Patent Application
20210057843
None.
The present invention relates to a docking connector for holding modules for connector pins.
A variety of electrical interface devices exist for housing modules that hold electrical and/or pneumatic contacts of various types. Examples of such interface devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,091,415, 7,297,014, 8,348,693, and 9,257,787. These various types of interface devices each have a receiver side and a test adapter side where the receiver side is connected to or mounted on test equipment and the test adapter side is connected to a unit under test. When the test adapter, known as an “ITA,” is mated to the receiver, a plurality of contact can be connected to each other in a stable and safe manner to minimize or eliminate damage to the contact during mating. The interface devices come in a wide variety of sizes that can hold small number of contacts or very large numbers of contacts.
The receiver and test adapter in an interface device typically each have a frame that holds a plurality of modules. The different types of interface devices often have modules of different dimensions such that modules from one interface type cannot be used in a different interface type. To overcome this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 8,351,218 discloses an interface device having multiple tiers such that modules of a first size can be mounted in the receiver or test adapter in one tier and modules of a second size can be mounted in the receiver or test adapter in a second tier. In this manner, modules of different sizes can be used simultaneously in the same interface device.
In small applications an engagement mechanism may not be necessary so a frame, referred to herein as a “docking connector,” is used to hold connector modules filled with connector pins to improve connection times. Exemplary prior docking connectors are shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a docking connector having a frame formed by a U-shaped member and a removable member, wherein the U-shaped member forms three sides of a rectangle, i.e., an elongated portion and two parallel sides extending from opposite ends of the elongated portion. Then each end of the elongated removable member is connected to an end of one of the parallel sides of the U-shaped member with a removable screw. Further, the elongated portion of the U-shaped member has a ridge facing the inside of the frame, wherein the ridge has a plurality of threaded holes for receiving screws to secure modules to the elongated member.
In another embodiment the present invention is a docking connector having a first frame portion comprising a first elongated bar and a side extending perpendicular from each end of the first portion, wherein the first elongated bar has a plurality of spaced grooves perpendicular to the first bar, each groove being configured to receive an end of a module spaced along its length and a second frame portion comprising a second elongated bar, the second having a groove along its length for receiving a plurality of modules. The second frame portion is removably secured to the first frame portion with a screw at each end to form a frame having two pairs of opposing sides with the spaced grooves on the first bar and the groove on the second elongated bar facing an interior of the frame.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a docking connector having a first frame portion and a second frame portion. The first frame portion has a first elongated bar having a first end, a second end, and a plurality of grooves perpendicular to and spaced along a length the first elongated bar, each the groove being configured to receive an end of a module spaced along the length of the first elongated bar; a first side bar extending from the first end of the first elongated bar perpendicular to the first elongated bar; and a second side bar extending from the second end of the first elongated bar perpendicular to the first elongated bar. The first and second side bars each have at an end away from the first elongated bar a first mounting member. The second frame portion has a second elongated bar having a first end and a second end and a second mounting member at each of first and second ends, the second elongated bar having a plurality of grooves perpendicular to and spaced along a length the second elongated bar, each groove being configured to receive an end of the module connected to the first elongated bar. The second frame portion is removably secured to the first frame portion by connecting the first mounting member of the first side bar to the second mounting member on the first end of the second elongated bar and connecting the first mounting member on the second side bar to the second mounting member on the second end of the second elongated bar to form a frame having two pairs of opposing sides with the spaced grooves on the first elongated bar and the grooves on the second elongated bar facing an interior of the frame. The first mounting members may be secured to the second mounting members, for example, with screws. The docking connector further may comprise a module having a first end in one of the grooves in the first elongated bar and a second end in the groove in the second elongated bar and a retaining bar secured to the first elongated bar to hold the module in the groove in the first elongated bar. The retaining bar is secured to the first elongated bar with screws. A plurality of contact pins may be mounted in the module.
Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a preferable embodiments and implementations. The present invention is also capable of other and different embodiments and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
An application for a docking connector in accordance with the present invention may be referred to as a “secondary docking connector.” An example of such a system employing a “secondary docking connector” is shown in
In
A quick exchange docking connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
As shown in
This quick exchange docking connector design provides for each removal of the PCB's from a fixture or enclosure for replacing, repairing, or otherwise servicing the PCB's.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.
The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/889,527 filed by the present inventors on Aug. 20, 2019. The aforementioned provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62889527 | Aug 2019 | US |
