US5915979A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector with stress isolating solder tail
Assignee: FCI Americas Technology LLC
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Filing: 1997-08-13
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Granted: 1999-06-29
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Expires: 2017-08-13
Abstract
Abstract An upper and lower contact especially for a double-deck or dual in-line module, each includes a solder tail that is coupled to the main body of the contact by a compliant portion. The compliant portion is thus intermediate the main body and the solder portion of the solder tail. The compliant portion isolates and absorbs stresses induced on the module housing through card insertion such that the solder joint does not receive the stress. Additionally, the provision of a compliant portion absorbs non-linearities created by circuit board warpage on which the module is attached. The compliant portion may take the form of a modified spring, a U-shaped section, a radiused section, or other form.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark S. Schell
- 👤 David J. Dutkowsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/57; H01R12/70; H01R12/82; H01R12/83; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/341; H05K3/3421
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
524 words
A dual in-line module comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom elongated slot and a top elongated slot, each said slot defining a respective upper elongated surface and a lower elongated surface, said slots being essentially parallel, said housing defining a space internal thereto, bounded by said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot, said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot, and a pair of side walls; a plurality of first blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said first electrical contacts having a first body, a first terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said first body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot into said to elongated slot, a first solder tail extending from said first body and terminating in a first soldering section external to said housing, and a first unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said first body and said first soldering section, said first unrestrained compliant loop adapted to absorb stresses induced in said first solder tail; a plurality of second blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said second electrical contacts having a second body, a second terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said second body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said lower elongated surface of said top elongated slot into said top elongated slot, a second solder tail extending from said second body and terminating in a second soldering section external to said housing, and a second unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said second body and said second soldering section, said second unrestrained compliant loop adapted to absorb stress induced in said second solder tail; a plurality of third blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said third electrical contacts having a third body, a third terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said third body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said upper elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot into said bottom elongated slot, a third solder tail extending from said third body and terminating in a third soldering section external to said housing, and a third unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said third body and said third soldering section, said third unrestrained compliant loop adapted to isolate stresses induced in said third solder tail; and a plurality of fourth blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said fourth electrical contacts having a fourth body, a fourth resilient terminal arm extending from said fourth body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot into said bottom elongated slot, a fourth solder tail extending from said fourth body and terminating in a fourth soldering section external to said housing, and a fourth unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said fourth body and said fourth soldering section, said fourth unrestrained compliant loop adapted to isolate stress induced in said fourth solder tail.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
524 words
A dual in-line module comprising: a dielectric housing having a bottom elongated slot and a top elongated slot, each said slot defining a respective upper elongated surface and a lower elongated surface, said slots being essentially parallel, said housing defining a space internal thereto, bounded by said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot, said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot, and a pair of side walls; a plurality of first blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said first electrical contacts having a first body, a first terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said first body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot into said to elongated slot, a first solder tail extending from said first body and terminating in a first soldering section external to said housing, and a first unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said first body and said first soldering section, said first unrestrained compliant loop adapted to absorb stresses induced in said first solder tail; a plurality of second blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said second electrical contacts having a second body, a second terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said second body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said lower elongated surface of said top elongated slot into said top elongated slot, a second solder tail extending from said second body and terminating in a second soldering section external to said housing, and a second unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said second body and said second soldering section, said second unrestrained compliant loop adapted to absorb stress induced in said second solder tail; a plurality of third blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said third electrical contacts having a third body, a third terminal arm extending from and resiliently coupled to said third body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said upper elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot into said bottom elongated slot, a third solder tail extending from said third body and terminating in a third soldering section external to said housing, and a third unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said third body and said third soldering section, said third unrestrained compliant loop adapted to isolate stresses induced in said third solder tail; and a plurality of fourth blanked electrical contacts embedded in said housing, each of said fourth electrical contacts having a fourth body, a fourth resilient terminal arm extending from said fourth body and having at least a portion thereof protruding from said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot into said bottom elongated slot, a fourth solder tail extending from said fourth body and terminating in a fourth soldering section external to said housing, and a fourth unrestrained compliant loop totally external to said housing and disposed between said fourth body and said fourth soldering section, said fourth unrestrained compliant loop adapted to isolate stress induced in said fourth solder tail.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The dual in-line module of claim 1, wherein said first and second terminal arms are alternatingly arranged along the longitudinal length of said top slot; and said third and fourth terminal arms are alternatingly arranged along the longitudinal length of said bottom slot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The dual in-line module of claim 2, wherein said plurality of first and third terminal arms form axially aligned pairs, and said plurality of second and fourth terminal arms form axially aligned pairs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dual in-line module of claim 1, wherein said first and second unrestrained compliant loops are U-shaped, and said third and fourth unrestrained compliant loops are radiused bends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dual in-line module adapted to be mounted onto a circuit board, the module comprising: a dielectric housing having an upper elongated slot and a lower elongated slot, each said slot defining a respective upper elongated surface and a lower elongated surface, said slots generally aligned in parallel, said housing defining a space internal thereto, bounded by said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot, said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot, and a pair of side walls; and a plurality of blanked electrical contacts, each contact defined by a planar body disposed in said housing, an arm coupled to an edge of said body and extending into one of said upper and lower elongated slots, a compliant portion coupled to and extending from and edge of said body, said compliant portion being entirely external of said housing, and a solder tail portion coupled to said compliant portion adapted to be connected to a circuit board.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
A dual in-line module adapted to be mounted onto a circuit board, the module comprising: a dielectric housing having an upper elongated slot and a lower elongated slot, each said slot defining a respective upper elongated surface and a lower elongated surface, said slots generally aligned in parallel, said housing defining a space internal thereto, bounded by said upper elongated surface of said top elongated slot, said lower elongated surface of said bottom elongated slot, and a pair of side walls; and a plurality of blanked electrical contacts, each contact defined by a planar body disposed in said housing, an arm coupled to an edge of said body and extending into one of said upper and lower elongated slots, a compliant portion coupled to and extending from and edge of said body, said compliant portion being entirely external of said housing, and a solder tail portion coupled to said compliant portion adapted to be connected to a circuit board.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The module of claim 5, wherein said plurality of contacts are divided into first and second pairs of contacts, said first pair of contacts having arms extending into said upper elongated slot and alternatingly displaced towards a top and bottom section of said upper elongated slot, said second pair of contacts having arms extending into said lower elongated slot and alternatingly displaced toward a top and bottom section of said lower elongated slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The module of claim 6, wherein said compliant portion of said first pair of contacts are loops, and said compliant portion of said second pair of contacts are radiused bends.
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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) | 2002-06-28 | 2002-12-28 | 2003-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-28 | 2006-12-28 | 2007-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-28 | 2010-12-28 | 2011-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |