Abstract:
A connector having a body, at least one contact accommodated in the body with an insulator being interposed, a casing defining a housing designed to accommodate all or part of the body, and an armature placed around at least one portion of the casing, at least one portion of the body being accommodated in the portion of the casing, the armature having feet for fastening the connector to a printed circuit board, wherein the feet project beyond that portion of the casing around which the armature is placed and wherein the armature is placed in a set-in manner relative to the casing.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The subject of the present invention is a connector for a printed circuit board. 
     The invention applies for example to a coaxial connector produced according to the FAKRA (Standards Commission for the Automotive Industry) standardization scheme. 
     In the context of the invention, a “coaxial connector according to the FAKRA standardization scheme” denotes a coaxial connector comprising a body, the mechanical dimensions of which in an axial cross section of said body, cooperating with the body of a complementary connector in order to establish a mechanical connection between the two bodies, are defined in the DIN 72594-1 standard. Such connectors are generally used in the automotive field for data transmission cables. 
     The invention may also apply to connectors for high rate transmission circuits (LVDS). 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an example of a connector denoted overall by  1  and generally used for fastening to a printed circuit board. This connector is an elbow connector and comprises a metal body  2  produced by machining or casting, said body  2  being connected to a plastic casing  3  defining a mechanical and electrical connection interface. It is desirable for the body  2  of the connector  1  to have a small thickness so as to produce a satisfactory connection interface. However, given that with a connector according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  the tensile forces on the casing  3  occurring during use are directly transmitted to the body  2 , the latter must be sufficiently resistant thereto. 
     In the example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connector  1  also includes a metal cap  4  closing off one end of the body  2  and making it possible to provide high-frequency shielding when the connector  1  is fastened to the printed circuit. 
     Because of the way the body  2  is produced by machining or casting, such a connector is relatively expensive. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is known to reduce the cost of manufacturing the parts, and especially the body, of a connector using what is called the “cut-and-rolled” technique. However, a connector body produced using this technique and having a small thickness, so as to meet the abovementioned constraints of the connection interface, would be too fragile owing to the abovementioned stresses exerted on said body. 
     There is a need to benefit from a connector comprising elements that can be manufactured for a reduced cost, while still being sufficiently robust. 
     The connector disclosed by the utility model US D456 355 S teaches the provision of a connector with an armature for taking up the tensile forces. This connector is a straight connector specific for “board edge” fitting, having a central contact extending in a plane parallel to that of the printed circuit board. The fitting of such a connector to the printed circuit board then requires a cavity to be provided in the board for accommodating the body of the connector. The benefit of such a connector may thus be limited by the constraints associated with its fitting and also by the use of an EMI (electromagnetic interference) shield. 
     There is a need to remedy the drawbacks of the known connectors according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  while allowing greater fitting freedom than with the connector according to the utility model US D456 355 S. 
     The aim of the invention is to meet this need and it succeeds in doing so, according to one of its aspects, by a connector comprising:
         a body;   at least one contact accommodated in the body with an insulator being interposed;   a casing defining a housing designed to accommodate all or part of the body; and   an armature placed around at least one portion of the casing, at least one portion of the body being accommodated in said portion of the casing, the armature having feet for fastening the connector to a printed circuit board, wherein said feet project beyond that portion of the casing around which the armature is placed.       

     Thanks to the presence of the armature, the mechanical forces are taken up with the printed circuit board by the casing and the armature. Thus, the tensile forces on the casing are transmitted to the armature but not to the body of the connector. 
     The connector obtained may be an SMC (surface mount component) connector of the “pin-in-paste” type (that is to say one using solder paste for melt-soldering the components) or else of the “wave soldering” type. 
     The armature may be made of metal, especially brass or bronze, especially made as a single piece, in particular using the “cut-and-rolled” technique. In this way it is possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing the parts, despite the small thickness obtained since the forces are taken up over the entirety of the armature. 
     Advantageously, the casing is made of a plastic, for example a polyamide filled with glass fibers. The casing extends for example along a straight longitudinal axis. 
     The armature may comprise at least one contact arm extending beyond that portion of the casing around which the armature is placed. This contact arm may allow an electrical contact to be produced between the armature and one or more chassis located close to the connector. 
