Electrical connector having a suppression device

Abstract: An airbag connector (100) includes an insulating housing (104) having a plurality of electrical terminals (2) where the terminals (2) include mating sections (4) and wire terminating sections (6), where the wire terminating sections (6) form a right angle with respect to the mating sections (4). The terminals (2) further include a lead receiving slot (32) for a suppression device (106), such as a capacitor or resistor. A housing (104) is T-shaped in cross-section to receive the suppression device (106) and wire terminating section (6) in arm sections (117, 120) of the T-shaped housing, with the mating contact portions (4) being positioned in the section (110) of the T-shaped housing (104). The housing can be directly connected with an igniter (140) and has a shunt (162) which shunts the igniter pins (142) when in the unmated version.

Description: This invention relates to an electrical connector for use with an airbag igniter system, in accordance with the preamble of claims 1, 8 and 9. In US-A-4,113,340 a protective device is described. The device includes a two-piece dielectric body composed of substantially identical sections which is designed to accept an electrical component associated with spaced contacts adapted to accept a variety of predetermined spacings of the terminals through end ports in the body. The device can serve as a surge protector in telephonic circuits dependent upon the type of electrical component utilized and is readily installed by finger pressure while maintaining a low profile to prevent accidental dislodgment. It is sometimes required to provide an electrical connector for the connection of two electrical conductors, for example electrical leads, with means for the interposition between the conductors of an electrical suppression device, for example a resistor, or a capacitor. For example in an airbag igniter system, where the electrical connection is made with the igniter, a suppression device is sometimes placed between adjacent terminals to suppress the signal of the igniter. Typically these igniters include a suppression device which is soldered between adjacent contacts which increases the cost of the manufacturing of the product, as well as the reliability of the connection. Typically such connections also include a shunting feature, which shunts between adjacent contacts when in a disconnected mode, whereby the connection of the two connectors breaks the shunt allowing the connection with the igniter. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection system having the above mentioned features where the suppression device and wires to be connected are all assemblable to the connector using automatic tooling. The objects of the invention were accomplished by providing an electrical connector assembly as defined in claims 1 and 9 and an electrical connector as defined in claim 8. The preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing Figures, whereby; Figure 1 is a side view of an assembled electrical terminal for use in the airbag connector; Figure 2 is a top view of the terminal shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view similar to that of Figure 1 without the outer spring attached; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view through lines 4-4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through lines 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view through lines 6-6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, showing the terminal in a right angle configuration; Figure 8 is an end view of the terminal shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an upper plan view of an igniter connector and housing cover shown in an unassembled manner; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view through lines 10-10 of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of a mating housing connected to the pins of the igniter; Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figures 10 and 11, showing the connector of Figure 10 in a partially connected configuration with the housing of Figure 11; Figure 13 shows the two connectors in a fully mated condition; and Figure 14 shows a diagrammatical view of the manner in which the connector is electrically wired. With reference first to Figure 12, an electrical airbag connector includes a housing member 100 carrying terminals 2, and a housing portion 150 which surrounds the igniter pins 142. With reference now to Figure 1, the electrical terminal is shown generally at 2 including a front contacting section 4 and a wire terminating section 6. As shown best in Figure 3, the inner contact section is shown as a box shaped receptacle at 8 having an overlying outer spring 10 (Figure 1) in surrounding relationship. As shown best in Figure 3, the inner terminal includes a lower base section 12 which runs the substantial length of the terminal having a hinge section at 13 which carries the wire connection section 6. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the wire connecting section 6 is shown as an insulation displacement type slot, although a wire terminating section such as an F-crimp or similar connection could also be incorporated. Two side walls 14 and 16 upstanding from the base portion 12, as best shown in Figure 5. As also shown in Figure 5, a top wall portion 18 extends from the side wall portion 16 and is bent at a right angle relative to the side wall portion to form a substantially closed box. Each of the wall portions 12, and 14-18 extend forwardly and are constricted at 20 to form contact sections 22-28 respectively. A wire receiving slot section is shown at 30 which is profiled to receive a suppression device in the slot 32. This section 30 is profiled by upstanding wall sections 34 and 36 extending upwardly integral with respective wall sections 14 and 16. This section 30 also includes top cover portions 38 and 40, extending from respective extended wall portions 34 and 36 as best shown in Figures 2 and 