting of a contact support 8 and a
multiplicity of contact elements 9.
In the embodiment illustrated, there is provided for each coupling
module KM one single contact support 8 each; each thereof has mounted
thereon all contact elements 9 of the respective coupling modules.
However, the invention is not restricted to this design. Basically, it is
possible for each coupling module KM to have an arbitrary number of
contact supports 8.
As can be seen in particular from Figs. 1 and 3, the contact
elements 9 are arranged on their supporting contact support 8 in two
mutually opposing contact element rows. Although this is presently deemed
to be the optimum arrangement, the invention is not restricted thereto.
In so far, there is conformity with the plug according to Fig. 4A. The
individual components of the coupling member, however, are different from
the corresponding components of the plug.
In the embodiment illustrated, the contact elements 9, just like the
contact elements 4 of the plug, are constituted by relatively long and
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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relatively narrow metal strips with as high rigidity as possible. In a portion
91
located relatively far to the rear, they have a (preferably multiply) curved
or
kinked path (e.g. of zigzag shape), but are otherwise of straight design.
The bent or kinked portion 91 of the contact elements 9 renders
possible that the parts of the contact elements 9 located on either side
thereof are movable relative to each other. In the properly assembled
condition of the electrical connector, portion 91 comes to lie in a cavity 61
of
the electrical connector present between base 6 and contact support 8, and
thus renders possible that the location of the contact elements 9, and more
strictly speaking the location of the coupling modules containing the same
may still vary andlor be changed to a certain extent with respect to the
proper normal position also in the mated state of the coupling member, both
in the longitudinal direction of the contact elements and in the direction
transverse to said longitudinal direction. This turns out to be advantageous
both in terms of manufacture of the electrical connector and in terms of use
thereof.
The contact elements 9 are each arranged so as to extend along
the surface of the contact supports 8 carrying the same. In this case,
however, the contact support 8 is injection-moulded to the contact elements
which prior thereto were properly arranged and aligned (and inserted in an
injection-moulding means). Injection-moulding of the contact support 8 to
the contact elements 9 means for the contact elements 9 a partial injection-
moulding of plastics material around the same. Due to this moulding
operation, the contact elements are attached to the contact support 8
formed by such injection-moulding, with such attachment being effected
over the entire length of the contact element portions extending along the
contact support 8.
In the embodiment illustrated, the contact supports 8 are constituted
by sleeves of rectangular cross-section which on two confronting insides
are provided with a row of contact elements 9 each and at the rear end
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thereof have a collar 82 extending around the contact support 8.
The contact elements 9 are arranged on the contact support 8 such
that the front end thereof terminates a distance before the front end of the
contact support 8 and that the rear end thereof, inclusive of the bent or
kinked portion 81 projects beyond the rear end of the contact support 8.
The part of the contact elements extending along the surface of
contact support 8, in the embodiment illustrated, is connected to the contact
support 8 along the entire length thereof. The contact elements 9 thus can
be reliably held in their proper position, even if they are of very small
andlor
weak design and even if they were subjected to mechanical loads.
A contact support 8 and the contact elements 9 arranged thereon as
just described constitute a coupling module KM of the type shown in Fig. 1.
The contact support 8 is tapered on the inside edge on its front end
(where no contact elements are provided). This serves for centering the
mutually associated plug and coupling modules when plug and coupling
member are mated.
A plurality of the coupling modules KM that can be configured and
made as described hereinbefore can be combined with the afore-mentioned
base 6 and the afore-mentioned housing 7 so as to form a coupling member
of the type according to Fig. 3.
In the example shown, the base 6 is a plate-like member designed
at the top thereof for placement of a plurality of coupling modules KM and of
the housing 2, and designed at the bottom thereof for soldering the rear
ends of the contact elements 9 to the base 6 and for mounting the base 6
on ~ circuit board, not shown in the drawings. The base 6 is formed in its
bottom with a multiplicity of holes provided for passage of the rear ends of
the contact elements 9. The top side of the base bottom is provided in
addition with the recesses, which, in the assembled state of the coupling
member, constitute the already mentioned cavities 61. In assembling the
coupling modules KM on the base 6, the rear ends of the contact elements
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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9 are passed through the holes in the base bottom and are soldered or
otherwise electrically and/or mechanically connected to the base on the
bottom side thereof or to elements provided for connecting the base to the
circuit board. The bent or kinked portions 91 of the contact elements 9 thus
come to lie in the recesses of the base that constitute the cavities 61 of the
coupling member.
