Abstract:
An angled compliant pin connector is provided, comprising an insulative housing and a plurality of press fit pins. Each said pin includes a first leg and a second leg, the legs joining to define a V-shape. One or both such legs may define an therethrough, the apertures at least partially bounded by resilient walls. The press fit pins are carried by the insulative housing side-by-side generally parallel one to another, the first legs of the pins projecting from the insulative housing to provide a first attachment bed for connection to a first printed circuit board, the second legs of the pins projecting from the insulative housing to provide a second attachment bed for connection to a second printed circuit board, the two circuit boards residing in intersecting planes. The insulative housing may also include one or more mounting arms for bracing of a printed circuit board, and the mounting arms also may carry press fit pins for attachment to such printed circuit boards.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The presently disclosed technology relates to apparatuses for electrically connecting two printed circuit boards. In particular, the presently disclosed technology relates to an interconnector including compliant pins for electrically connecting printed circuit boards in an angular orientation one to the other.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Printed circuit boards may be electrically interconnected in a stacked or layered configuration, each board parallel to another. For advantageous reasons, however, interconnecting such circuit boards in a non-parallel arrangement, one board at an angular orientation to another, may be desired in certain applications.  
         [0003]     Currently known methods for such angularly-oriented interconnection, such as ball grid arrays or land grid arrays, may not be ideal in all applications. Solderless connections, for example, may be preferred in some situations. Additionally, or alternatively, in some situations it may be desirable for an interconnector not only to provide for electrical connection but also for reliable and strong mechanical connection between the two circuit boards. Still further, an interconnection that may be easily disassembled, and, optionally, reassembled may be preferred. In addition, certain applications, and certain manufacturers of electronic components, may benefit from the use of press fit assembly of printed circuit board interconnections. In providing for the foregoing features, an interconnector for angularly-oriented printed circuit boards must nevertheless maintain sufficient and reliable electrical contact, must conserve space, and must provide for rapid assembly time.  
         [0004]     The presently known interconnectors do not optimally resolve such challenges.  
         [0005]     While various implementations of circuit board interconnecting devices have been developed, no design has emerged that encompasses the desired characteristics as hereafter presented in accordance with the subject technology.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In view of the limitations encountered in the presently known technology and addressed by the present subject matter, an interconnecting device is disclosed directed toward providing for attachment of angularly-oriented printed circuit boards that makes use of press fit, compliant pins.  
         [0007]     In accordance with aspects of certain embodiments of the present subject matter, an angled compliant pin connector is provided that may include at least two press fit pins, each such pin including a first leg and an opposed second leg. The first leg resides on a first axis and the second leg on a second axis, the two axes intersecting to define an angle of predetermined degree. The degree of such angle may either be a right angle or any obtuse angle. Each such leg of such a press fit pin defines a length, and each such leg defines therethrough at least one eyelet along that length. So configured, the press fit pins are carried in an insulative housing parallel one to another, the first legs of each such pin extending from the housing to provide a first attachment bed for electrical devices, and the second such legs of such pins extending from the housing to provide a second attachment bed for electrical devices.  
         [0008]     In accordance with additional aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, at least two of the press fit pins may be electrically conductive. Still further, each of the eyelets defined through the leg of a respective pin may be resilient in at least one direction. Each such leg of such press fit pin may also terminate in a nib.  
         [0009]     In accordance with yet additional aspects of the present technology, a first leg of at least one of the press fit pins may define two or more eyelets along the length of such leg.  
         [0010]     In accordance with still further aspects of the present technology, the insulative housing may further include a mounting arm. Additionally, in accordance with the present technology, the insulative housing may include a second mounting arm, the first and second arms parallel one to the other. In accordance with yet still further aspects of the present technology, the insulative housing may include as an alternative to, or in addition to, the foregoing-described single mounting arm, or the foregoing-described first and second mounting arms, a third and fourth mounting arms, the third and fourth mounting arms residing at an acute angle one to the other. The present technology may also include at least one press fit pin carried by at least one of such mounting arms.  
         [0011]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter, a plurality of elongated press fit pins may be provided, at least one of which is electrically conductive. Each such press fit pin is V-shaped, and including a first end and an opposed second end. Each such pin may define a first eyelet disposed proximate to the first end and a second eyelet disposed proximate to the second end, the first and second eyelets resilient in at least one dimension. Such elongated press fit pins are carried by an insulative housing and are disposed generally parallel one to another, with the first ends of the pins external to the insulative housing to define a first attachment plane and with the second ends of the pins external to the insulative housing to define a second attachment plane, the first and second attachment planes intersecting.  
         [0012]     In accordance with additional aspects of other embodiments of the present technology, the V-shaped pins may each define a right angle. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the V-shaped pins may define an obtuse angle.  
         [0013]     In accordance with yet additional aspects of the present technology, each of the first and second legs of the press fit pins may terminate in a nib. Alternatively, or additionally, one leg of at least one of such press fit pins may define a second eyelet therethrough.  
         [0014]     In accordance with still further aspects of the present technology, the insulative housing may include a mounting arm. Alternatively, the insulative housing may include both a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, the first and second mounting arms parallel one to another. Alternatively, or additionally, the insulative housing may include a third and fourth mounting arms, the third and fourth mounting arms residing one to the other at an angle of predetermined degree, the predetermined degree being a right angle or an acute angle. A press fit pin may be carried by any or all such mounting arms, depending upon the embodiment utilized.  
         [0015]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present technology, a plurality of elongated press fit pins are provided, each such pin including a first leg and a second leg, the first and second legs joining to define a V-shape with a midpoint at such juncture, each such leg terminating in a nib. The first leg may define a first aperture therethrough distal to the midpoint, and the second leg likewise may define a second aperture therethrough distal to the midpoint, the first and second apertures at least partially bound by resilient walls. The press fit pins are carried by an insulative housing, the insulative housing defining a length and having a generally polygonal cross-section along that length. So configured relative to such insulative housing, the press fit pins may be disposed side-by-side generally parallel one to another, the first legs of the pins projecting from the insulative housing to expose the first apertures to define a first attachment plane, and the second ends of the pins projecting from the insulative housing to expose the second apertures to define a second attachment plane, the first and second said such attachment planes intersecting.  
         [0016]     In accordance with an additional aspect of the present technology, the V-shape defined by the first and second legs of the press fit pins may define a right angle. Alternatively, the V-shape of the press fit pins may define an obtuse angle.  
         [0017]     In accordance with yet additional aspects of the present technology, the first leg of at least one of the press fit pins may define a second eyelet therethrough.  
         [0018]     In accordance with still further aspects of the present technology, the insulative housing may include a first mounting arm. Still further, a second mounting arm may be included in addition to the first mounting arm, the first and second mounting arms parallel one to another. Alternatively, or additionally, the insulative housing may include a third and fourth mounting arms, the third and fourth mounting arms residing one to the other at an angle of predetermined degree, either a right angle or an acute angle. Optionally, in either configuration, at least one of such first, second, third, or fourth mounting arms may carry a press fit pin.  
         [0019]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present technology, a plurality of V-shaped press fit pins is provided, each pin including a first leg and a second leg, the first leg including resilient connecting means for connecting the leg to a throughhole of an electrical device, the second leg including resilient connecting means for connecting the second leg to a throughhole of an electrical device. Housing means are provided for housing the press fit pins side-by-side generally parallel one to another, with the resilient connection means of the first and second legs projecting from the housing means.  
         [0020]     In accordance with an additional aspect of the present technology, the V-shape of the press fit pins may define a right angle. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the V-shape may define an obtuse angle.  
         [0021]     In accordance with yet additional aspects of the present technology, a first leg of at least one such press fit pin may include a second resilient connecting means.  
         [0022]     In accordance with yet still further aspects of the present technology, the housing means may include mounting means for mounting the housing means on a circuit board.  
