Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/6428361
Timestamp: 2020-08-12 16:37:40
Document Index: 213253336

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 26', 'arts 26', 'arts 26', 'arts 26', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 30', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 30']

US Patent for Surface mountable connector assembly including a printed circuit board Patent (Patent # 6,428,361 issued August 6, 2002) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Having Push-pull-engaging Contacts Spaced Along Planar Side Wall Transverse To Longitudinal Engagement Axis (e.g., Telephone Jack Or Plug)US Patent for Surface mountable connector assembly including a printed circuit board Patent (Patent # 6,428,361)
Surface mountable connector assembly including a printed circuit board
May 24, 1999 - Stewart Connector Systems, Inc.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals will be used to designate identical or similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3 show a surface-mountable connector assembly 8 in accordance with the invention including a surface mountable jack 10 and a shield 12. To facilitate surface mounting of the connector assembly 8 to the printed circuit board and establish electrical grounding connection between the shield 12 and the ground of the printed circuit board, each lower side edge of the shield 12 includes an outwardly projecting L-shaped tab 14 having a flat portion 14a adapted to be coupled to a grounding region of the printed circuit board. The flat portions 14a may be arranged in-line, i.e., at the same distance rearward of the front face of the connector assembly 8 as shown, or offset from one another, i.e., at different distances rearward of the front face of the connector assembly 8. Shield 12 includes tabs 16 extending from the front face of the shield 12 inward into a plug-receiving receptacle 18 of the jack 10 and may also include other grounding tabs as known and used in the art.
As shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, jack 10 includes a housing 20 defining the plug-receiving receptacle 18, a first set of contacts 22 (also referred to herein as contact members) arranged in the housing 20, a printed circuit board component 24 and a second set of contacts 26 (also referred to herein as terminal members). Each contact member 22 has a contact portion 22a situated in the receptacle 18 (see FIG. 1). Each terminal member 26 includes a first terminal portion 26a extending rearward from the rear face of the jack 10 and slightly below the lower face of the jack 10 (see FIG. 3). The first terminal portions 26a are adapted to be coupled to mating pads on the planar surface of a substrate to which the connector assembly is mounted such as a printed circuit board. Printed circuit board component 24 is described in detail below.
Referring now to FIGS. 12 and 13, printed circuit board component 24 includes a printed circuit board 82 and an insert assembly 84. Printed circuit board 82 includes a first row of through holes or vias 86 at an upper region for receiving terminal portions 22b of the contact members 22 and a second row of through holes or vias 88 at a lower region for receiving second terminal portions 26b of the terminal members 26. The printed circuit board 82 includes wiring for electrically coupling the through holes 86 and through holes 88 such that the contact members 22 are electrically coupled to the terminal members 26 through the wiring of the printed circuit board 82. The wiring pattern may be such that each through hole 86 is not necessarily electrically coupled to a respective one of the through holes 88. Thus, the number of through holes 86 may be different than the number of through holes 88. Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment, there are eight through holes 86 corresponding to the number of contact members 22 and ten through holes 88 corresponding to the number of terminal members 26, the reason for the additional two through holes, i.e., the need for the additional terminal members 26, is explained below.
Insert assembly 84 comprises a dielectric housing 92 and the terminal members 26 which may be, e.g., insert-molded into housing 92. Housing 92 is attached to the printed circuit board 82 in any known manner, e.g., adhesive or soldering. Terminal members 26 are formed and arranged in connection with housing 92 in a specific manner so as to provide one of the advantages of the invention, i.e., the co-planarity of at least part of the first terminal portions 26a. To this end, terminal members 26 each include the first terminal portion 26a extending rearwardly from the housing 92 whereby a rear part 26a′ of each first terminal portion 26a, which is adapted to engage a soldering pad on the printed circuit board to which the connector assembly 8 is to be attached, is straight and the rear parts 26a′ of the first terminal portions 26a are co-planar (in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the jack 10). A substantially straight, second terminal or board portion 26b of each terminal member 26 is inserted through a respective through hole 88 in the printed circuit board 82 and electrically connected thereto, e.g., by soldering (FIG. 13). The particular shape of the terminal members 26, i.e., a straight portion 26b, a U-bend 26c adjacent the straight portion 26b, another straight portion 26d passing through the housing 92 and the terminal portion 26a, is designed to ensure that the terminal portions 26a have the required properties to enable soldering to a printed circuit board. Nevertheless, the particular shape is not the only possible shape and other shapes of the terminal members 26 could also be utilized in accordance with the invention.
