Electrical connector with separable contacts
First Claim
1. A contact sub-assembly for an electrical connector, said contact sub-assembly comprising:
- a printed circuit;
an array of mating contacts, each mating contact comprising a terminating end portion and a mating interface; and
an array of circuit contacts that is discrete from the array of mating contacts, each circuit contact being engaged with and electrically connected to the printed circuit, wherein each circuit contact is separably engaged with and electrically connected to the terminating end portion of a corresponding one of the mating contacts such that the array of circuit contacts electrically connects the array of mating contacts to the printed circuit, and wherein at least one of the circuit contacts has a greater surface area than at least one of the mating contacts.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A contact sub-assembly is provided for an electrical connector. The contact sub-assembly includes a printed circuit and an array of mating contacts. Each mating contact includes a terminating end portion and a mating interface. The contact sub-assembly also includes an array of circuit contacts that is discrete from the array of mating contacts. Each circuit contact is engaged with and electrically connected to the printed circuit. Each circuit contact is separably engaged with and electrically connected to the terminating end portion of a corresponding one of the mating contacts such that the array of circuit contacts electrically connects the array of mating contacts to the printed circuit.
94 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A contact sub-assembly for an electrical connector, said contact sub-assembly comprising:
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a printed circuit; an array of mating contacts, each mating contact comprising a terminating end portion and a mating interface; and an array of circuit contacts that is discrete from the array of mating contacts, each circuit contact being engaged with and electrically connected to the printed circuit, wherein each circuit contact is separably engaged with and electrically connected to the terminating end portion of a corresponding one of the mating contacts such that the array of circuit contacts electrically connects the array of mating contacts to the printed circuit, and wherein at least one of the circuit contacts has a greater surface area than at least one of the mating contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical connector comprising:
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a housing; and a contact sub-assembly held by the housing, the contact sub-assembly comprising; a printed circuit; an array of mating contacts, each mating contact comprising a terminating end portion and a mating interface; and an array of circuit contacts that is discrete from the array of mating contacts, each circuit contact being engaged with and electrically connected to the printed circuit, wherein each circuit contact is separably engaged with and electrically connected to the terminating end portion of a corresponding one of the mating contacts such that the array of circuit contacts electrically connects the array of mating contacts to the printed circuit, each circuit contact comprising a mating contact engagement portion, the mating contact engagement portion comprising a pair of arms, the terminating end portion of the corresponding mating contact being engaged with and held between the arms. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A contact sub-assembly for an electrical connector that is configured to mate with a mating plug, said contact sub-assembly comprising:
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a printed circuit; an array of mating contacts, each mating contact comprising a terminating end portion and a mating interface, the mating interface of each mating contact being configured to engage the mating plug; and an array of circuit contacts that is discrete from the array of mating contacts, each circuit contact being engaged with and electrically connected to the printed circuit, wherein each circuit contact is separably engaged with and electrically connected to the terminating end portion of a corresponding one of the mating contacts such that the array of circuit contacts electrically connects the array of mating contacts to the printed circuit, the circuit contacts being engaged with the corresponding mating contacts when the mating interfaces are disengaged from the mating plug.
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Specification