     The armature may have a substantially U-shaped cross section. The armature may thus comprise a back and two flanges. That portion of the casing around which the armature is placed may be of rectangular cross section, the armature especially extending only along all or part of three sides of this portion of the casing. The armature may be sandwiched in a groove of the casing or between two walls (or ends) of the casing. This configuration may allow the forces to be taken up by the armature. 
     According to a first embodiment of the invention, the connector is an elbow connector, that is to say it extends along two intersecting axes, especially perpendicular axes. One of the axes of the connector may correspond to the longitudinal axis of the casing. 
     The back of the armature may have at least one relief cooperating with a complementary relief provided by the face of the portion of the casing which is intended to be covered by the back. The armature includes for example a cavity and said face of the casing then includes a projecting portion, such as a key, designed to be accommodated in the cavity. As a variant, the armature has a projecting portion, such as a key, and said face of the casing includes a cavity into which the projecting portion of the armature is accommodated. 
     These complementary reliefs of the armature and of said face of the casing may promote retention by the armature of the connector on the printed circuit board on which it is mounted when a tensile force is exerted on the casing. Such a tensile force, together with the position of the center of gravity of the connector, not facing the printed circuit board, is capable of mainly tilting the casing relative to this printed circuit board. 
     Furthermore, these complementary reliefs may constitute polarizing means between the armature and the casing, so as to ensure that a given armature is properly mounted on the appropriate casing. These complementary reliefs may be of any dimension and shape and there may be any number thereof. 
     The armature may include a portion closing off a longitudinal end of the casing. By virtue of such a portion of the armature, high-frequency shielding is possible when the connector is fastened to the printed circuit board, the connector being imprisoned inside the casing. 
     According to this first embodiment of the invention, the feet of the armature may extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. The term “generally perpendicular” means that these feet may either include at least one part perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing or include at least one curved part extending on either side of an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. In the latter case, the thickness of the feet may be small enough to give them a flexible character and the curved part may promote retention of the armature on the printed circuit board, and therefore of the connector, despite forces exerted thereon and despite the position of the center of gravity thereof. 
     The armature may further include feet having a part perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing and feet having a curved part extending on either side of an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the casing. The feet with the curved part may be the feet furthest away from the end of the casing, namely the end intended to be connected to a casing of a complementary connector. 
     According to a second embodiment of the invention, the connector is straight, that is say it extends only along a single axis, especially the longitudinal axis of the casing, and the feet of the armature extend parallel to said longitudinal axis of the casing. 
     The armature may include at least one tongue, and at least one catching foot may be provided on the outer surface of the body, it being possible for said tongue and said foot to be designed to keep the body in place in the casing. 
     As a variant, the casing comprises at least one tongue, and at least one catching foot is provided on the outer surface of the body, said tongue and said foot being designed to keep the body in place in the casing. 
     In the above two embodiments of the invention, the casing may extend longitudinally on either side of said armature, that is to say beyond each longitudinal end thereof. The armature may be placed in a set-in manner relative to the casing. In particular, the armature may be located longitudinally between at least two parts of the casing. This configuration may allow the tensile forces to be taken up along the axis of the body. 
     Yet another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a connection assembly comprising at least two connectors according to the first embodiment that has just been described, the armature of the first connector being connected to the armature of the second connector by a joining part carrying feet. 
     The armature of the first connector and the armature of the second connector and the joining part may be produced as a single piece, especially by virtue of the low-cost “cut-and-rolled” technique. 
     The feet provided on the joining part may be fastened by soldering to the printed circuit board. By virtue of such a connection assembly, it is possible for several casings to be soldered simultaneously. 
     Yet another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a connection assembly comprising at least two connectors according to the second connector embodiment according to the invention, the armature of the first connector being connected to the armature of the second connector by a joining part and/or the casing of the first connector and the casing of the second connector being made as a single piece. 
     When the armature of the first connector and the armature of the second connector are made as a single piece, the resulting armature of the connection assembly may have a U-shaped cross section with a back and flanges. 
