Abstract:
An electrical connector interconnecting a microphone to another conductive member includes an insulating body. The insulating body defines an internal receptacle having a shape for receipt of a microphone therein. An outer surface of the body is configured for disposition adjacent an conductive member, for example a circuit board, to which the microphone is to be electrically connected. A pair of connector elements are configured with the body. Each connector elements includes a first contact foot extending beyond the outer surface for electrical contact with the conductive member, and a second contact foot extending into the receptacle for electrical contact with the microphone. The receptacle generally encases at least a portion of the microphone for maintaining proper relative position between the microphone and insulating body to ensure electrical contact between the connector, microphone, and the conductive member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to electrical connectors in general, and more particularly to a low profile electrical connector used to interconnect a microphone to an adjacent electronic component, such as a circuit board, in a stacked configuration. 
     Prior art methods and devices are known for interconnecting electronic assemblies, particularly circuit boards and the like. Such methods and devices are also typically used to connect relatively small microphones to adjacent electronic components, particularly circuit boards. 
     With present-day electronic components, particularly assemblies used in cellular phones and the like, a concern with conventional methods and devices for interconnecting microphones to their respective associated electronic components is the limited space for such connections and assembled components. In order to reduce the overall size of the end product, it is desirable to vertically “stack” the components when possible. However, when the electronic components, including microphones, are arranged in a vertical or stacked arrangement, it is extremely difficult to solder or connect the terminals or connectors between adjacent components without bridging adjacent terminals with solder. Also, it is extremely difficult to maintain and ensure the correct relative position between the components both during the manufacturing process and in subsequent use of the end product. The soldering process is also a time consuming and difficult task. 
     Suggestions and improvements have been made in the art of electrical connectors, particularly connectors for use in a stacked configuration of circuit boards. For example, the European Patent Specification Publication No. 0463487 published on Jan. 2, 1992 and the PCT Application No. WO 97/02631 disclose types of electrical connectors for connecting adjacent stacked circuit boards. U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,016 and the European Patent Specification No. 0346206 also disclose other types of printed circuit board connectors. These prior art devices, however, are generally unsuited for connecting a microphone to an adjacent stacked electronic component. 
     The present invention provides an improved connector particularly suited for connecting a microphone and adjacent conductive member or electronic component in a stacked configuration. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved electrical connector particularly suited for interconnecting a microphone to an adjacent conductive member or electronic component in a stacked configuration. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector for interconnecting a microphone and adjacent component wherein the connector has a minimum height so as to interconnect the components in a stacked configuration with a minimal separation distance therebetween. 
     Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In accordance with the objects and purposes of the invention, an electrical connector is provided for interconnecting a microphone to another conductive member or electronic component, for example a circuit board, in a stacked configuration. The connector includes an insulating body. The body defines an internal receptacle or space having a shape for receipt of a microphone therein. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the insulating body may comprise a generally cylindrical closed-end configuration having a top member at the closed-end and generally cylindrical side walls defining the microphone receptacle. It should be appreciated that the insulating body can have any manner of shape or configuration and still provide an internal receptacle for the microphone. 
     At least one electrical connector element is configured with the insulating body. For example, in the embodiment wherein the insulating body is a closed-end cylindrical component having a top member at the closed-end, the connector element is configured with the top member. The connector element has a first arm with a first contact foot defined thereon disposed relative to an outer or upper surface of the top member for mating contact with the adjacent conductive or electronic component, and a second arm extending through the top member with a second contact foot defined thereon for mating contact with a microphone. In this embodiment, the inner surface of the top member defines the upper boundary or limit of the microphone receptacle and the body is placed generally over the microphone so as to surround at least a portion of the microphone. In this manner, the second contact foot is pressed against a corresponding connection footprint defined on the microphone. 
     In a preferred embodiment, at least a pair of the connector elements are provided with the body member and spaced apart a distance corresponding to complementing connection footprints defined on the microphone and adjacent conductive member. 
     The connector elements can comprise any manner of configuration or shape. In a preferred embodiment, each of the connector elements comprises a generally U-shaped strip member having arm portions with the contact feet defined near the ends of the arm members. The closed-end of the U-shaped member wraps around and is fitted onto a respective leg member defined on the body. For example, the leg members may be defined in the top member and disposed across openings defined through the top member. In this manner, the U-shaped strip member is pressed onto the legs so that a first arm extends above the upper surface of the top member and the second arm extends below the lower surface of the top member and into the microphone receptacle. The arm members may be resilient arms so that electric contact is made between the contact feet and the microphone and conductive member, respectively, by pressure mating contact. In this manner, the arms move towards each other and into a space or opening so as to minimize the separation distance between the stacked components. In their compressed or conductive state, the connector elements lie essentially flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the top member with enough resiliency to maintain contact with the microphone and adjacent conductive member. 
