# US 12,009,613 B2 · Hybrid card-edge connectors and power terminals for high-power applications

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- Number: US 12,009,613 B2
- Document ID: US12009613B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/132,094
- Filed: 2023-04-07
- Published: 2023-08-03
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-11-20
- Assignees: Fci USA LLC
- Applicants: Fci USA LLC
- Inventors: Rongzhe Guo; Clarence Randall Fry; Chao Zou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009613B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/17: with spring member on the pin
- H01R 13/2492: {multiple contact points}
- H01R 12/7088: {Arrangements for power supply}
- H01R 12/721: {cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits}
- H01R 13/26: Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only {(for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62)}
- H05K 1/0213: {Electrical arrangements not otherwise provided for}
- H05K 1/117: {Pads along the edge of rigid circuit boards, e.g. for pluggable connectors}
- H05K 5/0026: {provided with connectors and printed circuit boards [PCB], e.g. automotive electronic control units}
- H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle}
- H01R 12/727: {Coupling devices presenting arrays of contacts}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A power terminal includes first and second conductive sheets. The first conductive sheet includes a first joining portion, first fingers extending from the first joining portion, and a first mounting portion extending from the first joining portion and configured to mount to a substrate. The first fingers have hooked ends connected to the first joining portion by first beams. The second conductive sheet includes a second joining portion, second fingers extending from the second joining portion, and a second mounting portion extending from the second joining portion and configured to mount to the substrate. The two second fingers have curved ends connected to the second joining portion by second beams. The hooked ends and the curved ends include contact surfaces configured to contact a same side of a card. At least one of the first and second mounting portions includes at least two mounting tails.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power terminal for a connector, the power terminal comprising:
a first conductive sheet comprising:
a first joining portion,
at least two first fingers extending from the first joining portion, the at least two first fingers having hooked ends connected to the first joining portion by first beams, the hooked ends comprising first contact surfaces configured to contact a first side of a card, and
a first mounting portion extending from the first joining portion and configured to mount to a substrate; and
a second conductive sheet comprising:
a second joining portion,
at least two second fingers extending from the second joining portion, the at least two second fingers having curved ends connected to the second joining portion by second beams, the curved ends comprising second contact surfaces configured to contact the first side of the card, and
a second mounting portion extending from the second joining portion and configured to mount to the substrate,
wherein at least one of the first and second mounting portions is comprised of at least two mounting tails.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second mounting portions are comprised of mounting ends configured to be inserted into mounting holes in the substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The terminal of claim 1, wherein a length of the first fingers is greater than a length of the second fingers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The terminal of claim 3, wherein the first joining portion is stacked on the second joining portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The terminal of claim 4, wherein the first beams are coplanar with the first joining portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The terminal of claim 4, wherein the second beams extend from the second joining portion at a non-zero angle.

### Claim 7

A power terminal for a connector, the power terminal comprising:
a first conductive sheet comprising:
a first joining portion,
at least two first fingers extending from the first joining portion and having first contact surfaces arranged in a first row, and
a first mounting portion extending from the first joining portion and configured to mount to a substrate; and
a second conductive sheet comprising:
a second joining portion,
at least two second fingers extending from the second joining portion and having second contact surfaces arranged in a second row, and
a second mounting portion extending from the second joining portion and configured to mount to the substrate,
wherein the first mounting portion is comprised of first and second mounting tails disposed on opposite sides of the second mounting portion such that the second mounting portion is located between the first and second mounting tails of the first mounting portion, and such that mounting ends of the first and second mounting portions are aligned in a third row.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The terminal of claim 7, wherein a length of the first fingers is different from a length of the second fingers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The terminal of claim 8, wherein the first joining portion is stacked on the second joining portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The terminal of claim 9, wherein contact surfaces of the first fingers and contact surfaces of the second fingers are configured to contact a same side of a card.

### Claim 11

A power terminal assembly for a connector, the assembly comprising:
a first power terminal; and
a second power terminal facing the first power terminal such that a card-receiving gap is between the first and second power terminals,
wherein each of the first and second power terminals is comprised of:
a first conductive sheet comprising:
a first joining portion,
at least two first fingers extending from the first joining portion and having first contact surfaces arranged in a first row, and
a first mounting portion extending from the first joining portion and configured to mount to a substrate, the first mounting portion being comprised of first and second mounting tails, and
a second conductive sheet comprising:
a second joining portion,
at least two second fingers extending from the second joining portion and having second contact surfaces arranged in a second row, and
a second mounting portion extending from the second joining portion and configured to mount to the substrate, the second mounting portion being disposed between the first and second mounting tails of the first mounting portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The assembly of claim 11, wherein a length of the first fingers is different from a length of the second fingers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The assembly of claim 12, wherein, for each of the first and second power terminals, the first joining portion is stacked on the second joining portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The assembly of claim 13, wherein contact surfaces of the first power terminal face contact surfaces of the second power terminal across the card-receiving gap.