Surface mount connector with integrated power leads

• US 5,915,975 A
• Filed: 09/12/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: McGrath, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US08/712,738
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• Field of Search: 439/74, 439/101, 439/108
• US Class Current: 439/74
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7088 Arrangements for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/716 Coupling device provided on the PCB

Abstract

A board-to-board connector assembly includes two interengaging plug connector and receptacle connector halves with power and signal terminals integrated therein. Each of the plug and receptacle connector halves include respective dual plug and receptacle housings spaced apart from each other in a substantially parallel relationship. The dual connector housings of the plug and receptacle connector halves are evenly spaced apart by bridging pieces which extend between the connector housings to connect them together. The bridging pieces may either be integrally formed with the connector housings or they may be separately formed from the connector housings and include engagement members which engage the connector housings. The bridging pieces have power terminals disposed therein so that the connector assembly effects a connection not only between signal circuits of the circuit boards, but also between power circuits.

Claims

1. A board-to-board connector assembly for interconnecting a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel circuit members, the assembly comprising:

interengageable plug connector and receptacle connector components, the plug connector component including a pair of plug connector housings extending in a first direction and arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being interconnected at opposite ends by first bridging portions of generally equal length that extend in a second direction that is different than the first direction, the receptacle connector component including a pair of receptacle connector housings, also extending in said first direction and arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being interconnected by second bridging portions of generally equal length that extend in the second direction, said plug and receptacle component housings each including a first set of electrically conductive terminals secured therein, each terminal of the first terminal set having a corresponding tail portion for interconnection to a respective circuit of one of said circuit members, and the first and second bridging portions only including a second set of electrically conductive terminals, the second terminal set including at least one pair of complementary interengaging power terminals, the pair of power terminals including at least one contact blade extending from one of said first and second bridging portions and at least one corresponding power terminal receptacle disposed only in another of said first and second bridging portions which opposes said one bridging portion, the power terminal receptacle including a contact blade-engaging terminal disposed therein, whereby upon mating said plug and receptacle components, said terminal of said plug and receptacle components engage each other and said contact blade and contact blade-engaging terminals engage each other to thereby transmit electrical power between opposing circuit boards, said first and second terminal sets being respectively isolated from each other in different portions of said connector assembly so as to save space on said plug and receptacle connector housings.

2. The connector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second bridging portions are integrally formed with said plug and receptacle connector housings to define respective unitary, one-piece plug and receptacle connector components.

3. The connector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second bridging portions are formed separately from said plug and receptacle connector housings and said first and second bridging pieces include means for engaging said plug and receptacle connector housings.

4. The connector assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said engagement means include notches formed in said first and second bridging portions which receive engagement members disposed on said plug and receptacle connector housings.

5. The connector assembly as defined in claim 1, further including means for polarizing said plug and receptacle connector components to ensure said plug connector housings engage said receptacle connector housings in a predetermined orientation and so that said power terminals engage each other.

6. The connector assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein said polarizing means includes slots formed in at least one of said plug and receptacle connector housings which receive posts extending from the other of said two plug and receptacle connector housings.

7. The connector assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said power terminal blade-engaging contact includes a pair of spring arms interconnected by a body portion.

8. A board-to-board connector assembly for providing an electrical connection between electrical circuits disposed on first and second opposing, spaced-apart circuit members, the connector assembly comprising:

a plug connector component adapted for mounting to a surface of the first circuit member and a receptacle connector component adapted for mounting to a surface of the second circuit member, the plug connector component being adapted for engagement with the receptacle connector component, the plug connector component including a pair of spaced apart, elongated plug connector housings extending in a first direction and interconnected together at ends thereof by elongated plug bridging pieces extending in a second direction that is angularly disposed with respect to the first direction, the plug bridging pieces spacing the plug connector housings apart, the elongated plug bridging pieces having a length substantially less than the elongated plug connector housing, the receptacle connector component including a pair of spaced apart, receptacle connector housings extending in said first direction and interconnected together at ends thereof by elongated receptacle bridging pieces extending in said second direction and spacing the receptacle connector housings apart, the elongated receptacle bridging pieces having a length substantially less than the elongated receptacle connector housing,

said receptacle connector housings having engagement cavities and a plurality of receptacle terminals associated therewith, the receptacle terminals being disposed only on said receptacle connector housings within said engagement cavities and having tail portions extending out from said receptacle connector housings, and being adapted to engage circuit traces on the surface of said second circuit member, said plug connector housings having a plurality of plug terminals associated therewith that are disposed only on plug connector housings, said plug connector housings further having plug portions protruding therefrom, the plug terminals being disposed along the protruding plug portions and having tail portions extending out from said plug connector housings and being adapted to engage circuit traces on the surface of said first circuit member,

one of receptacle and plug bridging pieces having a plurality of spaced apart, first power terminals that are disposed only on said one of said plug and receptacle bridging pieces and another of said receptacle and plug bridging pieces having a plurality of spaced apart, second power terminals that are disposed only on said another of said receptacle and plug bridging pieces, said first and second power terminals being aligned with each other and disposed only on said one and another bridging pieces so as to save space on said receptacle and plug connector housings, such that upon mating of said plug and receptacle connector housings, said first power terminals mate with respective ones of said second power terminals, said first power terminals being substantially wider than said plug and receptacle terminals in order to carry a greater amount of current.

