US6293818B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1999-11-24
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Granted: 2001-09-25
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Expires: 2019-11-24
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector for joining a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board comprises a connector housing adapted to be mounted within an opening in the printed circuit board and including a circuit connecting portion for receiving the flexible printed circuit, a plurality of connection terminals mounted within the housing and terminating in surface mount portions wherein upper surfaces of the surface mount portions are adapted to make contact with corresponding circuit traces on a lower surface of the printed circuit board, a ground terminal extending outwardly from each side of the connector housing wherein the upper surface of the ground terminals are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the surface mount portions of the connection terminals, and a circuit fastener rotatably mounted for up and down movement on the connector housing adapted to secure the flexible printed circuit within the circuit connecting portion of the housing, whereby when the electrical connector is placed in the opening of the circuit board the overall profile of the connected portion is reduced by the thickness of the circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Yong Soo Kim
- 👤 Hee Seck Shin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:18
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/52; H01R12/55; H01R12/57; H01R13/00; H01R13/648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An electrical connector for joining a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board having an upper surface and a lower surface, comprising: a connector housing adapted to be mounted within an opening in the printed circuit board and including a circuit connecting portion for receiving the flexible printed circuit; a plurality of connection terminals mounted within the housing and terminating in surface mount portions wherein upper surfaces of the surface mount portions are adapted to make contact with corresponding circuit traces on the lower surface of the printed circuit board; a ground terminal extending outwardly from each side of the connector housing wherein the upper surface of the ground terminals are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the surface mount portions of the connection terminals; and a circuit fastener rotatably mounted on the connector housing for movement between open and closed positions to secure the flexible printed circuit within the circuit connecting portion of the housing, the circuit fastener in its open position projecting above the upper surface of the printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An electrical connector for joining a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board having an upper surface and a lower surface, comprising: a connector housing adapted to be mounted within an opening in the printed circuit board and including a circuit connecting portion for receiving the flexible printed circuit; a plurality of connection terminals mounted within the housing and terminating in surface mount portions wherein upper surfaces of the surface mount portions are adapted to make contact with corresponding circuit traces on the lower surface of the printed circuit board; a ground terminal extending outwardly from each side of the connector housing wherein the upper surface of the ground terminals are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the surface mount portions of the connection terminals; and a circuit fastener rotatably mounted on the connector housing for movement between open and closed positions to secure the flexible printed circuit within the circuit connecting portion of the housing, the circuit fastener in its open position projecting above the upper surface of the printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a ground tab extending downwardly from outer ends of each ground terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a circuit guide being formed on each side of the circuit connecting portion for guiding the flexible printed circuit when it is inserted into the connector housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the circuit guide includes a slope formed at a front edge thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a means for maintaining a fastening state of the circuit fastener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connector as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the means for maintaining the fastening state of the circuit fastener includes locking protrusions formed at both sides of the circuit fastener and corresponding locking projections formed at predetermined portions of the circuit guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The connector as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector housing is adapted for mounting within an opening in an edge of the printed circuit board.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrical connector for joining a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board having an upper surface and a lower surface, comprising: a connector housing adapted to be mounted within an opening in an edge of the printed circuit board and including a circuit connecting portion for receiving the flexible printed circuit; a plurality of connection terminals mounted within the housing and terminating in surface mount portions wherein upper surfaces of the surface mount portions are adapted to make contact with corresponding circuit traces on the lower surface of the printed circuit board; and a circuit fastener rotatably mounted on the connector housing for movement between open and closed positions to secure the flexible printed circuit within the circuit connecting portion of the housing, the circuit fastener in its open position projecting above the upper surface of the printed circuit board.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
An electrical connector for joining a flexible printed circuit to a rigid printed circuit board having an upper surface and a lower surface, comprising: a connector housing adapted to be mounted within an opening in an edge of the printed circuit board and including a circuit connecting portion for receiving the flexible printed circuit; a plurality of connection terminals mounted within the housing and terminating in surface mount portions wherein upper surfaces of the surface mount portions are adapted to make contact with corresponding circuit traces on the lower surface of the printed circuit board; and a circuit fastener rotatably mounted on the connector housing for movement between open and closed positions to secure the flexible printed circuit within the circuit connecting portion of the housing, the circuit fastener in its open position projecting above the upper surface of the printed circuit board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The connector as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a circuit guide being formed on each side of the circuit connecting portion for guiding the flexible printed circuit when it is inserted into the connector housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the circuit guide includes a slope formed at a front edge thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a means for maintaining a fastening state of the circuit fastener.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The connector as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the means for maintaining the fastening state of the circuit fastener includes locking protrusions formed at both sides of the circuit fastener and corresponding locking projections formed at predetermined portions of the circuit guide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-24 | 2005-03-26 | 2005-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-24 | 2009-03-26 | 2009-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-24 | 2013-03-26 | 2013-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |