FR2507829A1 - ZERO INSERTION FORCE CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD - Google Patents

Abstract

IN THIS CONNECTOR, THE INDIVIDUAL CONTACTS 120 HOUSES WITHIN THE CONNECTOR BODY 100, 140 EQUIPPED WITH A GROOVE 110 FOR INSERTING A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HAVE THEIR TERMINAL PORTIONS 124 OF CONTACT WITH THE CARD 130 AVAILABLE IN TWO ROWS ON EACH PART AND ON THE MEDIAN OF THE GROOVE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY OPENED AND CLOSED BY AN INTERNAL ROTARY SPINDLE 150, OF GENERAL CYLINDRICAL FORM AND HAVING TWO OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL FLATS 154, AGAINST WHICH INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS APPLY 125 CONTACTS 120.

Description

1 - Zero insertion force connector for printed circuit board

  Disclosed is a zero insertion force connector

for printed circuit board.

  In connectors of this type, the individual contacts are simultaneously put in the closed position or in the open position, to be applied with pressure on the printed circuit board or

  deviate from it, under the action of a control member.

  A connector of this type is described, for example, in the patent granted in the United States of America under the number 3 899 234 on August 12, 1975 This patent describes a connector comprising: a block, forming the body of the connector, with longitudinal groove receiving one of the edges of a printed circuit board, a plurality of contacts fixed in the block and extending in two rows along the two lateral edges of the groove in individual housings equidistant from each other which are assigned to them on each of these lateral edges, the blade-like contacts folded back at the top of the groove being arranged facing two by two and each having a free terminal portion extending towards the bottom of the groove defining with the terminal portion of the contact opposite the pressure contact portions on the card on either side of its edge inserted in the groove, an element for controlling the opening or closing of the connector, mounted free at the bottom d e the groove over the length thereof, being engaged between the ends of the terminal portions of the facing contacts, and a movable cam-pusher between the control element and the bottom of the groove, actuating the control element moving

along the top of the groove.

  In this connector, by the control element placed in "low position" or put in "high position" in the groove, the facing contacts are applied with pressure on the card and are

  closed or are spaced from each other and are open, or vice versa-

  ment, so as to allow either the desired connection between the card and the connector, or the insertion of the edge of the card into the

  groove or its extraction from the groove.

  -2- This connector, responding well to the type of connector concerned,

  however, for its order in opening and closing,

  pectively that the contacts arranged equidistant from each other on each of the rows that they form are also from one row to another facing each other. The mode of actuation in opening and closing of the connector, by taking the control element on the end of each of the pairs of contacts and partly along their terminal portions, from the cam, contributes to making this connector fragile or unreliable due to

  -10 risk of damage to the contacts.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to remedy

  such disadvantages, it targets a connector type by force of insertion

  zero position avoiding such constraints on arrangement of the contacts and the actuation of which in opening and closing is effected without action on the portions coming to perform the contact function with

  the printed circuit board It finally targets a connector for reali-

  sation simple and very flexible design to meet different

many needs.

  It relates to a connector with zero insertion force for printed circuit board comprising, in a connector body equipped with a longitudinal groove for the insertion of the card, a plurality of contacts having first terminal portions fixed, to the opposite of the groove, on a base of said connector body and of the second end portions intended to come into contact with the card extending substantially over the length of the groove in at least one row and comprising, housed in the body of connector, means for simultaneously controlling the opening or closing of said contacts, characterized in that said control means are constituted by a rotary pin, of generally cylindrical shape and having substantially two opposite flats along its length and in that, between said first and said second terminal portions of the contacts, the contacts have respective intermediate portions applied directly against said spindle for opening or closing by simple

  a quarter turn rotation of the spindle.

