Substrate interfacing electrical connector system

A matable and unmatable connector adapted to electrically interface contact surfaces to a device which will utilize electrical signals bussed through the connector comprising:

• a printed wiring board having first and second sides adapted to interface with a connector element which will bus data from an external source to the printed wiring aboard, said printed wiring board having a plurality of contact surfaces on the first side of the printed wiring board;
• a support structure for supporting the printed wiring board in the connector;
• securing means affixed to and actuable with respect to said support structure between first and second positions and having a distal end extending beyond the first side of the printed wiring board and adapted to extend through an opening in the substrate and becoming adjacent a cooperating surface in the device when the securing means is in the first position, and including an actuation section remote from the first side of the printed wiring board and accessible outwardly of the support structure;
• interlocking means attached to the distal end of the securing means for cinching the securing means to the cooperating surface in the device in a manner urging the securing means toward the device when the securing means is actuated to the second position, and uncinching the securing means from the cooperating surface when the securing means is moved to the first position;
• and
• the support structure including structure for supporting the securing means upon actuation thereof to receive substantial force therefrom in the mating direction and having a supporting surface for supporting the second side of the printed wiring board at least at substantially all peripheral regions thereof to equally distribute and transmit the force thereagainst,
• whereby actuation of the securing means to the second position causes the securing means to exert a sufficient force on the support structure and therefore on the printed wiring board to hold the contact surfaces on the first side of the printed wiring board to the corresponding contact surfaces on the substrate in the device to ensure adequate electrical contact of the pairs of associated contact surfaces.

A method of connecting a printed wiring board to a device which enables signals to be bussed thereto through the printed wiring board from an outside source, in a manner which facilitates disconnection of the printed wiring board from the device, comprising the steps of:

• interfacing a first side of a printed wiring board to a contact surface in the device and exposed at an opening through framework thereof;
• inserting an interlocking key element at a distal end of a shaft through a hole in the printed wiring board and into a complementary key channel in the device;
• and
• engaging and actuating an actuating section at a proximal end of the shaft accessible outwardly of a second side of the printed wiring board, thereby rotating the interlocking key element from a first angular position into the complementary key channel to a second angular position defined by the channel from which the interlocking key element is reciprocally rotatable to the first position for unlocking, thereby cinching the interlocking key element to the complementary key channel so that the printed wiring board is securely pressed against the contact surface in the device,
• whereby interlocking and unlocking the printed wiring board need only require access to the proximal end of the shaft of the interlocking key element to perform rotation thereof reciprocally between the first and second positions.

A matable and unmatable connector adapted to electrically interface contact surfaces to circuits of a device which will utilize electrical signals bussed through the connector comprising:

• a printed wiring board having a first and second side adapted to interface with a connector element which will bus data from an external source to the printed wiring board, said printed wiring board having a plurality of contact surfaces on the first side of the printed wiring board;
• an interposer having interposer contacts secured to the first side of the printed wiring board;
• a support structure having a supporting surface adjacent a second side of the printed wiring board for supporting the printed wiring board in the connector;
• a securing barrel having proximal and distal ends rotationally mounted within and extending through the support structure, the printed wiring board and the interposer, and adapted to extend through an opening in the substrate for securing the contacts exposed across a mating face of the interposer to corresponding conductive sites on the substrate secured to the device at a connector-receiving opening thereof;
• an interlocking key element integrally formed on the distal end of the securing barrel for cinching the securing barrel to a cam surface in the device as the key element is rotated along the cam surface, thereby causing the securing barrel to exert a sufficient force to hold the contact surface to the contacts in the interposer to ensure adequate electrical contact between the conductive sites of the substrate and the contacts in the interposer;
• and
• a connector module having a plurality of electrical contacts interfaced to the printed wiring board for interfacing data from the external source to the printed wiring board.