         [0023]     Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in the appended drawing and in the detailed description below, or will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in this technology. It should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to specific features and elements may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations might include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or aspects for those that are illustrated, referenced, or discussed herein, as well as the functional, operational, or positional reverse of various parts, features, aspects, or the like.  
         [0024]     It is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently preferred embodiments of the present subject matter may include various combinations or configurations of the presently disclosed features, elements, or aspects, or their equivalents, including combinations of features, parts, or aspects, or configurations thereof, that are not expressly shown in the figures or stated in the detailed description.  
         [0025]     Additional embodiments of the present subject matter, not necessarily expressed in the summarized section, may include or incorporate various combinations of aspects of features, components, or aspects referenced in the summarized subjects above, and/or other features, components, or aspects as otherwise discussed in this application. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of this specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed toward one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. It should be noted that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale in all instances, but may have exaggerated dimensions in some respects to illustrate the principles of the technology.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an angled compliant pin interconnector in accordance to certain aspects of the present invention, with fastening pins included on each of four mounting arms;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a V-shaped press fit pin with a single eyelet on each leg, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 2B  is a partial cross-sectional view, taken along line D-D in  FIG. 3 , of a press fit pin received within a throughhole of a printed circuit board;  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an angled compliant pin interconnector mounted to a first circuit board, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an angled compliant pin interconnector mounted to first and second circuit boards, the first and second circuit boards angularly oriented one to the other;  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of an angled compliant pin interconnector in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an angled compliant pin interconnector attached to a first circuit board, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a V-shaped press fit pin with two eyelets on each of the legs of the pin, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention; and  
         [0036]      FIG. 9  is an illustrative, partial cross-sectional view of a leg of a press fit pin including two resilient eyelets, mounted through two parallel circuit boards, in accordance with certain aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the present technology, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the technology, and is not meant as a limitation.  
         [0038]     Repeat use of reference characters throughout the present specification and the appended drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the technology.  
         [0039]     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an angled compliant pin interconnector, generally  10 , is provided. Interconnector  10  includes an insulative housing, generally  50 , and a plurality of press fit pins  20 . Interconnector  10  is configured for press fit assembly attachment of angularly-oriented printed circuit boards. Using press fit pins  20 , solderless electrical and mechanical connections between two angularly-oriented printed circuit boards may be achieved, and such connections may be disassembled and, optionally, reassembled.  
         [0040]     Insulative housing  50  is nonconductive, such as a thermoset or thermoplastic polymer.  
         [0041]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2A , each press fit pin  20  includes a first leg  30  and a second leg  40 . The first leg  30  and second leg  40  are disposed relative to each other to reside at angle A between them. As such, press fit pin  20  may be carried by the main body  51  of insulative housing  50  such that first leg  30  projects outboard of main body  51 , and second leg  40  projects outboard of main body  51 , the two respective legs thereby disposed for attachment to two separate printed circuit boards residing in non-parallel planes.  
         [0042]     Press fit pins  20  all may be conductive, or some in a given application may selectively be chosen to be nonconductive for advantageous reasons of specific situations (such as for mechanical attachment only). If conductive, press fit pins  20  may be of phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, nickel, beryllium, stainless steel, or other electrical conductors. Press fit pins may be nonplated, or plated with nickel, tin, tin lead, gold, or silver.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , insulative housing  50  carries a plurality of press fit pins  20  in side-by-side generally parallel alignment. Accordingly, insulative housing  50  thereby provides a bed of plural first legs  30 , each residing in generally parallel alignment and configured for attachment to plural receiving structures upon a first circuit board, as will be explained in more detail below. Correspondingly, a bed of plural second legs  40  likewise projects from insulative housing  50 , the plural second legs  40  similarly adapted for attachment to plural receiving structures of a second printed circuit board. Because of the angular configuration of press fit pin  20 , with its first and second legs residing one to the other at angle A, the first and second circuit boards to be attached to angled compliant pin interconnector  10  will reside in separate, intersecting planes.  
