Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
An edge connector (10) for a printed
circuit board (13) having a mating edge and a plurality of
signal and ground contact pads (17a, 17b) adjacent the edge,
the connector including an elongated dielectric housing
(16) having a board-receiving slot (12) for receiving the
mating edge of the printed circuit board, a plurality of
signal terminals (28) and a plurality of ground terminals
(30) mounted on the housing, the terminals having body
portions (32, 48) located in the housing and spring contact
portions (34, 50) extending into the slot for contacting
respective ones of the contact pads on the printed circuit
board, characterized in that said signal terminals (28) and ground terminals (30)
being positioned in an alternating array along each side of
the slot means, with each signal terminal being aligned with
a ground terminal or each ground terminal being aligned with
a signal terminal on opposite transverse sides of the slot,
and the ground terminals having significantly larger
transverse areas than the signal terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
An edge connector as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the body portions of the grounds terminals have
significantly larger areas than the body portions of the
signal terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An edge connector as set forth in claims 1 or
2, wherein the body portions of the ground terminals include
base portions (52), mounting barbs (54) projecting from the
base portions for securing the terminals in the housing and
enlarged surface area portions (56) projecting from the base
portions, with the spring contacts portions projecting from
the enlarged surface area portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
An edge connector as set forth in claims
1, 2 or 3, wherein the connector is adapted for mounting on
a printed circuit board (11) having a common ground circuit
and a plurality of circuit traces forming portions of the
common ground circuit, and wherein said ground terminals
have at least two grounding portions (57, 60) for engaging
the common ground circuit to establish a multiple-point
contact therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An edge connector as set forth in claim 4,
wherein an area of the printed circuit board, between the
points of contact is left open to facilitate routing various
other circuit traces on the board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An edge connector as set forth in one of claims
1 to 5, wherein said terminals comprise stubs which can be
trimmed to a given size.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An edge connector as set forth in one of claims
1 to 6, wherein said mechanically non-functional sections
comprise stubs which can be broken away from the terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An edge connector as set forth in one of claims
1 to 7, wherein said mounting portion includes a mounting
leg located in a recess (26a) in the housing for securing
the terminals in the housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An edge connector as set forth in
claim 8, wherein the contact portions and the mounting
portions project from the body portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An edge connector as set forth in
claim 9, wherein said mounting portions and said contact
portions project from one side of the body portions, the
mounting portions being located outside the contact
portions and said slot, and said mechanically non-functional
sections include stubs projecting from the body
portions inside the contact portions.