IMPROVEMENT IN CONNECTION DEVICES FOR A FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT

Abstract: A flexible circuit connection device (100) comprising a casing (1) fitted with at least a row of longitudinal plug sockets for the reception of connectors (6), the connectors comprising crimping and electrical connector terminations (7) with the flexible circuit, a cover component (5) which is manoeuvrable between a pre-insertion position of the connectors and a locked position of the said connectors, the component of the cover being composed of a frame (11) provided with an opening to admit a component of the crimping tool (50).

Description: Improvement in connection devices for a flexible circuit The present invention relates to a connection device for a flexible circuit and more particularly a connector module for a flexible circuit as well as the connection procedure for the same. Flexible circuits generally consist of a first sheet of flexible insulating material on which are arranged conducting tracks, for example, of copper, these tracks being themselves covered by either a second sheet of insulating material or by an insulating varnish. There circuits are widely used in the electrical industry and several methods of connection exist for connecting them to electrical connectors or to electronic components. Specification USP 4 082 402 relates to the implementation of a connector for a flexible circuit whose electrical contacts comprise, on the one hand, flexible circuit piercing wings and on the other hand a connector termination with a supplementary connector. These connectors which are connected to the flexible circuit by means of crimping are contained in a supplementary insulating casing destined to receive a supplementary casing, comprising the supplementary connectors, this supplementary casing of a familiar type not being shown. The connection of flexible circuits by crimping using connectors with several connectors makes it necessary to pay particular attention to the crimped connection of the flexible circuit and the connectors, as well as to the connector lead. It is. in particular, necessary to protect the interface of the flexible circuit and the connector against a possible detachment. It is moreover desirable to be able to make connections of the flexible circuit with the connectors in a pre-fitted position. To this end. USP 4 082 402 provides in its embodiment a casing comprising plug sockets for the reception of connectors, the rear portion of these sockets being extended by a of a supporting plate which makes possible the crimping of the flexible circuit to the connectors. The rear portion of the casing which receives the flexible circuit is then closed by a hinged flap, this flap protecting the connector terminations connected to the flexible circuit as well as the flexible circuit itself. The present invention proposes to improve the connector of the prior art and its connection procedure and in particular, to facilitate its manipulation and to make the crimping operation more reliable. To this end, the invention concerns, in particular, a flexible circuit connection device comprising a casing provided with at least one row of longitudinal plug sockets for the reception of connectors, the connectors comprising crimping and electrical contact terminations for the flexible circuit, a cover component able to be manoeuvred between a position of pre-insertion of the connectors and a locked position of the said connectors, the cover component consisting of a frame provided with an opening for admitting a component of the crimping tool. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the casing comprises a v. indow between the front portion which comprises the plug sockets and a rear portion comprising connector guide grooves, this window forming an opening for admitting a counter thrust tool. The frame and the casing can with advantage be fitted with supplementary latching components. The frame can moreover include on its rear portion an opening for introducing the flexible circuit, the flexible circuit being then inserted after the cover has been closed. Alternately, the frame can be raised in relation to the flexible circuit connection terminations. Still according to the invention, the cover can be equipped, still at its rear end. with at least one lug destined to be inserted in the hole made in the flexible circuit, the casing being equipped with a seat for receiving and retaining the said lug. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lug can be arranged on a foldable blade terminal which forms part of the frame. Still according to the invention, the casing can constitute a connection module destined to be arranged in a module carrier connector component. In that case, supplementary latching devices can, in particular be provided in a first position called the loading of module or in a position of pre-insertion of the modules and a second position called connection position. According to the invention, the procedure of connection of the flexible circuit comprises the following sequence of stages, namely, the insertion of the connectors into the plug sockets of the casing, the closure of the cover component onto the connectors, the sliding of the flexible circuit into a space between the cover forming the frame and the crimping terminations of the connectors to the flexible circuit, the crimping of the flexible circuit to the connectors taking place by means of a tool inserted into the frame. The flexible circuit being provided with at least one hole, a stage of centring and locking of the flexible circuit into the casing by the insertion of a lug which forms part of the flexible circuit frame for the locking of the flexible circuit into the said hole, is with advantage interposed between the stage of the sliding in of the flexible circuit and the stage of crimping. For a connector component of the module carrier comprising one module, the stages can be implemented with the module pre-inserted into the module carrier. For a connector component of the module carrier comprising several modules, the crimping operation is carried out on the modules outside the module carrier, the cabled modules with their flexible circuit being then inserted into the module carrier. The invention will be better understood by reading the description of a particular non- limiting embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with the drawings which show the following aspects of the invention : Fig. 1 shows a perspective side view of a device according to the invention with the connectors in the pre-insertion position ; Fig.s 2a and 2b respectively show perspective side views of a device according to the invention