-3-

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the portion

  intermediate of each of the contacts is arched and that said first and second end portions of each of said contacts extend on either side of the median longitudinal plane of the groove. According to another characteristic of the invention, said connector body consists of a U-section slide, split longitudinally, then defining two L-shaped branches

  arranged non-contiguous and in opposition and by a support bar

  contacts secured to the slide and forming said base and the two L-shaped branches are joined internally by a plurality of

  partitions each having a first rectangular cut-out

  mitering said longitudinal groove and, opposite this first cut, a second cut with rounded bottom delimiting the housing

of the spindle.

  According to another characteristic, the contact carrier bar has a

  T-profile inserted into the slide, the central jamb of which vertically

  cal inside the slide forms a support gutter for the spindle, said contacts being mounted on the horizontal branches

  of the T, on either side of this central jamb.

  Other features and advantages of the present in-

  vention will appear during the description of a preferred mode

  tiel of embodiment given by way of example and illustrated in the accompanying drawings In these drawings: FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view of the connector according to the invention,

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the connector according to the invention.

vention,

  Figure 3 is an elevational view with a longitudinal section

  partial dinal of the connector on the right part and a partial longitudinal section of the body of the connector on the left part, FIGS. 4 A and 4 B are two partial perspective views of the front part for controlling the connector in opening and closing respectively , -4- Figures 5 A and 5 B are two sectional views of the connector,

  corresponding to the opening and closing commands respectively

connector.

  As it appears from these figures, the connector comprises a slide 100, a set of contacts such as 120, a contact carrier bar 140 and a rotary pin 150 for the

  command to open or close all of the contacts.

  The slide 100 is assembled on the contact carrier bar 140 and

  constitutes with it the connector body with a partial internal part-

  lement hollow in which are housed the contacts 120 and the pin

rotary control 150.

  The slide is generally in the form of an inverted U-shaped profile with a split base, made of a plastic material and

  molding, which breaks down into two branches 101 and 102, defi-

  connecting in section two L placed in opposition but not joined, the small bases of the L thus being in the same plane but slightly spaced from each other by defining the width of a groove

  110 as shown by the slide for guiding and

  setting of a schematic printed circuit board 130 The two branches 101 and 102 are joined by a set of partitions 104

  delimiting between them a series of cells 105 arranged in regular steps

  bind on the inner wall of each of the branches 101 and 102, which

  serve as housings for the contacts 120.

  These partitions 104 each have, at the space between the small bases of the branches in L 101 and 102, a first rectangular cut, not referenced independently, to form with this space said groove 110 thus limited laterally and in

  depth for receiving an edge of the printed circuit board

  mé 130 These partitions 104 are also joined together, in line with this space between the small bases of the L-shaped branches 101 and 102 in the internal part of the connector by small bridges 106 extending the bottom of the rectangular cutouts in the partitions,

  to obtain the groove 110 with a flat and continuous bottom.

  Opposite the groove 110, the partitions each have another cutout 107, with a rounded bottom, serving essentially with - the recessed adjoining parts for housing the spindle.

interior 150.

  The two branches 101 and 102 also each have inter-

  laughing, at the end of the vertical leg of the L, a longitudinal groove 108 of snap-fastening on the support bar

contacts 140.

  At the two ends of the slide, the branches 101 and 102 are joined together by defining front walls each equipped with an external boss 109 which will, as shown schematically in the

  Figure 3 the maintenance of the slide between two fixing angles

  tion 160 perforated receiving these bosses 109 and ensuring their fixing

tion.

  Finally, to complete the description of this slide 100,

  it will be noted that its longitudinal groove 110, at one end forming the front face of the slide, is open in V on the front face of the slide, as shown in FIG. 2 at 111, while at the opposite end it ends in a buttonhole 112, simply open on the two small bases of the branches 101 and 102, in which is housed a damping pad 113 for

map 130.

  It will also be noted, with reference to FIG. 3, that the external boss 109 at the level of the front face of the slide, carries a passage 119 for the pin 150 communicating with the cutout with rounded bottom 107 defining the housing of this pin 150 and that the slide internally has a semi-circular lug 115 of

  positioning and longitudinal locking of the spindle 150.

