Abstract:
A compression connector for connecting electrical components that is easily assembled without the need to align multiple components (e.g., circuit board, electrical component, housing parts, etc.) and does not stress or otherwise apply a force to an external housing of an electronic device. The compression connector also can mechanically secure the electrical components together thereby making assembly of an electrical device efficient.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to electronic equipment and, more particularly, to a compression connector for connecting electrical components. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   Compression type connectors are commonly used for making electrical connection between a first electronic component (e.g., an electronic circuit board) and at least one other electrical component (e.g., a speaker, a display, a microphone, another electronic circuit board, etc.) in an electronic device. 
   One of the most basic compression connectors is simply a conductive spring element interposed between contacts on respective electrical components. Typically, such a spring contact is secured to one or both of the electrical components and is slightly compressed between the electrical components to thereby maintain an electrical connection. To maintain the spring contact in a slightly compressed state, the electrical components typically are secured relative to each other such that the spring is compressed slightly. 
   A typical manner of securing the electrical components relative to each other to maintain the spring in a compressed state is to use an external housing or other structure of the electronic device to support the electrical components in a desired position. In such an arrangement, the spring generally applies a separating force to the housing that can cause the housing to tend to separate over time and/or can deform or stress the housing components. Further, assembly of such a connection can be cumbersome as several parts (e.g., the spring, the electrical components, the housing parts, etc.) may need to be aligned to ensure a proper connection. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention provides a compression connector for connecting electrical components that is easily assembled without the need to align multiple components (e.g., circuit board, electrical component, housing parts, etc.) and avoids stressing or otherwise applying a force to an external housing of an electronic device. The compression connector also can mechanically secure the electrical components together thereby making assembly even more efficient. 
   One aspect of the technology relates to a compression connector for connecting electrical components comprising a connector body for supporting a first electrical component, the connector body having an engagement member for engaging opposing surfaces of a second electrical component having an electrical contact thereon, wherein the engagement member has a conductive element configured to compressively engage the contact on the second electrical component to thereby electrically couple the first and second electrical components when the engagement member is engaged with opposing surfaces of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, at least a portion of the conductive element is resilient and configured to compressively engage the electrical contact on the second electrical component when the engagement member is engaged with opposing sides of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement member includes a slot formed in an edge of the connector body, the slot adapted to receive an edge of a circuit board of the electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the conductive element includes a spring element supported within the slot and configured to compress when the engagement member is engaged with opposing sides of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the spring element includes a leaf spring. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement element includes a clip configured to compressively engage opposing surfaces of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the clip is a resilient conductive spring clip configured to compressively engage opposing sides of the second electrical element. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement member includes a recess or protrusion configured to cooperate with a mating protrusion or recess on the second electrical component to restrict removal of the connector therefrom once installed. 
   According to another aspect, the first electronic component is a speaker. 
   According to another aspect, the second electronic device is a circuit board. 
   According to another aspect, the circuit board includes a notch adapted to receive the connector body. 
   According to another aspect, the notch conforms to the shape of the connector body. 
   According to another aspect, an electronic device comprises a first electrical component, a second electrical component, and a compression connector for electrically coupling the first and second electrical components, wherein the connector includes a connector body for supporting the first electrical component, the connector body having an engagement member for engaging opposing surfaces of the second electrical component, and wherein the engagement member has a conductive element configured to make electrical contact with an electrical contact on the second electrical component to thereby electrically couple the first and second electrical components. 
   According to another aspect, at least a portion of the conductive element is resilient and configured to compressively engage the electrical contact on the second electrical component when the engagement member is engaged with opposing sides of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement member includes a slot formed in an edge of the connector body, the slot adapted to receive an edge of a circuit board of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the conductive element includes a spring element supported within the slot and configured to compress when the engagement member is engaged with opposing sides of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the spring element includes a leaf spring. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement member includes a clip configured to compressively engage opposing surfaces of the second electrical component. 
   According to another aspect, the clip is a resilient conductive spring clip configured to compressively engage opposing sides of the second electrical element. 
