Connector assembly

Claim 2

A connector assembly for receiving circuit modules with bodies of uniform width and variable thickness, and which have upwardly extending leads generally uniformly spaced from the upper face of the body, comprising: a female frame constructed of electrically insulative material and having an inner region; a male frame for reception in said female frame, said male frame constructed of electrically insulative material and having a plurality of recesses for receiving the leads of circuit modules; an elongated heat sink member of high heat-conductive material mounted on said male frame on the side thereof which first enters said female frame; and a retainer mounted on said male frame and spaced from said heat sink member so a circuit module body can be received between them, said retainer having resilient portions for pressing circuit module bodies of various thicknesses against said heat sink member.

Claim 3

The connector assembly described in claim 1 wherein: said retainer member includes an elongated spring member of highly heat-conductive material with tabs formed therein having outer end portions for pressing against said circuit module bodies, and a substantially rigid backing member of heat-conductive material disposed against said spring member, said backing member having opposite ends held against said heat sink member.

Claim 4

A connector assembly for receiving circuit modules with leads thereon comprising: a female connector frame having a cavity whose inner walls have a plurality of recesses; a plurality of first electrical contact elements, each mounted on said female frame and having a portion within one of said recesses; a male connector frame having a block portion for slidable reception in said cavity of said female frame, said block portion having a plurality of recesses on its outer walls; a plurality of second electrical contact elements, each mounted on said male frame and having a portion within one of said recesses on said male frame, each of said first and second elements having a lead-contacting region located to lie adjacent to the lead-contacting region of a corresponding electrical contact of the other frame when the male frame is fully inserted into the female frame; holding means for holding at least one of said circuit modules on said male frame with its leads lying over at least part of the lead-contacting region of some of said second elements, so that said leads lie between contacting regions of said first and second elements when said male frame is inserted into said female frame; and means for fastening said holding means on said male connector frame independently of reception of said male frame in said female frame.

Claim 5

A connector assembly for receiving circuit modules with leads thereon comprising: a female connector frame having a cavity whose inner walls have a plurality of recesses; a plurality of first electrical contact elements, each mounted on said female frame and having a portion within one of said recesses; a male connector frame having a block portion for slidable reception in said cavity of said female frame, said block portion having a plurality of recesses on its outer walls; a plurality of second electrical contact elements, each mounted on said male frame and having a portion within one of said recesses on said male frame, each of said first and second elements having a lead-contacting region located to lie adjacent to the lead-contacting region of a corresponding electrical contact of the other frame when the male frame is fully inserted into the female frame; holding means for holding at least one of said circuit modules on said male frame with its leads lying over at least part of the lead-contacting region of some of said second elements, so that said leads lie between contacting regions of said first and second elements when said male frame is inserted into said female frame; and means for fastening said holding means on said male connector frame independently of reception of said male frame in said female frame.

Claim 6

The connector assembly described in claim 3 wherein: said lead-contacting region of each of said first contact elements has a substantially straight portion and each of said first elements is mounted so that said straight portion is maintained at a small outward angle from the direction of sliding of said male frame block portion into said female frame cavity when said male frame is fully inserted into said female frame cavity.

Claim 7

A connector assembly for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of an electrically conductive material, and each having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, to hold the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion, each of said frames being elongated and having opposite ends for receiving fasteners to hold it to the other frame; a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received, and a test point portion extending to a position accessible outside of said frame when said male frame is in said female frame; an elongated strip of material which is highly heat conductive extending substantially along the length of said male frame adjacent to the positions of circuit module bodies on said male frame, said strip positioned so it is between said male frame and the bodies of circuit modules thereon and having ends positioned to contact fasteners holding said frames together; and a retainer member positioned on a side of circuit module bodies opposite said strip of heat conductive material for biasing said bodies towards said strip.

Claim 8

A connector assembly for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of an electrically conductive material, and each having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, to hold the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion, each of said frames being elongated and having opposite ends for receiving fasteners to hold it to the other frame; a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received, and a test point portion extending to a position accessible outside of said frame when said male frame is in said female frame; an elongated strip of material which is highly heat conductive extending substantially along the length of said male frame adjacent to the positions of circuit module bodies on said male frame, said strip positioned so it is between said male frame and the bodies of circuit modules thereon and having ends positioned to contact fasteners holding said frames together; and a retainer member positioned on a side of circuit module bodies opposite said strip of heat conductive material for biasing said bodies towards said strip.

