Abstract:
An electrical connector adapted to prevent tipping during a board assembly processes is provided including a connector body, a signal contact, a grounding post, and an anti-tipping lock. The connector body includes a separable interface end and a mounting end. The mounting end is adapted to be assembled to a circuit board. The separable interface end includes a mating contact that joins a mating connector and contact. The signal contact and grounding post extend from the mounting end. The anti-tipping lock is mounted to the connector body, and includes a board mounting feature extending from the anti-tipping lock. The board mounting feature extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction along which the signal contact is joined to the circuit board. The board mounting feature is adapted to maintain the connector assembly in place when the connector assembly is mounted to an electrical component, such as a circuit board.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/356,508 filed Feb. 12, 2002, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Certain embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an electrical connector that prevents tipping of an electrical connector system during the assembly process.  
           [0003]    Electrical connectors are often mounted to electrical components such as circuit boards to allow electrical communication between different components. One type of connector is a right angle connector, which allows electrical communication along two paths that are substantially perpendicular to one another. Such a connector is useful, for example, in a system containing a number of circuit boards stacked in close proximity to each other, where external connectors can only access the circuit boards from the side due to space considerations.  
           [0004]    The connectors are typically placed on a circuit board and then soldered while in place to provide electrical communication between the circuit board and the connector. However, the right angle connectors are not stable when placed on the circuit board and can tip relative to the circuit board before soldering. Hence, the connector may become misaligned with the circuit board and fixed in this misaligned orientation, or be unable to be fixed at all. The tipping and resulting misalignment requires time consuming and costly re-working or re-placing of the connector, and impedes the use of automated assembly processes.  
           [0005]    To address the foregoing problem, the connector may be manually held in place by an assembly person. This, however, requires expensive hand assembly and prevents the use of automation. Alternately, fixturing may be employed to hold the connector in place. The use of fixtures requires the added expense of making a fixture as well as the time to place the fixture before soldering the connector to the board and to remove the fixture after soldering. Another solution currently attempted is to use a counterweight to balance the connector. Counterweights, however, can take up too much space on the circuit board, which is often at a premium in electrical systems.  
           [0006]    It is an object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention to overcome the above-noted and other disadvantages of floating connectors.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    At least one embodiment of the present invention is provided including a coaxial connector including a body that provides the ground connection, a signal contact, a grounding post, and an anti-tipping lock body. The body includes a separable interface end and a mounting end. The separable interface end includes a mating contact. The signal contact and grounding post extend from the mounting end. The anti-tipping lock body is mounted to the body, and includes a board mounting feature extending from the anti-tipping lock body. The board mounting feature extends in a direction substantially parallel to the direction that the signal contact extends. The board mounting feature is adapted to maintain the coaxial connector assembly in place when the coaxial connector assembly is mounted to an electrical component, such as a circuit board.  
           [0008]    The mating contact may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the signal contact. Additionally, the board mounting feature may include a post with a slot extending through at least a portion of the post, and/or a ring extending radially outward from the post.  
           [0009]    The body may additionally include a recess accepting an anti-rotation block extending from the anti-tipping lock body. The recess and anti-rotation block cooperate to prevent the anti-tipping lock body from rotating relative to the body when they are mounted together. Further, the body may include a hole and the anti-tipping lock body may include a body mounting feature including a post. The hole accepts the post. The post has a slot extending through at least a portion of the post. Optionally, the post may include a ring extending radially outward from the post which cooperates with the hole to maintain the anti-tipping lock body in place when the anti-tipping lock body is mounted to the body.  
           [0010]    The separable interface end may define a cylinder extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the signal contact, and the body may include a hole substantially coaxial with the axis of the cylinder defined by the separable interface end. The anti-tipping lock body may include a body mounting feature accepted by the hole when the anti-tipping lock body is mounted to the body.  
