Electrical connector with strain relief feature
AssigneeFCI Americas Technology, Inc.
InventorDonald K. Harper, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical connector is disclosed. The electrical connector comprises a plurality of contacts that are adapted to be electrically connected to a substrate. A first body of reflowable, electrically conductive material is placed on a contact in order to provide an electrical path between the connector and the substrate. In addition, a second body of reflowable, electrically conductive material is placed on another contact. This second body provides mechanical strain relief between the connector and the substrate.
Claims19
An electrical connector mountable to a substrate, said connector comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a plurality of contacts having bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material disposed thereon for mounting said connector to said substrate,
- wherein said bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material have substantially similar dimensions, and wherein a first group of said contacts conducts electrical signals to said substrate through said bodies, and wherein a second group of said contacts provides mechanical strain relief between said connector and said substrate through said bodies and does not conduct said electrical signals.
An electrical connector mountable to a substrate, said connector comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of contacts having bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material disposed thereon for mounting said connector to said substrate, wherein said bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material have substantially similar dimensions, and wherein a first group of said contacts conducts electrical signals to said substrate through said bodies, and wherein a second group of said contacts provides mechanical strain relief between said connector and said substrate through said bodies and does not conduct said electrical signals;
- and
- a device coupled to said second group of said contacts for detecting when one or more bodies of said second group of said contacts separate from said substrate.
A device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- an electrical connector attached to said substrate, wherein said electrical connector comprises:
- a housing, and
- a plurality of contacts having bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material disposed thereon for mounting said connector to said substrate, wherein said bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material have substantially similar dimensions, and wherein a first group of said contacts conducts electrical signals to said substrate through said bodies, and wherein a second group of said contacts provides mechanical strain relief between said connector and said substrate through said bodies and does not conduct said electrical signals.
A device for detecting strain relief on an electrical connector, comprising:
- a substrate;
- an electrical connector attached to said substrate, wherein said electrical connector comprises:
- a housing, and
- a plurality of contacts having bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material disposed thereon for mounting said connector to said substrate, wherein said bodies have substantially similar dimensions, and wherein a first group of said contacts conducts electrical signals to said substrate through said bodies, and wherein a second group of said contacts provides mechanical strain relief between said connector and said substrate through said bodies and does not conduct said electrical signals;
- and
- a device coupled to said second group of said contacts for detecting when one or more bodies of said second group of said contacts separate from said substrate.
An electrical connector mountable to a substrate, said connector comprising:
- a housing having a first group of openings and a second group of openings;
- a first body of reflowable, electrically conductive material attached to a first group of contacts in said first group of openings, wherein said first body of reflowable, electrically conductive material conducts electrical signals to said substrate;
- and
- a second body of reflowable, electrically conductive material attached to said second group of openings, wherein said second body of reflowable, electrically conductive material does not conduct said electrical signals, and wherein said first and second bodies of reflowable, electrically conductive material have substantially similar dimensions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.