6. Along the front edges 42 and 44 of respective wall portions 34 and 36 are located lead-in openings 48 for the slots 32. With respect now to Figures 1 and 2, the outer spring 10 will be described in greater detail. The outer spring 10 comprises a lower base portion at 52 which lies substantially adjacent to lower base 12 of the inner contact portion and has side wall portions 54 and 56 which lie substantially adjacent to respective side wall portions 14 and 16 of the inner contact. The outer spring member 10 further includes top wall portions 58 and 60 (Figure 2) adjacent to the front end of the terminal which are folded over to lie substantially adjacent to the top wall portion 18 of the inner contact. These top wall cover portions 58 and 60 include integral tabs 62 and 64 which extend from longitudinal seams 66 and 68, respectively. These tab portions 62 and 64 extend upwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 4 and are either welded or soldered together to fix the top wall portions 58 and 60 to hold them in a closed condition. The outer spring member 10 further includes rear top wall portions 70 and 72 which further include upstanding tab portions at 74 and 76. The top wall sections 78 and 80 which are intermediate the top wall portions 58, 70; 60 and 72 respectively are separated from the side walls and along a rear edge thereby forming two discrete rearwardly facing locking lances, as best shown in Figures 2 and 5. As best shown in Figure 5, the tab portions 62 and 64 define a central polarizing rib where the locking lances 78 and 80 are positioned on opposite sides of the rib. The outer spring is also held to the contact member by way of tab portions 90 and 92 being clinched to the side walls 14 and 16 over an edge 94 formed in an opening 96 (Figure 3). As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the terminal 2 is rotatable about the hinge web 14, to position the terminal into a right angle configuration. With respect now to Figure 9, the airbag connector is shown generally at 100 having a cover 102 where the connector 100 is generally comprised of an insulating housing 104, a plurality of the electrical terminals 2, a suppression device at 106, such as a resistor or capacitor, and electrical cable at 108. As shown best in Figure 10, as the electrical terminal 2 is bendable about the web 14, the terminal 2 can be positioned in the housing 104 with the front mating portion 4 positioned in a front cavity section 110 of the housing, having a pin receiving opening 112 leading into the contact section 4. The housing 104 also includes a nest at 116 for receiving the suppression device 106. As shown in Figure 9, the device 106 includes electrical leads 118a, 118b which are electrically connected to the slots 32 on two of the electrical terminals 2. The housing 104 further includes wire locating slots 119a, 119b for locating the leads 118a, 118b of the suppression device 106, as shown in Figure 9. As shown in Figure 10, the housing 104 includes a rear section 113 which can receive the box shaped section 130, which is in communication with the slots 119a and 119b. A housing portion 120 extends from one side of the housing 104 for receiving the wire connecting sections 6 of the electrical terminals 2. It should be appreciated that the housing is somewhat T-shaped in a cross section having oppositely directed parallel arm portions 117 and 120, and a perpendicular section 110. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the cover 102 has an upper cover plate at 124 and latching arms such as 126, 128, and retention arms at 130 for maintaining the suppression device in place, having a circular surface 132 for engaging against the cylindrical suppression device 106. With respect now to Figure 11, an igniter for an airbag is shown generally at 140 which includes pin terminals at 142. A mating housing portion is shown at 150 including an outer shroud 152 for receiving the connector housing 104 and includes apertures at 154 for mating with latching arms 156 (Figure 9) on the main housing. The housing 150 includes a cavity at 160 for holding a shunt spring 162 where the shunt spring 162 includes a base portion 164, a contact arm 166 having a cantilever spring beam 168 for contact against the pins 142 when in the unmated condition. The housing 150 further includes a cavity 170 for receiving the connector 100, and as shown in Figure 12 the connector 100 begins to mate with the housing portion 150, but where the shunt member 162 is still in engagement with the pin portions 142. It should be noted that a front edge 165 of the housing engages the cantilever spring portion 168 in Figure 10, and as shown in Figure 13 has moved the shunt spring away from the pin terminals 142 when in the fully mated condition. When in the fully mated condition, the latch arms 156 carrying latching elements 157 towards the ends, are positioned in the apertures 154 (Figure 11 maintaining the two in a fully mated condition). As shown in figure 14, the electrical connector 100 includes three terminals 2a, 2b, and 2c where the suppression device 106 has a lead 118a terminated to the slot 32 of terminal 2a. The opposite lead 118c is terminated to the slot 32 of the terminal 2c. The terminal 2a is not terminated to a lead, such as 108b or 108c, whereas the terminal 2c has no mating contact section. Thus the serial signal connection is from pin 142a to contact 4a, through the suppression device 106, to the lead 108c, to the lead 108b, and back to the igniter pin 142b. It should be appreciated that the suppression device may be positioned within the corresponding nest 116 with the leads 118a, 118b in the corresponding slots 119a, 119b, and the terminals 2 can be pushed into their housing 104, such that the leads are then terminated in the corresponding slots 32. With the cover 102 in place, the suppression device 106 is held in place by the members 130 on the cover 102, while the leads are held in their corresponding slots 32 by a projection 113 on the housing 104.

