Patent Abstract:
This invention relates to a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module comprising a dielectric housing unit, a plurality of terminals, an interface card, a retention mechanism, and a motherboard, wherein the join-structure includes a lateral contact and a plate contact type. In the lateral contact type, terminals in upper layer and lower layer are punched and aligned in a single material feeding band in staggered arrangement, and the terminals in the material feeding band can be folded at connection strips to stand in two rows. As to plate contact type, two-layer terminals are cross-inserted to fixing roots, which are designed in two-section manner and supported at two turning points with enhancing protruded strips. The terminals are plugged and fixed in reception grooves of the dielectric housing unit. A retention mechanism cooperating with a movable piece facilitates an easy dismounting of an interface module, wherein a fixing device is employed to fix the retention mechanism onto a motherboard, and an interface card may join a heat sink with fixing pins for a convenient assembly and a rapid disassembly.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, particularly to a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module that can save connecting material, hold connection firmly, and facilitate easy mounting and dismounting of an interface module. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional join-structure of high-density connector and interface module usually has two categories in its conductive terminals, including a cutting face lateral contact type (abbrev. as type A hereinafter) and a folded plate contact type (abbrev. as type B hereinafter). U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,071,371 and 5,425,658 are examples of type A, wherein two separated pairs (4 terminal pieces) overlap each other in most of their areas, and the employed terminal material is in relatively large amount that seemed to have been overdone. In another U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,609 of type B, a component separator is used to fix and align the conductive strips that increases manpower, production cost, and complexity. 
     A U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/430952 applied on Apr. 28, 1995 (ROC patent No. 312859) is a conventional join-structure of connector and interface module, wherein terminals in upper and middle layers are installed in straight lines in a reception slot, and volume of the entire body and needed terminal material are enlarged because of mounting of terminals at two lateral ends. And moreover, terminals in middle layer is prone to contact with that in lower layer when plugging in or pulling out a daughter board, so that, its function as well as usage has been compressed. 
     With respect to prior skill of join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,292, wherein terminal of type A and B both are used in a connector that may require complicated procedures in manufacturing and assembling. 
     Major embodiments in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,099 employ the same conductive strips as of type A and B in the mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,292, wherein FIG. 8 indicates another embodiment using terminals arranged in an upper as well as a lower layer respectively, and the terminals are laminated and polished aside that cannot contact with conductive strips thoroughly. 
     Moreover, FIG. 9 in the aforesaid patent reveals a type B embodiment, wherein the flaglike contact realm of the lower layer terminals requires a larger activity space that results in an enlarged slot at upper portion for reception a daughter board. However, owing to lack of guiding and positioning function, the daughter board cannot be plugged in the slot easily that may deform or impair the terminals to no longer coincide with golden fingers of the daughter board in geometric progression interval alignment (abbrev. as GPIA hereinafter). 
     Design of a usual join-structure of connector and interface module has progressed in GPIA alignment as revealed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/712868 (ROC patent No. 304284), wherein terminals of type A and B have been employed and arranged in an upper layer as well as a lower layer disposed in a single reception slot, however, in case a defect is found in manufacturing process or in the upper layer of a finished product, the intact lower layer has to be dismounted before removing or replacing the erroneous upper layer. This troublesome maintenance procedure will cost considerable manpower that has to be improved for sure. 
     Besides, a known retention mechanism, which can be applied to hold either a card type or a cartridge type interface module, is weak in dismounting procedure. A user has to use his hands to hold and pull an interface module out from the slot bit by bit and end by end. Such an inconvenient dismounting operation is also in need of improvement conspicuously. 
     In view of the aforesaid imperfections, and after years of constant efforts in research, this invention is taking the opportunity to propose a preferred structure, which is to be summarized below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein terminals of a lateral contact type, which is designed to save material, area, and volume, will be plugged in a reception slot and fixed firmly. Another object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein terminals of a plate face contact type designed staggering in root ends can be torn up for material saving. 
     One more object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein positioning pins are either plugged to anchor or pivoted to anchor for fixing the retention mechanism onto a motherboard. 
     Another more object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein fixing pins are employed to fix and latch a heat sink to the daughter board for low cost and easy assembly purposes. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein a movable frame on the retention mechanism is foldable inwards or exchangeable to retain a card type or a cartridge type interface module for multipurpose application. 
     A furthermore object of this invention is to provide a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module, wherein a flexible portion and a snap fastening portion of the retention mechanism cooperating with a movable piece can release simply and rapidly the fastened interface module from the retention mechanism. 
