Contact for pin grid array connector and method of forming same
AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation
InventorsRichard Nicholas Whyne, Richard W. Grzybowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pin grid array contact has been provided that includes a planar main body and first and second spring beams. The planar main body defines, and is arranged within, a primary contact plane. The main body has edges along opposed sides and along opposed ends. The first and second spring beams are formed integral with the main body and extend from a common one of the edges by different first and second lengths, respectively. The first length is longer than said second length. The first and second spring beams being are aligned with the primary contact plane.
Claims29
A pin grid array contact, comprising:
- a planar main body defining, and arranged within, a primary contact plane, said main body having edges along opposed sides and along opposed ends;
- and
- first and second spring beams integral with said main body and extending from a common one of said edges by different first and second lengths, respectively, said first length being longer than said second length, said first and second spring beams being aligned parallel with said primary contact plane, and said second spring beam being aligned in said primary contact plane.
An assembly including a plurality of double point contacts formed from a single sheet of conductive material, said assembly comprising:
- a carrier strip;
- defining a carrier plane and a plurality of stamped double point contacts connected to said carrier strip, each of said contacts including a main body joined with a first spring beam and a second spring beam, said first spring beam including a first contacting portion located at a distal end of said first spring beam, said second spring beam including a second contacting portion located at a distal end of said second spring beam, said first spring beam being longer than said second spring beam, said second spring beam being offset such that projections of said first and second spring beams onto said carrier plane form an angle with respect to one another, said stamped double contacts being coplanar with said carrier strip;
- and said first spring beam being bent such that said first and second spring beams lie in different first and second planes, while said first contacting portion remains laterally aligned with said second contacting portion.
A method of forming a pin grid array contact, comprising:
- stamping a contact having a main body formed with first and second spring beams from a planar single sheet of conductive material, the first and second spring beams having different first and second lengths that extend along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that are aligned at an acute angle with one another and initially oriented in a primary contact plane defined by the main body;
- and
- bending the first spring beam with respect to the main body until the first spring beam is located in a second beam plane that is separate from the primary contact plane.
A method of forming a pin grid array contact, comprising:
- stamping a contact having a main body formed with first and second spring beams from a planar sheet of conductive material, the first and second spring beams having different first and second lengths that extend along first and second longitudinal axes, respectively, that are aligned at an acute angle with one another and initially oriented in a primary contact plane defined by the main body;
- bending the first spring beam with respect to the main body until the second spring beam is located in a second beam plane that is separate from the primary contact plane;
- shifting the first and second spring beams laterally from one another with respect to a center line of the main body, said shifting step occurring in a direction parallel to the primary contact plane;
- and
- aligning a first contacting portion of the first spring beam into alignment with a second contacting portion of the second spring beam.
A pin grid array contact, comprising:
- a planar main body defining, and arranged within, a primary contact plane, said main body having edges along opposed sides and along opposed ends;
- first and second spring beams integral with said main body and extending from a common one of said edges by different first and second lengths, respectively, said first length being longer than said second length, said first and second spring beams being aligned with said primary contact plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.