Abstract:
An inline connector is coupled to a first substrate and operable to receive at least one prong. A second receptacle is coupled to a second substrate and operable to receive the prong. A plug having an elongated prong that, when inserted through the first receptacle and into the second receptacle operates to provide electrical connections between the substrates. The substrates may be circuit boards and the receptacle may be mounted along the edges of the circuit board to allow for easier installation. Some embodiments may provide for identical receptacle providing for lower costs and easier installation.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional patent application 61/671,031 entitled “Inline Connector System,” filed on Jul. 12, 2012 by the same inventor which is incorporated into this document by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to lighting systems, and more particularly to a modularized fixture system for providing easy to install and affordable lights, power and communications media in certain environments. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed herein is an inline connector coupled to a first substrate and operable to receive at least one prong. A second receptacle is coupled to a second substrate and operable to receive the prong. A plug having an elongated prong that, when inserted through the first receptacle and into the second receptacle operates to provide electrical connections between the substrates. The substrates may be circuit boards and the receptacle may be mounted along the edges of the circuit board to allow for easier installation. Some embodiments may provide for identical receptacle providing for lower costs and easier installation. 
     The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a conventional circuit board mating scheme. 
         FIG. 1B  also shows an alternative means for coupling boards. 
         FIG. 2A  shows an inline connector system. 
         FIG. 2B  shows an embodiment of the current disclosure for use with an LED luminaire. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  shows a conventional circuit board mating scheme. In  FIG. 1  two circuit boards (or substrates) are electrically coupled together using complementary connectors. A female male connector  110 , mounted on a first circuit board couples to a male connector  112  mounted on a second circuit board. Conventionally traces on the circuit board provide signals to the connectors, which are in turn, passed to the mating circuit board through electrical coupling. In  FIG. 1 , light sources  111  such as LEDs are mounted on the circuit board and the connectors may carry power to the light sources  111 . 
     Often mating connectors are used to supply power to multiple circuit boards connected in series. The drawback to the conventional methods is that circuit boards then require different parts to operate together. Some uses may provide for symmetrical circuit boards, but these circuit boards must then be installed in a certain direction to maintain any required polarity on the electrical coupling. Moreover, circuit boards often have conformal coatings as protection against moisture, dust, chemicals, and temperature extremes that, if uncoated (non-protected), could result in damage or failure of the electronics to function. These conformal coatings also coat the electrical connections. Accordingly, these coatings require special masking to keep the connectors clear of any material that would hamper electrical conductivity. 
       FIG. 1B  shows an alternative means for coupling boards. In  FIG. 1B  each circuit board is made with the same type of connector  114  (shown as female). The electrical coupling is effectuated through a coupler  116  which has a dual male structure. In operation the coupler is placed between the two female connectors  114  as the two circuit boards are put into position. The action of joining the two circuit boards allows the male prongs on the coupler  116  to insert into the female connectors  114  and provide for transmission of electrical power or signals. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art to affect such feature, structure or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Parts of the description are presented using terminology commonly employed by those of ordinary skill in the art to convey the substance of their work to others of ordinary skill in the art. 
       FIG. 2A  shows an inline connector system. In  FIG. 2A  female connectors  214  are mounted on respective substrates or circuit boards  218 . The connectors  214  are designed for receiving prongs through receptacles on the connectors  214 . The connectors  214  may have electrical contacts to the circuit boards  218  allowing the connectors  214  to be soldered in place and provide electrical contact from the receptacles to the circuit board  218 . A header connector (or plug)  220  has elongated prongs or members. In operation the prongs of the header connector  220  are inserted into and through a first female connector  214  and into a second female connector  214 , thus providing electrical conductivity between the two circuit boards  218 . Different embodiments may employ different number and type of prongs to effect coupling the circuit boards  218 . For example and without limitation, an embodiment may include power connectors and one or more digital signal connectors. The prongs on the header connector  220  may be match to standardized connectors such as Ethernet or USB connectors. 
       FIG. 2B  shows an embodiment of the current disclosure for use with an LED luminaire.  FIG. 2B  includes circuit boards  222  and  224  with female connectors  226  and  228  respectively. The circuit boards  222  and  224  include multiple light sources such as LEDs (shown as  230 ). The LEDs  230  may be powered by a constant current source (not shown) through traces on the circuit boards  222  and  224 . The traces extend to the female connectors  226  and  228 . One having skill in the art will appreciate that there is no need to limit this disclosure to only two circuit boards as shown, or to limit the power source in any way. Moreover, many circuit boards maybe coupled including ones using different light sources, occupancy sensors, control, communications electronics, and the like. One having skill in the art will appreciated that multiple prongs may be separated using a dielectric spacer to hold them apart. 
     In operation the circuit board  222  and  224  are place near each other such that the connectors  226  and  228  align. The header connector  232  is inserted such that the prongs extend into the first connector  228  and then further extend into the second connector  226 . In the event a conformal coating is use and it blocks the connectors&#39;  226  and  228  electrical contacts, then the prongs on the header connector  232  operate to break the conformal coating and reach the electrical contacts inside the connectors  226  and  228 . In certain embodiments the prongs of the header connector  232  may also provide structural support for the circuit board if the prongs are made with sufficient strength. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 2  provides several advantages over conventional connectors. These advantages include, but are not limited to:
         Uniformity of circuit board design because all the connectors on the circuit board are the same;   Compatibility with conformal coatings;   Ease of installation because the circuit board may simply be positioned together without having to match male or female connectors;   Ease of maintenance because a single circuit board located within a series may be removed by removing the header connector.       

     The above illustration provides many different embodiments or embodiments for implementing different features of the invention. Specific embodiments of components and processes are described to help clarify the invention. These are, of course, merely embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims. 
     Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.