Abstract:
An electrical connector comprising a housing having a first surface and a second surface; and a contact secured to the housing. The contact comprises a mounting section connected to the housing and, a first arm and a second arm extending from the mounting section. The mounting section comprises an aperture and a slit through the contact from the aperture and between the first and second arms. The first arm extends towards the first surface and the second arm extends towards the second surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/147,807 filed Aug. 9, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrical connector positioned between a first electrical component and a second electrical component. 
     2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,462,440 discloses an electrical connector having contact fingers in openings of a housing which are bent in different directions. European Patent Application number EP 0906007 describes a multipin connector with a dielectric housing overmolded about a lead frame of contacts. The overmolding step embeds a central portion of each contact within the dielectric housing leaving opposed arms to extend through openings directed towards opposite sides of the housing. While perhaps suitable for the specific application discussed in European Patent Application EP 0906007, the connector described above may not be adequate in other applications, such as high density applications. There is a need for an electrical connector which can be positioned between two opposing electrical components which has a high density and high input/output count contact array. There is a need for such an electrical connector design which provides a short electrical path of contact geometry for good electrical performance and, which short contact geometry can provide a low mated height between the electrical components. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector having a low mated height. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector capable of use high density applications. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector capable of use in high input/output (I/O) count applications. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector with suitable electrical performance characteristics. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector with contacts having a short electrical path. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in one aspect of the present invention by an electrical connector, comprising: a housing having a first surface and a second surface; and a contact secured to the housing and having a first arm and a second arm. The first arm extends towards the second surface. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in another aspect of the present invention by an electrical connector, comprising: a housing including: a first surface; a second surface; and an opening; and a contact residing within the opening, movable within the opening, and including: a first arm extending towards the first surface; and a second arm extending towards the second surface. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the specification and the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of one alternative embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a side view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 a;    
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 a  partially assembled; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 a  partially assembled; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrical connector in FIG. 1 a  partially assembled; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a contact used in the electrical connector in FIG. 1 a;    
     FIG. 6 a  is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of an electrical connector of the present invention in an unmated position; 
     FIG. 6 b  is a cross-sectional view the electrical connector in FIG. 6 a  in a partially mated position; 
     FIG. 6 c  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical connector in FIG. 6 a  in a fully mated position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a contact used in the electrical connector in FIG. 6 a;  and 
     FIGS. 8 a-   8   c  demonstrate various steps in the assembly of another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-5 display a first alternative embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  display an electrical connector  10  which includes a base  11  and contacts  13 . Contacts  13  can be arranged diagonally on base  11 . As illustrated by FIG. 2, contacts  13  are preferably stamped and formed with a carrier strip C made from a suitable conductive material such as a copper alloy. As seen in FIG. 5, each contact  13  preferably has intermediate section or mounting section  25  and dual cantilever arms  15 ,  17  which project from a common edge or side of the mounting section  25 . The mounting section  25  preferably comprises an aperture  27 . The two arms  15 ,  17  extend from the same side of the mounting section  25  in general opposite directions. In this embodiment the contacts  13  each have a general wish-bone shape. However, any suitable shape could be provided. The contacts  13  each preferably include a slit  16  which extends from the aperture  27  between the two arms  15 ,  17 . The contacts  13  are connected to a same side of the carry strip C and are severed from the carry strip C at break point B illustrated in FIG. 2 during assembly with the base  11 . 
     Arms  15 ,  17  extend into opening  19  when base  11  and contacts  13  are assembled to form connector  10 . Arm  15  extends upwardly through opening  19  and past a top face  21  of base  11 , while arm  17  extends downwardly through opening  19  past a bottom face  23  of base  11 . When mating with a first electrical component, such as a land grid array (LGA) package, and a second electrical component, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), arms  15 ,  17  deflect towards base  11 . In other words, connector  10  is a Z-axis connector. The intermediate section  25  resides within base  11 . During assembly of connector  10 , aperture  27  preferably engages a peg  29  extending from a plate  31 . Plate  31  could include a lower conductive shield (not shown). In this embodiment the aperture  27  is about the same size and shape as the peg  29 . However, in alternate embodiments any suitable relationship of sizes and shapes could be provided. Preferably, the mounting section  25  makes an interference fit with the peg  29  in the aperture  27 . This allows the contacts  13  to stay in place during removal of the carry strip C and attachment of the layers  33 ,  35 . However, in alternate embodiments any suitable temporary or intermediate holding means for the contacts could be provided. In order to assist in providing a good intermediate holding, but prevent possible damage in mounting the contacts  13  to the pegs  29 , the slits  16  have been provided. The slits  16  allow the apertures  27  to enlarge slightly during attachment of the mounting sections  25  to the pegs  29 . Thus, the mounting sections  25  can form a compression, friction engagement with the pegs  29 . The pegs  29  could also have a recess (not shown) which the mounting sections  25  snap into. The arms  15 ,  17  are not significantly outwardly deflected to cause interference with their deflectability relative to the base  11 . When the layers  33 ,  35  are attached to layer  31 , the effective spring lengths of the arms  15 ,  17  can be terminated at rear  20  of openings  19  (see FIG.  4 ). Alternatively, the effective spring lengths can be longer if the stationary sandwiching of the contacts  13  is located further back towards the peg  29 . 
