EP0348562A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-density contact area electrical connectors
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1988-06-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-06-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved electrical connector for making electrical connections between electronic components. The improved electrical connector includes an insulating board interposed between metalized contact areas on the electronic components. The insulating board has openings at positions corresponding to the contact areas of the electronic components, with electrical connections between the contact areas established with conductive connector elements positioned in the openings of the insulating board. The connector elements are preferably each formed from a strand of metal wire, each strand being wadded together to form a nearly cylindrical "button" of material having a density of between twenty and thirty percent. The improved electrical connector provides high density contact areas, easy engagement and disengagement of the electronic components, and minimum electrical resistance between the contact areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Smolley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/02; H01R13/22; H01R13/24; H01R13/2407; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R24/00; H01R24/38; H01R24/40; H01R2103/00; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
An improved electrical connector for making electrical connections between contact areas on two electronic components, comprising: a connector housing attached to one of the electronic components; an insulating board disposed between the contact areas of the two electronic components, the insulating board having one or more openings at positions corresponding to the contact areas; conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the one or more openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the two electronic components together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the contact areas of the two electronic components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
An improved electrical connector for making electrical connections between contact areas on two electronic components, comprising: a connector housing attached to one of the electronic components; an insulating board disposed between the contact areas of the two electronic components, the insulating board having one or more openings at positions corresponding to the contact areas; conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the one or more openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the two electronic components together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the contact areas of the two electronic components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the connector elements includes: a wadded strand of conductive wire that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the contact areas of the two electronic components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein each wadded strand of wire has a density of approximately 20 to 30 percent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein each wadded strand of wire is a nickel wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein each wadded strand of wire is an alloy wire, the alloy being selected from a group consisting of beryllium and copper, silver and copper, and phosphorus and bronze.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the insulating board is fabricated from a glass ceramic or a plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for compressing includes a clamp mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for compressing includes a screw mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
An improved cable harness connector for making electrical connections between two cable harnesses, comprising: a pair of cable harness connector housings, each connector housing having a plurality of contact areas to which leads from one of the cable harnesses are connected; an insulating board disposed between the two connector housings, the insulating board having a plurality of openings at positions corresponding to the contact areas of the two connector housings; a plurality of conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housings together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the connector housing contact areas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
An improved cable harness connector for making electrical connections between two cable harnesses, comprising: a pair of cable harness connector housings, each connector housing having a plurality of contact areas to which leads from one of the cable harnesses are connected; an insulating board disposed between the two connector housings, the insulating board having a plurality of openings at positions corresponding to the contact areas of the two connector housings; a plurality of conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housings together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the connector housing contact areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the connector elements includes: a wadded strand of conductive wire that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the contact areas of the two connector housings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein each wadded strand of wire has a density of approximately 20 to 30 percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein each wadded strand of wire is a nickel wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein each wadded strand of wire is an alloy wire, the alloy being selected from a group consisting of beryllium and copper, silver and copper, and phosphorus and bronze.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein the insulating board is fabricated from a glass ceramic or a plastic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved cable harness connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein the means for compressing includes a clamp mechanism.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
122 words
An improved edge card connector for making electrical connections between an electronic component and a circuit board having edge contact areas, comprising: an edge card connector housing having a plurality of contact areas to which leads from the electronic component are connected; a first insulating board disposed between the connector housing and the circuit board, the insulating board having a plurality of openings at positions corresponding to the connector housing and circuit board contact areas; a plurality of conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the circuit board together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the connector housing and circuit board contact areas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
122 words
An improved edge card connector for making electrical connections between an electronic component and a circuit board having edge contact areas, comprising: an edge card connector housing having a plurality of contact areas to which leads from the electronic component are connected; a first insulating board disposed between the connector housing and the circuit board, the insulating board having a plurality of openings at positions corresponding to the connector housing and circuit board contact areas; a plurality of conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the openings in the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the circuit board together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the connector housing and circuit board contact areas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
141 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 16, wherein the connector housing includes: an edge card connector housing having a first plurality of contact areas for connecting leads in the connector housing to the circuit board contact areas and a second plurality of contact areas for connecting the leads in the connector housing to contact areas on the electronic component; a second insulating board disposed between the connector housing and the electronic component, the insulating board having openings at positions corresponding to the connector housing and electronic component contact areas; a plurality of conductive connector elements disposed in selected ones of the openings in the second insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the electronic component together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the connector housing and electronic component contact areas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 16, wherein each of the connector elements includes: a wadded strand of conductive wire that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the connector housing and circuit board contact areas.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein each of the connector elements includes: a wadded strand of conductive wire that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the connector housing and electronic component contact areas.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 19, wherein each wadded strand of wire has a density of approximately 20 to 30 percent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 19, wherein each wadded strand of wire is a nickel wire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 19, wherein each wadded strand of wire is an alloy wire, the alloy being selected from a group consisting of beryllium and copper, silver and copper, and phosphorus and bronze.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein the first and second insulating boards are fabricated from a glass ceramic or a plastic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved edge card connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein each means for compressing includes a clamp mechanism.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
An improved coaxial cable connector for making electrical connections between two coaxial cables, each coaxial cable having a center and an outer conductor, comprising: a connector housing attached to one of the coaxial cables; an insulating board disposed between the ends of the two coaxial cables, the insulating board having an opening at a position corresponding to the center conductors of the two coaxial cables; a first conductive connector element disposed in the opening of the insulating board; a second conductive connector element disposed about the circumference of the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the two coaxial cables together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the center and outer conductors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
119 words
An improved coaxial cable connector for making electrical connections between two coaxial cables, each coaxial cable having a center and an outer conductor, comprising: a connector housing attached to one of the coaxial cables; an insulating board disposed between the ends of the two coaxial cables, the insulating board having an opening at a position corresponding to the center conductors of the two coaxial cables; a first conductive connector element disposed in the opening of the insulating board; a second conductive connector element disposed about the circumference of the insulating board; and means for compressing the connector housing and the two coaxial cables together, thereby compressing the connector elements and making electrical contact between the center and outer conductors.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improved coaxial cable connector as set forth in claim 25, wherein the first conductive connector element includes: a wadded strand of conductive wire that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the ends of the two center conductors.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improved coaxial cable connector as set forth in claim 25, wherein the second conductive connector element includes: an annular-shaped woven wire mesh that is deformed when compressed and makes multiple electrical contacts with the ends of the two outer conductors.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improved coaxial cable connector as set forth in claim 26, wherein the wadded strand of wire has a density of approximately 20 to 30 percent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved coaxial cable connector as set forth in claim 25, wherein the means for compressing includes a screw mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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