Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/US2009/043522, filed May 12, 2009, which claims priority to Singapore Application No. 200804324-2, filed Jun. 6, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its/their entirety herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a device and in particular to a device for securing one electrical connector to another. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hard disk drives (HDDs) are used to store digital data content for laptops, desktop computers, servers and other electronic devices in use today. 
     Every HDD interface communicates with the rest of the computer via the computer input/output (I/O) bus. The interface is the communication channel over which the data flows as the data is read from or written to the HDD. There are many types of HDD interfaces and they include Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), Serial ATA (SATA), Serial Attached SCSI (SAS), and Fibre Channel. The list of HDD interfaces described in this section is not exhaustive and is constantly increasing to keep pace with the ever changing demands of the electronic devices which dictate the specifications of the HDDs and their interfaces. 
     The SATA interface and the SAS interface are the two most commonly adopted interfaces in the HDD industry today. The SATA headers are often used on HDDs that are fitted with laptops and desktop computers while the SAS headers are used on HDDs fitted with enterprise server systems. 
     Available in the market today are specialized production test equipment used for testing the HDDs&#39; reliability before the HDDs are released for sale. However, most of these test equipments are designed specifically for HDDs with a specific type of interface. 
     Also, the repeated mating and un-mating of the header on the HDD with the socket on the HDD production test equipment wears out the socket on the HDD production test equipment after a pre-defined number of cycles dependent on the specification of the socket on the HDD production test equipment. The replacement of the socket on the HDD production test equipment is often tedious and time-consuming resulting in HDD production downtime. 
     To solve the two problems cited, an intermediate connector (henceforth referred to as sacrificial connector) is used to couple the header on the HDD to the socket on the HDD production test equipment by mating the header on the HDD to the socket end of the sacrificial connector and mating the socket on the HDD production test equipment to the header end of the sacrificial connector. Since the connection and disconnection of the HDD to the HDD production test equipment is now via the sacrificial connector, any wear and tear due to repeated mating and un-mating action will happen on the sacrificial connector instead of the socket on the HDD production test equipment. 
     Along with this solution comes the need to secure the sacrificial connector to the socket on the HDD production test equipment during the mating and un-mating of the HDD to/from the HDD production test equipment via the sacrificial connector. 
     It would be desirable to provide a device that can be used to secure one connector to another connector easily. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for securing a first electrical connector to a second electrical connector, comprising a bracket body which at least partially envelops the first electrical connector; and at least one engaging portion extending from the bracket body to the second electrical connector and coupling to a portion of the second electrical connector. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for securing an intermediate electrical connector to an electrical connector on a printed circuit board, comprising a bracket body which at least partially envelops the intermediate electrical connector; and at least one engaging portion extending from the bracket body to the electrical connector on the printed circuit board and coupling to a portion of the electrical connector on the printed circuit board. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of securing one electrical connector to another electrical connector, the method comprising coupling a first electrical connector to a second connector; and using a device to secure the first electrical connector to the second electrical connector wherein the device comprises a bracket body and at least one engaging portion extending from the bracket body such that when the device is fitted with the first connector, the bracket body at least partially envelops the first connector and the engaging portion extends to the second electrical connector and couples to a portion of the second electrical connector. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an interconnect system comprising a first connector, a second connector, a third connector and an engaging device, wherein the first connector mates with the second connector at a first end of the second connector and the third connector mates with the second connector at a second end of the second connector and the engaging device secures the second connector to the third connector; and wherein the engaging device further comprises a bracket body and at least one engaging portion extending from the bracket body such that when the engaging device is fitted with the second connector, the bracket body at least partially envelops the second connector and the engaging portion extends to the third connector and couples to a portion of the third connector. 
