Electrical connector system

Abstract: The electrical connector system (10) is for electrically connecting circuits on a backplane and daughtercard. More particularly, the connector system (10) includes two mating connectors (12,14) having engaging conductive contacts (18,40) for carrying signals, power and providing ground reference planes as required. One connector (12) is mounted on the backplane and the other (14) is mounted on the daughtercard so that the circuits thereon are electrically connected upon mating the two connectors (12,14).

Description: This invention relates to a connector system for electrically interconnecting circuits on a backplane and on a daughter card. Backplanes provide both a physical support for and circuitry to electrically interconnect a number of daughter cards having electronic components mounted thereon. Of the several ways of mounting daughter cards on a backplane, a two-piece, multiple-contact connector system offers advantages not otherwise available. One such system is made and sold by AMP Incorporated of Harrisburg, PA, under the Trademark "AMP HDI Two Piece PC Board Connector". One connector, the "pin header", is plugged into or otherwise attached to the backplane and the mating second connector, the "receptacle", is plugged into or otherwise attached to the daughter card. When the two connectors are removably joined or mated, circuits on the backplane and daughter card are electrically connected through the engaging contacts in the joined connectors. As disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,655,518, a two-piece connector was modified by providing grounding contacts along the plastic sidewalls of the respective connectors. The contacts in the pin header are positioned in recesses in an inside surface of a sidewall with the contact portion thereof; i.e., a convex-shaped, single resilient beam, facing inwardly towards the signal pins positioned between the sidewalls. The ground contacts in the receptacle were placed along the outside surface of a sidewall so that they would slidingly engage the resilient beams in the pin header when the connectors were joined. The normal force between the engaged ground contacts is obtained by the beam being pushed against the sidewall. As is well known, plastic under compression tends to soften in warm environments and the sidewall loses some of its ability adequately to support the beams. Thus, the normal force drops off, reducing the ability of the engaging contacts to transmit electrical current therethrough. accordingly, it is now proposed to provide a connector system of the type described above, wherein the normal forces between all the contacts are achieved from the structure of the contacts themselves and do not rely on the plastic sidewalls. The present invention consists in an electrical connector system for electrically connecting circuits between a backplane and a daughtercard comprising a first connector comprising a dielectric housing with an open cavity defined by side walls, and a plurality of conductive contacts retained in said housing and arranged in rows parallel to said side walls, said contacts having leads extending outwardly from said housing for electrically engaging circuits on the backplane and posts extending into said cavity with the posts of the outermost rows of contacts being spaced inwardly from said side walls; and a second connector comprising a dielectric housing and a plurality of conductive contacts having receptacles which receive and compressively grip said posts when said second connector is inserted into said cavity in said first connector and leads which extend from said receptacles for electrically engaging circuits on a daughtercard; characterised by passages through the second connector housing receiving some of the contacts of the second connector and slots in outside surfaces of respective sidewalls of the second connector housing receiving others of said contacts. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the electrical connector system of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the connector system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a contact of one of the connectors of the connector system; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of two joined connectors of the connector system; and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of one of the connectors of the connector system. As shown in Figure 1, electrical connector system (10) of the present invention include first connector 12; i.e., a "pin header", and a second connector 14; i.e., a "receptacle". First connector 12 includes a dielectric housing 16 and a plurality of conductive contacts 18, hereinafter referred to as ground pins 18a, power pins 18b and signal pins 18c. Housing 16 is preferably molded from a polyester plastic; e.g., such as sold by the General Electric Company under the trademark "VALOX". Structurally, housing 16 includes base 20, sidewalls 22a and b, and end walls (not shown), all of which cooperate to define upwardly open cavity 24. Base 20 is provided with several passages 26 extending normally therethrough and opening out into cavity 24 and oppositely facing surface 28. Disposed in passages 26 are the aforementioned pins 18 which include posts 30 projecting into cavity 24, retention sections 32 which retain pins 18 in passages 26 and leads 34 which extend outwardly from surface 28 for receipt in respective holes in a backplane (not shown). In the embodiment shown, pins 18 are arranged in rows of six extending across the width of cavity 24 and columns extending along the length of cavity 24. Pins 18a, located adjacent sidewall 22a, generally are used as ground reference paths. Pins 18b, located adjacent sidewall 22b, generally are used to carry power. Pins 18c, located between pins 18a and b, generally carry signals. However, as is well known, any pin 18 can be assigned anyone of the three functions as conditions and circuit layouts require. Pins 18 are preferably stamped and formed from a suitable conductive metal such as phosphor bronze. Second connector 14 includes housing 38 and a plurality of conductive contacts 40a, 40b and 40c (collectively 40). Housing 38, preferably molded from the aforementioned polyester plastic, includes a plurality of passages 42 which open onto front mating surface 44. Slots 46 are provided in each outer surface of sidewalls 48a and 48b (collectively 48). Passages 42 and slots 46 are on the same pattern defined by passages 26 of first connector 12. As shown in Figure 2, passages 42 extend towards rear surface 50 of housing 38 where they are defined by transverse walls 52, and partitions 54a, b and c (collectively 54) as well as by sidewalls 48a, b. Sidewalls 48a, b and partitions 54a, b, c increase in length from front surface 44 towards rear surface 50. Each passage 42 opens onto surface 50 and to space 58 between sidewall 48a and surface 50. Contacts 40, more clearly shown in Figure 3, include a receptacle 60 and, extending rearwardly therefrom, a lead 62 which may be reduced in size at its free end 64. Ground contacts 40a mate with pins 18a when connectors 12 and 14 are joined and are located in slots 46 in sidewalls 48a. Contacts 40b are located in slots 46 in sidewall 48b and mate with pins 18b. Contacts 40c, located in passages 42, mate with pins 18c. Leads 62 extend outwardly through space 58 for insertion into holes in a daughter card (not shown). In assembling connector 14, contacts 40a, b and c are loaded into slots 46 and passages 42 respectively from rear surface 50 with leads 62 already bent ninety degrees. In the alternative, contacts 40 are loaded into housing 38 with leads 62 straight and which are then bent over the terminal ends of sidewall 48a and partitions 54a, b, c. Contacts 40 are retained in slots 46 and passages 42 in any one of well known methods of retention. Contacts 40 are preferably stamped and formed with the material being phosphor bronze or the like. In use, first connector 12 is mounted on a backplane (not shown) with leads 34 on pins 18 being inserted into holes therein. Alternatively, modified leads (not shown) could be soldered onto circuit pads (not shown) on the backplane. Second connector 14 is mounted onto a daughter card (not shown) with leads 62 on contacts 40 being inserted into holes therein. As is well known in the art, leads 34 and 62 electrically contact circuits on and within the backplane and card respectively. Thus, upon inserting connector 14 into cavity 24 of connector 12 as shown in Figure 4, posts 30 of pins 18 enter receptacles 60 of contacts 40 to electrically connect the aforementioned circuits. The positive gripping action by the beams on receptacles 60 result in high normal forces being directly imposed on posts 30 and thus the normal force is not dependent on outside agents. Further, misalignment problems, particularly between pins 18a,b and contacts 40a,b, are avoided. As shown in Figure 4, the contacting point between all receptacles 60 and posts 30 in mated connectors 12,14 is near the floor of cavity 24 and accordingly are well shielded from the environment by sidewalls 22a,b of connector 12. As shown in Figure 2, leads 62 on contacts 40 are bent ninety degrees to extend out through space 58. Figure 5 discloses second connector 114 wherein sidewalls 148 and partitions 154 terminate rearwardly at the same distance from front surface 144. Further, except for ground contact 140a and the first signal contact 140c on the right hand side, leads 162 are bent at points A and B with each bend being approximately forty five degrees. This configuration reduces the length of the leads between the receptacles 160 and the daughtercard and provides the following positive results: Inductance and resistance are lower, resistance and path lengths between rows are more uniform, there is less skewing of signals and the need to de-rate current-carrying capabilities when paralleling contacts is lessened. As can be discerned, an electrical connector system has been disclosed for electrically connecting circuits on a backplane and on a daugthercard. The connector system includes a first connector having contact posts extending into an open cavity and a second connector having contact receptacles positioned in passages and in slots on the outwardly facing surface of one or both sidewalls. With the first connector mounted on a backplane and the second connector mounted in a daughtercard, circuits are electrically connected through the engaging posts and receptacles upon inserting the second connector into the cavity in the first connector. Signal integrity can be maintained by some of the contacts being connected to ground reference circuits as is well known.