In the embodiment illustrated, the housing 7 is a profiled member of
rectangular cross-section that is open at the top and at the bottom and has
an inner portion subdivided by intermediate walls 72 extending parallel to
the outer walls 71. By way of the outer and intermediate walls 71 and 72, a
multiplicity of channels is defined that are arranged side by side and on top
of each other, with each channel being adapted to receive a coupling
module. The outer and intermediate walls 71, 72 of housing 7 extend
around each individual coupling module when the coupling modules are in
the state attached to the base and the housing.
The outer and intermediate walls 71 and 72 have projections 711
and 721 which project into the channels and, in the assembled state of the
coupling member, come to lie shortly above the collars 82 of the coupling
modules KM; the collars 82 of the coupling modules, in the assembled state
of the coupling member, come to lie between base 6 and housing 7, as
shown in exemplary manner in Fig. 4B.
The housing 7 is connected to the base 6, for example, by an
adhesive bond, a locking-type connection or other connection. Base 6,
housing 7 and coupling modules KM thus are combined to form an integral
unit.
In the assembled state of the coupling member, as described, the
walls 71 and 72 of housing 7 extend around each individual one of the
coupling modules of the coupling member. The housing parts (walls 71, 72)
enclosing the coupling modules project beyond the front ends of the
coupling modules.
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The front end of outer walls 71 of housing 7 are provided with a
taper 712 on the outsides thereof. This taper serves to center plug housing
and coupling housing when plug and coupling member are being mated.
Upon mating of plug and coupling member, the front ends of
housings 2 and 7 meet first, since at least one of the housings, but
preferably both housings, extend beyond the front ends of plug andlor
coupling modules. Due to the tapers 23 and 712 provided at the front ends
of the housings, the housings are centered relative to each other and may
thus easily be slid onto each other. In the embodiment illustrated, the plug
housing is slid over the coupling housing. When the housings 2 and 7 meet,
the plug modules and the coupling modules still are a distance apart from
each other. Sliding of the housings 2 and 7 onto each other thus may effect
pre-centering of the same - without any forces acting on the plug modules
and the coupling modules.
While the plug housing is being slid onto the coupling housing, the
associated plug and coupling modules sooner or later meet. As these are
tapered on their front ends as well and since, moreover, they are already
pre-centered, they can be inserted into each other substantially without any
mechanical loads being exerted thereon.
In the embodiment illustrated, this is enhanced further by the fact
that the plug modules andJor the coupling modules are movable relative to
each other andlor relative to the respective housings andlor bases.
With regard to the plug modules, this movability is achieved in that
- the plug modules are attached to the plug "only" in that a
predetermined part of the plug modules (the collar 32 in the
embodiment illustrated) is held more or less loosely between base 1
and housing 2 (between collar 32 and the parts of base 1 and housing
2 surrounding the same, there are provided spaces permitting
movements of the respective plug module to a certain extent in the
assembled state of the plug as well), and
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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- the contact elements 4 have a bent or kinked portion (portion
41 ) which Games to lie in a cavity (cavity 11 ) provided between base 1
and housing 2 and thus to a certain extent permits relative movements
of the contact element parts located on either side of portion 41 in the
assembled state of the plug as well.
The plug modules thus can at least slightly move relative to each
other andlor relative to the other plug components.
With respect to the coupling modules that are movable in this
manner as well, the movability is achieved in that
- the coupling modules are attached to the coupling member
"only" in that a predetermined part of the coupling modules (the collar
82 in the embodiment illustrated) is held more or less loosely between
base 61 and housing 72 (between collar 82 and the parts of base 6 and
housing 7 surrounding the same, there are provided spaces permitting
movements of the respective coupling module to a certain extent in the
assembled state of the plug as well), and
- the contact elements 9 have a bent or kinked portion (portion
91 ) which comes to lie in a cavity (cavity 61 ) provided between base 6
and housing 7 and thus to a certain extent permits relative movements
of the contact element parts located on either side of portion 91 in the
assembled state of the coupling member as well.
The coupling modules thus can at least slightly move relative to
each other andlor relative to the other coupling member components.
Due to the mutually independent floating arrangement of the plug
modules SM within the plug and the mutually independent floating
arrangement of the coupling modules KM in the coupling member, the plug
modules and the coupling modules can align optimally with respect to each
other in all situations, whereby they can at all times be properly mated
automatically and without or at any rate without significant mechanical loads
being exerted on the modules and the connectors containing the same. This
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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holds even if the components of the plugs and coupling members are not
manufactured andlor assembled exactly according to specifications andlor if
their positions andlor their dimensions vary (e.g. due to slight damages or
temperature fluctuations).