     A principal concern of the present invention is to provide a connector having a minimal height or profile, as mentioned above. In this regard, a preferred embodiment of the microphone connector comprises a height or profile such that the microphone receptacle area has a height corresponding generally to that of the microphone. In this regard, the distance or vertical spacing between the microphone and its adjacent conductive member is essentially the thickness of the top member, particularly when resilient connector elements are utilized. It should be appreciated, however, that the profile height of the connector is not a limitation of the invention. 
     Another important concern in any connector is the attachment of the connector elements to the insulating body. In this regard, the present invention preferably includes a retention device configured between the leg member and the connector elements or strips. The retention device has a configuration so as to engage and retain the closed end of the connector elements around the leg while allowing the connector element to be initially slid onto the leg. In one preferred embodiment, this retention device comprises inclined surfaces disposed on either side of the leg adjacent to the connector element closed-end. The arms of the connector element slide up the inclined surfaces upon the connector element being pressed onto the leg. The arms then drop down once they have cleared the inclined surfaces and may include shoulders that abut against vertical end walls of the inclined surface. The inclined surfaces may be defined on inwardly disposed side wall projections that are adjacent to the leg. Thus, the connector element has a reduced width at the closed-end thereof that corresponds to the width between the facing side wall projections. The side walls may also define grooves in the body member that extend transversely from the leg. The connector element arms may reside at least partially within these grooves. 
     This configuration of a retention device provides for reliable securement of the connector elements to the base body yet results in a relatively simple procedure for pressing the connector elements onto the body. The closed-end of the connector elements is pushed onto the leg wherein at least one of the arms of the connector element slides up inclined surfaces of the retention device until the shoulder portions thereof clear the inclined surface. At this point, the shoulder portions drop into the groove and abut against vertical walls of the inclined surfaces. The reduced width closed-end portion of the connector element then fits securely between the side walls that define the inclined surfaces and wraps around the leg member. 
     The invention will be described in greater detail below through preferred embodiments as illustrated in the attached Figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of a microphone connector according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a top view of a conductive member, particularly a circuit board, having an electrical footprint defined thereon that is to be mated to the connector of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2A is a bottom perspective view of the microphone connector shown in FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2B is a top view of a microphone that is to be mated with the connector of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector shown in FIG. 1A taken along the lines indicated; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional operational view of the microphone connector according to the invention particularly illustrating the connector being mated between the conductive circuit board member and microphone. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations. 
     Electrical connector  10  is illustrated generally in the figures. Connector  10  is particularly suited for interconnecting a microphone  12 , to a vertically stacked adjacent conductive member, such as a circuit board  16 . Referring to FIG. 1B, circuit board  16  comprises an electrical footprint defined thereon. In this instance, the footprint is defined as concentric contact circles  18 . Each of circles  18  will mate with an electrical connector element of connector  10 , as described in greater detail below. Likewise, microphone  12  illustrated in FIG. 2B also contains a contact footprint defined thereon in the configuration of concentric circles  14 . Contact circles  14  will mate with opposite ends of the connector elements of connector  10 , as described below. 
     Connector  10  includes an insulating body, generally  20 . Body  20  defines an internal receptacle  28  having a shape and size for receipt of microphone  12  therein. For example, referring to FIGS.  2 A and  2 B, body  20  has a generally round configuration and receptacle  28  is defined by a cylindrical wall  30 . Cylindrical wall  30  has a depth so as generally to encase the circumference of the round microphone  12 . The height of cylindrical wall  30  is also generally about the same as the height of microphone  12  so that connector  10  does not unnecessarily add to the vertical stacked height of the components. It should be appreciated that the shape or configuration of insulating body  12  is not a limiting feature of the invention. For example, if the microphone is rectangular, square, etc., then insulating body  20  may take on a corresponding shape and define a correspondingly configured receptacle  28 . 
     Insulating body  20  may be defined by a top member  22 . In the embodiment illustrated in the figures wherein insulating body  20  is defined as a generally closed-end cylindrical member, top member  22  defines the closed-end of cylindrical wall  30 . Top member  22  has an outer surface  24  against which the conductive member or circuit board  16  is to be disposed. Likewise, top member  22  includes an inner surface  26 , particularly seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inner surface  26  generally defines the upper boundary of microphone receptacle  28  and is the surface against which microphone  12  is to be disposed against in the electrically mated configuration of the component. 
     Connector  10  also includes at least one connector element, generally  34 . A number of connector elements  34  may be used corresponding to the footprint of the electronic components to be connected. For example, referring to FIGS. 1B and 2B, concentric footprints  18  of circuit board  16  must be connected to concentric footprints  14  of microphone  12 . Accordingly, connector  10  includes two connector elements  34  offset a distance corresponding to the offset of footprints  18 , 14 . Connector elements  14  are preferably formed from a conductive strip material and are configured in a closed-end with extending arm configuration. For example, connector elements  34  may have a U-shape, V-shape, etc. 