           [0011]    At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a coaxial connector comprising a body, a signal contact, a grounding post, and a board mounting feature. The body includes a separable interface portion and a mounting portion, and the separable interface portion includes a mating contact. A signal contact and a body grounding post extend from the mounting portion. The board mounting feature extends from the mounting portion in a direction substantially parallel to the direction the signal contact extends. The board mounting feature is adapted to maintain the coaxial connector in place when the coaxial connector is mounted to an electrical component.  
           [0012]    At least one embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical connector system including a circuit board and a coaxial connector assembly. The circuit board includes first and second contact communication portions and a first mounting feature. The coaxial connector assembly is mounted to the circuit board and includes a separable interface end, a mounting end, and an anti-tipping member. The separable interface end includes a mating contact. A signal contact extends from the mounting end in a direction substantially perpendicular to the mating contact and electrically communicates with the first contact communication portion. A grounding post also extends from the mounting end and electrically communicates with the second contact communication portion. The coaxial connector system also includes an anti-tipping lock member with a second mounting feature extending therefrom. The second mounting feature cooperates with the first mounting feature to maintain the coaxial connector assembly in place when the coaxial connector assembly is mounted to the circuit board.  
           [0013]    The separable interface end, mounting end, and anti-tipping member may be integral with each other. Further the first contact communication portion may include a pad adapted for electrical communication with the signal contact, and the second contact communication portion a hole adapted for electrical communication with the grounding post.  
           [0014]    Certain embodiments of the present invention thus prevent tipping of connectors during the assembly process. Little space is required, and cost of manufacture and assembly is low. Further, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a locking mechanism securing a connector to a circuit board. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of an electrical system featuring an anti-tipping lock formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional elevation view of a right angle connector with an anti-tipping lock formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of an anti-tipping lock formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 illustrates a front elevation view of an anti-tipping lock formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the connector mounting area on a circuit board formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 illustrates a side elevation view of a right angle connector with an integral anti-tipping lock formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom view of the right angle connector of FIG. 6. 
     
    
       [0022]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a connector system  10  that includes a connector assembly  12  and a circuit board  18  to which the connector assembly  12  is mounted. The connector assembly  12  includes a connector  14  and an anti-tipping lock  16 . The connector  14  is a metallized right angle connector.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional elevation view of the connector  14  with the anti-tipping lock  16  mounted to the connector  14 . The connector  14  includes a body  30 , a mating contact  35 , a signal contact  44 , and body grounding posts  46 . The body  30  includes a metallized shell  31 . The mating contact  35  electrically communicates with a mating connector (not shown) and the signal contact  44 . The signal contact  44  also electrically communicates with the circuit board  18  (FIG. 1). Thus, the connector  14  provides a path of electrical communication between the circuit board  18  and the mating connector (not shown). Further, the body grounding posts  46  electrically communicate with the circuit board  18  and are integral to the metallized shell  31 , and the metallized shell  31  electrically communicates with the mating connector (not shown). Thus, the connector  14  also provides a second path of electrical communication between the circuit board  18  and the mating connector (not shown).  
         [0025]    The body  30  includes a separable interface or mating end  32  and a mounting end  36 . The body  30  may be made from stainless steel with gold plating. The mating end  32  is cylindrically shaped and extends from the body  30  substantially perpendicularly to the mounting end  36 , and mates with a mating connector. The mating end  32  includes a threaded portion  33 , a mating dielectric  35 , and the mating contact  35 . The threaded portion  33  is sized to mate with a mating connector. The mating dielectric  34  is pressed into the metallized shell  31 , and the mating contact  35  is pressed into the mating dielectric  34 . The mating dielectric  34  provides physical support to the mating contact  35  and helps insulate the mating contact  35  from the metallized shell  31 , thereby allowing two different paths of electrical conduction through the connector  14 . Further, the dielectric material is selected to have a dielectric constant to provide a desired characteristic impedance. The dielectric material may be, for example, PTFE.  