In mating plug and coupling member, each plug contact element 4
establishes contact with the associated coupling member contact element 9
at multiple locations. It is thus possible to establish electrical connections
of
highest quality.
The coupling member contact elements 9, during mating with the
plug contact elements 4, come to lie in the groove-like recesses 31 of the
plug modules; the webs of the contact support 3 of the plug, which are
present between adjacent groove-like recesses 31, in the mated state of
plug and coupling member, extend up to the contact supports 8 of the
coupling member and thus separate (isolate) adjacent contact element pairs
from each other. Adjacent contact elements of the plug and coupling
modules thus cannot interfere with each other. In particular, no flow of
leakage currents is possible.
Plugs and coupling members with constructions as described can
be mated and unmated substantially without a risk of damage and, in doing
so, permit excellent electrical connections to be established in all
situations.
The connections are of low impedance, withstand high voltages and large
currents and are relatively insensitive to fluctuating or adverse effects from
the surroundings, such as extreme and/or fluctuating temperatures,
vibrations, moisture, dirt etc.
The properties mentioned are obtained irrespective of the size and
contact density of the electrical connectors designed and manufactured as
described hereinbefore.
The electrical connectors described thus can be made very small
andlor with high contact density with in essence the same excellent
properties.
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This was confirmed by tests: to this end, the electrical connectors
shown in Figs. 2 and 8, i.e. electrical connectors each with 8 connector
modules and in total 256 contacts were realized on a space of 24.9 mm x
5.4 mm x 9 mm (length x width x depth in the mated state).
The handling properties of the electrical connectors and the quality
of the electrical connections that can be produced by them turned out to be
excellent.
Some technical data:
Range of operating temperatures:
-30 to +125°C
Current-carrying capacity per contact:
250 mA at 25°C
150 mA at 85°C
Breakdown strength of adjacent contacts:
650 V with do current
750 V with ac current
Volume resistivity:
175 m52
Contact resistance:
40 m52
Insulation resistance:
4x101052
These are results that cannot even approximately be achieved using
known multi-position miniature connectors.
For connecting the electrical connectors to the circuit board carrying
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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them, it is to be pointed out that the electrical connectors, to be more
precise the bases thereof, can be mounted on circuit boards using, for
example, the so-called BGA (ball grid array) or PSGA (plastic stud grid
array) technology.
With regard to BGA technology, it is to be pointed out that the balls
may be arranged directly at the locations where the contact element parts
passed through the base reach the bottom side of the base, or may be
arranged more or less remote therefrom.
In the latter case, i.e. if the balls are arranged more or less remote
from the locations where the contact element parts passed through the
base reach the bottom side of the base, the contact elements or the
locations where these reach the bottom side of the base, respectively, and
the balls must be electrically connected to each other via conductive tracks
or in a different manner. This is illustrated in Fig. 5 in exemplary manner.
The locations where the contact elements reach the bottom side of the base
are designated 15, the balls are designated 16 and the conductive tracks
connecting the locations 15 to the balls 16 are designated 17.
If the balls are arranged directly at the locations where the contact
elements reach the bottom side of the base, these locations are preferably
positioned such that they (and the balls to be applied thereto) are spaced
apart by certain minimum distances. The locations where the contact
elements reach the base bottom side then are no longer arranged in two
opposing rows, as in case of the contact elements on the contact supports,
but are arranged, for example, in two opposing double rows each consisting
of two individual rows arranged in mutually offset manner (in the
embodiment illustrated, by half of the distance between adjacent elements
of the row). Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6. The locations where
the contact elements reach the base bottom side are again designated 15,
and the balls are again designated 16. The balls 16 lie on the locations 15
so that, contrary to the base according to Fig. 5, there are no longer
CA 02382420 2002-02-19
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required conductive tracks for connecting the same.
Due to the measures mentioned, it is possible in both cases, i.e.
both if the balls are arranged directly at the locations where the contact
element parts passed through the base reach the base bottom side, and if
the balls are more or less remote from these locations, to ensure in all
situations (in particular irrespective of the contact element density of the
respective connector modules) that the balls are spaced apart from each
other to the extent necessary for practical application of the BGA
technology.
Irrespective of this, plugs and coupling members of the type
described hereinbefore may also be realized with leading or trailing
contacts, double contacts and power contacts.
Electrical connectors having a construction as described may be
designed as multi-position miniature connectors by means of which
electrical connections of high quality can be established in reliable manner.
