EP0246750A2 — Electrical connector arrangement for the distribu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 319 words

A connector arrangement for the distribution of different levels of power between printed circuit boards (33, 34ʹ) comprising first and second pairs of matable individual connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having different power carrying characteristics, a first connector (11,12,13) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having a pluggable mating face (18) located transversely of a board-engaging face (17) and the second connector (11ʹ,12ʹ,13ʹ) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having a complementary pluggable mating face (21) located opposite a board-engaging face (19) so that the first connectors (11,12,13) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) can be mounted in a row along one edge of a daughter board (33) with the mating faces (18) extending perpendicular to the plane of the board (33), and the second individual connectors (11ʹ, 12ʹ,13ʹ) of respective pairs (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) can be mounted in a row along the face of a mother board (34) with matable connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) of respective pairs located in corresponding positions and their mating faces (21) extending parallel to the plane of the mother board (34ʹ) whereby the daughter board (33) can be releasably connected to the mother board (34ʹ) for simultaneous distribution of different power levels thereto by mating of the connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) in a simple plugging action, characterised in that the connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) are modular, first individual modules (11,12,13) of respective pairs being provided with means (25,26) to link them together with other mutually opposite faces (24,24ʹ) of the first modules (11,12,13) adjacent to form a first composite connector body, and the second individual connectors (11ʹ,12ʹ, 13ʹ) of respective first and second pairs (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) being provided with means (25,26) to link them together with other mutually opposite faces (24,24ʹ) of the modules (11ʹ, 12ʹ,13ʹ) adjacent to form a second composite connector body, the relative positions of the first and second individual modules (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) in the composite bodies being interchangeable.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 319 words

A connector arrangement for the distribution of different levels of power between printed circuit boards (33, 34ʹ) comprising first and second pairs of matable individual connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having different power carrying characteristics, a first connector (11,12,13) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having a pluggable mating face (18) located transversely of a board-engaging face (17) and the second connector (11ʹ,12ʹ,13ʹ) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) having a complementary pluggable mating face (21) located opposite a board-engaging face (19) so that the first connectors (11,12,13) of each pair (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) can be mounted in a row along one edge of a daughter board (33) with the mating faces (18) extending perpendicular to the plane of the board (33), and the second individual connectors (11ʹ, 12ʹ,13ʹ) of respective pairs (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) can be mounted in a row along the face of a mother board (34) with matable connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) of respective pairs located in corresponding positions and their mating faces (21) extending parallel to the plane of the mother board (34ʹ) whereby the daughter board (33) can be releasably connected to the mother board (34ʹ) for simultaneous distribution of different power levels thereto by mating of the connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) in a simple plugging action, characterised in that the connectors (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) are modular, first individual modules (11,12,13) of respective pairs being provided with means (25,26) to link them together with other mutually opposite faces (24,24ʹ) of the first modules (11,12,13) adjacent to form a first composite connector body, and the second individual connectors (11ʹ,12ʹ, 13ʹ) of respective first and second pairs (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) being provided with means (25,26) to link them together with other mutually opposite faces (24,24ʹ) of the modules (11ʹ, 12ʹ,13ʹ) adjacent to form a second composite connector body, the relative positions of the first and second individual modules (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) in the composite bodies being interchangeable.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

A connector arrangement according to claim characterised in that the board engaging faces (17,19) of the modules (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) have the same common dimensions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the link means (25,26) of the individual modules (11,11ʹ; 12,12ʹ; 13,13ʹ) of respective pairs are hermaphroditic.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 141 words