For this embodiment, it is an advantage that the insert assembly 84 may be manufactured separate from the printed circuit board 82 and secured thereto after manufacturing. In view of such separate manufacture of the insert assembly 84 including the terminal members 26, problems arising from attaining co-planarity of terminal portions of contacts of surface mountable jacks which are only inserted into a jack housing during fabrication of the jack are substantially avoided. Instead, in the invention, the insert assembly 84 could be manufactured in a manner to ensure co-planarity of the rear parts 26a′ of the terminal portions 26a. Any insert assembly 84 which does not have co-planar rear parts 26a′ of the terminal portions 26 would not be used.
To assemble the connector assembly 8, first the jack 10 is assembled. To this end, with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, the inner housing part 30 and substantially U-shaped contact members 22 are formed and the contact members 22 are inserted into the inner housing part 30. The contact members 22 are bent to form the contact portion 22a, an intermediate portion 22c and a board portion 22b and to pass through channels 72, slots 74 and channels 76. The board portion 22b is inserted into a respective guide channel 78 at the upper edge of the vertical wall 66. The printed circuit board 82 is constructed separately with the optional toroids 90 and LEDs 94 mounted thereon and an appropriate wiring pattern. Terminal members 26 are formed and insert assembly 84 is formed by, e.g., insert molding housing 92 around terminal members 26. The insert assembly 84 and printed circuit board 82 are attached to one another and the board portion 26b of each terminal member 26 is passed through a respective through hole 88 and soldered to the printed circuit board 82. The subassembly of the printed circuit board 82 and insert assembly 84, i.e., the printed circuit board component 24, is then inserted into the space 70 between the projections 68 on the inner housing part 30 such that the board portion 22b of each contact member 22 passes through a respective through hole 86 at the upper region of the printed circuit board 82. The board portions 22b of the contact members 22 are then soldered to the printed circuit board 82 to form a subassembly as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In this subassembly, the inner housing part 30 and printed circuit board 82 are secured to one another, e.g., via the contact members 18. The printed circuit board 82 is dimensioned so that the LEDs 94 will be situated above the vertical wall 66 (see FIG. 16).
Separately, the outer housing part 28 and light pipe element 96 are fabricated and the light pipe element 96 is inserted into the outer housing part 28 by inserting latches 106 into apertures 54 (FIG. 15). The subassembly of the inner housing part 30, printed circuit board component 24 and contact members 22 is then inserted into the outer housing part 28 by sliding the front portion 64 of the inner housing part 30 into the slot 56 along the bottom wall 36 of the outer housing part 28. The contact portions 22a of the contact members 22 will pass into and at least partially through the slots 52 in the comb portion 50 of the outer housing part 28 and correct positioning of the inner housing part 30 in slot 56 is aided by the presence of tongues 58. Also, the LEDs 94 will align with the light transmitting sections 98 of the light pipe element 96. Assembly of the jack 10 is not complete.
1. A surface mountable connector assembly, comprising:
a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle;
a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board,
a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion structured and arranged to be in surface connection with a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;
an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part, wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending upward from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward from the lower lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween and
wherein said printed circuit board is situated at least partially in said space between said projections such that said projections extend laterally along either lateral side of said vertical wall and wherein said printed circuit board has a plurality of throughholes arranged so that when said printed circuit board is situated between said projections said board portion of each of said first set of contacts extends through a corresponding one of said throughholes in said printed circuit board.
a jack defining a plug-receiving receptacle,
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion connected to a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;
an outer housing part and an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part;
wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward at lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween, and
wherein said front portion includes first guide channels formed at a front edge, slots formed at a rear adjacent said vertical wall from a lower surface of said front portion to an upper surface of said front portion and second guide channels formed on said lower surface, each of said second guide channels extending between a respective one of said first channels and a respective one of said slots, each of said contacts of said first set of contacts being arranged in a respective set of one of said first guide channels, one of said second guide channels and one of said slots.