     Referring to the figures, connector elements  34  have a closed-end  44  and a first upper arm  36  and second lower arm  40  extending therefrom. A contact foot  38  is defined on first arm  36  and a contact foot  42  is defined on second arm  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the contact feet are defined by turned or bent portions of the arms. It should be appreciated that the contact feet can be defined by any appropriate configuration. For example, the contact feet may be defined by the extreme edge portions of arms  36 , 40  in an embodiment wherein the contact arms are bent so that their extreme edge is outwardly facing. It should also be appreciated that the contact feet may be defined differently on each of the upper and lower arms  36 ,  40 . It should also be appreciated that it is not a requirement of the invention that each of the contact arms  36 ,  40  comprise resilient pressure mount arms. For example, the lower contact arm  40  may comprise a generally rigid arm that is configured for direct surface mounting against the corresponding footprint of microphone  12 . Likewise, upper arm  36  may be configured as a generally rigid arm configured for surface mounting against conductive member  16 . 
     Body member  20  preferably includes leg members  52  configured therein for each connector element  34 . Leg member  52  may be, for example, a transversely extending member co-molded with body member  20 . Leg  52  preferably extends across an opening  58  defined through top member  22 . In this manner, referring particularly to FIG. 3, closed-end  32  of connector element  34  is pushed onto leg member  52  from the side of insulating body  20 . Lower arm  40  extends through opening  58  and into microphone receptacle  28 . Upper arm  36  extends above outer surface  24  of top member  22 . Leg members  52  may be defined between side walls  56 . Side walls  56  also define connector element grooves or spaces corresponding generally to the width of the connector elements, the grooves  54  also define a space into which the connector element arms flex in the embodiment wherein arms  36 ,  40  are resilient contact arms. 
     It is also an important consideration that a device or mechanism be supplied for ensuring that connector elements  34  are retained on body  20 , and particularly on leg members  52 . In this regard, a retention device, generally  62 , is provided. Retention device  62  may comprise a system of engaging surfaces between connector elements  34  and the end or edge of leg members  52 . For example, in one embodiment of cooperating engaging surfaces between body  20  and connector elements  34 , as illustrated in the figures and particularly seen in FIG. 2a, inclined surfaces  64  are defined adjacent the end of legs  52  where closed-ends  32  of connector elements  34  wrap around legs  52 . Inclined surfaces  66  may be defined, for example, on inwardly projecting segments  68  defined on side walls  56 . Inwardly projecting segments  68  include an end wall  66  defined thereon. Inwardly projecting segments  68  may be defined on the bottom of top member  22 , as illustrated in FIG. 2a, or alternatively on the top surface thereof. It may also be preferred to define the segments on both the top and bottom surfaces. A reduced width section is defined between inwardly projecting segments  68  and connector elements  34  thus have a correspondingly reduced width section  46  generally defining closed-end  32 . Connector elements  34  have an increased width section  50  having a width generally corresponding to that between side walls  56 . A shoulder  52  is defined between the increased width section  50  and reduced width section  46 . 
     With the structure of the retention device described herein, it is a relatively simple process to press connector elements  34  onto body  20 , and particularly onto leg member  52 . The closed-end  32  of connector elements  34  is pressed onto the end of leg  52  such that the increased width sections  50  initially slide up inclined surfaces  64 . As connector elements  34  are pushed progressively onto leg  52 , the increased width sections  50  slide past the inwardly projecting segments  68  and drop into the increased width section of grooves  54  defined between side walls  56 . The reduced width section  46  provided at the closed-end  32  of the connector elements  34  falls between the inwardly projecting segments  68 . Shoulders  51  of connector elements  34  slide down end walls  66  of inwardly projecting segments  68 . The applicants have found that this embodiment of a retention device securely and firmly holds connector elements  34  to insulating body  20  without the use of any additional or external attaching devices, molding processes, or the like. 
     The retention device is also described in detail in our co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “Low Profile Electrical Connector” filed on the same day as the present application and claiming priority as a continuation-in-part application from U.S. application Ser. No. 09/232,999 filed on Jan. 19, 1999. Both of these applications are incorporated herein in their entirety for all purposes. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates connector  10  in an operational view as it would be used to electrically connect a circuit board  16  and microphone  12 . Microphone  12  is inserted into receptacle  28  such that footprints  14  mate with contact feet  42  of resilient arms  40 . The mated configuration is illustrated in dashed lines in the figure. It can be seen that microphone  12  resides completely within receptacle  28  and resilient arms  40  move into the grooves or spaces defined between side walls  56  such that the upper surface of microphone  12  is directly adjacent to inner surface  26  of top member  22 . Similarly, circuit board  16  is pressed down against contact feet  38  of resilient arms  36  so as to be disposed directly against outer surface  24  of top member  22 . Accordingly, in the stacked electrically connected configuration of the components, a minimal separation distance is needed between the components and the connectors are held securely on the corresponding footprints of microphone  12  and circuit board  16 . 
     It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, insulating body  20  may take on any manner of configuration and still define and appropriate receptacle for microphone  12 . Likewise, connector element  34  can have various configurations, including relatively rigid surface mount connector arms, alternate contact feet configurations, etc. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations as come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.