   According to another aspect, the engagement member includes a recess or protrusion configured to cooperate with a mating protrusion or recess on the second electrical component to restrict removal of the connector therefrom once installed. 
   According to another aspect, the first electronic component is a speaker. 
   According to another aspect, the second electronic component is a circuit board. 
   According to another aspect, the circuit board includes a notch adapted to receive the connector body. 
   According to another aspect, the notch conforms to the shape of the connector body. 
   According to another aspect, the electronic device is a mobile telephone. 
   To the accomplishment of the foregoing and the related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be suitably employed. 
   Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
   Although the invention is shown and described with respect to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that equivalents and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 
   Also, although the various features are described and are illustrated in respective drawings/embodiments, it will be appreciated that features of a given drawing or embodiment may be used in one or more other drawings or embodiments of the invention. 
   It should be emphasized that the term “comprise/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.” 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Likewise, elements and features depicted in one drawing may be combined with elements and features depicted in additional drawings. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustration of an exemplary mobile phone. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a circuit board of the respective mobile phone of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a speaker and a compression connector in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 3  in position to be installed on a circuit board. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 3  installed on the circuit board. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a speaker and a compression connector in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is another perspective view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is an end view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 8  in position to be installed on a circuit board. 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the speaker and a compression connector of  FIG. 8  installed on the circuit board. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the underside of the compression connector installed on the circuit board in  FIG. 13 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. 
   The term “electronic equipment” and/or “electronic device” includes portable radio communication equipment. The term “portable radio communication equipment,” which herein after is referred to as a “mobile radio terminal,” “mobile phone,” “mobile device,” or “mobile terminal”, and the like, includes all equipment such as mobile telephones, pagers, communicators, i.e., electronic organizers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, portable communication apparatus or the like. 
   In the present application, the invention is described primarily in the context of a mobile phone. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not intended to be limited to a mobile phone and can be any type of electronic equipment. As will be appreciated, the invention is applicable to both portable devices (e.g., hand held mobile phones) and non-portable devices (e.g., devices integrated within the vehicle, such as an integrated telematics system). As used herein, a telematics system refers to a mobile phone system integrated within the vehicle. With the exception of the portability and some functional differences, the telematics system of a vehicle performs many of the functions of a conventional hand-held mobile phone. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a mobile phone  10  is shown as having a “brick” or “block” design type housing  18  (sometimes referred to as a case), but it will be appreciated that other type housings, such as, for example, clam shell or slide-type housings, may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. The mobile phone  10  further includes a speaker  20 , display  22 , a navigation switch and selection/function keys or switches  24 , a key pad  26 , a microphone  28 , and a side switch  30 ; these are illustrative and exemplary of parts of a typical mobile phone, but it will be appreciated that other parts that are similar or different in form and/or function may be included in the mobile phone  10 . The mobile phones to which the invention pertains also may be of the types that have more or fewer functions, keys, etc., compared to those illustrated and described herein. 
   As will be appreciated, the mobile phone  10  may function as a conventional mobile phone. The mobile phone  10  may have additional functions and capabilities that may be developed in the future. From a conventional point of view, the display  22  displays information to a user, such as operating state, time, phone numbers, contact information, various navigational menus, etc., which facilitate and/or enable the user to utilize the various features of the mobile phone. The display also may be used to view movies, images, or to play games, for example. Part or all of the display  22  may be a touch screen type device. The navigation and function keys  24  and the keypad  26  may be conventional in that they provide for a variety of user operations. For example, one or more of the function keys and navigation device  24  may be used to navigate through a menu displayed on the display  22  to select different phone functions, profiles, settings, etc., as is conventional. The keypad  26  typically includes one or more special function keys, such as, a “call send” key for initiating or answering a call, a “call end” key for ending or hanging up a call, and dialing keys for dialing a telephone number. Other keys included in the navigation and function keys  24  and/or keypad  26  may include an on/off power key, a web browser launch key, a camera key, a voice mail key, a calendar key, etc. The side switch  30  can be configured to perform any of a wide variety of functions. The specific function of the side switch  30  is not germane to the invention as will be appreciated. 