         [0044]     With particular reference to  FIG. 2A , it is to be understood that press fit pin  20  may include a resiliency-providing structure, such as a first eyelet  33  defined within first leg  30 . First eyelet  33  is bounded, at least in part, by opposing walls  35 ,  36 . Opposing walls  35 ,  36  are configured to provide resiliency upon deformation of eyelet  33  upon insertion in a receiving structure of a circuit board. Further, first leg  30  may terminate at first end  31  in a guiding structure, such as nib  32 . Nib  32 , which may be a beveled, sharpened, chamfered, or rounded point, provides for easier insertion of first end  31  into a receiving structure of a circuit board. Similarly, second leg  40  includes second eyelet  43 , second eyelet  43  bounded by walls  45 ,  46 . Walls  45 ,  46  are configured for resiliency upon deformation of second eye  43 . Likewise, second leg  40  terminates at second end  41 , which may include nib  42 . Nib  42  may be configured similarly to nib  32 , to provide for ease of insertion of second end  41  into a receiving structure of a separate circuit board.  
         [0045]     Press fit pin  20  may also include at the juncture of first leg  30  and second leg  40  a mid-point flange  22 . Mid-point flange  22  may be included for ease of fabrication of angled compliant pin interconnector  10 , either during molding of main body  51  about a plurality of press fit pins  20 , or during insertion of a plurality press fit pins  20  into main body  51 . Mid-point flange  22  may also be used to provide securement of a press fit pin  20  within main body  51 .  
         [0046]     In one embodiment, angle A of press fit pin  20  may be a right angle, to provide for angularly-oriented interconnection of printed circuit boards in a perpendicular configuration. Alternatively, in another embodiment, angle A of press fit pin  20  may be an obtuse angle, to provide for interconnection of printed circuit boards at an acute angle, one to another, as will be explained below in greater detail with reference to FIG.  7 . It should be understood that any predetermined angle may be utilized, to suit a particular application.  
         [0047]     Returning to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment is illustrated that includes first mounting arm  52  and second mounting arm  53  extending from main body  51 . Mounting arms  52 ,  53  may be employed to provide increased structural integrity as bracing for a circuit board that is connected to first legs  30  of the plurality of press fit pins  20 . Correspondingly, angled compliant pin interconnector  10  may include third mounting arm  54  and fourth mounting arm  55 , for increased integrity between two circuit boards interconnected with angled compliant pin interconnector  10 , mounting arms  54 ,  55  providing bracing for a circuit board interconnected with the plurality of second legs  40  of the plurality of press fit pins  20 . It will be appreciated that the nomenclature third mounting arm  54  and fourth mounting arm  55  need not necessarily require also that first mounting arm  52  and second mounting arm  53  be included; instead, mounting arms  54 ,  55  are referred to, respectively, as “third” and “fourth” only for ease of understanding within this specification as differentiating between first mounting arm  52  and second mounting arm  53 .  
         [0048]     Still with reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment is illustrated that includes a plurality of fastening pins  24 . A fastening pin  24  may be embedded within first mounting arm  52 , second mounting arm  53 , third mounting arm  54 , or fourth mounting arm  55 , or any combination thereof, for additional mechanical attachment of angled compliant pin interconnector  10  with a corresponding printed circuit board. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , which is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of angled compliant pin interconnector  10 , fastening pin  24  may be included with insulative housing  50  by embedding embedded leg  25  within first mounting arm  52 , second mounting arm  53 , third mounting arm  54 , and/or a fourth mounting arm  55 . Such embedding may be utilized to allow free leg  26  of fastening pin  24  to project from its corresponding mounting arm  52 ,  53 ,  54 , and/or  55 . As such, free leg  26  may be inserted into a corresponding structure of a printed circuit board adapted for receipt of such free leg  26 , thereby increasing the structural integrity of the attachment of angled compliant pin interconnected  10  with a printed circuit board.  
