Patent Publication Number: US-6220868-B1

Title: Card edge connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a card edge connector including different kinds of conductive contacts. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,609,502 and 5,024,609 disclose two kinds of card edge connectors. Referring to FIGS. 5, and  6 , such connector  70  ( 80 ) includes a housing  71  ( 81 ) and a plurality of contacts  72  ( 82 ,  83 ). The housing  71  ( 81 ) defines two rows of identical transverse cavities  73 ,  74  ( 84 ,  85 ) for receiving the corresponding contacts  72  ( 82 ,  83 ) therein. The connectors  70 ,  80  can&#39;t be properly attached to a circuit board  6  having a mating edge  60  and first contact pads  62 ,  63  formed on one face and second contact pads  61  formed on an opposite face because the contacts  72  ( 82 ,  83 ) are symmetrically received in the transverse cavities  73 ,  74  ( 84 ,  85 ). Thus, an improved card edge connector that can be attached to the circuit board  6  is provided by the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a card edge connector asymmetrically receiving different kinds of contacts in opposite sides of a housing thereof. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a card edge connector with several signal and power contacts thereby promoting proper electrical signal transfer though the connector. 
     Accordingly, a card edge connector in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing and different kinds of conductive contacts. The housing includes a mating face and a mounting face. The housing defines an elongate slot in the mating face for receiving a mating edge of a circuit card having a plurality of conductive pads formed on opposite faces of the mating edge. The housing defines a plurality of transverse cavities aligned on each side thereof for receiving the conductive contacts therein. At least two kinds of different contacts are received in the transverse cavities of one side of the housing and a smaller number of different contacts are received in the cavities of an opposite side of the housing. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention and a circuit board before being engaged; 
     FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but taken from a different perspective; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 with the circuit board received in the connector; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a conventional connector engaged with a circuit board; and 
     FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5 showing a different conventional connector. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a card edge connector  10  of the present invention engages a circuit board  6  and flexible circuit boards  5  for transferring electrical signals therebetween. The circuit board  6  forms a mating edge  60  having two rows of contact pads  62  ( 62 ′),  63  disposed on a side thereof for transferring electrical signals and power signals, respectively, and a row of contact pads  61  disposed on an opposite thereof acting as grounding pads. 
     Also referring to FIG. 3, the connector  10  comprises an insulative housing  1  having a mating face  11  and a mounting face  12 , a first contact  2 , a second contact  3 , and a third contact  4 . An elongate slot  13  is defined in the mating face  11  for receiving the mating edge  60  of the circuit board  6 . The slot  13  divides a portion of the housing  1  proximate the mating face  11  into an upper portion  14  and a lower portion  15 , which further define a plurality of transverse cavities  16 ,  16 ′ therein, respectively. Engaging portions  18 ,  18 ′ are formed between the slot  13  and the corresponding cavity  16 ,  16 ′. The housing  1  also forms a separator  17  between the slot  13  and the mounting face  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the first, second and third contacts  2 ,  3 ,  4  forms a soldering portion  21 ,  31 ,  41 , a mating portion  22 ,  32 ,  42  and a mounting portion  24 ,  34 ,  44 . The mounting portions  24 ,  34 ,  44  are received and fixed in the corresponding cavities  16 ,  16 ′ of the housing  1 . The soldering portions  21 ,  31 ,  41  extend beyond the mounting face  12  of the housing  1  and are soldered to the flexible circuit board  5 . The mating portions  22 ,  32 ,  42  are received in the corresponding cavities  16 ,  16 ′ with portions thereof extending into the slot  13 . Free ends  23 ,  43  of the mating portions  22 ,  42  are bent to abut against the engaging portions  18 ,  18 ′ respectively. A portion of the contact  3  proximate the mating portion  32  is bent substantially 180 degrees and a free end  33  of the mating portion  32  abuts against the separator  17  of the housing  1 . 
     As the mating edge  60  of the circuit board  6  is inserted into the slot  13  of the housing  1  from the mating face  11 , the mating edge  60  sequentially displaces the mating portions  22 , 42 ,  32 . Accordingly, the free ends  23 ,  33 ,  43  of the mating portions  22 ,  32 ,  42  are displaced away from the engaging portions  18 ,  18 ′ and the separator  17 , respectively. The mating portions  22 ,  32 ,  42  firmly abut against the corresponding contact pads  62 ,  63 ,  61  after the mating edge  60  is completely inserted into the slot  13  of the housing  1 . 
     It is noted that the apexes of the mating portions  22 ,  32 ,  42  of the three different contacts  2 ,  3 ,  4  are at different levels with regard to the mating face  11  of the connector  10 , and also the contacts  2 ,  3 ,  4  are in a preloaded manner by means of engagement of the free ends  23 ,  33 ,  43  with the engaging portions  18 ,  18 ′ and separator  17  for better mechanical performance. Under this situation, the mating portion  42  of the contact  4  extends into the slot  13  with a significant relatively larger dimension, at the middle level of the slot  13  with regard to the mating face  11 , in comparison with the mating portions  22 ,  32  of the contacts  2 ,  3  at the upper and lower levels with regard to the mating face  11 , wherein said mating portions  22 ,  32 ,  42  of the contacts  2 ,  3 ,  4  are offset from each other for not interference thereamong in both vertical and transverse directions of the mating face  11  of the connector  10 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.