     FIG. 2  represents an exemplary circuit board  32  ordinarily positioned within the housing  18  of a mobile phone, for example, the mobile phone  10 . The representation also is similar to the circuit boards of PDAs and/or other electronic equipment, as will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. The circuit board  32  includes the display  22  mounted on a top surface  33  thereof, and a plurality of key contacts  34 , which may be conventional dome switch type switches as previously described. The illustrated circuit board  32  is a single layer circuit board but can have multiple layers, as will appreciated. Other components and details of the circuit board  32  have been omitted from  FIG. 2  for clarity. The construction of the circuit board  32 , which is presented by way of example here, is generally conventional with the exception of the functionalities provided by the compression connection illustrated used to electrically and mechanically couple the speaker  20  to the circuit board  32 , which will be now be described. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3-7 , and initially to  FIGS. 3-5 , the details of the compression connector will be described. The connector  50  includes a connector body  52  for supporting an electrical component, which in the illustrated embodiment is a speaker  20 . The connector body  52  in the illustrated embodiment is rectangular, however the body  52  can have any suitable shape such as a square or round shape, for example. The connector body  52  can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic or nylon, for example. The connector body  52  can be configured to support the speaker  20  in any suitable manner. For example, in the illustrated embodiment the speaker  20  is received within a recess in the connector body  52 . The speaker  20  can be secured to the connector body  52  by any suitable means such as with an adhesive, for example. 
   A pair of slots  56  in opposing edges of the body  52  are provided for engaging opposing surfaces of a second electrical component such as the circuit board  32 . As will be described in connection with  FIGS. 6-8 , the slots  56  are adapted to slideably receive a corresponding edge of the circuit board  32  therein. A conductive spring element  58  within each slot  56  is configured to make electrical contact with a contact on the circuit board  32 , as will be described. 
   The springs  58  in the illustrated embodiment are leaf springs, but other types of springs can be provided such as a cantilevered spring, for example. The springs  58  can be made of any suitable material, such as a conductive metal, for example. In this manner, the springs  58  may serve as a means for electrical connection between the circuit board  32  and one or more elements of the electrical component (e.g., speaker  20 ) supported by the connector body  52 . The springs  58  can also be made of a non-conductive material, such as plastic, and provided with a conductive element thereon for creating the electrical connection. Each spring  58  is supported by the body  52  in a manner such that it compresses when an edge of a circuit board  32  is received within a respective slot  56 . In the illustrated embodiment, the springs  58  are secured at one or both ends thereof within a respective slot  56 . Thus, the slots  56  are typically dimensioned to accommodate the circuit board  32  and the springs  58  in a slightly compressed state. 
   Turning to  FIGS. 6-8 , the compression connector  50  with speaker element  20  connected thereto is illustrated being assembled to the circuit board  32  of the phone  10 . The circuit board  32  has a rectangular (e.g., square) notch  62  configured to receive the compression connector  50 . A pair of electrical contacts  64  on the surface of the circuit board  32  are provided for making electrical contact with the conductive spring element  58  to thereby electrically couple the speaker  20  to an audio signal source or other electrical device on the circuit board  32  when the compression connector  50  is installed. 
   In  FIG. 7 , the compression connector  50  is installed on the circuit board  32  with respective edges of the circuit board  32  being received within the slots  56  of the compression connector  50 . As will be appreciated, the springs  58  are compressed between a top surface of the circuit board  32  (e.g., contacts  64 ) and the connector body  52 . Friction between the connector body  52 , the springs  58  and the circuit board  32  tends to maintain the compression connector  50  in place on the circuit board  32 . 