     Plate  31 , along with other layers described below, form base  11 . Once securely mounted to posts  29 , contacts  13  can be severed from carrier strip C as shown in FIG.  3 . As seen in FIG. 4, a dielectric layer  33 , such as KAPTON, followed by a conductive shield  35  can then be placed on plate  31  to form base  11 . Other types of materials, along with different arrangements of materials, however, could be used to form base  11 . Preferably, mounting sections  25  of the contacts  13  are rigidly secured to base  11 . Preferably, the top ends of the posts  29  can be used to at least partially connect the dielectric layer  33  and shield  35  to the plate  31 . Mounting section  25  is preferably stationarily captured between the layers  31  and  33 ,  35 . 
     FIGS. 6 a-c  display another alternative embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6 a,  electrical connector  110  includes a base  111  and contacts  113 . Similar to the first embodiment, contacts  113  include dual cantilever beams  115 ,  117  extending past opposite sides of base  111 . Also similar to the first embodiment, intermediate section  125  also includes an aperture  127  that engages a peg  129  on base  111 . Differently, however, than the first embodiment, base  111  does not rigidly support contact  113 . Intermediate section  125  of contact  113  resides within a chamber  137  formed in base  111 . Chamber  137  has a height greater than the thickness of contact  113 . In addition, the diameter of peg  129  is smaller than the diameter of aperture  127 . Thus, contact  113  can move within chamber  137  and about peg  129 . 
     FIG. 6 a  demonstrates connector  110  before mating with LGA component L and PCB P. Typically, intermediate section  125  of contact  113  is generally coplanar with chamber  137  of base  111 . FIG. 6 b  demonstrates connector  110  during initial mating with LGA component L and PCB P. In this condition, contact  113  begins to rotate within chamber  137  and about peg  129  as illustrated by arrow R due to the deflection of contact  113 . This is caused by arm  15  rotating down and arm  17  rotating up in an opposite direction. Intermediate section  125  axially rotates in chamber  137 . During this initial mating, the entire length of contact  113  acts as a spring arm. FIG. 6 c  demonstrates connector  110  fully mated with LGA component L and PCB P. As connector  110  approaches the fully mated position shown in FIG. 6 c,  medial portions  139 ,  141  of contact  113  abut the walls that define chamber  137 . This prevents further rotation of contact  113  within chamber  137  and serves to reduce the effective spring length of contact  113 . The deflection of the arms  15 ,  17  after the medial portions  139 ,  141  contact the walls of the chamber  137  causes the intermediate mounting section  125  to twist as shown. The combination of rotation of the contact and movement of the contact areas  118 ,  120  on the contacts of components L, P from twisting of mounting section  125 , can provide good contact wipe at areas  118 ,  120 . Slit  116  helps to allow sections behind medial portions  139 ,  141  to move relative to each other. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the contact  113 ′ has an enlarged mounting section  125 ′ in order to accommodate an enlarged aperture  127 ′. However, any suitably sized or shaped mounting section or aperture could be provided. 
     FIGS. 8 a-   8   c  demonstrate another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plastic portion  243  could be overmolded around contact  213  while on carrier strip C. As seen in FIG. 8C, once contact  213  and plastic portion  243  are severed from carrier strip C, an upper conductive shield  245 , an upper dielectric layer  247 , a lower conductive shield  249  and a lower dielectric layer  251  are placed on respective pegs  253 . Pegs  253  of the overmolded portion  243  are then, for example, heat staked to retain upper shield  245 , upper dielectric layer  247 , lower shield  249  and lower dielectric layer  251  on plastic portion  243 . Plastic portion  243 , upper shield  245 , upper dielectric layer  247 , lower shield  249  and lower dielectric layer  251  form base  211 . 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may be made to the described embodiment for performing the same function of the present invention without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited to any single embodiment, but rather construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the recitation of the appended claims.