with the connectors in the inserted position ; Fig. 3 shows a perspective side view of a device according to the invention with the connectors in the inserted position, with the retaining device closed, without the flexible circuit ; Fig. 4 shows a perspective side view of a device according to the invention with the connectors in the inserted position, the flexible circuit being crimped on the connectors and the cover in the locked position of the connectors and the position of retention of the flexible circuit ; Fig. 5a and 5b respectively show two section views of Fig.s 3 and 4 which show the introduction of the flexible circuit ; Fig. 6a and 6b respectively show perspective views of a connector comprising a module carrier and a connection module according to the invention, for the stage of crimping in the loading position ; Fig. 6c shows a perspective view of a connector comprising a module carrier and several connection modules according to the invention. Fig. 1 represents a flexible circuit connection device (100 which can for example be seen in Fig. 3, the device comprising a casing (1) fitted with at least one row of longitudinal plug sockets for receiving the connectors (6). The connectors of which two are shown in Fig. 1 comprise terminations (7) for crimping and an electrical connector with the flexible circuit, these crimping terminations being formed from a flat portion of connector (20), the connector moreover comprising, in traditional fashion, a connector termination (21) with a supplementary connector which is a female termination in the example shown, but which can be of any other known type. The connector components (6) are longitudinally inserted into the casing ( 1) and during the said introduction are guided by the grooves (31) and the notches (32) made in the rear portion of the casing. These connectors can, for example, be provided in familiar fashion with means of locking them into the plug sockets of the casing (not shown). The casing comprises a cover component (5) shown in Fig. 1 in an open position which makes possible the insertion of the connectors. The cover is manoeuvrable between the position of pre-insertion of the connectors and the locked position of the said connectors. This locked position is visible in Fig. 3 which shows that a wall (18) of the cover component blocks the connectors by resting against a ridge (22) of the connector termination with a supplementary connector. The cover consists of a frame (1 1) provided with an opening to admit a component of a crimping tool (50) . This frame comprises side walls (23, 24), a rear wall (25) and a wall (18) which blocks the connector. The frame and the casing are provided with supplementary latching components (8, 9). These components are, as is shown in the example, catches (8) on the side walls of the cover and their reinforcements (9) on side walls (26, 27) of the casing. The latching of these catches into these reinforcements locks the connectors and the casing with its connectors can then be readily manipulated and receive the flexible circuit without danger of connector misalignment. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the frame can comprise on its rear portion, the wall (25), an opening ( 10) forming a space for the introduction of the flexible circuit. Alternatively, the frame can be slightly raised in relation to the connector terminations and in that way the flexible circuit can be introduced under the frame via the rear of the casing. The side walls (23) and (24) guide the flexible circuit sideways and the flexible circuit is introduced above the crimping terminations until it stops against wall ( 18). As can be seen, in particular, in Fig. 1, the cover is provided at its rear end with at least one lug (12) destined to be inserted into a hole ( 101) of the flexible circuit. Two lugs are with advantage provided. These lugs hold the flexible circuit when it has been inserted and position it with respect to the crimping terminations in such a way as to make possible accurate crimping to the conducting tracks of the flexible circuit. Still for the purpose of improving the retention of the flexible circuit, the casing is fitted with a seat (28) for the reception and retention of this lug. As can be seen in Fig. 1. the lug or lugs (12) is / are carried by a folding blade terminal (13) which forms part of the frame. It is possible to provide a single blade terminal, or one for each lug. Fig. 5a and 5b. the lug (12) is shown respectively from the side in the position which makes it possible to introduce the flexible circuit and in the position of the flexible circuit being held with a view to being crimped by a tool shown schematically under marking (50) in Fig. 5b. The crimping is performed by squeezing the teeth of the crimping terminations (7) which penetrate the flexible circuit and are folded on the flexible circuit by the action of the tool (50) and the counter-tool (51) which exercises counter thrust. As can be seen, in particular, in Fig.5a and 5b. the casing comprises a window (30) arranged between a front portion of the said casing comprising plug sockets and a rear portion (33) which forms a beam comprising connector guide grooves (31). This window forms an opening to allow the entry of a counter thrust tool. The said counter thrust tool makes possible more accurate crimping than is the case in the prior art, where the connectors bear against a floor of the casing. The zones of the connectors which are moreover provided with crimping terminations can, when the connectors are fully inserted in the plug sockets, either become completely disengaged from the rear beam as can be seen in Fig. 2a in the case of the connector according to marking (40a), or lengthened in order to preserve a side retention of the crimping terminations between the notches (32), as can be seen in Fig. 2b in the case of the connector in marking (40b). In this case it is nevertheless desirable that the rear portion of the connector should not rest on the bottom of groove (31) in order not to hinder the action of crimping performed by the supports of the crimping tool (50) and the counter-tool (51) The beam (33) is linked to the front of the casing by the arms (34) and (35) framing the window, these arms comprising latching components (9) of the frame (5) Fig. 6a and 6b show the connection casing with an associated module carrier (14). The casing then constitutes a connection module. The casing and the module carrier can comprise supplementary latching devices (15. 