     In all the abovementioned embodiments of the invention, the armature may be mechanically attached to the casing, for example by the cooperation of reliefs, by interlocking or snap-fastening. When the armature is placed around the casing, it cannot be in contact with the body of the connector. The connector is for example a coaxial connector. The connector may comprise a plurality of central contacts. 
     When the connector is an elbow connector, the contact(s) of the connector may be made as a single piece, or, as a variant, may be obtained by virtue of two straight contact portions connected together. 
     In all the above embodiments, the armature may be accommodated in the thickness of the casing, that is to say the wall of that portion of the casing around which the armature is placed may have recesses and the armature may be accommodated in these recesses when it is placed around said portion of the casing. Where appropriate, the thickness of the flanges and of the back of the armature may correspond to the thickness of said recesses. 
     Yet another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is an elbow connector comprising: 
     a body; 
     at least one contact accommodated in the body with an insulator being interposed; 
     a casing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a housing designed to accommodate all or part of the body; and 
     an armature surrounding, along the longitudinal axis, at least one portion of the casing in which at least one portion of the body is accommodated, the armature having feet for fastening the connector to a printed circuit board, in which the armature has a wall transverse to the longitudinal axis of the casing, said wall closing off a longitudinal end of the casing. 
     Yet another subject of the invention, according to another of its aspects, is a system comprising: 
     a connector having a body, at least one contact accommodated in the body with an insulator being interposed, a casing defining a housing designed to accommodate all or part of the body, and an armature placed around at least one portion of the casing, the armature having feet for fastening the connector to a printed circuit board; and 
     a printed circuit board, wherein the contact extends along a longitudinal axis, at least one portion of which is inclined, especially being perpendicular, to the plane defined by the printed circuit board. 
     The plane defined by the printed circuit board is that in which the width and the length of the printed circuit board are measured. 
     Thanks to the inclined, and especially perpendicular, portion of the contact of the connector relative to the plane defined by the printed circuit board, other ways of fitting the connector, that is to say other than those of the “board edge” type, may be envisioned. 
     The connector may be straight, in which case the contact is straight and may extend over its entire length so as to be inclined, especially perpendicularly, to the plane defined by the printed circuit board. 
     As a variant, the connector may be an elbow connector, in which case the contact is right-angled and may include a portion extending so as to be inclined, especially perpendicularly, to the plane defined by the printed circuit board. 
     The feet of the connector may extend so as to be inclined, especially perpendicularly, to the plane defined by the printed circuit board. 
     The connector, especially the body, the casing or the armature, may be as described above, comprising for example at least any one of the aforementioned features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments thereof and by examining the appended drawing in which: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  show a connector according to the prior art, already described, 
         FIGS. 3 to 6  show a connector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention,  FIG. 4  being a view in longitudinal section along IV-IV of  FIG. 3 , 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show schematically a connection assembly comprising connectors according to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , 
         FIG. 9  shows a connector according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention, 
         FIGS. 10 to 12  show a first variant of the connector according to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 11  being a view in longitudinal section along XI-XI of the connector of  FIG. 10 , 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  show a second variant of the connector according to  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 14  being a view in longitudinal section on XIV-XIV of the connector of  FIG. 13 , 
         FIGS. 15 to 17  show a connection assembly comprising connectors according to  FIGS. 9 to 14 , 
         FIG. 18  shows a variant of the connector shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , 
         FIG. 19  differs from  FIG. 18  only by the absence of the printed circuit board, 
         FIG. 20  is a view on XX of the connector shown in  FIG. 19 , 
         FIG. 21  is an exploded view of the connector shown in  FIG. 19 ; and 
         FIGS. 22 and 23  are isolated views of the armature shown in  FIG. 21 , on XXII and XXIII respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 3 to 6  show a connector  10  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. This connector  10  is designed to be mounted on a printed circuit board  19 , visible in  FIGS. 9 and 18 . The connector  10  here is an elbow connector. 
     The connector  10  comprises in the example described a body  2  accommodated in a housing  6  (i.e., in an interior space) of a casing  3 . 
