Patent Application
20230318214
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to an electrical connector or header for a flat flexible cable.
As understood by those skilled in the art, flat flexible cables (FFCs) or flat flexible circuits are electrical components consisting of at least one conductor (e.g., a metallic foil conductor) embedded within a thin, flexible strip of insulation. Flat flexible cables are gaining popularity across many industries due to advantages offered over their traditional “round wire” counter parts. Specifically, in addition to having a lower profile and lighter weight, FFCs enable the implementation of large circuit pathways with significantly greater ease compared to a round wire-based architectures. As a result, FFCs are being considered for many complex and/or high-volume applications, including wiring harnesses, such as those used in automotive manufacturing.
A critical obstacle preventing the implementation of FFCs into these applications includes the need to develop quick, robust, and low resistance termination techniques which enable an FFC to be mating with various components, including in applications requiring surface mounted connections. Current FFC harness connectors utilized in surface mounting applications include several plastic housing components, as well as electrical connections between the harness connector and a traditional surface mounted header. These components can fail over time, in addition to being relatively complex and costly.
Improved solutions for establishing surface mounted electrical connections with flat flexible cables are desired.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a connector for a flat flexible cable includes a housing defining a receptacle receiving the flat flexible cable, and an actuator movably mounted to the housing. A self-locking conductive terminal is positioned within the receptacle and includes a first portion arranged in contact with the actuator, and a surface mounting tab extending through the housing and having an end positioned on an exterior surface of the housing. The first portion of the terminal is biased by the actuator between an open position and a clamping position.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein the like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a surface mountable connector or header for use with a flat flexible cable (FFC) or flat printed cable (FPC). The connector includes a housing in which one or more self-locking spring clips or terminals for capturing exposed conductors of the FFC are arranged. An actuator is provided on the housing for biasing the spring clips into their locked position, securing the FFC in a conductive manner within the housing. The spring clips also extend through the housing and define exterior surface mounting features to be directly connected to a component, such as a printed circuit board or the like.
As shown in
Referring generally now to
A second opening 127 is formed through a top side or wall of the housing 110 and is also in communication with the receptacle 140. The opening 127 movably or slidably receives an actuator or button 128 therein for selectively locking the FFC 200 within the housing 110. More specifically, the actuator 128 is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position within the opening 127. In the locked position, the actuator 128 is adapted to apply a downward pressure on each of the terminals 114 simultaneously, clamping the FFC 200 within the housing 110 in a conductive manner. The actuator 128 is held or fixed in the locked position by the self-locking terminals 114, as will be set forth in detail herein.
As shown in
The first arm 116 further includes an intermediate section 116′ adjacent the convergent point 125 and extending obliquely with respect to a planar section 117′ of the second arm 117. The second end 118 of the first arm 116 extends from the intermediate section 116′ in a partially opposite direction so as to define an overall wave-like or W-shaped profile of the first arm. Likewise, the second end 119 of the second arm 117 extends obliquely away from a remainder thereof for raising the terminal 114 from a floor of receptacle 140. Similarly, the second end 118 of the first arm 116 also extends upwardly. The oppositely extending second ends 118,119 create a larger initial opening in each terminal 114 for more easily receiving the FFC 200.
Each terminal 114, and more specifically the second arm 117 thereof, is arranged within a respective slot 120 defined within the receptacle 140 of the housing 110 by corresponding vertical partitioning walls 121. In one embodiment, the vertical partitioning walls 121 extend only partially into the receptacle 140 in the vertical direction, permitting the passage of the insulation material 214 arranged between each of the conductors 210 of the FFC 200 during insertion. In other embodiments, the partitioning walls 121 may extend between the top and bottom walls of the housing 110. In this embodiment, corresponding slots may be formed through the FFC 200 in the areas between each of the conductors 210 such that the FFC may still be received within the receptacle 140.
As can be visualized particularly from
In one embodiment, the terminals 114 comprise self-locking spring clips having a mechanical locking feature 137 (see
Each terminal 114 further defines mounting tabs 115 extending through a respective opening 126 defined in the rear of the housing 110, enabling the header assembly 100 to be directly surface mounted to another component. The openings 126 may be defined by the partitioning walls 121 and the top and bottom walls of the housing 110. Specifically, as shown in
With particular reference to
In order to enable stable, flat surface mounting of the housing 110, a corresponding step or protrusion 113 extends from the bottom surface of the housing 110 proximate the front end thereof and opposite the lip 111. A height of the step 113 is generally equal to the distance between the planar bottom surface of the housing 110 and a bottom side of the mounting tabs 115 with the terminals 114 in the installed position within the housing. In this way, with the mounting tabs 115 soldered to the surface of a circuit board, by way of example, the header 105 will remain in a generally level orientation such that the FFC 200 is installed therein in a direction generally parallel with the circuit board or mounting surface of the header.
Referring now to
Referring now to
The above embodiments of the present disclosure enable the quick and reliable connection of an unconnectorized FFC directly to a header (e.g., a surface-mounted header) without the use of any intermediate connectors and associated conductors. In this way, a low resistance connection is realized which requires less manufacturing and assembly steps. As a result of the self-locking spring clips, the header minimizes the number of required moving parts, further simplifying manufacturing and assembly processes.
It should be appreciated for those skilled in this art that the above embodiments are intended to be illustrated, and not restrictive. For example, many modifications may be made to the above embodiments by those skilled in this art, and various features described in different embodiments may be freely combined with each other without conflicting in configuration or principle.
Although several exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, an element recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.
