US 11,456,551 B2 · Spring pin connector for blind-mate coupling a sensor to an electronics assembly

Abstract

A sensor assembly comprises an electronics assembly having a circuit board, a sensor mount structure comprising a first side and a second side, and an aperture formed from the first side towards the second side. The sensor assembly can comprise a sensor supported by the sensor mount structure, such that the sensor is situated, at least partially, in the aperture. The sensor assembly can comprise a spring pin connector coupled to the sensor mount structure, and having a connector body and a pair of conductive spring pins supported by the connector body and electrically coupled to the sensor, and blind-mate interfaced to the circuit board of the electronics assembly, thereby electrically coupling the sensor to the electronics assembly. A sensor array module can include a plurality of sensors and spring pin connectors coupled to a sensor mount structure, which can provide a transponder array of a torpedo.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A sensor assembly comprising:

an electronics assembly having a circuit board;
a sensor mount structure comprising a first side and a second side, and an aperture formed from the first side towards the second side;
a sensor supported by the sensor mount structure, such that the sensor is situated, at least partially, in the aperture of the sensor mount structure;
and
a spring pin connector coupled to the sensor mount structure, the spring pin connector having a connector body and a pair of conductive spring pins supported by and extending through the connector body, the pair of conductive spring pins electrically coupled to the sensor, and blind-mate interfaced to the circuit board of the electronics assembly, thereby electrically coupling the sensor to the electronics assembly.

2 more elements

A spring pin connector for electrically coupling a sensor to an electronics assembly, comprising:

a connector body having a coupling interface operable to couple the connector body to a sensor mount structure;
a pair of pin holes formed through the connector body;
a pair of conductive spring pins extending through respective pin holes and supported by the connector body, each conductive spring pin comprising:
a wiring portion that extends from a first side of the connector body, the wiring portion being configured to be electrically coupled to a sensor supported by the sensor mount structure;
a contact portion that extends from a second side of the connector body opposite the first side;
and
a spring operably coupled between the wiring portion and the contact portion, such that the contact portion is axially movable relative to the wiring portion,
wherein, in response to interfacing the contact portions of the conductive spring pins to a circuit board of an electronics assembly, the contact portions translate relative to the wiring portions via compression of respective springs to blind-mate couple the spring pin connector to the circuit board to electrically couple the sensor to the electronics assembly.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spring pin connector for blind-mate coupling a sensor to an electronics assembly

Life of this patent

Spring pin connector for blind-mate coupling a sensor to an electronics assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26