     The body  2  is for example made of metal, especially brass or bronze, using the “cut-and-rolled” technique. As may be seen in  FIG. 4 , the body  2  accommodates an insulator  7  inside of which a plurality of central contacts  8  are placed. The central contacts  8  here are right-angled, that is to say they extend along a longitudinal axis comprising, as shown in  FIG. 4 , two portions  60  and  61  making an angle, in the example described of 90°, between them. Each central contact  8  may be monolithic or produced by two straight portions connected together. 
     The casing  3  extends in this example along a straight longitudinal axis X. The casing  3  is for example made of plastic, especially a polyamide filled with glass fibers. In the example illustrated, the casing  3  comprises a front portion  11  especially having reliefs for connection to a casing of a complementary connector, a tubular central portion  12 , the inside diameter of which allows the body  2  to be accommodated therein, and a rear end portion  13  around which an armature  14  (e.g., a cover, a shield or a shell) is placed. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rear portion  13  of the casing  3  may have a U-shaped cross section. This rear portion  13  of the casing accommodates a part  5  of the body which also has a U-shaped cross section, this part  5  having returns  9  folded against a free edge of the rear portion  13  of the casing so as to keep the body  2  in position in the housing  6 . 
     The armature  14  is made of metal, especially brass or bronze. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the armature  14  has a U-shaped cross section perpendicular to the axis X of the casing  3 . This armature  14  comprises, in the example shown in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a back  16  and two flanges  17 , the latter being joined by the back  16 . The armature is for example made as a single piece. 
     In the example described, the back  16  has a substantially smooth surface. 
     As a variant, the back  16  may include, as shown in the example of  FIGS. 18 to 23 , a cavity  50 . The cavity  50  is for example provided right through the thickness of the back and may be designed to cooperate with a projecting relief  51  provided on the upper face  52  of the rear portion  13  of the casing  3 , this upper face  52  being covered by the back  16  of the armature  14  when the latter is in place on the portion  13  of the casing  3 . The projecting relief  51  is for example a key. 
     The armature  14  also includes feet  18  for fastening the connector  10  to a printed circuit board  19 , visible in  FIG. 9 . The armature has for example a plurality of feet  18  provided by each flange  17 , for example two feet  18  for each flange  17 . These feet  18  may or may not have the same length. 
     In the example of  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the feet  18  extend perpendicular to the axis X of the casing  6 . 
     The feet  18  project from the rear portion  13  of the casing  3 , for example by a distance h of between 0.5 mm and 1 cm, especially between 0.6 and 4 mm. 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , the rear portion  13  of the casing  3  extends longitudinally beyond the longitudinal ends of the flanges  17 . 
     Each flange  17  may extend from the back  16  of the armature  14  along a plane surface  20 . This plane surface  20  is in the example described connected to each foot  18 . 
     Each foot may have a distal part  22  extending parallel to the plane surface  20  and a proximal part  21 , connected to the surface  20  and extending obliquely to the latter. Each proximal part  21  is for example turned toward the inside of the armature  14 . The distal part  22  of each foot  18  is for example designed to pass through an opening provided in the printed circuit board  19 . 
     However, the invention is not limited to feet having a distal part  22  parallel to the surface  20  of the armature. 
     In the variant shown in  FIGS. 18 to 23 , and especially in  FIGS. 21 to 23 , the armature  14  furthermore includes feet  18  having a curved distal part  22 , this distal part  22  extending on either side of an axis (A) parallel to the surface  20  of the armature  14 . 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 3 to 6 , each flange  17  may include a hole  24 , the latter being for example provided in the plane surface  20  and cooperating with a relief, such as a barb, provided on the outer surface of the rear portion  13  of the casing, so as to attach the armature  14  to the rear portion  13  of the casing  3 . 
     The holes  24  may be of any shape, being square in the example described. The armature  14  further includes, in the examples of  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a portion  25  extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the casing  3  and closing off the longitudinal end  26  of the casing  3  at the rear portion  13  thereof. 