16, 17), the devices (15) and (17) making possible a partial insertion of the module into a first position called the loading of modules, this position making possible the insertion of the flexible circuit and its crimping, the devices (15) and (16) making it possible to implement a second position of locking called the position of connection of the module(s) into the module carrier, the module carrier loaded with its modules thus forming a connector ΛΛ hich is able to be coupled to a supplementary connector. Fig. 6c shows a module carrier fitted with several modules, the modules in that case being inserted together with their flexible circuit into the module carrier. According to the invention, the principal stages of the implementation of a connector therefore are : a - insertion of connectors into plug sockets of the casing ; b - closure of the component of the cover onto the connectors; c - sliding of the flexible circuit into a space between the cover forming the frame and the crimping terminations of the connectors on the flexible circuit ; d - crimping of the flexible circuit on the connectors by means of a tool inserted into the frame. These stages make possible an easy manipulation of the casing loaded with its connectors and an accurate assembly of the flexible circuit and the casing with a view to carrying out the crimping. It should be noted that the casing can be pre-assembled with its connectors according to stages "a" and "b" and then stored or supplied in that condition, the stages "c" and "d" being performed later. At these stages and in the case where the flexible circuit is provided with at least one hole, a stage of insertion of a lug forming part of the locking frame of the flexible circuit into the hole and a stage of centring and locking of the flexible circuit into the casing are interposed between the stage of sliding in of the flexible circuit and the stage of crimping. As previously explained, the modules can be supplied with connectors pre-assembled to a cabling station of the flexible circuit or supplied to the said cabling station in their module carrier into the pre-insertion position. The invention is not restricted to the example described and in particular the cover forming this frame could be a separate part in the same way as the crimping terminations can be of a type other than the ring type.

Claims: CLAIMS A flexible circuit connection device ( 100) comprising a casing (1) fitted with at least one row of longitudinal plug sockets for the reception of connectors (6), the connectors comprising crimping terminations (7) and electrical connectors with the flexible circuit, a cover component (5) which can be manoeuvred between a pre-insertion position of the connectors and a locked position of the said connectors, characterised by the fact that the cover component is formed by a frame (11) provided with an opening for admitting of a crimping tool component (50) A flexible circuit connection device according to Claim 1. characterised by the fact that the casing comprises a window (30) arranged between a front portion of the casing comprising the plug sockets and a rear portion (33) comprising the connector guide grooves (31). this window forming an opening for admitting a counter thrust tool (51) A connection device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised by the fact that the frame and the casing are provided with supplementary latching components (8, 9) A connection device according to one of the Claims 1 to 3. characterised by the fact that the frame comprises on its rear portion a opening (10) which forms the space for the introduction of the flexible circuit. A connection device according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that the frame (11) is raised with respect to the flexible circuit connection terminations in such a way as to form a space for the introduction of the flexible circuit. A connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the cover is provided at its rear end with at least one lug (12) destined to be inserted into the holes of the flexible circuit, the casing being fitted with a seat for the reception and retention of the said lug. A connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the lug (12) is borne by a folding blade terminal (13) which forms part of the frame. A connection device according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that it constitutes a connection module destined to be arranged in a component of the module carrier connector (14), the connection device and the module carrier comprising supplementary latching devices (15. 16, 17) in a first position called the loading position and a second position called the connection position. Procedure of connection of a flexible circuit to a casing (1) according to one of the Claims from 1 to 8, characterised by the fact that it consists of at least the following sequence of stages : a - insertion of connectors into the plug sockets of the casing; b - closure of the cover components onto the connectors ; c - sliding of the flexible circuit into a space between the cover which forms the frame and the crimping terminations of the flexible circuit connectors ; d - crimping of the flexible circuit to the connectors by means of a tool inserted into the frame. Procedure of connection of a flexible circuit to a casing (1) according to one of the Claims from 2 to 8, characterised by the fact that it consists of at least the following stages : a - insertion of the connectors into the plug sockets of the casing ; b - closure of the cover component onto the connectors ; c - sliding of the flexible circuit into a space between the cover forming the frame and the crimping terminations of the flexible circuit ; d - crimping of the flexible circuit to the connectors by means of a tool (50) inserted into the frame and a counter thrust tool (51) inserted into the window of the casing. Procedure of connection according to Claim 9 or 10, characterised by the fact that the flexible circuit is provided with at least one hole, a stage of centring and locking of the flexible circuit into the casing by the insertion of a lug which forms part of the frame which locks the flexible circuit into the hole being interposed between the stage of sliding of the flexible circuit and the stage of crimping. Procedure of connection according to one of the Claims from 9 to 1 1, characterised by the fact that the casing constitutes a module which can be inserted into a component of the connector which forms the module carrier (14) and by the fact that the stages are implemented with the module pre-inserted into the module carrier.

Inventors: CASSES CLAUDE, CASSES, CLAUDE
Applicants: CASSES CLAUDE, FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, CASSES, CLAUDE, F.C.I. - FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INTERNATIONAL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R12, H01R43