Claims: An electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical connector (100) having a suppression device (106) electrically connected between a pair of terminals (2a,2c) in a housing (104), said housing (104) having a receiving section (116) for the suppression device (106) and said suppression device (106) having a pair of leads (118a,118b) extending therefrom, characterized in that the electrical terminals (2a,2c) connecting the leads (118a,118b) of said suppression device (106) have a contacting section (4) for engaging a terminal (142a, 142b) of a mating device, a wire termination section (6) for electrically engaging a conductive lead (108c,108b) and a wire receiving slot (32), where the leads (118a,118b) of the suppression device (106) are terminated, and in that a third terminal (26) is part of the connector and has a contacting section (4b) and a wire termination section (6) wherein a conductive lead (108b,108c) is electrically connected to said third terminal (2b) and another conductive lead (108b, 108c) is electrically connected to one (2c) of the first and second terminals (2a,2c), and a first terminal (142b) of said mating device is connected to the contacting section (4b) of the third terminal (2b), and a second terminal (142a) of said mating device is connected to the contacting section (4a) of the other (2a) of said first and second terminals (2a,2c). The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the wire receiving slot (32) is positioned intermediate to said contacting section (4) and wire termination section (6). The electrical connector assembly of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminals (2) are formed at a right angle, being bent behind the additional wire receiving slot (32). The electrical connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional wire receiving slot (32) is formed in a box-shaped section (30) of the terminal, rearward of the front contact section (4). The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, characterized in that said housing (104) is T-shaped in cross section, comprised of arm members (117, 120) with a perpendicular member (110), wherein the terminal receiving passageways (112) are located in the perpendicular member (110). The electrical connector assembly of claim 5, characterized in that the wire terminating section (6) is formed at a right angle behind said additional wire receiving slot (32), said wire termination sections (6) being positioned on a base of one of said arm members (120). The electrical connector assembly of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opposite arm member (117) of the housing (104) includes a suppression device receiving nest (116). An electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical connector (100) having a suppression device (106) electrically connected between a pair of terminals (2a,2c) in a housing (104) said housing (104) having a receiving section (116) for the suppression device (106) and said suppression device (106) having a pair of leads (118a,118b) extending therefrom, the connector (100) being characterized in a first electrical terminal (2a) having a contacting section (4a) for engaging a terminal (142a) of the mating device and a wire receiving slot (32) for electrically engaging one of the leads (118a) of the suppression device (106) a second electrical terminal (2b) having a wire termination section for engaging a conductive lead (108c) and a contacting section (4b) for engaging a further terminal (142b) of a mating device and a third electrical terminal (2c) having a wire termination section for engaging a further conductive lead (108c) and an wire receiving slot for electrically. engaging the other of the leads (118a) of the suppression device (106), wherein a conducting lead (108c,108b) is electrically connected to said third terminal (2c) and another conducting lead (108c, 108b) is electrically connected to said second terminal (2b), and a first terminal (142b) of said mating device is connectable to the contacting section (4b) of the second terminal (2b), and a second terminal (142a) of said mating device is connectable to the contacting section (4a) of the other (2a) of said first and second terminals (2a, 2b). An electrical connector assembly comprising an electrical connector (100) for a serial signal connection having a suppression device (106) electrically connected between a pair of terminals (2) in a housing (104), said housing (104) having a receiving section (116) for the suppression device (106) and said suppression device (106) having a pair of leads (118a,118b) extending therefrom, the connector (100) being characterized in that the electrical terminals (2a,2c) connecting the leads (118a,118b) of said suppression device (106) have a contacting section (4a) for engaging a terminal (142a, 142b) of a mating device, a wire termination section (6) for electrically engaging a conductive lead (108c,108b) and an additional wire receiving slot (32), where the leads (118a,118b) of the suppression device (106) are terminated further characterized in having a third electrical terminal (2b) with a contacting section (4b) and a wire terminating section, the serial signal connection being from the first terminal (142a) of the mating device to the contacting section (4a) of the first electrical terminal (2a), through the suppression device (106) to the second terminal (2c), to a first of the conductive leads (108c), to a second of the conductive leads (108b), to the third terminal (2b) and to the second terminal (142b) of the mating device.

Inventors: HOTEA GHEORGHE, JETTER ROLF, WILKNER ANDREAS, HOTEA, GHEORGHE, JETTER, ROLF, WILKNER, ANDREAS
Applicants: WHITAKER CORP, THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R4