ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

• US 20170318660A1
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Roan, Thomas J., Wieland, Andrew J., Singh, Brij N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/53 connecting to cables except for flat or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/023 between cables or wires and terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/04 using electrically conductive adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/183 for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section H01R4/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/304 having means for improving contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0204 using means for thermal conduction connection in the thickness direction of the substrate H05K1/0207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0346 containing N
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0393 Flexible materials H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/111 Pads for surface mounting, e.g. lay-out
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/115 Via connections; Lands around holes or via connections H05K1/112 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/0154 Polyimide
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10151 Sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10318 Surface mounted metallic pins

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrically conductive contact member and a second electrically conductive contact member. Both contact members have non-planar interface surfaces. The second interface surface is complimentary to the first interface surface. Magnetic field concentrators are spaced apart to concentrate a magnetic field in a zone. The magnetic field is associated with electric current carried by the electrical connector assembly. A flexible circuit carrier has openings to receive the magnetic field concentrators. The flexible circuit carrier comprises a flexible dielectric layer and a conductive traces. A magnetic field sensor is mounted on the flexible circuit carrier in the zone.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first electrically conductive contact member, the first contact member having a non-planar first interface surface;

a second electrically conductive contact member, the second contact member having a non-planar second interface surface which is complementary to the first interface surface and which engages the first interface surface.

a plurality of magnetic field concentrators spaced apart to concentrate a magnetic field in a zone, the magnetic field associated with electric current carried by the electrical connector assembly;

a flexible circuit carrier with openings to receive the magnetic field concentrators, the flexible circuit carrier comprising a flexible dielectric layer and a conductive traces; and

a magnetic field sensor for mounting on the flexible circuit carrier in the zone.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive traces terminate in metallic conductive pads that are electrically and mechanically connected to the magnetic field sensor.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the conductive traces terminate in a connector with a dielectric body and multiple conductive pins or pin receptacles, wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of a card-edge connector, a circuit board transition header and a ribbon cable connector.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the dielectric layer of the flexible circuit carrier is composed of polyimide.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a circuit board comprising a dielectric layer;

wherein;

the second electrically conductive contact surface comprises a conductive pad on a first side of the circuit board and extending through a conductive via or a metallized through-hole to a second side of the circuit board opposite the first side to support double-sided cooling of the connector assembly on the circuit board.

6. The electrical connector assembly of claim 5 wherein the circuit board operates at temperatures in a range between approximately 100 degrees Celsius and approximately 110 degrees Celsius by dissipating thermal energy to ambient air via the double-sided cooling and the electrical connector assembly.

7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first interface surface includes a plurality of elongated first ridges and a plurality of elongated first valleys; and

the second interface surface includes a plurality of elongated second ridges and a plurality of elongated second valleys.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 7, wherein:

a first ridge is received by a second valley and a second ridge is received by a first valley.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second contact member is soldered to the first contact member.

10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the second contact member is bonded to the first contact member by a layer of solder.

11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first contact includes an outer portion and an inner portion which offset from the first portion, and the inner portion is connected to the outer portion by a step portion.

12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the first interface surface includes a plurality of elongated rounded crests and a plurality of elongated rounded depressions; and

the second interface surface includes a plurality of elongated rounded crests and a plurality of elongated rounded depressions.

13. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

a first connector comprising a first electrically conductive contact member and a second electrically conductive contact member, the first contact member having a non-planar first interface surface, the second contact member having a non-planar second interface surface which is complementary to the first interface surface and which engages the first interface surface;

a first pair of magnetic field concentrators spaced apart to concentrate a first magnetic field in a first zone, the first magnetic field associated with electric current carried by the first connector;

a flexible circuit carrier with openings to receive the first pair of magnetic field concentrators, the flexible circuit carrier comprising a flexible dielectric layer and a conductive traces; and

a first magnetic field sensor for mounting on the flexible circuit carrier in the first zone.

14. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 13 further comprising:

a second connector comprising a first electrically conductive contact member and a second electrically conductive contact member, the first contact member having a non-planar first interface surface, the second contact member having a non-planar second interface surface which is complementary to the first interface surface and which engages the first interface surface;

a second pair of magnetic field concentrators spaced apart to concentrate in a second magnetic field in a second zone, the second magnetic field associated with electric current carried by the second connector;

the flexible circuit carrier with openings to receive the second pair of magnetic field concentrators, the flexible circuit carrier comprising a flexible dielectric layer and a conductive traces; and

a second magnetic field sensor for mounting on the flexible circuit carrier in the second zone.