Claims: An electrical connector system (10) for electrically connecting circuits between a backplane and a daughtercard, comprising a first connector (12) comprising a dielectric housing (16) with an open cavity (24) defined by side walls (22a,22b), and a plurality of conductive contacts (18) retained in said housing (16) and arranged in rows parallel to said side walls (22a,22b), said contacts (18) having leads (34) extending outwardly from said housing for electrically engaging circuits on the backplane and posts (30) extending into said cavity (24) with the posts (30) of the outermost rows of contacts (18a,18b) being spaced inwardly from said side walls (22a,22b); and a second connector (14) comprising a dielectric housing (38) and a plurality of conductive contacts (48) having receptacles (60) which receive and compressively grip said posts (30) when said second connector (14) is inserted into said cavity (24) in said first connector (12) and leads (62) which extend from said receptacles (60) for electrically engaging circuits on a daughtercard; characterised by passages (42) through the second connector housing (38)receiving some of the contacts (40c) of the second connector and slots (46) in outside surfaces of respective sidewalls (48a,48b) of the second connector housing receiving others of said contacts (40a,40b). An electrical connector system (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the leads (62) of the contacts (40) in the second connector (14) are doubly bent to extend outwardly from a side of the second connector housing (38) with each bend being approximately forty five degrees.

Inventors: THUMMA MARK RICHARD, THUMMA, MARK RICHARD
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: H01R23