Right angle electrical connector
AssigneeSamtec, Inc.
InventorsSteve Koopman, Jeremy Wooldridge, Doug McCartin, Everett Koopman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A right angle electrical connector assembly includes a connector frame including a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts including at least one standoff rib extending therefrom, a flexible circuit having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion being arranged to be connected to a circuit board. The flexible circuit includes a plurality of holes arranged to correspond to the plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts is received in a respective one of the plurality of holes, and a height of a first major surface of the second end portion of the flexible circuit is set by the at least one standoff rib of each of the plurality of posts.
Claims17
An electrical connector assembly for providing an electrical connection to a circuit board, comprising:
- a connector frame including a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts including at least one standoff rib extending therefrom;
- a flexible circuit having a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion being arranged to be connected to a circuit board;
- wherein
- the flexible circuit includes a plurality of holes arranged to correspond to the plurality of posts;
- each of the plurality of posts is received in a respective one of the plurality of holes;
- and
- a height of a first major surface of the second end portion of the flexible circuit above a circuit board is set by the at least one standoff rib of each of the plurality of posts.
A method of assembling an electrical connector assembly comprising the steps of:
- providing a connector frame having a recess, a plurality of posts disposed in the recess, and at least one standoff rib extending from each of the plurality of posts, each of the plurality of posts having a distal end;
- providing a flexible circuit having first and second major surfaces, first and second end portions, and a plurality of holes disposed in the second end portion;
- arranging the second end portion of the flexible circuit on the connector frame such that each of the plurality of posts is received in a respective one of the plurality of holes, and a height of the first major surface of second end portion of the flexible member is set by the at least one standoff rib;
- and
- ultrasonic welding the plurality of posts and the at least one rib thereon so as to deform the distal end of each of the plurality of posts in order to fix the second end portion of the flexible circuit between the deformed distal end and the at least one rib;
- wherein
- during the step of ultrasonic welding, the at least one rib is deform so as to adjust the height of the first major surface of the second end portion of the flexible member to a desired height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.