LOW PROFILE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

• US 20200136286A1
• Filed: 08/12/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: McClelland, II, Belgie Brian, Reisinger, Jason M'Cheyne, Behziz, Arash, Herring, Michael David, Briant, Eric David, Phillips, Michael John, Tryson, Michael Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 11,264,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7082 Coupling device supported only by cooperation with PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/725 containing contact members presenting a contact carrying strip, e.g. edge-like strip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/728 Coupling devices without an insulating housing provided on the edge of the PCB
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/732 Printed circuits being in the same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/04 Pins or blades for co-operation with sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/06 for computer periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/60 Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An electrical connector that includes a housing with an interior cavity configured to receive a card. Electrical contacts are secured across a wall of the housing within the interior cavity and are configured to matingly receive corresponding electrical contacts of the card. The plurality of electrical contacts secured across the wall of the housing are the only electrical contacts of the electrical connector. Each of the plurality of electrical contacts includes a mating interface and the mating interface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is co-planer. Additionally, the housing includes a card slot opening and each of the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged on one side of the card slot opening.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising:

a housing including an interior cavity configured to receive a card;

a plurality of electrical contacts secured across a wall of the housing within the interior cavity and configured to matingly receive corresponding electrical contacts of the card;

wherein the plurality of electrical contacts secured across the wall of the housing are the only electrical contacts of the electrical connector;

wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts includes a mating interface;

wherein the mating interface of each of the plurality of electrical contacts is co-planer; and

wherein the housing includes a card slot opening and each of the plurality of electrical contacts are arranged on one side of the card slot opening.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing is four millimeters or less in height.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the wall is a bottom wall of the housing such that the plurality of electrical contacts are configured to be positioned below the card.

4. The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the card slot opening is above the bottom wall and configured to receive the card.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a surface mount technology connector or a through hole socket mount electrical connector.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising a stop element on the wall of the housing and configured to prevent movement of the card.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a first stop element on the wall of the housing configured to be received by an opening within the card;

a second stop element configured to receive the card; and

a third stop element configured to receive the card.

8. The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the housing includes a first sidewall adjacent the first stop element, and a second sidewall adjacent the second stop element.

9. The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include at least one electrical contact that comprises:

a terminating section configured to engage and extend along a substrate;

a vertical section extending from the terminating section; and

a mating section extending from the vertical section to an arcuate section configured to bias against the card.

10. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).

11. The electrical connector of claim 9, wherein each of the electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts is the same length.

12. An electrical device comprising:

a substrate having an electrical component mounted to a surface of the substrate;

a heat sink coupled to one of the substrate or electrical component to dissipate heat from the electrical component;

an electrical connector mounted to the surface of the substrate proximate to the electrical component, the electrical connector including a housing having a plurality of electrical contacts therein configured to matingly receive a card; and

wherein the electrical connector is coupled between the substrate and the heat sink.

13. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the electrical component is an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a bottom surface secured to the substrate and a top surface engaging the heat sink, the ASIC having a height from the bottom surface to the top surface, wherein the height of the electrical connector is equal to or less than the height of the ASIC.

14. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB).

15. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the electrical connector is four millimeters or less in height.

16. The electrical device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts include at least one electrical contact that comprises:

a terminating section configured to engage and extend along a substrate;

a vertical section extending from the terminating section; and

a mating section extending from the vertical section to an arcuate section configured to bias against the card.

17. A electrical connector comprising:

a housing including an interior cavity configured to receive a card having a first electrical component on a first surface and a second electrical component on a second surface;

a plurality of electrical contacts secured to a wall within an interior cavity of the housing and configured to matingly receive corresponding electrical contacts of the card; and

wherein the housing includes a top wall having a top surface wherein the top surface of the top wall is at or below a plane formed by a top surface of the first electrical component.

18. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts are secured to the top wall of the housing within the interior cavity and electrical contacts of the plurality of electrical contacts are secured to a bottom wall of the housing within the interior cavity.

19. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the electrical connector is a surface mount technology connector or a through hole socket mount electrical connector.

20. The electrical connector of claim 17, wherein the housing is four millimeters or less in height.