Claim 9

A connector assembly for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material, and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a contacting portion at least partially disposed in one of said recesses of said female connector frame; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, to hold the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector frame with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holdinG portion; a plurality of second contact elements mounted on said male connector frame, each of said second contact elements having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received; and a circuit module having a body disposed between said holding portion of said male connector frame and said female connector frame, and having a plurality of electrical leads on either side, each lead extending between one of said first contact elements on said female frame and one of said second contact elements on said male connector frame.

Claim 10

A connector assembly for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material, and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a contacting portion at least partially disposed in one of said recesses of said female connector frame; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, to hold the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector frame with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holdinG portion; a plurality of second contact elements mounted on said male connector frame, each of said second contact elements having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received; and a circuit module having a body disposed between said holding portion of said male connector frame and said female connector frame, and having a plurality of electrical leads on either side, each lead extending between one of said first contact elements on said female frame and one of said second contact elements on said male connector frame.

Claim 11

The connector assembly described in claim 6 wherein: said male frame is formed for reception in said female frame by sliding it therein, and said first and second contact elements have elongated contact regions for contacting said circuit module leads, said contact regions extending with a major directional component parallel to the direction of sliding of said male frame into said female frame, whereby to provide a large area of contact between a lead and each contact element.

Claim 12

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a circuit module having a body and leads; a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, said male holding portion received in said female frame inner region with the body of said circuit module between them and with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion; and a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received, and an exposed test point portion on the outside of said male frame, whereby to enable testing for contact resistance between said first elements and each of said circuit module leads.

Claim 13

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a circuit module having a body and leads; a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, said male holding portion received in said female frame inner region with the body of said circuit module between them and with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion; and a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received, and an exposed test point portion on the outside of said male frame, whereby to enable testing for contact resistance between said first elements and each of said circuit module leads.

Claim 14

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: an elongated female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region and having opposite ends, a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; an elongated male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, the depth of said female frame inner region and of said male holding portion chosen to provide sufficient space between them, when said male frame is fully inserted into said female frame, to receive the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion, said male connector frame having opposite ends for receiving fasteners to hold it to said female frame; a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received; and an elongated strip of material which is highly heat conductive, said strip extending substantially along the length of said male frAme adjacent to the positions of circuit module bodies on said male frame and lying between said opposite sides of said inner region of said female frame when said male frame is received in said female frame, said strip having ends positioned to contact fasteners holding said frames together, whereby to carry heat from said module bodies to said fasteners.

Claim 15

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: an elongated female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region and having opposite ends, a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly; an elongated male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, the depth of said female frame inner region and of said male holding portion chosen to provide sufficient space between them, when said male frame is fully inserted into said female frame, to receive the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion, said male connector frame having opposite ends for receiving fasteners to hold it to said female frame; a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received; and an elongated strip of material which is highly heat conductive, said strip extending substantially along the length of said male frAme adjacent to the positions of circuit module bodies on said male frame and lying between said opposite sides of said inner region of said female frame when said male frame is received in said female frame, said strip having ends positioned to contact fasteners holding said frames together, whereby to carry heat from said module bodies to said fasteners.

Claim 16

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly, each contacting portion having an outwardly bowed part with an inner end substantially fixed in position and an outer end free to move inwardly, said bowed part having a substantially straight region near its outer end for contacting the leads of circuit modules, the substantially straight region being outwardly angled so that the straight regions of contact elements at opposite sides of said female frame inner region are progressively closer together at locations pregressively deeper within said inner region; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, the depth of said female frame inner region and of said male holding portion chosen to provide sufficient space between them, when said male frame is fully inserted into said female frame, to receive the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion; and a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received.

Claim 17

Circuit module mounting and connecting apparatus for receiving the body of a circuit module and facilitating connection of its leads to other circuits comprising: a female connector frame having a plurality of recesses on either side of its inner region; a plurality of first contact elements, each constructed of a conductive material and having a connector portion fixed to said frame and a resilient contacting portion biased to a position spaced from the innermost wall of one of said recesses so it can deflect inwardly, each contacting portion having an outwardly bowed part with an inner end substantially fixed in position and an outer end free to move inwardly, said bowed part having a substantially straight region near its outer end for contacting the leads of circuit modules, the substantially straight region being outwardly angled so that the straight regions of contact elements at opposite sides of said female frame inner region are progressively closer together at locations pregressively deeper within said inner region; a male connector frame having a male holding portion with a plurality of recesses on either side, for reception in said female connector frame, the depth of said female frame inner region and of said male holding portion chosen to provide sufficient space between them, when said male frame is fully inserted into said female frame, to receive the body of said circuit module at a position between said holding portion and said female connector with the leads of said module received in said recesses of said holding portion; and a plurality of second contact elements, each having a contacting portion disposed in one of said recesses of said male connector frame at a position deeper therein than the positions at which said leads are received.