ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN APPARATUSES CONTAINING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY

Abstract: It is shown an electric connector (311) for enabling galvanic contact between a contact pad (313) of a first electric device (300) and a contact pad (331) of a second electric device (307). The connector (311) is mechanically attachable to and detachable from at least the first electric device (300) and comprises a first resilient contact pin (312) connected to a second resilient contact pin. When mechanically attached to at least the first electric device (300), the first resilient contact pin (312) is in abutment with the contact pad (313) of the first electric device (300) and the second resilient contact pin is in abutment with the contact pad (331) of the second electric device (307).

Description: 1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION ARRANGEMENTS RELATING TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN APPARATUSES CONTAINING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to removable electric connector means that enable electric contact between electric devices that are mechanically attachable and detachable from each other. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART The technical evolution, in terms of features such as weight and size, in the field of portable mobile telephone terminals has reached a point where physiognomic considerations must be made. Limitations in terms of size of previous generations of mobile terminals were dictated by the size of the components of the terminal, not least the size of the battery pack. Present day terminals, on the other hand, comprise a small number of highly integrated low-power circuits that easily fit inside a palm-sized unit. In fact the dimensions of the smaller among the recently developed terminals are such that the distance between the loudspeaker and the microphone has become an important design factor. In order to further miniaturize the terminals, while still enabling a proper alignment between the loudspeaker/microphone and the ear/mouth of the user, mechanical solutions such as foldable lids and arms comprising a microphone or a speaker have become commonplace . A problem relating to the foldable and flip-lid equipped terminals, and in fact to any device that comprise electric 2 sub-units that are mechanically separable from each other, is obviously their sensitivity to mechanical abuse. Both in terms of normal every day wear as well as occasional abuse due to carelessness on the side of the user. This problem has led to a requirement of replaceable lids of the terminals and also to a requirement of replaceable connector means between the lid and the device, or between sub-units of devices . A typical example of the state of the art in this respect is disclosed in the European patent application having publication number EP-0720339, where it is disclosed an electronic apparatus having a hinge structure . A removable hinge connector for connecting circuitry of two casing parts of an electronic apparatus comprises an electrically conductive member in the form of a flexible printed circuit board. Electric contact is enabled via PCMCIA connectors at opposite ends of the printed circuit board. The connector disclosed in EP-0720339 forms part of a mechanical connector between the two casing parts of the device. In order to enable rotation of the two casing parts, the connector comprises two separate sleeve parts that rotate relative to each other. The conductive member is located within the sleeve parts and is subject to a bending motion when the sleeve parts rotate. It is hence necessary that the conductive is in the form of a flexible printed circuit board, thus making the connector comprising the circuit board unnecessarily bulky. Moreover, due to the fact that the coupling portions of the connector disclosed in EP-0720339 are in the form of PCMCIA 3 connectors the connector is not suitable in situations where a small physical size is desirable. SUMiΛΑRY OF THE INVENTION In view of prior art as discussed above, a number of problems remain to be solved regarding electric connectors for attachable and detachable lids at portable electrical devices, and in fact regarding connector for any electric device comprising of mechanically separable units. Hence, a first problem solved by the present invention is how to provide a connector that enables reliable galvanic contact between separate electrical units while at the same time be of small size and easy to replace. Another problem solved by the present invention is how to provide an electric connector which enables reliable galvanic contact between mutually rotating electric devices. The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems as stated above . This is in short achieved by providing a connector as well as a portable device comprising a connector which, when attached between two electric units, is in abutment with contact pads of the units . In some more detail, it is shown an electric connector for enabling galvanic contact between a contact pad of a first electric device and a contact pad of a second electric device. The connector is mechanically attachable to and detachable from at least the first electric device and comprises a first resilient contact pin connected to a second resilient contact pin. When mechanically attached to 4 at least the first electric device, the first resilient contact pin is in abutment with the contact pad of the first electric device and the second resilient contact pin is in abutment with the contact pad of the second electric device. It is also shown a portable electric apparatus at which such an electric connector is arranged. An advantage of the present invention is that it is compact and thus easily implemented as an integral part of a hinge structure between two electric devices . Another advantage of the present invention is that, by the fact that that it comprises resilient contact pins, it provides secure galvanic contact between electric devices while at the same time enabling relative motion between two units of an electric device. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an easily replaceable connector for a portable device due to the fact that the device does not have to be interfered with during replacement . BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a connector connecting two electrical devices according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a telephone terminal having a replaceable flip-lid comprising a connector according to the invention. 5 Figure 4a shows a schematic top view of a mobile telephone terminal having a replaceable lid connected to the terminal via a connector according to the invention. Figure 4b shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a lid according to the invention. Figure 4c shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a lid and a housing of a telephone comprising a connector according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODI.MENTS A first preferred embodiment of an electric connector 100 according to the invention is shown in figure 1. A first cross-sectional view 150 and a second cross sectional view 160 corresponding to a cross-section A-A in the first view 150. Within an elongated non-conductive sleeve 107 is a first contact pin 101 and a second contact pin 106 located. The connector 100 galvanically connects a first contact pad 130 of a first electric unit 131 with a second contact pad 140 of a second electric unit 141. The first contact pin 101 is in abutment with the first contact pad 130 of the first electric device 131 and the second contact pin 106 is in abutment with the second contact pad 140 of the second electric device 141. Galvanic contact between the pins 101,106 and respective contact pad 130,140 is ensured by the fact that the pins 101,106 are resilient and hence forced into abutment with the pads 130,140. The electric units 131,141 are not disclosed in any detail and are shown for illustrative purposes only. In fact, the 6 devices 131,141 may be of any type known in the art. Further embodiments described below will contain specific devices such as a mobile telephone. The first contact pin 101, occasionally known in the art as a Pogo-pin, is elongated and has a circular cross-section as seen in the A-A view. The pin 101 is concentrically located in a hollow 110 with a circular cross-section of a conductive pin shell 102. The pin 101 is resilient along a first direction X and hence pressing against the first contact pad 130. The resilience of the first contact pin 101 is accomplished by means of a helical spring 103 which is located concentrically around the first pin 101 and inside the shell 110. A pin flange 108 on the pin 101 and a shell flange 109 on the inside of the shell 102 provide support for the spring 103. Galvanic contact is maintained between the first pin 101 and the shell 110 through the flanges 108,109 and the spring 103. The elongated non-conductive sleeve 107 surrounds the first contact pin 106 to an extent that the first contact pin 101 partly protrudes out of the sleeve 107. Any particular choice of material of the sleeve 107 is not within the scope of the present invention and is hence not discussed further, although any plastic material known in the art is obviously a reasonable alternative. The second resilient contact pin 106 is a conductive elongated thread-like unit with a bent intermediate section 105 connected to the shell 110. Resilience along a second direction Y is ensured by the thread-like structure of the pin 106 and the intermediate part 105 and that it is free to 7 move within a hollow 111 of the sleeve 107 along the second direction Y. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention where a connector 200 is supplying galvanic contact between a first contact pad 203 of a first electrical device 201 and a second contact pad 207 of a second electrical device 205. The devices 201,205 are mechanically attached to each other by means of a mechanical connector 216. An example of a mechanical connector applicable to an implementation of the present invention is obviously one of a hinge structure of a portable device such as a mobile telephone. The contact pads 203,207 are connected to electric circuitry 202,206 of the devices. The first contact pad 203 is accessible in a recess 204 of the first device 201, and the second contact pad 207 is accessible in a recess 208 of the second device 205. The connector 200 comprises a body 209 of a shape which enables it to fit snugly in the recesses 204,208 of the devices 201,205. The exact shape of the connector body 209, and also the exact shape of the recesses 204,208 is of limited relevance for the purpose of illustrating the invention and are thus shown as being generally rectangular. Within the body 209 of the connector 200 are located two interconnected resilient contact pins, a first pin 210 and a second pin 212. Both pins 210 212 are resilient along a direction Z, as illustrated schematically by spring-like structures 211,213. The pins 210,212 protrude out of the connector body 209 on opposite sides and are located at positions along a fourth direction W corresponding to positions along the W-direction of the contact pads 203,207 in the recesses 204,208. 