         [0026]    The mounting end  36  includes a top  38 , a bottom  40 , a back  42 , sides  43  (see FIG. 1), the signal contact  44 , a signal dielectric  45 , and the body grounding posts  46 . The signal contact  44  and body grounding posts  46  are configured to electrically communicate with the circuit board  18  when the connector  14  is mounted to the circuit board  18 . The signal dielectric  45  is pressed into the metallized shell  31 , and the signal contact  44  is pressed into the signal dielectric  45 . The signal dielectric  45  provides physical support to the signal contact  44  and helps insulate the signal contact  44  from the metallized shell  31 , thereby allowing two different paths of electrical conduction through the connector  14 . The dielectric material is selected to have a dielectric constant to provide a desired characteristic impedance.  
         [0027]    The signal contact  44  and body grounding posts  46  extend from the bottom  40  of the mounting end  36 . The signal contact  44  may be made of beryllium copper with gold plating and the body grounding posts  46  may be made of stainless steel with gold plating. The bottom  40  of the mounting end  36  rests at or near the top surface of the circuit board  18  when the connector  14  is mounted to the circuit board  18 . In the illustrated embodiments, the signal contact  44  is cylindrically shaped, and the body grounding posts  46  are integral to the body  30  and have rectangular cross-sections. The top  38  is located opposite the bottom  40 , and may provide a vacuum pick-up surface to facilitate automated placement of the connector  14 . The sides  43  and back  42  join the top  38  and bottom  40  of the mounting end.  
         [0028]    The back  42  includes a lock mounting hole  48  and an anti-rotation recess  50 . In alternate embodiments, depending on the space available on the circuit board  18 , the lock mounting hole  48  and the anti-rotation recess  50  may be located on one of the sides  43 . The lock mounting hole  48  and anti-rotation recess  50  are sized to cooperate with the anti-tipping lock  16  when the anti-tipping lock  16  is mounted to the connector  14 . The lock mounting hole  48  may be co-axial with the cylindrically shaped separable interface or mating end  32  to provide for ease of manufacture. In the illustrated embodiment, the anti-rotation recess  50  is located proximal to the bottom  40  of the mounting end  36 , but may be located elsewhere in alternate embodiments.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate elevation views of the anti-tipping lock  16 . The anti-tipping lock  16  includes a body  58 , a board mounting feature  68 , a body mounting feature  80 , and an anti-rotation block  92 . The body  58  includes a front  60 , a back  62 , a top  64 , and a bottom  66 .  
         [0030]    The bottom  66  of the anti-tipping lock  16  rests at or near the top surface of the circuit board  18  when the connector  14  and anti-tipping lock  16  are mounted and in place on the circuit board  18 . The board mounting feature  68  extends from the bottom  66  of the anti-tipping lock  16 . The board mounting feature  68  includes a post  70 , a slot  72 , and a retention feature  74 . The retention feature  74  includes a leading edge  76 , a ring  78 , and a locking surface  79 . The retention feature  74  is located toward the outer end of the post  70  farthest from the bottom  66  of the anti-tipping lock  16 . The post  70  is generally cylindrically shaped, with the slot  72  extending through the axis of the post  70 . Starting from a point farthest away from the body  58  and extending back toward the body  58 , the leading edge  76  has a flared increasing diameter up to the ring  78 . The smallest diameter of the leading edge  76  is less than the diameter of the corresponding locking hole of the circuit board  18 , and the largest diameter of the leading edge  76  exceeds the diameter of the locking hole of the circuit board  18 . Traversing still further toward the body  58 , the ring  78  terminates at a stepped decrease in the diameter of the post  70  including the locking surface  79 .  
