US4869676A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Connector assembly for use between mother and daughter circuit boards
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1988-07-15
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Granted: 1989-09-26
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Expires: 2008-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A backplane connector assembly including signal interconnection, ground interconnection, and power interconnection means in both a motherboard connector and a daughterboard connector is disclosed. The motherboard connector consists of a single connector having signal terminals, ground terminals, and power terminals. The daughterboard connector assembly consists of a daughterboard signal housing having signal and ground terminals and a separate daughterboard power housing positioned on the opposite surface of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal connector subassembly. Power terminals in both the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector are oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard so that daughterboards having varying thicknesses can be employed. This invention can be used in a connector having a cast metallic outer shield or in a connector having a conventional insulative outer housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry W. Demler, Jr.
- 👤 Frank P. Dola
- 👤 David J. Kimmel
- 👤 Thomas J. Sotolongo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/57; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/73; H01R12/735; H01R12/737; H01R13/00; H01R13/648; H01R13/658; H01R13/6581; H01R13/6585; H01R13/6591; H01R13/6594; H01R13/6595
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A multi-contact electrical connector assembly for interconnecting corresponding traces on a motherboard and a daughterboard, comprising: a motherboard signal connector including a plurality of motherboard signal terminals positioned within a motherboard signal housing; a daughterboard signal connector including a plurality of daughterboard signal terminals positioned within a daughterboard signal housing; a plurality of motherboard power terminals located on the motherboard and a plurality of daughterboard power terminals located on the daughterboard, the daughterboard power terminals being located adjacent one edge of the daughterboard on the opposite side from the daughterboard signal terminals, the motherboard and daughterboard power terminals comprising mating elements formed to engage each other and lie in planes oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard when the motherboard and daughterboard are mated in the multi-contact electrical connector assembly; and alignment means on the motherboard signal housing and the daughterboard signal housing for precisely aligning the motherboard signal terminals with the daughterboard signal terminals during mating, the motherboard and daughterboard signal terminals being matable without precise alignment in the direction normal to the daughterboard whereby daughterboards of different thicknesses can be employed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A multi-contact electrical connector assembly for interconnecting corresponding traces on a motherboard and a daughterboard, comprising: a motherboard signal connector including a plurality of motherboard signal terminals positioned within a motherboard signal housing; a daughterboard signal connector including a plurality of daughterboard signal terminals positioned within a daughterboard signal housing; a plurality of motherboard power terminals located on the motherboard and a plurality of daughterboard power terminals located on the daughterboard, the daughterboard power terminals being located adjacent one edge of the daughterboard on the opposite side from the daughterboard signal terminals, the motherboard and daughterboard power terminals comprising mating elements formed to engage each other and lie in planes oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard when the motherboard and daughterboard are mated in the multi-contact electrical connector assembly; and alignment means on the motherboard signal housing and the daughterboard signal housing for precisely aligning the motherboard signal terminals with the daughterboard signal terminals during mating, the motherboard and daughterboard signal terminals being matable without precise alignment in the direction normal to the daughterboard whereby daughterboards of different thicknesses can be employed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the daughterboard power terminals are positioned within a daughterboard power housing to comprise a daughterboard power connector located on the opposite side of the daughterboard from the daughterboard signal housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector assembly of claim 2 wherein the daughterboard signal and power connectors are positioned along one edge of the daughterboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector assembly of claim 3 wherein the motherboard power terminals are positioned in a motherboard power housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connector assembly of claim 4 wherein the motherboard signal housing and the motherboard power housing together comprise a single housing having separate arrays of cavities for receiving motherboard signal and power terminals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein the motherboard power terminals each have a planar tab contact portion oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard when mated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein each motherboard power terminal has a plurality of through hole legs extending from the same planar tab contact portion to interconnect the motherboard power terminal to power traces in the motherboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein the planar tab portions of the motherboard power terminals each comprise tabs extending from a power bus having means for attachment to the surface of the motherboard to deliver power external to the motherboard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein the daughterboard power terminals each include resilient springs matable with the planar tab contact portion of the motherboard power terminals, the resilient springs being oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector assembly of claim 9 wherein the resilient springs comprise reversely formed members matable with opposite sides of the motherboard power terminals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The connector assembly of claim 10 wherein the daughterboard power terminals are positioned within a daughterboard power housing, each daughterboard power terminal being positioned within a separate power terminal cavity in an upper wall of the daughterboard power housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein each daughterboard power terminal includes a surface mount leg.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connector assembly of claim 12 wherein the surface mount leg extends through a recess in a sidewall of the daughterboard power housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein each daughterboard power terminal includes a surface mount leg.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
A multi-contact electrical connector assembly for interconnecting corresponding traces on a motherboard and a daughterboard, comprising: a motherboard connector including a plurality of terminals positioned within a motherboard housing; daughterboard connector means including a plurality of terminals intermatable with corresponding terminals in the motherboard connector, and separate first and second daughterboard housings located on opposite sides on one edge of the daughterboard; the terminals in the motherboard and daughterboard connectors being divided into a first terminal array and a second terminal array, the first terminal array in the first daughterboard housing being on an opposite side of the daughterboard from the second terminal array in the second daughterboard housing; and alignment means on the motherboard housing and the second daughterboard housing for precisely aligning only the second terminal arrays, the terminals in the first terminal array in the motherboard connector and first daughterboard housing being matable without precise alignment in the direction normal to the daughterboard whereby daughterboards of different thicknesses may be employed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
164 words
A multi-contact electrical connector assembly for interconnecting corresponding traces on a motherboard and a daughterboard, comprising: a motherboard connector including a plurality of terminals positioned within a motherboard housing; daughterboard connector means including a plurality of terminals intermatable with corresponding terminals in the motherboard connector, and separate first and second daughterboard housings located on opposite sides on one edge of the daughterboard; the terminals in the motherboard and daughterboard connectors being divided into a first terminal array and a second terminal array, the first terminal array in the first daughterboard housing being on an opposite side of the daughterboard from the second terminal array in the second daughterboard housing; and alignment means on the motherboard housing and the second daughterboard housing for precisely aligning only the second terminal arrays, the terminals in the first terminal array in the motherboard connector and first daughterboard housing being matable without precise alignment in the direction normal to the daughterboard whereby daughterboards of different thicknesses may be employed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the daughterboard housings together are relatively more rigid than the daughterboard and comprise means for maintaining the planarity of the daughterboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector assembly of claim 15 wherein the terminals in the first terminal array in the motherboard connector and the daughterboard connector comprise mating planar elements oriented perpendicular to the daughterboard.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-25 | 1993-03-27 | 1993-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-25 | 1997-03-27 | 1997-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-25 | 2001-03-27 | 2001-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |