Abstract:
An electrical connector including a housing; one or more recesses formed in one or more sidewalls of the housing; a plurality of terminals disposed in respective portions of the housing such that solder tails of the terminals are accessible through the one or more recesses; and one or more cover elements removably coupled to the one or more sidewalls of the housing such that, in a mounted state of the connector on a PCB, the solder tails are enclosed by the one or more cover elements.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates broadly to a connector such as receptacle connectors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Receptacle connectors such as SCA-2 receptacles are often soldered onto printed circuit board (PCBs). In such PCB assembly processes, pick-up devices or caps are typically utilised to allow the pick and place process for the receptacles to be positioned on the PCBs. 
         [0003]    In receptacle connectors such as SCA-2 receptacles, surface mount type electrical terminals are typically provided. For allowing access to solder connections to the terminals, a recess is typically formed in the walls of the receptacle in the areas of the solder tails of the terminals, for facilitating soldering, inspection, and maintenance of the solder connections. The existence of the recesses, however, is associated with a number of disadvantages, including that the solder connections, in a mounted state of the receptacle on a PCB, are potentially exposed to dust or other particles, which can result in damage or deterioration of the solder connections. Furthermore, electrical shortening of adjacent terminals may be caused. 
         [0004]    It is with the knowledge of the abovementioned issues that the present invention has been made and is now reduced into practice. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an electrical connector which has a housing; one or more recesses formed in one or more sidewalls of the housing; a plurality of terminals disposed in respective portions of the housing such that solder tails of the terminals are accessible through the one or more recesses; and one or more cover elements removably coupled to the one or more sidewalls of the housing such that, in a mounted state of the connector on a PCB, the solder tails are enclosed by the one or more cover elements. 
         [0006]    Example embodiments of the invention can achieve a number of advantages, including protection of the solder connections to the solder tails of terminals of the receptacle by way of the one or more cover elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the invention will be better understood and readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following written description, by way of example only, and in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective bottom view of the SCA-2 receptacle connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top view of the SCA-2 receptacle connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective top view of the SCA-2 receptacle connector of  FIG. 1 , with covers removed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective bottom view of the SCA-2 receptacle connector according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective bottom view of a SCA-2 (SCA-2 Receptacle  40  Pos Extended Height Vertical SMT) receptacle connector  10  according to an example embodiment. The receptacle connector  10  is molded using high temperature thermo-plastic in the example embodiment, to accommodate electrical terminals  12 ,  14 . The receptacle connector  10  has two arrays  11 ,  13  of terminals, arranged on different sides of the receptacle connector  10 . The first array  11  consists of twenty terminals e.g.  12  of 1.27 mm pitch and is located towards one side of the receptacle connector  10 , along one edge thereof, each terminal  12  being positioned in their respective chambers  20 . The terminals  12  of the first array  11  usually connect signal lines, and are made from copper alloy in the example embodiment. 
         [0013]    Similarly, the second array  13  consists of twenty terminals  14  of 1.27 mm pitch. The second array  13  is located towards the other edge of the receptacle connector  10  which is opposite to the edge having the first array  11 . Each terminal  14  is positioned in respective chambers  24 . The terminals  14  of the second array  13  also usually connect signal lines. 
         [0014]    Each of the ends of the receptacle connector  10  is terminated with a vertically positioned pillar  36  having a horizontally positioned base  38 . On each of the bases  38 , a metallic bent T-shaped solder tail-type clip or hold down  40  is provided to enable the receptacle connector  10  to be held down on a PCB. The hold down  40  is made from copper alloy in the example embodiment, and is inserted from the bottom (i.e. the face facing the PCB in a mounted configuration) of the connector  10 . For connection of the receptacle connector  10  onto a PCB, each T-shaped hold down  40  is soldered onto the PCB using e.g. a suitably positioned solder ball on the PCB. Advantageously, the T-shaped hold downs  40  facilitate a better solderability during the connection process, inter alia due to an increased number of corner structures on the solder tail, which can facilitate solderability. The larger surface area to get in contact with the PCB also provides for improved solderability, as well as the T-shape of the hold down  40 . Furthermore, the bent hold downs  40 , after being solder connected to the PCB, advantageously provide biased movability of the receptacle connector  10  due to the resilience of the metal material, and advantageously in three dimensions. It will be appreciated that more than two hold downs may be provided in different embodiments. 
         [0015]    The tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44 , of the electrical terminals  12 ,  14  are of the surface mount type. It will be appreciated that other tail portion configurations are possible in other embodiments. Access to the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44  is provided, in a mounted state of the receptacle connector  10  on a PCB, by respective longitudinal recesses  46 ,  49  in a peripheral wall  51  of the receptacle connector  10 . The recesses  46 ,  49  form edge openings allowing access to the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44  of the electrical terminals  12 ,  14 , the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44  being positioned, in a mounted state of the receptacle connector  10  on a PCB, vertically between the surface of the PCB, and the recess wall  51  in the areas of the recesses  46 ,  49  respectively. 
         [0016]    Removable covers  56 ,  58  are provided on respective sidewalls  59 ,  60  of the receptacle connector  10 , and in the areas of the recesses  46 ,  49  respectively. The covers  56 ,  58  are removably connected to the respective sidewalls  59 ,  60  by mating slide-in connector elements. Details of the connection of the covers  56 ,  58  to the connector  10  will be described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The covers  56 ,  58  further comprise recesses e.g.  74 ,  76  formed in respective outer walls  80 ,  82 , for facilitating, in a mounted state of the receptacle connector  10  on a PCB, vertical removal of the covers  56 ,  58 . The covers  56 ,  58  are inserted after the receptacle connector  10  is mounted on the PCB. The covers  56 ,  58  can be inserted manually. 
         [0017]    The covers  56 ,  58  advantageously provide protection of the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44 , and in particular the solder connections to the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44  in a connected state of the receptacle on a PCB. For example, the solder connections to the tail portions e.g.  42 ,  44  may be protected from dust or other particles, which may otherwise damage or deteriorate the solder connections, or may lead to electrical shortening of adjacent solder connections, i.e. terminal connections. In the example embodiment, the covers  56 ,  58  are moulded from the same material as the receptacle connector  10 . 
         [0018]    A pick-up device in the form of a metal cap  48  is also shown in  FIG. 1 . Cap  48  comprises a main body  50 , and wall portions e.g.  52  extending from the main body  50 . Wall portions corresponding to, and being a mirror image of, wall portions e.g.  52  are provided on the opposite side of the main body  50  (compare also  FIG. 3 ). When the cap  48  is positioned for pick-up of the receptacle connector  10 , the wall portions e.g.  52 , and the corresponding wall portions on the opposite side (not shown) resiliently engage the sidewalls  59 ,  60  of the receptacle connector  10 . 
         [0019]    The receptacle connector  10  further comprises offset locator post  84 ,  86  formed at opposing ends of the two arrays  11 ,  13  of terminals  12 ,  14 . In the example embodiment, the locator post  84 ,  86  are integrally moulded with the receptacle connector  10 . As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the locator post  84 ,  86  facilitate polarizing during mounting of the receptacle connector  10  onto a PCB. It will be appreciated that more than two offset locator posts may be provided in different embodiments. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective top view of the receptacle connector  10 , illustrating the positioning of the covers e.g.  58  to protect the tail portions (hidden), in a mounted state of the receptacle connector  10  on a PCB. As described above, recesses or slots e.g.  76  are formed on the outer wall e.g.  82  of the covers e.g.  58 , for removal of the covers for inspection and maintenance purposes. 
         [0021]    In the example embodiment, the receptacle connector  10  further comprises respective base  38 , for providing increased stability in a mounted state of the receptacle connector  10  on a PCB.  FIG. 2  also illustrates the metal pick-up cap  48 , removably positioned for pick-up of the receptacle connector  10 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective top view of the receptacle connector  10 , with the covers e.g.  58  removed from the mounted state, exposing the tail portions e.g.  44 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , each cover  56 ,  58  comprises three trapezoidal key elements e.g.  62  one at each end, and one centrally located, for locking the covers  56 ,  58  to the sidewalls e.g.  60 , i.e. to the receptacle connector  10 . On the sidewalls e.g.  60 , rim portions e.g.  90  are formed to support the covers e.g.  58  in the mounted state, with the key elements being received in slots e.g.  70  between adjacent rim portions, e.g. between rim portions  90  and  92 . The trapezoidal key elements e.g.  62  are formed on respective inner walls e.g.  66  thereof. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in art, the trapezoidal key elements are arranged for slide-in engagement into the slots for vertical, frictional slide-in connection of the covers  56 ,  58  to the respective sidewalls e.g. 60. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective bottom view of a receptacle connector  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle connector  100  is in most regards identical to the receptacle connector  10  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in particular in relation to the provision of covers  156 ,  158  for protection of solder connections to the tail portions e.g.  142 ,  144  of the electrical terminals  112 ,  114 . In this embodiment, however, the T-shaped hold downs (compare items  40  in  FIG. 1 ), are replaced by metal fork lock clips  200 , at each of the ends of the receptacle connector  100 , and more particular at the base portions  138  of the pillars  136  at each of the ends of the receptacle connector  100 . As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the fork lock clips  200  are arranged for cooperation with corresponding locking elements on a PCB, typically formed in conjunction with a through-opening on the PCB. 
         [0024]    The example embodiments described can achieve a number of advantages, including protection of the solder connections to the solder tails of terminals of the receptacle by way of removable covers. 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. 
         [0026]    For example, it will appreciated that the number, shape, and positioning of removable covers can be varied in different embodiments, depending on the overall design of the receptacle, and in particular the disposition of the tail portions of the terminals of the different receptacle designs. Also, it will be appreciated that the removable engagement between the covers and the body of the receptacles can be implemented in a number of different ways, including key elements of any other suitable shape, in different embodiments.