Patent ID: 6098275
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: H01R,H05K,Y10T

Abstract:
An electrical connector press for connecting an electrical connector to a printed circuit board, the electrical connector having contacts with compliant attachment zones for insertion into holes of the printed circuit board, the press comprising:a gripping device for holding a housing of the connector, the contacts being mounted to the housing;a force measuring device connected to the gripping device for measuring force exerted between the connector and the printed circuit board during insertion of the contacts into the holes;a distance measuring device connected to the gripping device for measuring movement of the gripping device relative to the printed circuit board; anda controller connected to the gripping device, the force measuring device and the distance measuring device for controlling movement of the gripping device towards the printed circuit board, wherein the controller is connected to a memory having data of geometry of the contacts and the data of a desired insertion depth of the contacts into the holes, and wherein the controller comprising means for determining a distance which the contacts should be inserted into the holes based upon the data in the memory and force sensed by the force measuring device after the compliant attachment zones contact the printed circuit board, and the controller limits movement of the gripping device towards the printed circuit board based upon the determined distance.