   It will now be appreciated that the compression connector  50  both electrically and mechanically couples the speaker  20  to the circuit board  32 . Once installed within a housing, such as housing  18 , the compression connector  50  can be generally further secured in place on the circuit board  32  by the housing  18 , if so desired. In other words, although the compression connector does not rely on the housing  18  for maintaining the compression connection, the housing  18  can still function to secure the compression connector  50  in place on the circuit board  32 . The compression connector  50 , by engaging opposing sides of the circuit board  32  to maintain the compression connection rather than surfaces of the housing, avoids stressing or otherwise applying a force to the external housing  18  of an electronic device. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 8-14 , and initially to  FIGS. 8-11 , another exemplary compression connector  50  is illustrated. The compression connector  50  of  FIGS. 8-11  is similar in most respects to the compression connector  50  shown and described in connection with  FIGS. 13-7  and includes a connector body  52  for supporting an electrical component, which again is a speaker  20 . In this embodiment, however, the engagement member is a spring clip  72  supported by the connector body  52 . 
   The spring clip  72  has a general U-shape (e.g., hairpin) having a closed end  74  and an open end  76  for receiving an edge of the circuit board  32 , the open end  76  formed by the termination of a first leg portion  78  and a second leg portion  80 . The first leg portion  78  of the spring clip  72  is relatively flat and is secured to the connector body  52 . An upwardly turned portion  82  of the first leg portion forms a protrusion that engages a mating recess in the circuit board  32  for restricting removal of the connector  50  once installed on the circuit board  32 . The second leg portion  80  of the spring clip  72  has a contact portion  83  that is generally bowed inwardly towards the first leg portion  78  for engaging the circuit board  32 . A distal end  84  of the second leg portion  80  is flared outwardly away from the first leg portion  78 . It will be appreciated that the first leg portion  78  and/or second leg portion  80  can also be configured to engage an electrical contact on the circuit board  32 , with the second leg portion  80  generally applying the spring force. In the illustrated embodiment, the first leg portion  78  of each spring clip  72  is configured to engage electrical contacts  64 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 12-14 , the connector  50  is illustrated installed on the circuit board  32 . Similar to the previously described embodiment, the circuit board  32  includes a U-shape notch  62  for receiving the connector  50 . A reinforcing element  90  ( FIG. 14 ) is provided on the circuit board bounding the edge of the slot  62  for reinforcing the circuit board  32  and/or preventing abrasion of the circuit board  32  by the spring clips  72 . The electrical contacts  64  in this embodiment are provided on the top side of the circuit board  32  in a position for engagement by the spring clips  72 . The electrical contacts  64  could also be provided on the underside of the circuit board  32  for engagement by the second legs  80  of the spring clips  72   
   In  FIG. 13 , the compression connector  50  is installed on the circuit board  32  with respective edges of the circuit board  32  being received within the spring clips  72 . As will be appreciated, respective opposite sides of the circuit board  32  are engaged by the first and second legs of the respective spring clips  72  such that the contact portions  83  of the spring clips  72  are in electrical contact with the contacts  64  on the circuit board  32  and respective protrusions  82  on the first leg portions  78  are received in mating recesses  88  in the circuit board  32  thereby restricting unintentional removal and/or separation of the connector  50  relative to the circuit board  32 . It will now be appreciated that the compression connector  50  both electrically and mechanically couples the speaker  20  to the circuit board  34 . 
   In this embodiment the protrusions  82  generally make the mechanical connection between the circuit board  32  and the connector  50  more secure. It will be appreciated that similar cooperating protrusions and recesses could be implemented in the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-7 . For example, each slot  56  could include one or more recesses or protrusions for mating with cooperating recesses or protrusions on the circuit board  32 . 
   It will now be appreciated that the compression connector  50  in  FIGS. 8-11  also serves to both electrically and mechanically couple the speaker  20  to the circuit board  32 . Although the compression connector  50 , once installed in an electronic device such as phone  10 , does not rely on the housing  18  for maintaining the compression connection, the housing  18  can still function to secure the compression connector  50  in place on the circuit board  32 . The compression connector  50 , by engaging opposing sides of the circuit board  32  to maintain the compression connection rather than surfaces of the housing  18 , avoids stressing or otherwise applying a force to the external housing  18  of an electronic device. 
   Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.