9. The connector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said plug bridging pieces and said receptacle bridging pieces are respectively integrally formed with said plug connector housings and said receptacle connector housings such that said plug connector housings and bridging pieces constitute a one-piece plug connector component and said receptacle connector housings and bridging pieces constitute a one-piece receptacle connector component.

10. The connector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said plug and receptacle bridging pieces include separate, elongated body portions which include means for engaging respective ones of said plug connector and receptacle connector housings.

11. The connector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said plug and receptacle bridging pieces respectively interconnect said plug and receptacle connector housings together at opposing ends of said plug and receptacle connector housings.

12. The connector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said first power terminal includes an elongated contact blade extending from said one bridging piece, the contact blade having a body portion disposed within said one bridging piece, and the contact blade further having a tail portion the contact blade being oriented in said first direction and said plug terminals being oriented in said first direction.

13. The connector assembly as defined in claim 12, wherein said first power terminal tail portions and said contact blades extend in opposite directions from said one bridging piece.

14. The connector assembly as defined in claim 8, wherein said another bridging piece includes a cavity and said second power terminal includes a spring contact having an engagement portion disposed within said another bridging piece cavity.

15. The connector assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein said spring contact further includes a tail portion, the tail portion extending away from said another bridging piece.

16. A connector component for mating with a second, complementary connector component in order to interconnect a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel circuit members, the second connector component including a pair of elongated, generally parallel second connector housings arranged in a spaced-apart relationship in a first direction and a pair of spaced apart, elongated second bridging members of generally equal length extending in a second direction that is different from the first direction, the second bridging members interconnecting said second connector housings at opposite ends thereof, said second bridging members having a length substantially less than the second connector housings, said second connector housings having a first set of conductive contacts spaced apart therealong that are adapted to conduct electrical signals therealong, said second bridging members having a second set of conductive contacts spaced apart therealong that are adapted to conduct electrical power therealong, said connector component comprising:

a pair of elongated, generally parallel connector housings arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and extending in a first direction, a pair of spaced apart, elongated bridging members of generally equal length extending in a second direction that is offset from said first direction, the bridging members interconnecting said connector housings at opposite ends thereof, said bridging members having a length substantially less than the connector housings, said connector housings having a first set of conductive signal-carrying contacts spaced apart therealong and adapted for mating with said second connector component first set of contacts, said bridging members having a second set of conductive, power-carrying contacts type spaced apart therealong and adapted for mating with said second connector contact set,

said second contact set being substantially wider than said first contact set in order to facilitate carrying a greater amount of current, said first contact set being disposed only on said connector housings and said second contact set being disposed only on said bridging pieces so as to save space on said connector housings.

17. The connector as defined in claim 16, wherein said first type of terminals includes surface mount tails for soldering to circuitry on the surface of one of said circuit members and said second type of terminals includes through hole solder tails for interconnection to circuitry in holes in one of said circuit members.

18. The connector as defined in claim 16, wherein said bridging members are integrally formed with their respective connector housings to define one-piece connector structures of said connector and second component, respectively.

19. The connector as defined in claim 16, wherein said bridging members are formed separately from their respective connector housings and said bridging members include means for engaging their respective connector housings.

20. The connector as defined in claim 19, wherein said engagement means include notches formed in said bridging members which receive engagement members disposed on said connector housings.

21. A connector component, comprising:

a pair of elongated connector housings formed from an electrically insulative material, the connector housings each having a mounting surface for mounting to a circuit member, and a mating surface for mating with an opposing connector component, said connector housings each having a length extending in a first direction;

said connector housings being spaced apart from each other a preselected distance by a pair of elongated bridging members that extend in a second direction that is offset from said first direction, each of the bridging members having a mounting surface for mounting to the circuit member and a mating surface for mating with the opposing connector component;

a plurality of first electrically conductive terminals disposed only on said connector component connector housings and adapted to carry electrical signals of a first type from said circuit member to said opposing connector component and vice-versa; and

,

at least one second electrically conductive terminal disposed only on said bridging members of said connector component so as to save space on said connector component connector housings, whereby said first and second conductive terminals are isolated from each other in different portions of said connector component.