  As it appears clearly in particular with regard to FIG. 1, the contacts 120 housed in this slide 100 are carried by the contact carrier bar 140 These contacts are each in the general form of a flat blade, one of which is a first

  terminal portion 121 substantially rectilinear has protrusions

  side sances forming two small legs 122, for its mounting

  and its retention in the contact carrier bar and ends sensitive-

  in the form of a contact pin 123, the other portion of which ends in

  opposite nale 124 is substantially S-shaped and performs the function of -6 blade-spring type contact with the printed circuit board 130 and the intermediate portion 125 of which is itself arched to cooperate with the spindle 150 for actuation during opening or in

connector closing.

  The contact carrier bar 140 is in the general form of an inverted T profile with short and wide central jamb, produced like the slide 100 on which it is assembled by constituting a base, advantageously made of plastic, and obtained from molding. This contact carrier bar 140 has a row of holes 141 formed at regular pitch in the horizontal branch of the T, on each side of the central vertical leg designated by the reference 142 The terminal pins 123 of the contacts are inserted through these holes 141 and project beyond of the contact carrier bar 140, while the contacts are fixed there and held by the above-mentioned lugs 122 These holes 141, belonging to one of the two rows of holes on the contact carrier bar 140, are arranged opposite the

  intervals between holes in the other row, approximately halfway

  distance between the holes of this other row The two edges of ex-

  end of this horizontal branch respectively have two

  sets of longitudinal ribs 148 complementary to the grooves

  rages 108 of the slide 100 for their snap-on assembly

  mutual Finally the central vertical jamb 142 forms longitudinal-

  also a semicircular gutter 143 which serves as a bearing surface

  to spindle 150 and which, when the slide 100 and the bar

  contacts 140 are assembled, delimits with the rounded bottom of the cutouts 107 of the partitions 104 the housing then rendered substantially

circular for this pin 150.

  The pin 150, also made of plastic, is slightly longer than that of the slide 100 and of the contact carrier bar 140 It forms or has, at one end which is the front face of the connector, a cam 151 from which the connector is actuated in opening or closing The cam 151 has a slot 152, called the card entry slot 130, placed in the extension of the groove 110 of the slide 100 by a suitable rotation of the cam This cam 151 is also -7 - of non-uniform thickness to define a rear profile 153 such

  as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, facilitating the rotation

  tion of the cam after positioning of the card 130 in the groove 110 and then causing the longitudinal blocking of the card in the groove. The spindle 150 controlled in rotation by the cam 151 is of generally cylindrical shape and has, over at least the length of its part internal to the slide and the base assembled, two opposite flats 154 It finally has, in the vicinity of the cam 151 , a peripheral groove 155 ensuring, as can be seen in FIG. 3, with the semi-circular lug 115 of the slide 100, the blocking in longitudinal positioning of the

  pin 150 in the connector body.

  When assembling the slide 100 and the support bar

  contacts 140 on which the contacts 120 are mounted, this pin 150 receives on its periphery, at the level of the flats 154, the arcuate intermediate portions 125 of the contacts 120, which

  partially bypass, these intermediate portions 125 apply

  quant without pressure against the flats then parallel to the vertical legs of the two branches in L 101 and 102 of the slide On

  will therefore include, with reference to FIG. 1 and to FIG. 3 in particular

  ment, that the spindle 150 can receive alternately on one side and the other of its median plane passing through the axis of the groove 110 the

  intermediate portions of the contacts mounted in the holes 141 suc-

  the two rows of holes in the contact carrier bar and

  the terminal portions 124 in S of these same contacts will be available

  placed inversely with respect to this median plane and will define two rows of contacts with the card 130 In the vicinity of the contact carrier bar 140, the contacts 120 housed in the defined cells

  by the partitions 104 on one of the branches 101 or 102 of the glis-

  sière will, by pressing against the spindle 150 and bypassing it substantially over a quarter of its periphery, be housed in the cells defined by the same partitions on the other branch

  102 or 101 of the slide on the side of groove 110.

