Claims
- 1. A surface mountable apparatus for use with a pin and a printed circuit board, comprising:
- a frame configured to mount on a surface of the printed circuit board, the frame having a plurality of openings orthogonal to the surface;
- connectors mounted in the openings of the frame,
- a surface-mountable solderable surface for mating with a conductive trace on a surface of the printed circuit board, the solderable surface being electrically connected to at least one of the connectors; and
- at least one of the connectors having:
- a support ring; and
- a contact ring comprising fingers connected to and integrally formed with the support ring, held in a space within the support ring and defining a channel within the contact ring for receiving the pin.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises a peg configured to extend into a hole in the printed circuit board, the peg providing mechanical support for the apparatus.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the connectors extends through at least one of the openings.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one mounting ring configured to secure one of the connectors to the frame.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the printed circuit board has an electrical trace, and wherein the mounting ring is configured to form an electrical connection between the electrical trace and the one of the connectors secured by the mounting ring.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is elongated, and wherein the connectors are mounted in a single row along the longitudinal length of the frame.
- 7. A surface-mountable apparatus for use with a pin and a printed circuit board ("PCB"), comprising:
- a frame configured to mount on a surface of the PCB, the frame having a plurality of openings orthogonal to the surface of the PCB;
- connectors mounted in the openings of the frame;
- at least one of the connectors having a solderable surface sitting in one of the openings at an end closest to the PCB for surface-mount mating with a conductive trace on the surface of the PCB.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the solderable surface of the at least one of the connectors extends through the at least one of the openings.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:
- the at least one of the connectors comprises a tubular body with a first end open to receive the pin and a second closed end, the connector body closely fitting inside the at least one opening with the closed end closest to the surface of the PCB.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:
- the at least one of the connectors further comprises a mounting ring having a tubular section and a base, the tubular section being configured to mate with the tubular body;
- the solderable surface comprises the base; and
- the mounting ring is configured to secure the at least one of the connectors to the frame with the tubular section extending into the opening from an end closest to the surface of the PCB and the base being adjacent to and forming an electrical connection with the trace.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the tubular section of the mounting ring is soldered to the tubular body.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the opening comprises a contour for retaining the connector within the opening.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the mounting ring further comprises an outer rim for retaining the connector within the opening.
- 14. A low profile adapter for connecting one or more pins to a wire comprising:
- a housing having a top face and a bottom defining a low profile and an edge forming a perimeter of the adapter, and having first openings in the bottom for accepting the pins, and a second opening in the edge for accepting the wire, the wire being generally orthogonal to the pins;
- connectors located inside the housing, each of the connectors configured to grip and form an electrical connection with a respective one of the pins;
- a frame having openings for holding the connectors;
- a first conductive lug associated with a first respective one of the connectors, the lug having a terminal for connection with the wire oriented orthogonally to the axis of the first respective one connector, the first conductive lug establishing an electrical connection between the first respective one connector and the wire.
- 15. The adapter of claim 14 further comprising:
- a second conductive lug configured to receive the wire; and
- wherein the frame comprises a printed circuit board ("PCB") parallel to the top face, having a hole for receiving a second respective one of the connectors, and having a trace electrically connecting the second conductive lug to the second respective one connector.
- 16. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the PCB further comprises a hole for receiving the first respective one of the connectors.
- 17. The adapter of claim 16 further comprising
- a third conductive lug configured to receive the wire; and
- wherein the PCB further comprises a trace electrically connecting the third conductive lug to the first respective one connector.
- 18. The adapter of claim 1 wherein the first conductive lug provides a high current connection and the second and third conductive lugs provide low current connections.
- 19. The adapter of claim 18 wherein the wire comprises a flat high-current conductor and the sleeve is adapted to receive the high-current conductor.
- 20. The adapter of claim 15 wherein the first conductive lug provides a high current connection and the second conductive lug provides a low current connection.
- 21. The adapter of claim 15 wherein
- the wire comprises a ribbon cable having a plurality of conductors,
- the second conductive lug comprises a plurality of lugs, each lug in the plurality of lugs configured to receive a respective conductor in the plurality of conductors,
- the hole comprises a plurality of holes, each hole in the plurality of holes for receiving a respective one of the connectors, and
- the trace comprises a plurality of traces, each trace in the plurality of traces for electrically connecting a respective one of the lugs in the plurality of lugs to a respective one of the connectors.