     In the examples that have just been described, the flanges  17  and the back  16  of the armature  14  may be accommodated in the thickness of the rear portion  13  of the casing  3 , that is to say in recesses provided in the flanges  17  and the back  16  of the armature  14 . The armature  14  may be sandwiched between walls or ends  26  of the casing  3 , as may be seen for example in  FIG. 7 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the armature  14  may comprise a contact arm  27  extending beyond the rear portion  13  of the casing. This contact arm  27  extends for example in the direction of the tubular portion  12  of the casing  3  and may come into contact with a chassis  28  located close to the connector  10 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show an example of a connection assembly  30  comprising connectors  10  as described above. Although the connection assembly  30  has only two connectors  10  in the example considered, the invention is not limited to one particular number of connectors  10 . 
     The assembly comprises a joining part  31  connecting the armatures  14  of each of the connectors  10 . In the example illustrated, this joining part  31  is plane and has feet  33  similar to the feet  18  described above. As may be seen in  FIG. 8 , this joining part  31  has a relief  34  provided over the major part of its width, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each connector  10 , this relief  34  making it possible in particular stiffen the joining part  31 . 
     In the example illustrated, the joining part  31  is made as a single piece with the armatures  14  of the two connectors, the connection between armatures  14  and the joining part  31  taking place by means of the feet  18  of the flanges  17  opposite the joining part  31 , said feet  18  being curved and connected to the joining part  31 . 
     The connection assembly  30  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8  is fastened to a printed circuit board by soldering the feet  18  not opposite the joining part  31  and the feet  33  of said joining part  31  to the printed circuit board. 
     Connectors  10  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 14 . 
     The connectors according to this second embodiment of the invention differ in particular from those that have just been described by the fact that they are straight, that is to say they extend only along a single straight longitudinal axis, the central contacts being straight. 
     In the examples shown in  FIGS. 9 to 14 , the feet  18  of the armature extend parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the casing  3 , which here is the longitudinal axis of the connector  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , in which the armature  14  has not been shown for the sake of clarity, the back  16  of the armature  14  is accommodated in a groove  40  provided in the rear portion  13  of the casing, this groove  40  extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the casing. The armature  14  may be sandwiched in the groove  40 . The casing  3  extends on either side of the longitudinal axis X, along with the armature  14 . This configuration makes it possible for the forces to be taken up by the armature. 
     The body  2  of the connector  10  includes, as described above, returns  9  which in the example illustrated are folded against the longitudinal end  26  of the casing  3  at the rear portion  13  of the latter. 
     In the example of  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 , a tongue  42  is provided on the inner surface of the rear portion  13  of the casing  3  and a catching foot  43  is provided on the outer surface of the body  2 , said tongue  42  and said foot  43  being designed to keep the body  2  in place in the housing  6  of the casing  3 . 
     In the example shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a tongue  45 , cut into the armature  14  and folded, for example on the back  16  of the armature  14 , may be provided as a complement to or replacement of the tongue  42  described with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , this tongue cooperating with the catching foot  43  for keeping the body in place in the housing  6  of the casing  3 . 
     A connection assembly  30  comprising connectors according to  FIGS. 9 to 14  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 15 to 17 . 
     In these examples, the casings  3  of each of the connectors  10  are made as a single piece, forming a common casing in which two through-housings  6  are provided, each of these through-housings accommodating one of the connectors  10 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 15 , each of the connectors  10  has its own armature  14 , similar to the armatures described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 14 , 
     In the example of  FIG. 17 , the back  16  of the armature of the first connector  10  is connected to the back  16  of the armature of the second connector by a joining part  47 . This joining part  47  may be made as a single piece with each of the backs  16  and may form an overall armature for the connection assembly  30 , comprising a back consisting of each back  16  and of the joining part  47 , and two flanges belonging to the respective armature of each connector. 
     As may be understood in the view shown in  FIG. 17 , the opposing faces of rear portions  13  of the casing  5  may have no armature. 
     As may be understood in the view shown in  FIG. 18 , in the case of an elbow connector, the central contacts  8  may each have a portion  61  perpendicular to the plane P defined by the printed circuit board  19 . 
     Furthermore, as may be understood in the view shown in  FIG. 9 , in the case of a straight connector, each central contact  8  may be entirely or only partly perpendicular to the plane P defined by the printed circuit board. 
     The invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described. 
     The presence of the reliefs  50  and  51  described with reference to  FIGS. 18 to 23  is especially inseparable from the curved distal parts  22  of the feet  18 .