8 As in the previous example disclosed in connection with figure 1, the spring-like structures 212,213 may be in the form of the resilient structure of Pogo pins or of any other similar construction known in the art . The connector 200 is easily inserted into or removed from the recesses 204,208. When inserted, the connector 200 is held in position by the fact that the shape of the body 209 corresponds to the shape of the recesses 204,208 and the fact that the resilience of the contact pins 210,212 creates frictional forces between contact pins 210,212 and contact pads 203,207. Also due to the resilience of the contact pins 210,212, any slight relative motion, as allowed by the mechanical connector 216, between the devices 201,205 along any direction Z,W will not detriment the galvanic contact between contact pins 210,212 and contact pads 203,207. Figures 3 and 4a-c illustrate the present invention as implemented in connection with a portable telephone terminal. In figure 3 is shown a perspective view of an electric device in the form of a portable telephone 300 comprising a housing 301 and a removable flip-lid 302. The telephone terminal 300 comprises a number of components that are known in the art and will thus only be discussed briefly. An antenna 303, a speaker 306 located adjacent to holes 340 in the housing, a display 304 and keys 305. A foldable flip-lid 302 is attachable and detachable from the housing 301 by mechanical connection units 308,309, a lid connector 308 and a housing connector 309. The flip-lid is foldable from it's position as indicated by figure 3 to a folded position where it partly covers the keys 305 of the telephone 300. 9 The flip-lid 302 comprises a microphone 307 located adjacent to holes 330 in the lid 302. Within the housing 301 are electrical components (not shown in figure 3) that enable a user of the telephone terminal 300 to communicate in a telecommunication network (not shown in the figure) in a manner well known in the art, such as e.g. a cellular GSM mobile telephone network or any other digital or analog network . The microphone 307 within the flip-lid 302 is electrically connected via an electrical lid lead 320 to the electrical components within the housing 301 through an electrical connector 311. The connector 311 is located within a recess 310 of the housing connector 309 and is capable of being inserted and withdrawn from the recess 310 from without the housing 301 as is indicated in figure 3 by it's withdrawn position. The connector comprises first resilient electrical contact pins 312 and second resilient contact pins (432 in figure 4c) and may be of a type disclosed in connection with figure 1. The first resilient contact pins 312 are in galvanic contact with lid contact pads 331 located on the mechanical lid connector 308. The second resilient contact pins (432 in figure 4c) are in galvanic contact with terminal contact pads 313 of the circuitry within the housing 301. It should be noted that the exact shape of the connector 311 is not critical, as long as it fits in the recess 310. It may, for example, be of more or less elongated shape and comprise any knobs or indentations that make it fit snugly in the recess 310. 10 Figures 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate, in some more detail, a connection between a microphone 307 and circuitry within a housing 301 of a mobile telephone terminal 400. Figure 4a shows a top view of the telephone 400. Figure 4b shows a first cross-sectional view A-A and figure 4c shows a second cross-sectional view B-B of the telephone 400 in figure 4a. The telephone 400 comprises, as the example in figure 3, components that are well known in the art, and are thus not disclosed in detail. A housing 401 with holes 440 adjacent to an internal speaker (not shown) , an antenna 403 for transmission and reception of radio signals, a display 404 and keys 405 acting as a user interface according to known art. A flip-lid 402 is attached to a mechanical connector 409 of the housing 401 by means of mechanical lid connectors 408. As in the previous example, the flip-lid 402 is capable of being rotated around an axis 442 to an extent that it at least partly covers the housing 401. The flip-lid 402 comprises an internal microphone (407 in figures 4b and 4c) behind lid holes 430. The cross-sectional view A-A in figure 4b illustrates the location of lid contact pads 431, such as those lid pads 331 illustrated in figure 3. The lid contact pads 431 forms a part of the mechanical lid connector 408 and are elongated to an extent that rotation by an angle 443 of the lid around the axis 442 allows continuos galvanic contact with resilient contact pins (412 in figure 4c) of the connector 411, as will be described in connection with figure 4c. The lid contact pads 431 are in connection with the microphone 407 through electrical lid leads 441 that may be of any kind known in the art, such as e.g. simple wires or flex-film. 11 The cross-sectional view B-B in figure 4c illustrates the location of the electrical connector 411 within a recess 410 of the mechanical housing connector 409. The housing 401 comprises electrical circuitry 444 mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) 440. The circuitry 444 comprises circuit contact pads 413 that are located on the PCB 440 at the location of the recess 410 of the mechanical connector 409. The electrical connector 411 is located in the recess 410 and the second resilient contact pins 432 of the electrical connector 411 are resiliently forced against the contact pads 413 on the PCB 440. The first resilient contact pins 412 of the electrical connector 411 are resiliently forced against the lid contact pads (431 in figure 4b) .