     With the above-described merits, the join-structure of high-density connector and interface module comprises a dielectric housing unit, a plurality of terminals, an interface card, a heat sink, a retention mechanism and a motherboard, wherein two kinds of structure of a conductive strip are available—a cutting face lateral contact and a folded plate contact; for the former, a material feeding band is punched to form simultaneously two different independent terminal sets in zigzag alignment at opposite sides that can be torn up easily; and for the latter, the alignment is the same as in the former, while the root portion includes two sections, and a enhancing protruded strip is provided at two turning points in a terminal; and the terminals are snap-fastened to the reception slot in the dielectric housing unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding to the present invention, together with further advantages or features thereof at least one preferred embodiment will be elucidated below with reference to the annexed drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional exploded view showing a join-structure of a high-density connector and a cartridge type interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 1B is a three-dimensional exploded view showing the join-structure of a high-density connector and a card type interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional partial view showing the join-structure of a cutting face contact type high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional cutaway view showing the join-structure of a cutting face contact type high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic partial view showing the join-structure of a cutting face contact type high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 4B indicates a partial completed section of the join-structure of a cutting face contact type high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a cutting face contact type terminal and a material feeding band of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is another schematic view showing alignment of cutting face contact type terminals in a material feeding band of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 7 is another schematic view showing alignment of folded plate contact type terminals in a material feeding band of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 7A is a schematic amplified view showing a fixed root in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 8A is a schematic view showing a folded plate contact type terminal in upper layer and a material feeding band of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 8B is a schematic view showing a folded plate contact type terminal in lower layer and a material feeding band of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 9A is a schematic right end lateral view showing a folded plate type dielectric housing unit of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 9B is a schematic partial cutaway sectional view showing a folded plate type dielectric housing unit of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic partial cutaway sectional view showing folded plate type terminals of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view showing a retention mechanism of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 11A is an amplified view of the circled portion in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 12A is an amplified view of the circled portion in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 13A is a schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 13B is another schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG. 13A; 
     FIG. 13C is an amplified view showing the snap-fastening portion in FIG. 13A; 
     FIG. 13D is an amplified view showing the snap-fastening portion in FIG. 13B; 
     FIG. 14 is an embodiment diagram showing a pivot type fixing device of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 15A is another schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 15B is another schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG. 15A; 
     FIG. 16 is an embodiment diagram showing connection of the fixing device to a motherboard of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 17 is another embodiment diagram showing a plugged-to-fix device of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention; 
     FIG. 18A is another schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18B is another schematic action view of the join-structure of a high-density connector and an interface module of this invention in FIG.  17 A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2, and FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B, a join-structure of high-density connector and interface module of this invention comprises a dielectric housing unit  1 , a plurality of terminals (conductive strip)  2 , a card type interface module  7  or cartridge type interface module  3 , a retention mechanism  5 , a movable piece  582 , and a motherboard  4 . An insertion slot  10  is formed in a central portion of the dielectric housing unit  1 , wherein a plurality of reception grooves  11  partitioned by inner walls  12  is aligned along both sides of the insertion slot  10 , and a fixing recess  120  is formed near bottom of the inner walls  12 , and a long protrusion strip  13  is disposed at bottom of the dielectric housing unit  1 . 