         [0031]    The front  60  of the anti-tipping lock  16  faces the back  42  of the connector  14  and rests at or near the back  42  when the anti-tipping lock  16  is mounted to the connector  14 . The body mounting feature  80  extends from the front  60  of the anti-tipping lock  16 . The body mounting feature  80  includes a post  82 , a slot  84 , and a retention feature  86 . The retention feature  86  includes a slanted leading edge  88 , a ring  90 , and a locking surface  91 . The retention feature  86  is located toward the end of the post  82  farthest from the front  60  of the anti-tipping lock  16 . The post  82  is generally cylindrically shaped, with the slot  84  extending through the axis of the post  82 . Starting from a point farthest away from the body  58  and extending back toward the body  58 , the leading edge  88  has a flared increasing diameter until it contacts the ring  90 . The smallest diameter of the leading edge  88  is less than the diameter of the lock mounting hole  48  of the connector  14 , and the largest diameter of the leading edge  88  exceeds the diameter of the lock mounting hole  48  of the connector  14 . Traversing still further toward the body  58 , the ring  90  terminates at a stepped decrease in the diameter of the post  82  including the locking surface  91 . The anti-rotation block  92  protrudes from the front  60  of the anti-tipping lock proximal to the bottom  66  of the anti-tipping lock. The anti-tipping lock  16  may be molded in one piece from polyester.  
         [0032]    To mount the anti-tipping lock  16  to the connector  14 , the anti-tipping lock  16  and the connector  14  are positioned with the front  60  of the anti-tipping lock  16  facing the back  42  of the connector  14 , the body mounting feature  80  substantially in line with the lock mounting hole  48 , and the anti-rotation block  92  aligned with the anti-rotation recess  50 . Next, the anti-tipping lock  16  and connector  14  are urged toward each other. As the anti-tipping lock  16  approaches the connector  14 , the leading edge  88  encounters the lock mounting hole  48 . Further urging the anti-tipping lock  16  and connector  14  together results in the contact between the leading edge  88  and the lock mounting hole  48  resiliently compressing the retention feature  86  of the body mounting feature  80 . Still further urging results in the ring  90  penetrating the thickness of the metallized shell  31  through the lock mounting hole  48 , which results in the retention feature  86  returning to its unbiased shape. With the anti-tipping lock  16  positioned as described, the locking surface  91  cooperates with the metallized shell  31  to lock the anti-tipping lock  16  in place. Further, the anti-rotation block  92  fits in the anti-rotation recess  50 , and they cooperate to prevent the anti-tipping lock from rotating, thereby maintaining the board mounting feature  68  in proper alignment during the assembly process.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a portion of the circuit board  18 . The circuit board  18  includes a contact pad  100 , grounding holes  106 , and a locking hole  102 . The circuit board has a thickness  104  (see FIG. 1). The contact pad  100  is a circular pad to which the signal contact  44  is soldered and with which the signal contact  44  electrically communicates. The grounding holes  106  are configured and sized to accept the body grounding posts  46  with a clearance. The clearance allows for easier placement of the connector  14  on the circuit board  18 . The body grounding posts  46  are also soldered to the grounding holes  106 , and the body grounding posts  46  are in electrical communication with the grounding holes  106 . The locking hole  102  is located and sized to cooperate with the board mounting feature  68  to maintain the connector  14  in place and prevent the connector  14  from tipping.  
         [0034]    To mount the connector  14  (with the anti-tipping lock  16  in place) to the circuit board  18 , the connector  14  is positioned with the bottom  40  facing the top of the circuit board  18 , the signal contact  44  directly above the contact pad  100 , the body grounding posts  46  directly above the grounding holes  106 , and the board mounting feature  68  directly above the locking hole  102 . Next, the connector  14  is lowered toward the circuit board  18 . The direction that the connector  14  is lowered is substantially perpendicular to the circuit board  18  and is the board mating direction. As the connector  14  approaches the circuit board  18 , the leading edge  76  encounters the locking hole  102 . Further lowering the connector  14  results in the contact between the leading edge  76  and the locking hole  102  resiliently compressing the retention feature  74  of the board mounting feature  68 . Simultaneously, the body grounding posts  46  enter the grounding holes  106 . Still further urging results in the ring  78  penetrating the thickness  104  of the circuit board  18  through the locking hole  102 , which results in the retention feature  74  returning to its unbiased shape. With the connector  14  positioned as described, the locking surface  79  cooperates with the underside of the circuit board  18  to lock the connector  14  in place. The board mounting feature  68  cooperates with the locking hole  102  to maintain the connector  14  in place and to prevent tipping before the connector  14  is soldered to the circuit board  18 . Because the anti-tipping lock  16  interacts mechanically with circuit board  18 , the anti-tipping lock  16  takes may take up less room on the circuit board  18  than a counterweight, while still providing more secure positioning and improved protection against tipping.  
