Docking connector for disk drives
First Claim
1. A docking connector for providing an interface between a circuit board having a plurality of traces arranged along an edge, and a modular electrical component such as a disk drive having a plurality of contact terminals for completing a multiple-electrical-connection interface with said circuit board, said docking connector comprising:
- a guide housing formed as an open-ended enclosure with a first end for slidable insertion of said modular component and a second end for slidable insertion of the edge of said circuit board, said guide housing further comprising interior alignment means for guiding insertion of said modular component such that said plurality of contact terminals are brought into a facing spaced-relation with said plurality of traces along said circuit board edge; and
a camming assembly pivoted at the first end of said guide housing for manipulating said modular component to thereby bring said plurality of contact terminals into electrical contact with said plurality of traces along said circuit board edge, thereby completing an electrical interface between said circuit board and said modular component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A docking assembly including a guide housing (2) and camming assembly (38, 54 and 40) for mechanically interfacing a modular component (46) with a circuit board to thereby complete and protect multiple electrical connections therebetween. An interfacing connector (80) is also disclosed for providing an electrical and mechanical interface between a circuit board and a disk drive (82). The interfacing connector (80) allows high-density multiple electrical interconnections to the circuit board by the use of canted coil springs (100) for direct electrical contact with individual traces and/or contact pads on the circuit board. The interfacing connector (80) may also include a docking assembly (130) with guide channels (136) for guiding insertion of a circuit board to thereby insure the integrity of the electrical interconnections therebetween.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A docking connector for providing an interface between a circuit board having a plurality of traces arranged along an edge, and a modular electrical component such as a disk drive having a plurality of contact terminals for completing a multiple-electrical-connection interface with said circuit board, said docking connector comprising:
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a guide housing formed as an open-ended enclosure with a first end for slidable insertion of said modular component and a second end for slidable insertion of the edge of said circuit board, said guide housing further comprising interior alignment means for guiding insertion of said modular component such that said plurality of contact terminals are brought into a facing spaced-relation with said plurality of traces along said circuit board edge; and a camming assembly pivoted at the first end of said guide housing for manipulating said modular component to thereby bring said plurality of contact terminals into electrical contact with said plurality of traces along said circuit board edge, thereby completing an electrical interface between said circuit board and said modular component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An interfacing connector for providing an electrical interface between a circuit board and a modular component such as a disk drive, said interfacing connector comprising:
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a connector housing having a first ingress for insertion of a printed circuit board, a second ingress for coupling of a disk drive, and a transverse support shelf extending between said first ingress and second ingress; a plurality of conductive terminals arranged within the second ingress of said connector housing along said shelf for completing a multiple-electrical-connection interface with said disk drive; a plurality of canted coil springs arranged linearly within the first ingress of said connector housing at spaced intervals along an inner surface of said shelf, said canted coil springs each being connected to a corresponding one of said conductive terminals; whereby said interfacing connector may be connected at said second ingress to said disk drive, and said circuit board may be inserted into said open first ingress of said connector housing along shelf to bring said canted coil springs into conductive contact at an appropriate point on said circuit board, thereby completing an electrical interface between said circuit board and said disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A contact array for a connector housing, comprising:
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a thin flexible plate; a plurality of canted coil springs mounted at spaced intervals along said flexible plate, said springs being coiled in a helix about an axis, and said springs being oriented such that said axis conforms to a plane of said flexible plate; said flexible plate being anchored to said connector housing by a plurality of mounting posts extending therefrom, said mounting posts being heat-staked through a corresponding plurality of holes in said flexible plate; whereby said canted coil springs are resiliently anchored to said connector housing for electrical contact with a facing circuit board.
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Specification