The present invention relates to a electrical connectors. More particularly, the invention relates to electrical connectors having stack heights and contact mating wipe distances that can be varied through the use of appropriately-sized alignment guides.
Mezzanine connector systems typically comprise a plug connector and a receptacle connector that mates with the plug connector. An example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,747 to McNamara, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The overall height of the mezzanine connector system in the direction of mating is commonly referred to as the stack height of the connector system. A specific stack height is often required for a particular application. If necessary, the stack height can be increased by the use of a spacer. For example, please see U.S. Pat. No. 6,869,292 to Johnescu et al., assigned to the applicant and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention includes alignment guides that provide rough connector alignment, vary an electrical contact mating wipe distance, and provide partial or fixed separation between two mating electrical connectors.
Preferred embodiments of electrical connectors comprise an electrically insulative housing and two or more electrical contacts carried by the housing. The two or more electrical contacts have free mating portions that extend in a first direction with respect to the housing and mounting portions that extend in a second direction through holes defined by the housing. The electrical connectors also comprise an alignment guide connected to the housing. The free mating portions of the two or more electrical contacts define a contact wipe distance, and the alignment guide limits the wipe distance to less than a maximum wipe distance.
Preferred embodiments of mezzanine connector systems comprise a receptacle connector comprising a first electrically insulative housing and a first electrically conductive contact mounted on the first housing, and a plug connector comprising a second electrically insulative housing and a second electrically conductive contact mounted on the second housing. The plug connector is matable with the receptacle connector in a first and a second mating position. The second contact wipes the first contact along a first distance of the first contact when the plug and receptacle connectors are mated to the first mating position. The second contact wipes the first contact along a second distance of the first contact greater than the first distance of the first contact when the plug and receptacle connectors are mated to the second mating position. At least one of the first and second housings has an alignment guide mounted thereon that prevents relative movement between the plug and receptacle connectors in a direction of mating as the plug and receptacle connectors reach the first mating position.
Preferred embodiments of electrical connectors capable of mating with a second electrical connector comprise an electrically insulative housing, a first electrically-conductive contact mounted on the housing, and an alignment guide that stops relative movement between the electrical connectors during mating thereof. The electrical connectors have a first stack height and the first contact is wiped by a contact of the second electrical connector by a first distance when the alignment guide is configured in a first state. The electrical connectors have a second stack height and the first contact is wiped by the contact of the second electrical connector by a second distance during mating when the alignment guide is configured in a second state.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, are better understood when read in conjunction with the appended diagrammatic drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show an embodiment that is presently preferred. The invention is not limited, however, to the specific instrumentalities disclosed in the drawings. In the drawings:
As shown in
The present invention includes integrally formed or removable alignment guides that provide rough alignment, add space between the plug and receptacle connectors 12, 14, and help regulate contact wipe distance. The alignment guides are preferably one or more posts 16A received in one or more corresponding hollow silos 16B. Each post 16A preferably defines internal threads or may have a PEM nut 18, and can include a substrate fastener 100 (shown in
As shown in
The plug contacts 24 are spaced apart from one another by a gap distance GD. The gap distance GD is a function of dielectric material positioned in the gap distance GD and the material thickness MT of the plug contacts 24 themselves. For example, if the plug contacts 24 have a material thickness of about 0.1 to 0.4 mm, then the gap distance GD in air is about 0.1 to 0.4 mm for high speed differential signaling. A material thickness MT and a corresponding gap distance GD in air of about 0.2 mm is preferred. In plastic, the material thickness MT generally decreases and the gap distance GD increases. High speed signaling is generally defined herein as a bit rate above 2 Gigabits/sec, such as 3-20 Gigabits/sec. These bit rates generally correspond to rise times of about 200-30 ps with six percent or less of multiactive, worse-case crosstalk. The plug contacts 24 can also be configured to carry single-ended signals.
With continuing reference to
Referring now to
The receptacle contacts 40 preferably extend a fixed distance in a second direction SD from the plastic overmold 26B, and are spaced apart from one another by a gap distance GD, as discussed above with respect to the plug connector 12.
With continuing reference to
Specific details of the IMLAs 22, 38 and the contacts 24, 40 are described for exemplary purposes only. The principles of the invention can be applied to connector systems comprising other types of IMLAs and contacts, and to connector systems that do not use IMLAs.
Turning to
Two substantially identical posts 16A are shown in
Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The present invention is not limited to solid posts 16A. Posts or other types of guides that telescopically expand or contract between different overall lengths can also be used. Each telescoping post can be formed from two or more pieces. The pieces can be connected by way of threaded studs or other suitable means to facilitate the telescopic movement. Posts formed from interlocking pieces can also be used. The interlocking pieces can be stacked to form the post. The overall length L of the post can be increased or decreased by adding or removing one or more of the interlocking pieces to or from the stack.
The above-noted arrangement permits the connector 100 to be mounted on its mounting substrate without the alignment posts 104 touching the substrate. The alignment posts 104 can be mated with the housing 106, or can be moved downward on the housing 106 and into contact with the substrate once the connector 100 has been mounted using a reflow attachment process. The alignment posts 104 can be attached to the substrate by, for example, lock screw hardware that accesses the alignment pins 104 from on the opposite side of the substrate, or with a press-fit application to the substrate. Attaching the plug and receptacle portions of the connector to their respective mounting substrates discourages relative lateral movement between the substrates when the plug and receptacle connectors are mated.
Contact between the alignment posts 104 and the substrate can generate mechanical forces on the connector 100 that interfere with the ability of the connector 100 to self-center during the reflow attachment process, potentially degrading the reliability of the resulting solder connections. The ability to mount the connector 100 without contact between the alignment posts 104 and the substrate can eliminate the potential for such forces to occur.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3482201 | Schneck | Dec 1969 | A |
3663925 | Proctor | May 1972 | A |
3867008 | Gartland, Jr. | Feb 1975 | A |
4232924 | Kline et al. | Nov 1980 | A |
4482937 | Berg | Nov 1984 | A |
4664456 | Blair et al. | May 1987 | A |
4664458 | Worth | May 1987 | A |
5055054 | Doutrich | Oct 1991 | A |
5098311 | Roath et al. | Mar 1992 | A |
5127839 | Korsunsky et al. | Jul 1992 | A |
5181855 | Mosquera et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5382168 | Azuma et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
5395250 | Englert et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5697799 | Consoli et al. | Dec 1997 | A |
5871362 | Campbell et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5893761 | Longueville | Apr 1999 | A |
5902136 | Lemke et al. | May 1999 | A |
5904581 | Pope et al. | May 1999 | A |
5984690 | Riechelmann et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5992953 | Rabinovitz | Nov 1999 | A |
6022227 | Huang | Feb 2000 | A |
6152747 | McNamara | Nov 2000 | A |
6154742 | Herriot | Nov 2000 | A |
6241535 | Lemke et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6390826 | Affolter et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
6494734 | Shuey | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6835072 | Simons et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6869292 | Johnescu et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6893300 | Zhou et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6902411 | Kubo | Jun 2005 | B2 |
6918776 | Spink, Jr. | Jul 2005 | B2 |
6939173 | Elco et al. | Sep 2005 | B1 |
6951466 | Sandoval et al. | Oct 2005 | B2 |
20020127903 | Billman et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20040157477 | Johnson et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20050079763 | Lemke et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050101188 | Benham et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050277315 | Mongold et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060051987 | Goodman et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20070004287 | Marshall | Jan 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070287336 A1 | Dec 2007 | US |