Electrical compression connection for retractable connectors

• US 6,428,347 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Oliphant, David, Johnson, Thomas A., Forte, Steven Lo, Kunz, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ta, Tho D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US09/687,233
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 439/131, 439/492, 439/329, 439/676, 439/946, 439/493, 439/499, 439/71, 439/607, 439/608
• US Class Current: 439/492
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

A retractable media connector assembly with a compressible electrical contact between a contact pin assembly and a flex circuit. Two plastic posts are molded into a retractable platform of the media connector assembly to align with the flex circuit, which has opposing holes, and is inserted over the tops of the posts. An arch in the retractable platform properly positions the contact pin assembly. When properly seated the contact pins are aligned directly over contact pads on the flex circuit. Proper alignment creates a positive stop and lock for the contact assembly and the flex circuit increasing the reliability and reducing the production cost. Molded locking features on the media connector assembly secure the entire system including a cap cover, the contact pins, the flex circuit, and the platform.

Claims

1. In a system including an electronic device and an external system, a media connector for maintaining an electrical connection between the electronic device and the media connector when attached to the external system, the media connector comprising:

a retractable platform having an aperture formed therein;

one or more contact pins attached to the retractable platform flexibly extending into the aperture, the aperture being shaped to receive a media plug for electrically coupling to the external system and to establish an electrical connection between one or more contacts of the media plug and the one or more contact pins;

an arch formed in a body of the retractable platform, the arch shaped to position the one or more contact pins to come into contact with the one or more contacts of the media plug and to allow radial deflection of the one or more contact pins along the arch when encountered by the one or more contacts of the media plug;

a cover configured to be inserted into the retractable platform and fixably compress the one or more contact pins into position; and

a flex circuit having one or more electrical traces electrically connected to the electronic device, the traces having one or more electrical contact pads and wherein the flex circuit is configured to create a solderless electrical compression connection between the one or more contact pins and the one or more contact pads of the flex circuit when the cover is inserted in the retractable platform.

2. The media connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the media connector further comprises a flexible shield at least partially extending into the aperture and wherein the shield is configured to cover the electrical connection between the one or more contact pins and the one or more contacts of the media plug when the media plug is inserted in the aperture.

3. The media connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the arch includes pin guides shaped to receive the contact pins, the pin guides extend out from the arch such that each of the contact pins is positioned within a different pin guide and wherein the pin guides keep each of the contact pins from touching another contact pin.

4. The media connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the arch allows the contact pins to move within a prescribed range of motion.

5. The media connector as defined in claim 2, wherein the shield is an extension of the flex circuit that is connected to the retractable platform, the flex circuit providing the electrical coupling between the one or more contact pins and the electronic device.

6. A retractable media connector for use with a portable expansion card electrically connected to an external communication network and an electronic device, the connector, comprising:

a retractable platform having an extended and a retracted position, the platform having an aperture formed therein for receiving a connection from an external communication network;

a contact pin assembly comprising a plurality of contact pins separated from one another by a carrier and a spacer, the contact pin assembly partially extending into the aperture and collecting signals from the connection with the external communication network;

a flex circuit for electrically coupling with the contact pin assembly and transmitting the collected signals to the portable expansion card; and

a connector cover operably configured to selectively lock into place within a body of the retractable platform, the selective positioning thereby creating and maintaining the electrical coupling between the contact pin assembly and the flex circuit by compression.

7. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the retractable platform further comprising an arch formed in the body of the retractable platform, the arch shaped to position the contact pin assembly to electrically contact one or more contacts of a media plug and to allow radial deflection of the contact pin assembly along the arch when encountered by the one or more contacts of the media plug;

the cover working in conjunction with the arch to restrict the movement of the contact pin assembly relative to the flex circuit.

8. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the flex circuit further comprises at least one contact pad configured to compensate for positional movement of the contact pin assembly.

9. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the cover further comprises a compression ridge positioned to press against the contact pin assembly when the cover is selectively locked into position in the retractable platform so that the compression increases the strength of the compression fitting between the flex circuit and the contact pin assembly, whereby the radial deflection of the contact pin assembly in the aperture does not break the electrical coupling between the flex circuit and the contact pin assembly.

10. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 6, wherein the retractable media connector further comprises:

a cam follower configured to follow a cam track, wherein the cam track is configured to position the retractable media connector between the extended position and the retracted position; and

a spring connected between the retractable media connector and the portable expansion card, wherein the spring exerts an extending force against the retractable media connector and the spring prevents the retractable antenna from binding as the cam follower follows the cam track.

11. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 7, wherein the arch is configured to prevent inelastic deformation of the contact pin assembly upon insertion of the media plug into the aperture.

12. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 8, wherein the retractable platform further comprises guide posts to properly align the at least one contact pad of the flex circuit with the contact pin assembly.

13. The retractable media connector as recited in claim 8, wherein the retractable platform further comprises guide slots for the carrier to properly align the contact pin assembly for the compression coupling with the at least one contact pad.

14. An electrical connector that is sized and configured to be electrically connected to an electrical device, the electrical connector comprising:

a retractable platform including an aperture that is sized and configured to selectively receive a media plug;

one or more contact pins connected to the platform, at least a portion of the contact pins extending into the aperture to allow electrical communication to be established with the media plug when it is received within the aperture;

a flex circuit having one or more electrical traces electrically connected to the platform, the traces having one or more electrical contact pads; and

a cover connected into the platform, the cover engaging the one or more contact pins and causing the one or more contact pins to be electrically connected to the one or more electrical contact pads of the flex circuit to form a solderless electrical compression connection between the contact pins and the flex circuit, wherein the retractable platform further comprising an arch which being sized and shaped to position the one or more contact pins to come into contact with the one or more contacts of the media plug and to allow radial deflection of the one or more contact pins along the arch when encountered by the one or more contacts of the media plug.

15. An electrical connector that is sized and configured to be electrically connected to an electrical device, the electrical connector comprising:

a retractable platform with an aperture that is sized and configured to receive a media plug;

one or more contact pins, at least a portion of the contact pins extending into the aperture in the retractable platform to allow electrical communication to be established with the media plug with it is received within the aperture;

an arch formed in the retractable platform, the arch being sized and shaped to position the one or more contact pins to come into contact with the one or more contacts of the media plug and to allow radial deflection of the one or more contact pins along the arch when encountered by the one or more contacts of the media plug; and

a flex circuit having one or more electrical traces electrically connected to the electronic device, the traces having one or more electrical contact pads, the flex circuit being configured to allow a solderless electrical compression connection between the one or more contact pins and the one or more contact pads of the flex circuit.

16. The electrical connector as in claim 15, further comprising a cover connected into the platform, the cover engaging the one or more contact pins and causing the one or more contact pins to be electrically connected to the one or more electrical contact pads of the flex circuit.

17. The electrical connector as in claim 15, further comprising one or more pin guides extending outwardly from the arch, each of the one or more contact pins being positioned within a different pin guide and the pin guides being sized and configured to prevent physical contact between the contact pins.