         [0035]    With the connector in place, the body grounding posts  46  are soldered to the grounding holes  106 , forming an outer path of electrical communication from the grounding holes  106 , through the body grounding posts  46 , and then through the metallized shell  31  to the mating connector (not shown). The signal contact  44  is soldered to the contact pad  100 , forming an inner electrical communication path from the contact pad  100 , through the signal contact  44 , then through the mating contact  35  to the mating connector (not shown).  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a connector  20  with an integral anti-tipping lock body. Put another way, the connector and anti-tipping lock body are unitary. The connector  20  includes a body  110  having a separable interface or mating end  112  and a mounting end  116 . The layout of contacts and dielectrics within the connector  20  is similar to that for the connector  14 . The mating end  112  is cylindrically shaped and extends from the body  110  substantially perpendicularly to the mounting end  116 , and mates with a mating connector. The mating end  112  includes a threaded portion  114  sized to mate with a mating connector. The connector  20  may also be used with the circuit board  18 .  
         [0037]    The mounting end  116  includes a top  118 , a bottom  122 , a back  124 , sides  120 , a signal contact  126 , and grounding posts  128 . The signal contact  126  and grounding posts  128  are configured to electrically communicate with the circuit board  18  when the connector  20  is mounted to the circuit board  18 .  
         [0038]    The bottom  122  of the mounting end  116  rests at or near the top surface of the circuit board  18  when the connector  20  is mounted to the circuit board  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the signal contact  126  is cylindrically shaped, and the grounding posts  128  have rectangular cross-sections. The top  118  is located opposite the bottom  122 , and may provide a vacuum pick-up surface to facilitate automated placement of the connector  20 . The sides  120  and back  124  join the top  118  and bottom  122  of the mounting end.  
         [0039]    The board mounting feature  130  extends from the bottom  122  of the connector  20  near the back  124  of the connector. In the illustrated embodiment, the board mounting feature  130  is pressed into the bottom  122  of the mounting end  116 . The board mounting feature  130  includes a post  132 , a slot  134 , and a retention feature  135 . The retention feature  135  includes a leading edge  136 , a ring  138 , and a locking surface  140 . The retention feature  135  is located toward the end of the post  132  farthest from the bottom  122  of the connector  20 . The post  132  is generally cylindrically shaped, with two slots  134  extending through the axis of the post  132 . The post  132  may be made of a metal clip pressed into the bottom  122  of the connector  20 . Because the metal may be fairly rigid, two slots  134  may be used instead of just one slot, as in the previously illustrated embodiment, to insure that the board mounting feature  130  does not require undue force to be biased. In alternate embodiments, different numbers of slots could be used. Starting from a point farthest away from the body  110  and extending back toward the body  110 , the leading edge  136  has a relatively increasing diameter until it contacts the ring  138 . The smallest diameter of the leading edge  136  is less than the diameter of the corresponding locking hole  106  of the circuit board  18 , and the largest diameter of the leading edge  76  exceeds the diameter of the locking hole  106  of the circuit board  18 . Traversing still further toward the body  110 , the ring  138  terminates at a stepped decrease in the diameter of the post  132  including the locking surface  140 . The connector  20  is mounted to the circuit board in a similar fashion to that used for the connector  14 .  
         [0040]    While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, the board and/or body mounting features might not include a ring or other retaining element but may instead rely solely on the resiliency of the mounting feature to maintain position. Alternatively, the mounting features may include a ring that does not extend completely through a mounting hole, but instead applies sufficient pressure to the inside wall of a mounting hole to maintain the feature in the hole and prevent the connector from tipping. Further, the signal contact may electrically communicate with a hole in the circuit board instead of a pad. It is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover such modifications as incorporate those features which come within the spirit and scope of the invention.