Electrical connector and circuit board combination
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorLeonard J. Owen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A module (2) is connected to a multiplexing system by means of a printed circuit board (18) having thereon first conductors (14) each connected to a second conductor (22) by means of a spring clip (24) on the board (18). An edge connector (38) for mating with the board (18) has thereon projections (62) which can be selectively removed before the connector (38) is mated with the board (18). When the board (18) and the connector (38) are mated, the remaining projections (62) each left a respective clip (24) from its first conductor (14) and protrude between the clip (24) and the first conductor (14), thereby disconnecting them. The projections (62) and clips (24) thus provide a switching system which can be used to ensure that only selected second conductors (22) carry current.
Claims6
In combination, an electrical connector and a circuit board for mating therewith, the connector comprising an insulating housing containing a row of electrical terminals each having a contact spring for engaging an individual conductor of a row of first conductors on the circuit board, as the connector is mated therewith in a mating direction, each first conductor being electrically connected to an associated second conductor on the board by means of a spring element on the board, said housing being provided with a row of selectively removable projections extending therefrom in the mating direction each for engaging a respective one of said spring elements, as the connector and the circuit board are being mated, electrically to disconnect associated first and second conductors connected by the spring element, whereby the associated first and second conductors can be selectively electrically disconnected by mating the connector and the board, by removing selected ones of said projections before the connector and the circuit board are mated.
In combination, a printed circuit board edge electrical connector and a printed circuit board for mating therewith, the connector comprising an insulating housing having a mating face into which extends a slot for receiving an edge portion of the board, and containing a row of electrical terminals each having a portion for connection to an electrical lead, and a contact spring having a contact surface projecting into the board receiving slot, the circuit board having on one side thereof a row of first printed conductors thereon each extending from a position proximate to said edge of the board, back from said edge, to make electrical contact with a respective one of said contact surfaces, when said edge of the board has been inserted into said slot, the board also having on the same side thereof as the row of first conductors, a series of second printed conductors each spaced from, but being adjacent to, an associated one of said first conductors, a spring clip secured to each second conductor, having a contact surface resiliently engaged with the associated first conductor, electrically to connect it thereto, said spring clip having a free end portion projecting beyond said contact surface thereof towards said edge of the board and being spaced from said board, said housing having a row of frangible, wedge shaped projections each extending from the mating face of the housing in alignment with one of said contact springs, for engaging between the contact surface of a respective one of said spring clips and the associated first conductor, when said edge portion of the board has been inserted into the channel, whereby by breaking away selected ones of said projections, before the connector and the board are mated, the electrical connections between selected ones of said first and second conductors can be broken as a result of said edge portion of the board being inserted into said board receiving slot of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.