         [0049]      FIG. 2B  is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a press fit pin received within a throughhole of a printed circuit board. As shown, pin  24  includes resilient walls  45 ,  46 , formed in an eyelet, as with pins  20  above. Specifically, leg  40  has been inserted into throughhole  84  of printed circuit board  81 . So configured, walls  45 ,  46 , being resilient, are compressed against the boundaries of conductor  83 , forming an electrical and/or mechanical contact for leg  40 .  
         [0050]     The presently described technology may be further understood with reference to  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , angled compliant pin interconnector  10  is attached to a first printed circuit board  81 . Such attachment is provided by insertion of the bed of second leg  40  of press fit pins  20   a - j  into corresponding throughholes  84   a - j  in first printed circuit board  81 . Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a free leg  26  of a fastening pin  24  carried by third mounting arm  54  has been inserted into an attachment hole  86  provided in first printed circuit board  81 .  
         [0051]     Further understanding of the presently disclosed technology may be gained with reference to  FIG. 4 . The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  may be conceptualized as the assemblage illustrated in  FIG. 3  with the addition of a second printed circuit board  82  connected with the bed of first legs  30   a - j  of a plurality of press fit pins  20 . As illustrated, second printed circuit board  82  has been connected to first printed circuit board  81  by use of angled compliant pin interconnector  10 . Specifically, second printed circuit board  82  has been attached to the bed of plural first legs  30   a - j  illustrated in  FIG. 3  by insertion of such first legs  30   a - j  into throughholes  85   a - j . Further, second circuit board  82  also has been attached to angled compliant pin interconnector  10  by insertion of free legs  26  of the fastening pins  24  carried by first mounting arm  52  and second mounting arm  53 , through throughholes  85 .  
         [0052]     Another embodiment of angled compliant pin interconnector generally  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 , denominated  10 ′. Angled compliant interconnector  10 ′ is advantageously and economically configured for use in applications in which no need exists for mountings arms  52 ,  53 ,  54 , or  55 . Instead, angled compliant pin interconnector  10 ′ carries a plurality of press fit pins  20  such that a bed of first legs  30   a - j  projects in one plane from main body  51 , and a second bed of second ends  40   a - j  projects from main body  51  in a second plane that is not parallel to the plane defined by first legs  30   a - j.    
         [0053]      FIG. 7  illustrates a yet still further embodiment of angled compliant pin interconnector  10 . With the embodiment illustrated therein, press fit pins  20  have been configured to include angle A as an obtuse angle. So configured, the plurality of press fit pins  20   a - j  are adapted for attachment of two printed circuit boards with an acute angular orientation. As illustrated, first printed circuit board  81  has been attached to angled compliant pin interconnector  10 , and angled compliant pin interconnector  10  presents a bed of second legs for attachment to a separate circuit board (not shown) that would reside at acute angle B to first printed circuit board  81 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , first and second mounting arms  52 ,  53  have been included, but may not be necessary in certain applications of angled compliant pin interconnector  10  with an acute angle B for angular orientation of the attached circuit boards.  
         [0054]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a yet still additional embodiment of press fit pins  20  that may be used with an angular pin interconnector  10 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , press fit pin  20  may include on first leg  30  a first eyelet  33 , and second leg  40  may include a second eyelet  43 . Additionally, though, first leg  30  may include a third eyelet  34 , and fourth leg  40  may include a fourth eyelet  44 . Third eyelet  44  is in serial orientation to first eyelet  33  and fourth eyelet  44  is in serial orientation to second eyelet  43 . So configured, for example, first leg  30  may be inserted through two parallel circuit boards, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Specifically, first leg  30  may be inserted through a first printed circuit board  81  and into a third circuit board  87  for electrical and/or mechanical interconnection. So inserted, first eyelet  33  may establish electrical and/or mechanical conductivity with conductor  83   a , while at the same time third eyelet  34  may establish electrical and/or mechanical conductivity with conductor  83   b.    
         [0055]     While the particular angled compliant pin interconnector as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter that is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is to be further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.