     There are two kinds of structure of a conductive strip  2 —a cutting face contact type and a folded plate contact type. As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B, two pairs (4 pieces) of terminals  2  are formed in copper feeding band (one terminal at lower layer  20  and another at upper layer  21  become one pair). In each pair of terminals  20 ,  21 , a fixing root  200 ,  210  is located at knee position and further extended downwards to form a soldering portion  201 ,  211 , wherein a protrusion  205 ,  213  is disposed on the fixing root  200 ,  210  and on reverse side, another protrusion  206 ,  214 , and a protruded fixing strip  202 ,  212  is formed. A protruded sticker  208 ,  218  is arranged at lateral side of the protruded fixing strip  202 ,  212 , wherein the protruded fixing strip  202  of the lower layer terminal  20  is extended upwards to form a stuffing fixer  203  and a protruded dot  204  to offer enough space for join with the reception groove  11  and the fixing recess  120 . Two pairs of terminals  2  are staggered and fixed in the reception groove  11  of the dielectric housing unit  1 , wherein the lower layer terminals and that in the upper layer are partitioned equally placed to obtain a uniform interval alignment of terminals  20 ,  21 ; and the soldering portion  201 ,  211  are poking out of the dielectric housing unit  1 . An interface module  3  is plugged in insertion slot  10  of the dielectric housing unit  1  in uniform alignment intervals. Further, a plurality of circular holes  40  are disposed on the motherboard  4  for reception of the soldering portion  201 ,  211 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6, the fixing root  200 ,  210  of the terminals  2  is extended downwards to meet a connection strip  22  and a material feeding band  23 , wherein the upper layer terminals  21  and the lower layer terminals  20  are staggered that can be cut to detach from each other. Two terminal rows may stand independently in the material feeding band by folding the connection strips  22  in opposite directions. Point A between two contact points  28 ,  29  in a pair of upper and lower layer terminals  21 ,  20 , and a decent portion in the fixing root  200 ,  210  and in the connection strip  22  will be cut off to detach a pair of terminals  2 . Thus, every material feeding band  23  can produce terminals  2  in two rows to save material and manpower for assembling. With a specified length of material feeding band  23 , a usual method produces two pieces of terminal  2  in one row, which is assembled one row at one time accordingly, while this invention can double the yield that two rows may be assembled simultaneously in the reception grooves  11  of the dielectric housing unit  1 . When assembling, cut off at first two lateral sides of the protruded fixing strip  202 ,  212 , and by favor of burr face  207 ,  217  in acute angle and protruded sticker  208 ,  218  that enables a terminal  2  to stick intimately to the fixing recess  120 , and meantime to lean against the protrusion  206 ,  214 , as well as protrusion  205 ,  213  on the reverse face to have the terminal  2  positioned uprightly in the reception groove  11 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 7A, FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8B, terminals of upper and lower layers  20   a,    21   a  are cross-aligned on a material feeding band  23 , and it needs only one set of mold to punch and form terminals in two rows at a time for saving of material and manpower. The snaky terminals wriggling to the fixing root  200   a,    210   a,  which consists of two sections  24 ,  25 , can be torn apart to form individuals, wherein the first section of the fixing root  24  is slightly smaller than the second section  25 , and in two turning points of the soldering portion  22   a  of the lower layer terminals  21   a,  an enhancing protruded strip  26  is provided for strengthening purpose. 
     As shown in FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 10, the fixing recess  120  corresponding to the two-layer terminals  2  is constructed in a two-section type, that is the first section  120   a  and the second section  120   b;  the former is to receive the first section fixing root  24 , and the latter for the second fixing root  25 . In virtue of the enhancing protruded strip  26  and thick inner walls, the lower layer terminals  21   a  can be buried in the fixing recess  120  in a firm construction. As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 11, and FIG. 11A, a retention mechanism  5  comprises a base  50  and a frame  51 , wherein a pair of bases  50  are installed in opposite positions independently or linked with a bridge  53  on a motherboard. A through hole  52  is provided at corresponding positions in the base  50 , wherein a guide flute  521  and a positioning recess  522  are disposed for receiving a fixing device  8 , and a flange  84  near bottom thereof is used to fix the base  50  onto the motherboard  4 . On lateral face  54  of the base  50 , a positioning hole  55  is offered at each of two corresponding positions respectively. A recess  57  is formed at each of two lateral walls, and two windows are opened at upper portion of the back wall for fixing a fastening portion  62  in a cartridge type interface module  3 . At bottom sides of the frame  51 , a fixing pin  56  is provided, wherein a positioning pin  560  is offered to join the positioning hole  55  to enable the frame  51  to pivot within a limited angle. Moreover, a sliding groove is prepared on each of two corresponding inner walls of the frame  51 , and in back wall thereof, an elastic leaf  58  locates right under the windows  570 , a snap fastener  580  and a clamping tongue  581  are arranged below the elastic leaf  58 , and the clamping tongue  581  can move in a limited range according to movement of a movable piece  582  that can slide up and down on the frame  51 . 
     As shown in FIG.  12  and FIG. 12A, a circular hole  70  locates at each of four corners at an interface card  7 , and attached thereto a heat sink  6  with fins  61  is provided with holes  60  at positions corresponding to that in card  1 . At two lateral ends of the heat sink  6 , a fastening portion  62  and a retaining recess  63  are formed respectively. A snap fastening portion  880  is arranged at rear end in a three-sectional fixing pin  9 , which is to be inserted through the circular hole  70  and fastened on the heat sink  6 . As shown in FIG. 13A,  13 B,  13 C, and  13 D, when the movable piece  582  is pushed down wards to a preset point, the elastic leaf  58  is shoved outwards to lessen friction between two lateral ends of the fastening portion  62  and the elastic leaf  58  or the fastener  580 . Then, push again the movable piece  582  upward to another preset point, the elastic leaf  58  will bounce back and let the fastener  580  be snap-fastened at the retaining recess  63  of the fastening portion  62 ; and reverse the above simple procedure to release the interface card  7 . 