  With regard to the organization of the contacts 120 on one side and on the other of the pin 150 and in two rows on one side and the other of the median plane of the groove 110, it will be noted that these contacts will cooperate with conductive tracks, such as 131, deposited or printed on both of the two faces of the card in the vicinity of its edge inserted in the groove 110, these tracks 131 being offset by one face to the other and to locations to which correspond those of the contacts 120 along the connector. It will also be noted that, depending on the connections to be made with the card 130, the latter will only be equipped with the number of contacts 131 required and that the connector will then have only the same number of contacts 120 arranged along the connector and according to one or

  the other of the two rows of contacts in correspondence with the

  position of tracks 131 on map 130.

  Finally, in FIGS. 4 A and 4 B, we have schematized respectively-

  the connector controls, in the open position for in-

  crimping of the card 130 and in the closed position for which the card is locked in the connector, these two open and closed positions being given respectively in the two sections of FIGS. 5 A and 5 B. In FIGS. 4 A and 5 A by the rotary actuation of the cam 151 bringing the slot 152 in the extension of the groove 110, the card 130 can be inserted according to the arrow F from the slot 152 in the groove In this position, the slot 152 being in the extension of the groove, the arcuate portion of the contacts rests practically without pressure against the flats 154 and releases the terminal portions in S 124 which deviate from the median plane of the groove and from the edge of the card 130: the contacts are

then in the open position.

  In FIGS. 4B and 5B, by the rotary actuation of the cam 151, bringing the slot 152 perpendicularly to the groove 110, this actuation being possible only when the card 130 is fully inserted in the groove 110, the card 130 is blocked between the damping buffer shown diagrammatically at 113 and the excess thickness of the rear section 153 of the cam. The arcuate intermediate portions of the contacts 120 are applied with pressure against one or other of the _ 9-

  semi-cylindrical parts of the spindle 150 which pushes them back

  voque the tightening of the terminal portions in S towards the median plane of the groove 110 therefore against the card 130 For a better actuation of the cam 151, when locking the card 130 in the groove 110, the front end of the edge of the card housed in the groove will advantageously end in a bevel and will then cooperate with the rear profile of the cams, this not illustrated bevel being formed on the end 133 of the front face of the card, not

  covered with a grip strip 132 (Figure 4 A).

  As is apparent from FIG. 1 and that it appears in FIGS. 3, 5 A and 5 B, the terminal portions 121 of the contacts 120

  which form contact pins, cross the carrier bar

  contacts 140 and overflow on the external face of the support bar

  contacts assembled on the slide 100 They allow the connection

  the circuit carried by the card 130 to one or more other circuits carried by similar cards by means of an interconnection circuit printed on an additional card 170 whose metallized holes 171 make it possible to connect it by force, without soldering , on the connector pins ensuring, by the

  tracks 172 of the interconnecting circuit suitable connections.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 A and 5 B, it will also be noted that, in addition to the longitudinal guide of the card 130 during its insertion and its

  blocking or locking during its final positioning, the provision

  sition of the contacts 120 in the slide 100 associated with their control do not allow entry of the card 130 until the connector is open, that is to say when the contacts 120 are all set back from the groove 110 and so well protected

  against damage to the slide.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred example.

  implementation cost described and illustrated and we can without departing from the invention - replace some means by other equivalents. Thus, although the insertion of the card 130 through the slot 152 of the cam 151 is advantageous in terms of security as regards the positions of the contacts 120 in the slide, it is also - possible to insert the card 130 transversely to the groove 110 making sure of the suitable position of the spindle 150, by the cam 151 or other similar control Also, while the opening of the contacts 120 takes place upon contact of their arcuate intermediate parts against one of the flats of the spindle and their closing takes place while these same parts

  arched intermediates apply against one of the semi-portions

  cylindrical of the spindle, it is possible to provide that these same intermediate portions form a spring working inversely without bypassing the spindle, that is to say each form a single boss which in pressure contact on one of the semi-cylindrical portions of the spindle open the contacts while in contact against one of the flats they close the connector, in this

  last case the contacts of one of the rows not being necessary

  rement arranged between those of the other row, but may be vis vis. 11 -

Claims (11)