Claims: 12 CLAIMS 1. Electric connector (100,200,311,411) for enabling galvanic contact between a contact pad (140,203,313,413) of a first electric device (141,201,300,400) and a contact pad (130,207,331,431) of a second electric device (131,205,307, 407), said connector (100,200, 311,411) being mechanically attachable to and detachable from at least the first electric device (141,201,300,400) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises a first resilient contact pin (101,210,312,412) connected to a second resilient contact pin (106,212,432) and, when mechanically attached to at least the first electric device (141,201,300,400), the first resilient contact pin (101,210, 312,412) is in abutment with the contact pad (140,203,313,413) of the first electric device (141,201,300,400) and the second resilient contact pin (106,212,432) is in abutment with the contact pad (130, 207,331,431) of the second electric device (131,205,307, 407) . 2. Electric connector according to claim 1, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it comprises an elongated sleeve part (107) within which the resilient contact pins (101,106) are at least partly located, said first resilient contact pin (101) being elongated and having direction of resilience along a first direction (X) parallel to the direction of elongation of the sleeve part (107) , said second resilient contact pin (106) having a direction of resilience primarily along a second direction (Y) . 3. Electric connector according to any one of claims 1-2, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one of the resilient pins (101) is a pogo-pin. 13 4. Electric connector according to any one of claims 1-3, further c ha r a c t e r i z e d in that, when mechanically attached to at least the first electric device (300,400), it forms part of a hinge structure (308,309,408,409) which enables a rotating motion between the first electric device (300,400) and the second electric device (302,402), while upholding electrical and mechanical connection between said devices (300,302,400,402). 5. Electric connector according to any one of claims 1-4, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, when mechanically attached to the first electric device (300,400), it is located in a recess (310,410) of a housing (301,401), said recess (310,410) being accessible from without the housing (301,401) . 6. Electric connector according to claim 5, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is insertable and removable into and out of the recess (310,410) . 7. Portable electric arrangement comprising a first electric device (141,201,300,400), a second electric device (131,205,307,407) and an electric connector (100,200,311, 411) for enabling galvanic contact between a contact pad (140,203,313,413) of the first electric device (141,201, 300,400) and a contact pad (130,207,331,431) of the second electric device (131,205,307,407), said connector (100,200, 311,411) being mechanically attachable to and detachable from at least the first electric device (141,201,300,400), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connector (100,200, 311.411) comprises a first resilient contact pin (101,210, 312.412) connected to a second resilient contact pin (106,212,432) and, when mechanically attached to at least 14 the first electric device (141,201,300,400), the first resilient contact pin (101,210, 312,412) is in abutment with the contact pad (140,203,313,413) of the first electric device (141,201,300,400) and the second resilient contact pin (106,212,432) is in abutment with the contact pad (130,207,331,431) of the second electric device (131,205, 307,407) . 8. Portable electric arrangement according to claim 7, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the electric connector (100) comprises an elongated sleeve part (107) within which the resilient contact pins (101,106) are at least partly located, said first resilient contact pin (101) being elongated and having direction of resilience along a first direction (X) parallel to the direction of elongation of the sleeve part (107) , said second resilient contact pin (106) having a direction of resilience primarily along a second direction (Y) . 9. Portable electric arrangement according to any one of claims 7-8, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one of the resilient pins (101) is a pogo-pin. 10. Portable electric arrangement according to any one of claims 7-9, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, when the connector (311,411) is mechanically attached to at least the first electric device (300,400) it forms part of a hinge structure (308,309,408,409) which enables a rotating motion between the first electric device (300,400) and the second electric device (302,402), while upholding electrical and mechanical connection between said devices (300,302,400, 402) . 15 11. Portable electric arrangement according to any one of claims 7-10, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, when the connector (311,411) is mechanically attached to at least the first electric device (300,400), it is located in a recess (310,410) of a housing (301,401), said recess (310, 410) being accessible from without the housing (301,401) . 12. Portable electric arrangement according to claim 11, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connector (311,411) is insertable and removable into and out of the recess (310,410) . 13. Portable electric arrangement according to any one of claims 7-12, further c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it is a mobile telephone terminal.

Inventors: FROHLUND STIG, FROHLUND, STIG
Applicants: ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M, TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Application year: 1998
Main classification: H01R13
IPC codes: A47C7, H01R13, H01R35, H04M1