- 22. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the terminal comprises a sleeve for receiving the wire.
- 23. The adapter of claim 14 wherein the terminal comprises at least one blade.
- 24. An adapter for use with a first connector and a pin, comprising:
- a second connector configured for engaging and making electrical connection with the pin,
- a conductive lug having an first opening for receiving and making electrical connection with the second connector,
- a conductive terminal orthogonal to the second connector and extending from the lug for connective engagement by the first connector,
- an insulative frame having an second opening for receiving the second connector,
- an insulative shell for mounting to the frame, the shell having a third opening configured with the conductive terminal to form a socket for mating with and making an electrical connection with the first connector when the first connector is inserted into the socket.
- 25. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the terminal comprises a blade.
- 26. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the blade comprises a pair of parallel blades.
- 27. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the terminal comprises a cylindrical conductor.
- 28. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the terminal comprises a wire.
- 29. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the second terminal further comprises a sleeve for making a connection with a high current wire.
- 30. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the second terminal further comprises an opening for making a solder connection with a wire.
- 31. The adapter of claim 28 wherein the second terminal further comprises a screw for connecting a wire to the terminal.
- 32. The adapter of claim 24 further comprising
- a third connector configured for enagaging and making electrical connection with a second pin,
- a second conductive lug having a first opening for receiving and making electrical connection with the third connector,
- a second conductive terminal orthogonal to the connector and extending from the second lug for establishing a high current connection, and wherein
- the insulative frame further comprises a third opening for receiving the third connector, and
- the shell further comprises a fourth opening for the second terminal.
- 33. The adapter of claim 32 further comprising a second socket for mating with and making a high-current electrical connection with a fourth connector when the fourth connector is inserted into the socket, the second socket comprising the fourth opening and the second terminal, and wherein the second terminal further comprises a blade.
- 34. The adapter of claim 24 wherein the second connector is press fit into the second opening of the shell.
- 35. The apparatus of claim 1, 7, 10, or 14 wherein at least one of the connectors, or of claim 32 wherein at least one of the second or third connectors, further comprises:
- a support ring; and
- a contact ring connected to and integrally formed with the support ring, held in a space within the support ring and defining a channel within the contact ring for receiving the pin,
- the contact ring comprising three or more fingers arranged radially around said contact ring and connected at an end closest to the pin insertion end of the connector to the support ring by a section having a bend of 90 degrees or more,
- the contact ring being configured to provide a contact region contacting the pin when the pin is inserted.
- 36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein:
- the support ring is cylindrical;
- the contact ring is cylindrical;
- the fingers are arranged at generally equal intervals around the contact ring;
- the channel includes a contact zone which is located along a longitudinal axis of the channel and is narrower than an outside circumference of the pin; and
- the fingers are resilient with respect to the support ring to apply radially inward forces on the pin.
- 37. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein
- the fingers apply a force to the pin; and
- further comprising:
- a resilient ring held in the space between the support ring and the contact ring,
- the resilient ring expanding with increased temperature and configured so that as it expands it applies a force to the contact ring which enhances the force applied by the contact ring to the pin.
- 38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein:
- the fingers are resilient with respect to the support ring to apply radially inward forces on the pin, and
- each of the fingers, when the pin is inserted within the connector, touches the inside of the support ring at a point which is on the other end from where the finger is connected to the support ring.
- 39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the fingers are resilient with respect to the support ring to apply radially inward forces on the pin, and
- further comprising:
- a cap including a top surrounded by a rim for sealing the end of the connector that is opposite the channel for receiving the pin.
- 40. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein:
- at least one of the fingers has a bent zone near a free end of the finger that bends toward the support ring.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising:
- at least one tab located between adjacent fingers and being connected to and integrally formed with the support ring, the tab being held in space within the support ring and being closer to the support ring than the adjacent fingers.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein
- the fingers are resilient with respect to the support ring to apply radially inward forces on the pin, and further comprising:
- at least one of the fingers having a free end that is held in space prior to insertion of the pin and contacts the support ring after insertion of the pin.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein
- the contact region contacts the pin along its length when the pin is inserted.
Parent Case Info
This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/744,110, filed Nov. 5, 1996 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/464,245, filed Jun. 5, 1995 now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (28)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 367 903 A2 |
May 1990 |
EPX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
744110 |
Nov 1996 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
464245 |
Jun 1995 |
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