CIRCUIT BOARD CLIP CONNECTOR

Abstract: A clip connector (10) includes an elongate main body (11), attachment arms (13) extending from the main body (11), and protrusions (14) for applying pressure extending from the main body (11). The attachment arms (13) are each arranged at one end of the main body (11) and intermediate the attachment arms (13) are a plurality of protrusions (14) for creating pressure points having spaces therebetween and adapted to be aligned with electrical conductors so that pressure is applied to the electrical conductors and electrical connections can be made.

Description: CIRCUIT BOARD CLIP CONNECTOR This invention relates to forming electrical connections . It is known to connect printed copper conductors formed on a substrate with other electrical conductors. Prior technology used a connector which was attached to the circuit board or a moulded interconnect device. Also, it is known to connect electrical components such as capacitors, integrated circuits and resistors to electrical conductor runs on a substrate. Such connections can be made using heat and solder. There are disadvantages to using heat and solder because of the time, cost, and possible damage to components that such a procedure may cause. It also known to use mechanical compression to form electrical connections. However, with mechanical compression there is the difficulty of providing a uniform force and insuring that there is sufficient pressure to make the electrical connection and have it reliably function under various operating conditions such as vibration and temperature changes. It would be desirable to have a mechanical connection which provides sufficient pressure in a form which is easily assembled and provides a reliable compression force. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clip connector that includes an elongate main body; attachment means extending from the main body for connecting the clip connector to a circuit board; and longitudinally spaced protrusions for applying pressure extending from the main body, thereby applying pressure at regions where electrical connection is desired and eliminating the need for conventional flex connections or for soldering to substrates. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical connection assembly including a clip connector having an elongate body with attachment means, alignment means, and pressure points extending from the elongate body in the same direction as the attachment means; a flexible circuit having a first shape with parallel stripes of conductor; a circuit board having a second shape with parallel stripes of conductor, the conductors on the circuit board being aligned with the conductors on the flexible circuit and being aligned with the pressure points on the clip connector, said first and second shapes being adapted to generally conform to each other; said clip connector having a shape suitable for applying pressure between the flexible circuit and the circuit board; and said circuit board further including openings for receiving the attachment means from the clip connector and said flexible circuit and said circuit board having aligned openings for receiving alignment pins extending from the clip connector. The clip connector of the preferred embodiment of the invention eliminates the need for a conventional connector and its associated cost. In many cases, for example, a clip connector can be moulded as part of a larger plastic assembly and there would be substantially no incremental cost for the snap latch when moulded from vestige. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a clip connector in accordance with an embodiment to this invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a flexible circuit with electrical conductors for receiving the clip connector; Figure 3 is a side view of the clip connector and receiving substrate in an unmated condition; Figure 4 is a side view of the clip connector and the substrate in a mated condition; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the clip connector and receiving substrate in an unmated condition. Referring to Figure 1, a snap latch 10 includes an elongate main body 11 having at each end a guide pin 12 and a latching arm 13. Along main body 11 on the same side as guide pins 12 are a plurality of pressure points 14 which are sufficiently rigid to apply pressure to an electrical conductor to insure an electrical connection. The distance between the ends of main body 11 is advantageously less than 15 cms (6 inches) so that a substantially uniform pressure is applied along the length of main body 11. Main body 11 need not be planar and can include a curvilinear portion. Such a curvilinear portion would be adapted to mate with conductors mounted on a similar curvilinear surface. Referring to Figure 2, a flexible circuit 20 has a plurality of electrical conductors 21 positioned to be aligned with pressure points 14. Guide holes 22 are positioned at either end of the plurality of electrical conductors 21 and receive guide pins 12. The edge of flexible substrate 20 is such that latches 13 can snap around it and secure latch 10 to circuit 20. Advantageously, the spacing between latches 13 is sufficiently small so that main body 11 does not flex to the point where insufficient pressure is applied by pressure points 14 to conductors 21. A typical material for clamp 10 is an engineering thermoplastic polymer, such as, but not limited to, acrylonitrite-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) , polypropylene, polystyrene, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, or a thermosetting polymer, such as, but not limited to phenol-formaldehyde, polyurethane, or epoxy. All such systems may employ filler materials to advantageously increase modulus of the materials and decrease susceptibility to creep. Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, clip connector 10 is attached to a circuit board 30 which has pressure clip receiving openings 31 for receiving pressure latch clips 13. Circuit board 30 also has a pair of spaced alignment openings 32 for receiving alignment pin 12 as it passes through alignment opening 22 of the flex circuit 20. The copper conductors 21 of flex circuit 20 are aligned with copper conductors 33 of circuit board 30 and also with pressure points 14 of clip connector 10. As a result, a quick efficient assembly procedure can be used to produce reliable electrical connections without the use of heat . Advantageously, the spacing of the clip connector 10 when seated and circuit board 30 is such that there is in the preferred case, approximately 5-100 psi of pressure applied by pressure points 14 to conductors 21 of flex circuit 20 and conductors 33 of circuit board 30.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A clip connector including : an elongate main body (11) ; attachment means (13) extending from the main body for connecting the clip connector (10) to a circuit board (30) ; and longitudinally spaced protrusions (14) for applying pressure extending from the main body (11) , thereby applying pressure at regions where electrical connection is desired and eliminating the need for conventional flex connections or for soldering to substrates. 2. A clip connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means (13) include clips at each end of the main body (11) . 3. An electrical connection assembly including: a clip connector (10) having an elongate body (11) with attachment means (13) , alignment means (12) , and pressure points (14) extending from the elongate body in the same direction as the attachment means (13) ; a flexible circuit (20) having a first shape with parallel stripes of conductor; a circuit board (30) having a second shape with parallel stripes of conductor, the conductors on the circuit board (30) being aligned with the conductors on the flexible circuit (20) and being aligned with the pressure points (14) on the clip connector (10) , said first and second shapes being adapted to generally conform to each other; said clip connector (10) having a shape suitable for applying pressure between the flexible circuit (20) and the circuit board (30) ; and said circuit board (30) further including openings (31) for receiving the attachment means (13) from the clip connector (10) and said flexible circuit (20) and said circuit board (30) having aligned openings (22,32) for receiving alignment pins (12) extending from the clip connector (10) . 4. An electrical connection assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pressure points (14) act to concentrate the pressure from the attachment means (13) and the distance between the attachment means (13) is advantageously less than about 15 cms (6 inches) in order to reduce the effects of creep. 5. An electrical connection assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clip connector (10) is integrally moulded with the circuit board (30) thus eliminating the need for a connector housing.

Inventors: GLOVATSKY ANDREW Z, SINKUNAS PETER J, TODD MICHAEL P, GLOVATSKY, ANDREW, Z., SINKUNAS, PETER, J., TODD, MICHAEL, P.
Applicants: FORD MOTOR CANADA, FORD MOTOR CO, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, FORD MOTOR COMPANY OF CANADA LIMITED
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R9
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R12, H05K1, H05K3