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for mounting to a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts,
an outer housing part an inner housing part arranged in said outer housing part,
wherein said inner housing part is generally L-shaped including a front, horizontal portion, a vertical wall extending from a rear edge of and perpendicular to said front portion, and a pair of opposed projections extending rearward at lateral sides of said vertical wall and defining an open space therebetween,
wherein said vertical wall includes guide channels formed at an upper edge, each of said contacts of said first set of contacts being arranged in a respective one of said guide channels, and
4. A surface-mountable connector assembly, comprising:
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for mounting to a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts;
wherein said printed circuit board component further comprises an insert assembly connected to said printed circuit board, said insert assembly including a housing and said second set of contacts arranged in connection with said housing whereby said terminal portions are co-planar with one another prior to the connection of said insert assembly to said printed circuit board; and
wherein said contacts of said second set of contacts each include said terminal portion extending from one side of said housing, a U-shaped portion extending from an opposed side of said housing, said board portion being arranged adjacent said U-shaped portion, and a straight portion passing through said housing.
5. A surface mountable connector assembly, comprising:
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion structured and arranged to be in surface connection with a planar surface of a substrate and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first and second sets of contacts; and
light generating means mounted to a front face of said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack.
6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said light generating means are arranged in connection with said printed circuit board.
light generating means for providing light visible from a front of said jack, wherein said light generating means are arranged in connection with said printed circuit board, wherein said light generating means are arranged proximate said printed circuit board; and
a light pipe element having at least one light transmitting section arranged to be visible from the front of said jack and in a path of said light generating means such that light generated by said light generating means is transmitted through said at least one light transmitting section to the front of said jack.
11. The connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said light generating means comprises at least one LED arranged in alignment with a respective one of said a t least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element, said wiring pattern in said printed circuit board also being arranged to electrically couple said at least one LED to at least one of said contacts in said second set of contacts.
a first set of contacts each including a contact portion arranged in said receptacle and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for connection to a substrate on which said connector assembly is mounted and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board,
light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means, and
a light pipe element having at least one light transmitting section arranged to be visible from the front of said jack and in a path of said light generating means such that light generated by said light generating means is transmitted through said at least one light transmitting section to the front of said jack, and
wherein said light generating means are arranged proximate said printed circuit board.
15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein said light generating means comprise at least one LED arranged in alignment with a respective one of said at least one light transmitting section of said light pipe element.
a printed circuit board component including a printed circuit board.
a second set of contacts each including a terminal portion adapted for connection to a substrate on which said connector assembly is mounted and a board portion connected to said printed circuit board, and
light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means
wherein said terminal portions extend rearwardly and downward from said jack and have a co-planar portion adapted for mounting to a planar surface of the substrate.
19. A connector assembly comprising
said jack comprise
light generating means arranged in connection with said printed circuit board for providing light visible from a front of said jack, said printed circuit board including a wiring pattern for electrically coupling said first set of contacts, said second set of contacts and said light generating means,
wherein said printed circuit board component further comprises an insert assembly connected to said printed circuit board, said insert assembly including a housing and said second set of contacts arranged in connection with said housing whereby said terminal portions are co-planar with one another prior to the connection of said insert assembly to said printed circuit board.
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Patent number: 6428361
Inventors: Derek Imschweiler (Dallastown, PA), John Hess (Dallastown, PA), Ronald Locati (York, PA)
Application Number: 09/317,249
Current U.S. Class: Having Push-pull-engaging Contacts Spaced Along Planar Side Wall Transverse To Longitudinal Engagement Axis (e.g., Telephone Jack Or Plug) (439/676); 439/620; Indicator Light (439/490)
International Classification: H01R/2400; H01R/33945; H01R/300;