US5924899A — Modular connectors

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

An electrical connector having a mating interface and a mounting interface comprising: (a) at least one circuit substrate having a body and a plurality of conductive circuit traces carried by the body, the traces extending from a first region of the body adjacent the mating interface to a second region of the body adjacent the mounting interface; (b) a plurality of electrical terminals, each associated with one of the traces; (c) a housing, formed of electrically insulative material, mounted on the body in at least one of the first and second regions, carrying the terminals, and having a shield member for electrically shielding the terminals, the shield member including portions positioned in shielding relationship with respect to at least one of the terminals; and (d) a support maintaining the at least one circuit substrate in a substantially parallel assembled state.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 140 words

An electrical connector having a mating interface and a mounting interface comprising: (a) at least one circuit substrate having a body and a plurality of conductive circuit traces carried by the body, the traces extending from a first region of the body adjacent the mating interface to a second region of the body adjacent the mounting interface; (b) a plurality of electrical terminals, each associated with one of the traces; (c) a housing, formed of electrically insulative material, mounted on the body in at least one of the first and second regions, carrying the terminals, and having a shield member for electrically shielding the terminals, the shield member including portions positioned in shielding relationship with respect to at least one of the terminals; and (d) a support maintaining the at least one circuit substrate in a substantially parallel assembled state.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the terminals include surface mount portions for mounting the terminals on the traces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the shield member secures to the housing onto the circuit substrate by surface mounting techniques.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 44 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the terminal has a press fit section and the housing includes a force transmitting portion for receiving an insertion force for pressing the terminal into the circuit substrate and transmitting the insertion force to the terminal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of terminals have a deformable element disposed along said mounting interface to establish electrical contact with a circuit element on which the connector is mounted.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

An electrical connector as in claim 5, wherein the deformable element is heat deformable.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

An electrical connector as in claim 6, wherein the deformable element is a solder ball.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the housing includes structure for receiving the body and the body is secured to the structure by an interference fit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein an open zone is present on one side of the circuit substrate for receiving electronic elements mounted on the circuit substrate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the shield member includes at least one tab engaging the support.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

An electrical connector as in claim 10, further comprising a spring element removably secured to the support and engaged by the tab of the shield member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

An electrical connector as in claim 1, wherein the support includes a wall separating adjacent substrates.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of making an electrical connector comprising: (a) forming an electrical circuit substrate element comprising an insulative body having first and second edge portions spaced from each other and a plurality of conductive circuit traces extending from a first region adjacent the first edge to a second region adjacent the second edge; (b) forming an electrical connection interface at the region adjacent the first edge by placing a body having a plurality of electrical contact terminals in the first region with each terminal being positioned for attaching to one of the conductive traces; (c) electrically connecting each terminal to one of the traces; (d) mounting the circuit substrate in a housing to present the contact terminals in a position for mating with a mating connector; and (e) shielding at least one of the terminals with a shield member on the housing.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of making an electrical connector comprising: (a) forming an electrical circuit substrate element comprising an insulative body having first and second edge portions spaced from each other and a plurality of conductive circuit traces extending from a first region adjacent the first edge to a second region adjacent the second edge; (b) forming an electrical connection interface at the region adjacent the first edge by placing a body having a plurality of electrical contact terminals in the first region with each terminal being positioned for attaching to one of the conductive traces; (c) electrically connecting each terminal to one of the traces; (d) mounting the circuit substrate in a housing to present the contact terminals in a position for mating with a mating connector; and (e) shielding at least one of the terminals with a shield member on the housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of securing an electrically conductive element to each of the circuit traces at said second region.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method as in claim 13, wherein the step of electrical connecting each electrical terminal to a circuit trace comprises surface mounting.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 13, wherein the step of mounting the circuit substrate in the housing includes establishing an interference fit between said body and the housing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 128 words

An electrical connector having a mating interface and a mounting interface, comprising: (a) at least one circuit substrate having a body and a plurality of conductive circuit traces carried by the body, the traces extending from a first region of the body adjacent the mating interface to a second region of the body adjacent the mounting interface; (b) a plurality of electrical terminals, each associated with one of the traces; (c) a housing formed of electrically insulative material, mounted on the body in at least one of the first and second regions, and having a shield member mounted to the substrate by surface mounting techniques for electrically shielding the terminals; and (d) a support for maintaining the at least one circuit substrate in a substantially parallel assembled state.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 128 words

An electrical connector having a mating interface and a mounting interface, comprising: (a) at least one circuit substrate having a body and a plurality of conductive circuit traces carried by the body, the traces extending from a first region of the body adjacent the mating interface to a second region of the body adjacent the mounting interface; (b) a plurality of electrical terminals, each associated with one of the traces; (c) a housing formed of electrically insulative material, mounted on the body in at least one of the first and second regions, and having a shield member mounted to the substrate by surface mounting techniques for electrically shielding the terminals; and (d) a support for maintaining the at least one circuit substrate in a substantially parallel assembled state.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the shield member includes portions positioned in shielding relationship with respect to at least one of the terminals.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the terminals include surface mount portions for mounting the terminals on the traces.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the terminal has a press fit section and the housing includes a force transmitting portion for receiving an insertion force for pressing the terminal into the circuit substrate and transmitting the insertion force to the terminal.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 35 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein said plurality of terminals have a deformable element disposed along said mounting interface for establishing electrical contact with a circuit element on which the connector is mounted.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 14 words

An electrical connector as in claim 21, wherein the deformable element is heat deformable.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

An electrical connector as in claim 22, wherein the deformable element is a solder ball.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the housing includes structure for receiving the body and the body is secured to the structure by an interference fit.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein an open zone is present on one side of the circuit substrate for receiving electronic elements mounted on the circuit substrate.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the shield member includes at least one tab engaging the support.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

An electrical connector as in claim 26, further comprising a spring element removably secured to the support and engaged by the tab of the shield member.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 16 words

An electrical connector as in claim 17, wherein the support includes a wall separating adjacent substrates.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method of making an electrical connector as in claim 13, wherein the shield member mounts to the body using surface mount techniques.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-07-19	2003-01-18	2003-07-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-07-19	2007-01-18	2007-07-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-07-19	2011-01-18	2011-07-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular connectors

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