     As shown in FIG. 14, and FIG. 15A, the fixing device  8  can be of a pivot type comprising a fixing device body  80 , and a plug  81 , wherein a plug-in hole  83  is formed in central portion of the fixing device body  80 ; a rim flange  84  is provided to its bottom portion; a dissection groove  85  is molded in each of two opposite lateral faces, and a protruding piece  86  is preserved on each of the rest two faces. The middle section of the plug  81  is a plug post  87 , and its bottom end is a rectangular packing slat  88 , and a slat  89  is formed at its top portion. When plugging the fixing device body  80  in the through hole  52  of the base  50 , as shown in FIG. 16, the protruding piece  86  enters the guide flute  521  and turn to match the positioning recess  522  for a primary positioning purpose. Then, let the plug  81  enter the plugging hole  83 , there the packing slat  88  will stay at a resting portion  851 . The next step is to press the fixing device body  80  to penetrate a fixing hole  41  in the motherboard  4 , and force the rim flange  84  to be snap-fastened at reverse face of the same board, now, a user may insert a driver or coin to the slot  89  and drive the plug  81  to turn 90°, so that the packing slat  88  will prop a bearing portion  852  to complete installation of the base  50  of the retention mechanism  5 . On the contrary, when dismounting the fixing device is desired, all a user has to do is drive the plug  81  to turn another 90° to release the packing slat  88  from the bearing portion  852  to restore elasticity of the rim flange  84  for an easy detachment. 
     As shown in FIG. 17, FIG. 18A, and FIG. 18B, the fixing device  8  can be of a plug-in type comprising a fixing device body  80  and a plug  81 , wherein a plug-in hole  82  is formed in central portion of the fixing device body  80 ; a rim flange  84  is provided to bottom portion; a dissection groove  85  is molded in each of two opposite lateral faces, a guide slope  853  is offered thereunder, and a positioning portion  854  is arranged at middle section, which is extended to form a positioning groove  850 ; and the protruding piece  86  is preserved on each of the rest two lateral faces. A plug post  87  is provided to the plug  81 , and a positioning protrusion  870  is formed at opposite positions on the plug post  87  near its bottom. When plugging the fixing device body  80  in the through hole  52  of the base  50 , the protruding piece  86  enters the guide flute  521  and turns to match the positioning recess  522  for a primary positioning purpose. Owing to design of the dissection groove  85 , the fixing device body  80  possesses elasticity to some extent. Plug the rim flange  84  in the fixing hole  41  of the motherboard  4 , there the plug  81  seems to be loose-jointed because of elasticity. When a user is to insert the plug  81  in the fixing device  80 , the positioning protrusion  870  must aim at the dissection groove  85 , so that it will be guided by the guide slope  853  to turn an angle automatically and rest at bottom of the positioning groove  850 , and when more pressure is exerted, the rim flange  84  will be tightly snap-fastened and becoming stiff in the fixing hole  41  of the motherboard  4 . For dismounting, just pull the plug  81  upwards, and the positioning protrusion  870  will be stopped at the positioning portion  854 , the entire plug  81  will not be pulled out thoroughly, so that it will fly nowhere without troubling to find and put it back to the plug-in hole  82  accordingly. 
     In short, when comparing with the above-cited prior skills, the join-structure of high-density connector and interface module is advantageous in: 
     1. The lateral contact type terminals that can save material, area, and volume; 
     2. The cross alignment of plate contact type terminals that can save material; 
     3. The Join-structure of fixing device and plug of plug-in or pivot type that facilitates an easy mounting or dismounting of the retention mechanism; 
     4. The three-sectional fixing pin used to combine an interface card and a heat sink that can attain an efficacy of low cost and easy mounting/dismounting; 
     5. A Fastener and its clamping tongue of the elastic leaf in the retention mechanism that can fasten either a card type or a cartridge type interface module; 
     6. The movable piece of the retention mechanism that provides an easy operation of mounting/dismounting an interface module. 
     In the above described, at least one preferred embodiment has been elucidated with reference to relating drawings annexed, it is apparent that numerous variations or modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7