Electrical connector with an internal switch

• US 20040002245A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: WALLACE, JOHN, McInerney, Declan, SPIEGEL, MARKO F., McDaid, Padraig, Horgan, John M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/188
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/46 comprising switches

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided with an integral switch. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating end. A fixed switch contact is immovably mounted on the housing. A movable switch contact is mounted on the housing and includes a contact portion movable into and out of switching engagement with the fixed switch contact. The movable switch contact includes a movable terminal portion at the mating end of the housing for engaging an appropriate terminal of a complementary mating connector. The movable terminal portion is integral with the contact portion for moving the contact portion relative to the fixed switch contact in response to mating of the connectors.

Claims

1. An electrical connector with an integral switch, comprising:

a dielectric housing having a mating end;

a fixed switch contact immovably mounted on the housing;

a movable switch contact mounted on the housing and including a contact portion movable into and out of switching engagement with the fixed switch contact; and

said movable switch contact including a movable terminal portion at the mating end of the housing for engaging an appropriate terminal of a complementary mating connector, the movable terminal portion being integral with the contact portion for moving the contact portion relative to the fixed switch contact in response to mating of the connectors.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the terminal portion of said movable switch contact comprises a terminal pin.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said fixed switch contact includes an aperture through which said terminal pin movably extends.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said housing includes a terminal-receiving passage aligned with said aperture and through which the terminal pin freely extends.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said switch contacts have feet portions projecting from the housing for connection to appropriate circuit traces on a printed circuit board.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, including a shield about at least said mating end of the housing.

7. The electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said shield includes a receptacle in registry with the mating end of the housing for receiving said complementary mating connector.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said movable terminal portion of the movable switch contact projects into said receptacle.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said fixed switch contact includes a fixed body portion having an aperture therethrough, said movable switch contact includes a body portion mounted to the housing and a flexible contact arm defining said movable portion engageable with the fixed switch contact, and said movable terminal portion extends through the aperture in the body portion of the fixed switch contact.

10. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the terminal portion of said movable switch contact comprises a terminal pin.

11. An electrical connector with an integral switch, comprising:

a dielectric housing for mounting on a printed circuit board, the housing having a mating end;

a fixed switch contact having a body portion immovably mounted on the housing, an aperture through the body portion and a foot portion projecting from the housing for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the printed circuit board;

a movable switch contact having a body portion mounted on the housing and a flexible contact arm defining a contact portion movable into and out of switching engagement with the fixed switch contact, and a foot portion projecting from the housing for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the printed circuit board; and

said movable switch contact including a movable terminal portion extending through the aperture on the body portion of the fixed switch contact and to the mating end of the housing for engaging an appropriate terminal of a complementary mating connector, the movable terminal portion being integral with the contact portion for moving the contact portion relative to the fixed switch contact in response to mating of the connectors.

12. The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein the terminal portion of said movable switch contact comprises a terminal pin.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein said housing includes a terminal-receiving passage aligned with the aperture in the fixed switch contact and through which the terminal pin freely extends.

14. The electrical connector of claim 11, including a shield about at least said mating end of the housing.

15. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein said shield includes a receptacle in registry with the mating end of the housing for receiving said complementary mating connector.

16. The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein said movable terminal portion of the movable switch contact projects into said receptacle.

17. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein said shield includes at least one foot portion for connection to an appropriate ground trace on the printed circuit board.

18. An electrical connector assembly having an internal switch, comprising:

a first connector including a housing having a mating end with a first terminal thereat; and

a second connector including a housing having a mating end for mating with the mating end of the first connector,

a fixed switch contact immovably mounted on the housing of the second connector,

a movable switch contact mounted on the housing of the second connector and including a contact portion movable into and out of switching engagement with the fixed switch contact, and

said movable switch contact including a movable terminal portion at the mating end of the housing of the second connector for engaging the first terminal of the first connector, the movable terminal portion being integral with the contact portion for moving the contact portion relative to the fixed switch contact in response to mating of the connectors.

19. The electrical connector assembly of claim 18 wherein the terminal portion of said movable switch contact comprises a terminal pin having a distal end.

20. The electrical connector assembly of claim 19 wherein the first terminal of said first connector has a recess for receiving the distal end of said terminal pin.

21. The electrical connector of claim 19 wherein said fixed switch contact includes an aperture through which said terminal pin movably extends.

22. The electrical connector of claim 18 wherein said fixed switch contact includes a fixed body portion having an aperture therethrough, said movable switch contact includes a body portion mounted to the housing and a flexible contact arm defining said movable portion engageable with the fixed switch contact, and said movable terminal portion extends through the aperture in the body portion of the fixed switch contact.

23. An electrical connector assembly having an internal switch for switching between an external antenna and an internal antenna, comprising:

a first connector including a housing having a mating end with a first terminal thereat, the first terminal being adapted for connection to an internal antenna; and

a second connector including a housing having a mating end for mating with the mating end of the first connector,

a fixed switch contact immovably mounted on the housing of the second connector and adapted for connection to an external antenna,

a movable switch contact mounted on the housing and including a contact portion movable into and out of switching engagement with the fixed switch contact, and said movable switch contact including a movable terminal portion at the mating end of the housing for engaging the first terminal of the first connector, the movable terminal portion being integral with the contact portion for moving the contact portion relative to the fixed switch contact in response to mating of the connectors whereby the external antenna is disconnected automatically in response to connection with the internal antenna.

24. The electrical connector assembly of claim 23 wherein the terminal portion of said movable switch contact comprises a terminal pin having a distal end.

25. The electrical connector assembly of claim 24 wherein the first terminal of said first connector has a recess for receiving the distal end of said terminal pin.

26. The electrical connector assembly of claim 24 wherein said fixed switch contact includes an aperture through which said terminal pin movably extends.