CLAIMS -   1 / Connector with zero insertion force for printed circuit board comprising, in a connector body equipped with a longitudinal groove for the insertion of the card, a plurality of contacts having first terminal portions fixed, at the op - Placed with the groove, on a base of said connector body and second end portions intended to come into contact with the card extending substantially along the length of the groove in at least one row and comprising, housed in the connector body , means for simultaneously controlling the opening or closing of said contacts, characterized in that said control means consist of a rotary pin (150), of generally cylindrical shape and having substantially two opposite flats along its length (154) and in that, between said first and said second end portions of the contacts (120), the contacts have respective intermediate portions (125)   applied directly against said spindle (150), for their opening   ture or close by simple rotation of a quarter turn of the spindle (150) 2 / connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate portion (125) of each of the contacts (120) is arcuate and that said first and second end portions (121, 124) of each of said contacts extend on either side of the plane   longitudinal median of the groove (110).   3 / connector according to claim 2, characterized in that the second end portions (124) of the plurality of contacts (120) extend in two rows respectively on either side of the median longitudinal plane of the groove (110 ), said second end portions of one of the rows being arranged opposite the intervals between second end portions of the other row.   4 / connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by   the fact that said connector body is constituted by a sliding   channel (100) of U-shaped section, split longitudinally, then defining two L-shaped arms (101, 102) arranged non-contiguous 12 in opposition and by a contact carrier bar (140) secured to the   slide and forming said base.   / Connector according to claim 4, characterized in that said two L-shaped branches are joined internally by a plurality of partitions (104) each having a first cutout   rectangular delimiting said longitudinal groove (110).   6 / A connector according to claim 5, characterized in that said partitions are joined together by small bridges (106) extending the bottom of each first cut delimiting the groove (110), allowing this continuous bottom groove to be obtained .   7 / connector according to one of claims 5 and 6, characterized by   the fact that each of the partitions (104) has a second cutout with rounded bottom (107), opposite said groove (110), for the housing of said spindle.   8 / connector according to one of claims 4, 5 and 6, characterized   in that said slide (100) has at one end of the groove (110) a semi-circular lug (115) cooperating with a   groove (155) formed in said spindle, for its long positioning gitudinal.   9 / connector according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized by   the fact that said contact carrier bar (140) has a T-shaped profile inserted in the slide and has respectively on either side of its central vertical jamb two rows of holes (141) for mounting said contacts, said holes (141) of one of the rows being arranged in regular pitch and facing the intervals between holes in the other row.   / Connector according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized by   the fact that said contact carrier bar (140) has a T-profile inserted into the slide (100) whose central vertical leg forms a longitudinal gutter (143) for guiding said pin (150).   11 / connector according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in   what said end portions (121) of the contacts (120) form   contact pins outside of said connector body. 13 -   12 / connector according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized   in that said pin (150) comprises an end cam (151), external to the body of the connector, having a slot (152) capable of extending said groove (110), for the actuation of said pin (150) and inserting said circuit board   printed (130) from said slot (152).   13 / connector according to claim 12, characterized in that   that said cam (151) has a rear section forming an over-   thickness to facilitate blocking of the card (130) in said   groove (110) and secure it.   14 / connector according to one of claims 12 and 13, characterized   in that said groove (110) is open on the front face of the body of the connector on the side of said cam (151) and ends, at   in the vicinity of the opposite end face, in a buttonhole   versale (112) in which is housed a damping pad (113).