Power connector having linearly moving cam for daughter card

#The present invention is related to the field of electrical connectors, and more particularly to connectors for edge portions of circuit panels.

#Card cages are known which comprise a framework within which a plurality of circuit panels or daughter cards are insertable, and within which is disposed a backplane transverse to the back edges of the daughter cards. The cards are electrically connected to the backplane by any of several types of known connectors and terminals, and are interconnected by the backplane to each other and to other electrical components on the opposite side of the backplane. Each daughter card in conventional card cages also receives all necessary power current for its components from the backplane through a plurality of terminals, each capable of transmitting power current at levels ordinarily about one ampere per terminal. Connectors which must house the quite numerous power-carrying terminals also must house signal terminals for the primary purpose of providing signal transmission to and from the daughter cards; signal terminals are thus limited in number and in their position, which in turn limits the capabilities of the daughter cards. Also, the current levels presently available limit the number and types of components usable with the daughter cards.

#Another feature of conventional card cages is that the power current is provided to the backplane from power conductor cables from outside the card cage, and the transmission of power into the card cage is usually controlled by one switch. In such card cages transmission of power to the individual daughter cards is not controlled on a card-by-card basis and in fact power current to all the cards is either all ON or all OFF. Therefore, power to all cards must be turned off to permit insertion or removal of an individual daughter card, resulting in undesirable levels of down time.

#FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a card cage having a plurality of circuit cards therein of the present invention, each disposed between and mated with a pair of edge guide power connectors of the present invention connected to a power source, with the cards on the right being locked in place and the power connectors actuated.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a daughter card exploded from its position in the card cage of FIG. 1 and from between an edge guide power connector of the present invention and an opposing channel member.

#FIG. 2A is an enlarged exploded view of one of the insertion/ejection members of the daughter card of FIG. 2.

#FIG. 1 shows a card cage 10 including a frame 12 having a plurality of representative daughter circuit cards 14 inserted thereinto from the open front, and which may be removed therefrom. Cards 14 receive power current for electrical components 64 mounted thereon from a power supply 16 also insertable into and removable from the card cage, by means of a plurality of power cables 18. Each cable 18 is electrically connected by first terminal means 20 to corresponding terminal means (not shown) of the power supply, and is terminated by second terminal means 22 for electrical engagement with one or more of a plurality of terminals 24 spaced along an edge guide power connector 26 corresponding to an active edge of a daughter card 14. At least one return path conductor 18' is also provided and connected to the power supply 16. Preferably the plurality of edge guide power connectors 26 are secured to the card cage frame 12 in spaced parallel arrays along the top and bottom of the card-receiving area of the card cage. Such a card cage system is disclosed in more particularity in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 128,000 and 127,992 filed Dec. 2, 1987 and assigned to the assignee hereof. A flexible power distribution system particularly useful with such a card cage system is described in greater particularity in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 50,793 filed June 22, 1987 and assigned to the assignee hereof, although conventional power conductor wires may be used.

#Referring to FIG. 2, edge guide power connector 26 is mounted to card cage frame 12,12A such as by pairs of fasteners 28 at each end of the connector. Each power connector 26 includes a card-receiving channel 30 within which is disposed a rail 32 secured to an active edge of a daughter circuit card 14. Channel 30 preferably has rectilinear side wall and bottom surfaces, and rail 32 correspondingly preferably has rectilinear top and side surfaces, which surfaces will undergo at least incidental bearing engagement during insertion and withdrawal of card 14 into and out of the card cage. Preferably the front end of channel 30 and the rearward end of rail 32 include tapered corners for lead-in purposes facilitating insertion.

#Each daughter card has two major side surfaces 34,34', top and bottom edges 36,36', and back and forward edges 38,38'. In a typical card cage 10 top and bottom edges 36,36' of each daughter card 14 may be active edges, and each active edge will have a respective rail 32 so that card 14 can be inserted into the card cage frame from a card-receiving face thereof within aligned and opposing channels 30 of a pair of opposed power connectors 26. However, it is foreseeable that one or more daughter cards 14 may only have one active edge for the receipt of power current and with such a card the edge opposed from the active edge preferably will still have a rail such as rail 32' and be received along a channel 30 of an inactive power connector or dummy member 26' having a card-receiving channel 30', or even a channel of the card cage frame 12 itself.