Electrical connector

• US 6,764,315 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCI Asia Pte Limited (Bain Capital Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: FCI
• Inventors: Ng, Kiat-Hup Joey, Soh, Lip Teck
• Primary Examiner(s): PAUMEN, GARY F
• Application Number:
  US10/324,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20030124879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 439/66, 439/91, 439/608, 439/101, 439/108, 439/74
• US Class Current: 439/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/57 surface mounting terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/774 Retainers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6585 Shielding material individually surrounding or interposed between mutually spaced contacts

Abstract

A connector to provide interconnection between two devices which each present electrical connection points for a signal and ground circuit and between which the connector is to provide electrical connection. A housing is provided having a first region retaining a conductive element and a second region retaining a further conductive element. Each conductive element has a first and a second contact point for engagement to electrical connection points for a signal circuit between the two devices. The conductive elements are resiliently deflectable for compression engaged by and between the two devices. A plate is positioned between the first region and the second region and includes a contact region to engage with an electrical connection point for a ground circuit of the first device and a contact region to engage with an electrical connection point of a ground circuit of the second device to also be contacted in a resiliently deflectable manner.

Claims

1. A connector to provide interconnection between two devices which each present electrical connection points for a signal circuit and electrical connection points for a ground circuit between which said connector is to provide electrical connection said connector comprising,

a housing having a first region retaining at least one conductive element and a second region retaining at least one further conductive element, each conductive element having a first and a second contact point for engagement to electrical connection points for a signal circuit of said first and second said device respectively;

a shielding member providing a plate positioned between said first region and said second region, said shielding member including a first device contact region to engage with an electrical connection point for a ground circuit of said first device and a second device contact region to engage with an electrical connection point of a ground circuit of said second device;

at least one of said first and second device contact regions for engagement by a respective device extends, from said plate in a resiliently deflectable manner.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shielding member is retained in a shielding member cavity of said housing and wherein said first device contact region and said second device contact region each extend through an opening of the shielding member cavity in said housing.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first device contact region extends from said plate of said shielding member resiliently deflectable relative thereto.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second device contact region is presented from said plate of said shielding member resiliently deflectable relative thereto.

5. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second device contact region is rigidly presented from said plate of said shielding member.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second device contact region is a leg which extends from said plate to engage with an electrical connection point of said second device in a pressure contact manner.

7. A connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pressure contact manner is achieved as a result of the compression of the shielding member between said first device and said second device when in operative engagement which said connection member.

8. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first contact points of each of said conductive elements simultaneously engage in a compressive contact manner with respective electrical connection points for a signal circuit of said first device as the compressive engagement of the first device contact region of said shield member engages with electrical connection points of said first device for said ground circuit.

9. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein operative engagement the second device contact regions of said shielding member and the second contact points of said conductive elements are soldered with respective electrical connection points of the ground circuit of said second device.

10. A connector as claimed in claim 6 wherein said leg of said shielding member extends laterally from the housing in a manner to allow for a soldered contact to be established with said leg and a said electrical connection point for a ground circuit of the second device.

11. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shield member includes at least two first device contact regions.

12. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shielding member provides at least two second device contact regions.

13. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second contact points of said conductive elements extend laterally from said housing to allow for a soldered engagement of respective electrical contact points of the signal circuit(s) said second device to be provided.

14. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first region includes a plurality of conductive elements arranged in an array and said second region includes a plurality of further conductive elements arranged in an array wherein the shielding member provides said plate between said two arrays.

15. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein each conductive element is of a kind housed in said cavity to present said first contact points only to be displaceable relative to said housing in a resiliently flexible manner.

16. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shielding member is a substantially planar.

17. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shielding member is stamped from a sheet metal material.

18. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first device contact region is provided at or towards a distal end of an arm engaged in a cantilevered manner to said plate.

20. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is a unitary.

21. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is a moulded plastic unit.

22. A connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is of a compression connection kind.

23. A connector as claimed in claim 22 wherein said conductive elements present said first and second contact points in a resiliently flexible manner relative to said housing.

24. A connector as claimed in claim 22 wherein said conductive elements present said first and second contact points in a resiliently flexible manner relative to said housing wherein when each engaged to a respective device, each first and second contact points of each conductive element is displaced towards.

19. A connector mounted on a printed circuit board for connecting electrical circuit traces on said printed circuit board with electrical connection points of an electrical device to be brought into compressive engagement with said connector, wherein said connector comprises,

a housing having a first region retaining at least one conductive element and a second region retaining at least one further conductive element, each conductive element having a first contact point for engagement to said electrical contact point of said device, and a second contact point, engaged to an electrical circuit trace of said printed circuit board, each conductive element providing interconnection between such electrical connection points for a signal circuit,

said first contact point extends from said housing to be engaged by said device in a resiliently deflectable manner,

a shielding member providing a plate positioned between said first region and said second region, said shielding member including a device contact region to engage with an electrical connection point for a ground circuit of said device and a printed circuit board contact region engaged with an electrical connection point of a ground circuit of said printed circuit board,

said device contact regions being resiliently deflectable relative said plate such that when said device is in operative engagement with said connector, said device contact region is deflected to be biased towards said device.