A matable and unmatable connector system adapted to electrically interface a high density of conductors of a multiconductor cable to circuits of a device at an input/output port thereof for bussing electrical signals over a substantial plurality of circuits and having zero insertion force for mating, the system comprising:

• a connector secured to the cable and having a printed wiring board disposed across a mating face thereof, a support structure for supporting the printed wiring board, a securing means movable affixed to the support structure, and a housing enclosing the support structure and the electrical connections of the cable conductors to contact sites of the printed wiring board;
• a circuit-bearing substrate mounted within the device in a manner exposing a mating interface at a connector-receiving cavity at an input/output opening through framework of the device, with circuits electrically connecting conductive sites on the mating interface to circuitry within the device, and a cam surface interiorly of the substrate adjacent an opening through the substrate;
• and
• alignment structure defined on the connector and cooperating alignment structure defined on the device at least adjacent the substrate, to be become engaged to assure precision alignment therebetween during mating;
• the printed wiring board having a first and second side and having a plurality of contact surfaces on the first side thereof;
• the support structure having a supporting surface adjacent the second side of the printed wiring board for supporting the printed wiring board in the connector;
• the securing means including a securing barrel having proximal and distal ends rotationally mounted within and extending through the support structure with the distal end extending from the printed wiring board, with an interlocking key element integrally formed on the distal end of the securing barrel for cinching the securing barrel to the cam surface in the device as the key element is rotated along the cam surface,
• the support structure including structure for supporting the securing means upon actuation thereof to receive substantial force therefrom in the mating direction and having a supporting surface for supporting the second side of the printed wiring board at least at substantially all peripheral regions thereof to equally distribute and transmit the force thereagainst,
• whereby after insertion of the connector into the connector-receiving opening and engagement with the mating interface of the substrate at zero insertion force, rotation of the securing means to a cinching position causes the securing means to exert a sufficient force on the support structure and therefore on the printed wiring board to hold the contact surfaces on the first side of the printed wiring board to the corresponding conductive sites on the substrate in the device to ensure adequate electrical contact of the pairs of associated contact surfaces.

A cable harness for bussing high integrity signals across a substantial plurality of conductors of a cable from an outside source to a device and adapted to interface with circuits of the device at an input/output port thereof, comprising:

• a cable including a substantial plurality of coaxial conductors within a protective insulative jacket, and a connector terminated to the cable, the connector including:
• a printed wiring board disposed across a mating face of the connector and including an array of contact surfaces across a first side thereof exposed to become electrically engaged with corresponding contact surfaces of a complementary substrate mounted within framework of the device at the input/output port thereof, the printed wiring board including an array of connection sites exposed on an opposed second side to which are electrically connected signal and ground conductors of the cable;
• rigid support structure to which te printed wiring board is affixed, and an insulative housing surrounding the rigid support structure and enclosing the second side of the printed wiring board and the electrical connections thereto of the cable conductors, with the support structure affixed to the end of the cable at a connector cable exit and the housing providing no openings around the able exit;
• securing means affixed to and actuable with respect to the support structure between first and second positions and having a distal end extending beyond the first side of the printed wiring board and adapted to extend through an opening in the substrate and becoming adjacent a cooperating surface in the device when the securing means is in the first position, and including an actuation section on a proximal end accessible outwardly of the housing on a connector face substantially opposed from the mating face;
• interlocking means attached to the distal end of the securing means for cinching the securing means to the cooperating surface in the device in a manner urging the securing means toward the device when the securing means is actuated to the second position, and uncinching the securing means form the cooperating surface when the securing means is moved to the first position permitting removal of the connector from the device;
• the support structure including a portion for supporting the securing means upon actuation thereof to receive substantial force therefrom in the mating direction and having a supporting surface for supporting the second side of the printed wiring board at least at substantially all peripheral edges thereof around the array of connection sites on the second side thereof, to equally distribute and transmit the force thereagainst,
• whereby actuation of the securing means to the second position causes the securing means to exert a sufficient force on the support structure and therefore on the printed wiring board to hold the contact surfaces on the first side of the printed wiring board to the corresponding contact surfaces on the substrate in the device to ensure adequate electrical contact of the pairs of associated contact surfaces, while return of the securing means to the first position permits immediate removal of the cable harness from the device.