Socket connector

• US 8,292,647 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2011
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TE Connectivity Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Company Limited (TE Connectivity Limited), Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: McGrath, James L., Ma, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R
• Application Number:
  US13/158,810
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 439/159, 439/160, 439/327, 439/329
• US Class Current: 439/327
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7005 Guiding, mounting, polarizing or locking means; Extractors for printed circuit boards H05K
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/7088 Arrangements for power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits

Abstract

A socket connector includes a dielectric housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The dielectric housing has a slot that extends longitudinally. The slot is configured to receive a circuit card therein. Contacts are held by the dielectric housing and exposed at the slot. The contacts are configured to be electrically connected to the circuit card. The contacts are configured to be terminated to a circuit board. A latch is provided at the first end and is configured to secure the circuit card in the dielectric housing. The latch includes a power conductor. The power conductor is configured to be electrically connected to the circuit card. The power conductor is configured to be terminated to the circuit board to supply power between the circuit board and the circuit card.

Claims

1. A socket connector comprising:

a dielectric housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the dielectric housing having a slot extending longitudinally, the slot being configured to receive a circuit card therein;

contacts held by the dielectric housing and exposed at the slot, the contacts being configured to be electrically connected to the circuit card, the contacts being configured to be terminated to a circuit board; and

a latch at the first end configured to secure the circuit card in the dielectric housing, the latch including a power conductor, the power conductor being configured to be electrically connected to the circuit card, the power conductor being configured to be terminated to the circuit board to supply power between the circuit board and the circuit card.

2. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to the dielectric housing, the power conductor being pivoted with the latch.

3. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the power conductor includes a first mating interface and a second mating interface, the second mating interface being configured to be terminated to the circuit board, the first mating interface defining a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit card as the latch is moved between a latched position and an unlatched position.

4. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the power conductor includes a first mating interface and a second mating interface, the first mating interface defining a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit card as the latch is moved between a latched position and an unlatched position, the second mating interface defining a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit board as the latch is moved between the latched position and the unlatched position.

5. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the power conductor includes a contact body extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a separable mating interface configured to be removably coupled to the circuit card, the second end being solderable to the circuit board, the contact body flexing as the latch is rotated between a latched position and an unlatched position.

6. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the latch is rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the power conductor including a contact body extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a separable mating interface configured to be removably coupled to the circuit card, the second end defining a separable mating interface configured to be removably coupled to the circuit board, the second end being deflected and spring biased against the circuit board when the latch is moved from the unlatched position to the latched position.

7. The socket connector of claim 1, wherein the power conductor includes a first mating contact and a second mating contact, the power conductor includes a wire extending between, and electrically connecting, the first and second mating contacts, the first mating contact being removably coupled to the circuit card as the latch is rotated between the latched position and an unlatched position, the second mating contact being configured to be terminated to the circuit board.

8. The socket connector of claim 1, further comprising a second latch at the second end configured to secure the circuit card in the dielectric housing, the second latch holding a second power conductor, the latch and the second latch being pivotably coupled to the dielectric housing, the power conductor being pivoted with the latch, the second power conductor being pivoted with the second latch.

9. The socket connector of claim 1, further comprising a second power conductor held by the latch on an opposite side of the latch, the second power conductor being configured to engage an opposite side of the circuit card as the other power conductor.

10. A socket connector comprising:

a dielectric housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the dielectric housing having a slot extending longitudinally, the slot being configured to receive a circuit card therein;

contacts held by the dielectric housing and exposed at the slot, the contacts being configured to be electrically connected to the circuit card, the contacts being configured to be terminated to a circuit board; and

a latch at the first end, the latch being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the latch being configured to engage the circuit card in the latched position, the latch including a power conductor that extends between a first mating interface and a second mating interface, the power conductor being movable with the latch, the first mating interface being mated to the circuit card when the latch is in the latched position, the first mating interface being unmated from the circuit card when the latch is in the unlatched position, the second mating interface being configured to be terminated to the circuit board to supply power between the circuit board and the circuit card.

11. The socket connector of claim 10, wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to the dielectric housing, the power conductor being pivoted with the latch.

12. The socket connector of claim 10, wherein the second mating interface defines a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit board as the latch is moved between the latched position and the unlatched position.

13. The socket connector of claim 10, wherein the power conductor includes a contact body extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining the first mating interface, the second end being solderable to the circuit board, the contact body flexing as the latch is rotated between a latched position and an unlatched position.

14. The socket connector of claim 10, wherein the power conductor includes a contact body extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining the first mating interface, the second end defining the second mating interface, the second mating interface being a separable mating interface configured to be removably coupled to the circuit board, the second end being deflected and spring biased against the circuit board when the latch is moved from the unlatched position to the latched position.

15. The socket connector of claim 10, wherein the power conductor includes a first mating contact and a second mating contact, the power conductor includes a wire extending between, and electrically connecting, the first and second mating contacts, the first mating contact being removably coupled to the circuit card as the latch is rotated between the latched position and an unlatched position, the second mating contact being configured to be terminated to the circuit board.

16. A socket connector system comprising:

a circuit card having a circuit board extending between a first edge and a second edge, the circuit board having a card edge extending between the first and second edges of the circuit board, the circuit board having card contacts at the card edge, the memory card circuit board having an edge power contact at the first edge, the circuit card having at least one memory component terminated to the circuit board and being electrically connected to the edge power contact and at least one of the card contacts; and

a socket connector including;

a dielectric housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end, the dielectric housing having a slot extending longitudinally, the slot receiving the card edge of the circuit board therein;

contacts held by the dielectric housing and exposed at the slot, the contacts being electrically connected to corresponding card contacts, the contacts being configured to be terminated to a circuit board; and

a latch at the first end, the latch engaging the first edge to secure the circuit card in the dielectric housing, the latch including a power conductor, the power conductor being configured to be electrically connected to the edge power contact, the power conductor being configured to be terminated to the circuit board to supply power between the circuit board and the circuit card.

17. The socket connector of claim 16, wherein the latch is pivotably coupled to the dielectric housing, the power conductor being pivoted with the latch.

18. The socket connector of claim 16, wherein the power conductor includes a first mating interface and a second mating interface, the first mating interface defining a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit card as the latch is moved between a latched position and an unlatched position, the second mating interface defining a separable interface that is matable to, and unmatable from, the circuit board as the latch is moved between the latched position and the unlatched position.

19. The socket connector of claim 16, wherein the power conductor includes a contact body extending between a first end and a second end, the first end defining a separable mating interface configured to be removably coupled to the circuit card, the second end being solderable to the circuit board, the contact body flexing as the latch is rotated between a latched position and an unlatched position.

20. The socket connector of claim 16, further comprising a second latch at the second end to secure the circuit card in the dielectric housing, the second latch holding a second power conductor, the latch and the second latch being pivotably coupled to the dielectric housing, the power conductor being pivoted with the latch, the second power conductor being pivoted with the second latch.