A connector arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one of the pairs of connector modules (11,11ʹ or 12,12ʹ) is adapted to carry high current levels, the first connector module (11 or 12) of the one pair (11,11ʹ or 12,12ʹ) including a terminal (60 or 100) with a forward contact portion (67 or 102) at a contact face (18), a body portion (62 or 100) extending longitudinally rearwardly from the contact portion (67,102), and a series of circuit board connecting posts (70 or 104,106,108) extending from the body portion (62 or 100) at longitudinally spaced-apart intervals, successive posts (70 or 108,106,104) which are of increased separation from the contact portion (67 or 102) being of different resistivities thereby to tend to equalise the current flow through such posts (70 or 108,106,104) to the daughter board circuit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that successive posts (70 or 108,106,104) are of decreasing effective lengths thereby to decrease their respective resistivities.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 58 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 5, characterised in that the terminal (60 or 100) is stamped and formed of sheet metal and the contact portion (67 or 102) defines a receptacle having opposed side walls joined by a base wall, the posts (70 or 108,106,104) extending in two rows from rearward portions of the respective side walls.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 123 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 6, characterised in that the terminal (60 or 100) is latched in a housing (61) moulded of plastics material with a forward tubular portion (88) along which the receptacle (62) extends axially and a channel section rearward portion (89) open toward the circuit board (33) through which opening the posts (70 or 108,106,104) extend, latch means (69,104) being formed by rear portions of the terminal side walls, at a location spaced from the terminal posts (70 or 108,106,104), a cap (90,140) moulded of plastics material with resilient locking legs (92) outstanding therefrom engageable with the latch means (69,104) to lock the cap (90, 140) on the rearward end of the housing (61) to close the rearward end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 114 words

A terminal (60 or 100) for conducting high current between first and second contact interfaces comprising a contact portion (67 or 102) for receiving current from a first contact interface, a body portion (62 or 100) extending longitudinally away from the contact portion (67 or 102), and a series of circuit board connecting posts (70 or 108,106,104) extending from the body portion (62 or 100) at longitudinally spaced-apart intervals, characterised in that successive posts (70 or 108, 106,104) which are of increased separation from the contact portion (67 or 102) being of different resistivities thereby to tend to equalise the current flow through such posts (70 or 108, 106,104) to a second contact interface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 114 words

A terminal (60 or 100) for conducting high current between first and second contact interfaces comprising a contact portion (67 or 102) for receiving current from a first contact interface, a body portion (62 or 100) extending longitudinally away from the contact portion (67 or 102), and a series of circuit board connecting posts (70 or 108,106,104) extending from the body portion (62 or 100) at longitudinally spaced-apart intervals, characterised in that successive posts (70 or 108, 106,104) which are of increased separation from the contact portion (67 or 102) being of different resistivities thereby to tend to equalise the current flow through such posts (70 or 108, 106,104) to a second contact interface.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 148 words

A high current carrying connector module (11ʹ) for an arrangement according to claim 1, characterised by a housing moulded in one piece of plastics material and comprising an outer wall (136) defining a receptacle having an open front and a projection (130) located centrally within the receptacle and extending towards the front such that there is defined between the wall (136) and the projection (130) a first terminal receiving recess; a terminal (120) received in the recess and having a ring of cantilever spring contact fingers (122) extending forwardly around the projection (130) to a location set back from a front end of the projection (130), such that a mating terminal of complementary shape to the terminal (120) can be received in the receptacle in mating electrical engagement therewith, the projection preventing inadvertent manual contact with the terminal (120) in an unmated condition of the connector module (11ʹ).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 205 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 1, characterised by a polarising module pair (30,30ʹ or 230,232), one module (230) of which includes a housing (234) moulded of plastics material with a multifaced cavity (238), a polarising projection (242) having a corresponding multifaced surface for receipt in said cavity (234) in different rotational positions corresponding to the opposition of respective different faces of the cavity (234) and projection (242), a forward end of the projection (242) being free of a mating face of the housing for mating engagement with a corresponding multifaced cavity (240) of the other module (232) of the pair (230,232), the other end of the projection (242) being formed with a groove (270) and a snap ring adapted to be inserted through an access opening (250) in the housing (234) to bring respective opposite legs of the snap ring into the groove (270) to lock the projection axially in the housing (234) in any one of the rotational positions, one end portion (249) of the snap ring extending from the housing for engagement by a release tool to withdraw the snap ring from the groove thereby to release the projection (242) for withdrawal from the cavity (238) and rotation to another polarising position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 101 words

A connector arrangement according to claim 10, characterised in that the projection (242) is formed with a key receiving slot (272) located to extend axially and eccentrically therealong, the housing (236) of the other module (232) being provided with a key (244) located to extend eccentrically out of the cavity (240) of the other module (232) from the mating face in one of several rotational positions, such that the key (244) is received in the slot (272) when the projection (242) is mated with the cavity (240) of the other module (230) to provide polarised mating of the module pairs (230,232).

Electrical connector arrangement for the distribution of different levels of power to a printed circuit board

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