The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to an electrical connector having a plurality of finger contacts defining a ground plane.
Electrical connectors are used to place electrical devices, such as printed circuit boards, in electrical communication with one another. Typically, an electrical connector includes a set of electrical contacts that are adapted to receive a first set of members from the first device to be coupled. The set of contacts extends from the electrical connector and terminates in a second set of members that couple to the second device to be coupled, placing the two devices in electrical communication with each other through the electrical connector.
In order to minimize high frequency noise, it is desirable to provide a ground plane near the electrical contacts in the electrical connector, the ground plane being connected to ground potential. Typically, one or more of the electrical contacts will be coupled to the ground plane. Known electrical connectors are typically provided with certain predetermined electrical contacts connected to the ground plane. Accordingly, unique electrical connectors must normally be provided for each pair of devices to be interconnected.
There is therefore a need for an electrical connector design that allows for customization regarding which pins are grounded and which are not. The present invention is directed towards meeting this need.
The present invention relates to electrical connector having at least one ground plate adapted to be electrically connected to a ground potential, wherein the ground plate includes a plurality of substantially parallel elongated, bendable fingers. Each finger is spaced from every other finger in the ground plate and may be independently bent inwardly. In one embodiment, the electrical connector also includes a plurality of electrically conducting members or contacts, preferably formed on the edge or surface of a printed circuit board or card. The electrically conducting members are positioned adjacent to the ground plate(s), such that when a ground plate finger is bent inwardly, it can make selective and independent electrical contact with a preselected electrically conducting member. Preferably, the electrical connector includes a pair of ground plates oriented substantially in parallel, such that the fingers of each ground plate may be bent inwardly towards the opposite ground plate to define plurality of electrically interconnected electrically conducting members held firmly by the fingers of the two ground plates.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical connector device. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
The housing 22 further includes one or more ground plates 30 positioned therein and oriented substantially parallel to the row of electrical contact receptors 24.
Referring to
The electrical connector 20 is preferably produced with all of the finger portions 32 oriented flush with their respective ground plate 30. In other words, the finger portions 32 are preferably unbent when the electrical connector 20 is produced, although the electric connector 20 may be produced with one or more of the finger portions 32 bent. The electrical connector 20 may therefore be readily modified to have any desired connector ground pin configuration by simply bending the appropriate fingers 32 inwardly to ground the desired electrical contact receptor 24 positions (the bending may be done manually by the end user, mechanically, or during the stamping or forming process). The electrical connector 20 may thusly be customized at any time after production, increasing its utility and flexibility of use. Customization may be done in bulk following manufacture to address a technical requirement. Alternately, the electrical connectors 20 may be sold as manufactured and customized in the field to meet the specific needs of an individual user.
As noted above, the female connector assembly 122 includes a plurality of electrical contact receptors or sockets 124 for receiving the first elongated prongs 125B of the male electrical contacts 125 in electric communication. The plurality of electrical contact receptors 124 is generally arranged one or more rows to match the rows of electric contacts 125 on the male connector assembly 121. However, the male electric contacts 125 and the female electric contact receptors 124 could be disposed according to any convenient geometry.
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As with the electrical connector 20 embodiment discussed above, the electrical connector 120 is preferably produced with all of the finger portions 32 oriented flush with their respective ground plate 30, i.e., unbent, although the electric connector 120 may be produced with one or more of the finger portions 32 bent. The electrical connector 120 may therefore be readily modified to have any desired connector ground pin configuration by simply bending the appropriate fingers 32 inwardly to ground the desired male electrical contact 121 positions (the bending may be done manually by the end user, mechanically, or during the stamping or forming process). The electrical connector 120 may thusly be customized at any time during or after production, increasing its utility and flexibility of use. Customization may be done in bulk following manufacture to address a technical requirement. Alternately, the electrical connectors 120 may be sold as manufactured and customized in the field to meet the specific needs of an individual user.
In operation, predetermined fingers 32 are urged into electrical contact with pre-selected electrically conducting members 26 (or male electrical contacts 125), thereby electrically connecting pre-selected contact receptors 24/contacts 125 to a common ground plate 30. Which contact receptors 24/contacts 125 are grounded to the ground plate 30 is predetermined according to the configuration of the device or devices to be mated to the electrical connector 20/120. In other words, the end user determines which contact receptors 24/contacts 125 are to be connected to the ground plate 30 based on the wiring of the device connected to the electrical connector 20/120. Electrical contacts (not shown) extending from the device(s) are electrically connected to the electrical connector 20; those contacts received by electrical connector such that they are ultimately in electric communication with the fingers 32 urged are thusly grounded by the ground plate 30.
Preferably, two ground plates 30 are provided and oriented in parallel, such that each respective finger 32 of each ground plate 30 is paired with an opposite respective finger 32 of the other ground plate 30. The fingers 32 are spaced a finite, non-zero distance apart sufficient to accommodate the placement of a conductor partially filling the space in between the fingers 32. In other words, there is sufficient room between the unbent fingers 32 for the insertion of at least one electrically conducting member therebetween such that the neither finger 32 electrically contacts the electrically conducting member. The fingers 32 may be plastically deformed (i.e., bent) towards one another such that at least one finger 32 electrically connects with an electrically conducting member, such as an electrical contact receptor 124 or an electric contact 125, positioned therebetween and desired to be grounded. However, other designs are contemplated having only a single ground plate 30 or multiple asymmetrically disposed ground plates 30.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are to be desired to be protected.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/863,960, filed May 23, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,884.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040198083 A1 | Oct 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 09863960 | May 2001 | US |
Child | 10822341 | US |