     The invention may further be described in any alternative combination of parts or features mentioned herein or shown in the accompanying drawings. Known equivalents of these parts or features which are not expressly set out are nevertheless deemed to be included. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a sacrificial connector in relation to a first complementary connector that is intended to be coupled to a backplane printed circuit board (PCB) of a hard disk drive (HDD) production test equipment and to a second complementary connector that is intended to be coupled to another printed circuit board (PCB) which is further coupled to a HDD; 
         FIG. 2  shows the sacrificial connector in relation to the first complementary connector; 
         FIG. 3  shows another sacrificial connector in relation to another first complementary connector; 
         FIG. 4  shows a close-up cutaway view of a vertical cross-section of a housing protrusion with the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector in an engaged position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary engagement device of the present invention in position before engagement with the first complementary connector mated with the sacrificial connector; 
         FIG. 6A  shows a close-up side perspective view of a vertical cross-section of the housing protrusion with the engagement device of the present invention, the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector in an engaged position; 
         FIG. 6B  shows a close-up top view of a horizontal cross-section of the housing protrusion with the engagement device of the present invention, the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector in an engaged position; 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of another exemplary engagement device of the present invention in position before engagement with another first complementary connector coupled to the printed circuit board (PCB) mated with the sacrificial connector; 
         FIG. 7B  shows the engagement device engaged with the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector; 
         FIG. 7C  shows the engagement device engaged with the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector further secured with a plurality of securing devices; 
         FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of another exemplary engagement device of the present invention in position before engagement with another first complementary connector coupled to the printed circuit board (PCB) mated with the sacrificial connector; and 
         FIG. 8B  shows the engagement device engaged with the sacrificial connector and the first complementary connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a sacrificial connector  10  in relation to a first complementary connector  20  that is intended to be coupled to a backplane printed circuit board (PCB)  40  of a hard disk drive (HDD) production test equipment (not shown) and to a second complementary connector  30  that is intended to be coupled to a PCB  45  which is further coupled to a HDD (not shown). This is disclosed in the Singapore Application Serial No. 200701728-8, ‘Connector Apparatus’.  FIG. 2  shows the sacrificial connector  10  in relation to the first complementary connector  20 . For illustration purposes, in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first complementary connector  20  is represented as a socket and the second complementary connector  30  is represented as a header. 
     In absence of the sacrificial connector  10 , the second complementary connector  30  which is coupled to a HDD via the PCB  45  has to be plugged directly into the first complementary connector  20  which is coupled to the HDD production test equipment via the PCB  40  before any test sequences on the HDD production test equipment can be executed on the connected HDD. The second complementary connector  30  is then unplugged from the first complementary connector  20  when the test sequences are completed. Each plugging and unplugging of the second complementary connector  30  to and from the first complementary connector  20  is known as a mating cycle. 
     The performance of the first complementary connector  20  on the PCB  40  drops with increased mating cycles. The first complementary connector  20  on the PCB  40  is replaced as soon as the number of mating cycles reaches the number specified by the manufacturer of the first complementary connector  20 . To replace the first complementary connector  20  on the PCB  40 , one has to de-solder the first complementary connector  20  from the PCB  40  and then re-solder a new connector to the PCB  40  before a HDD can be coupled to the HDD production test equipment for testing. This is time consuming and repeated de-soldering and re-soldering of the first complementary connector  20  from and to the PCB  40  may damage the PCB  40 . 
     The sacrificial connector  10  prolongs the useful life of the first complementary connector  20  by being the interface between the first complementary connector  20  and the second complementary connector  30 . Since the mating and un-mating of the second complementary connector  30  is now with the sacrificial connector  10 , any wear and tear due to repeated mating and un-mating action will happen on the sacrificial connector instead of the first complementary connector  20  on the PCB  40  of the HDD production test equipment. Along with this solution comes the need to secure the sacrificial connector  10  to the first complementary connector  20  on the PCB  40  of the HDD production test equipment so as to prevent any disengagement of the sacrificial connector  10  from the first complementary connector  20  during the mating and un-mating of the second complementary connector  30  with the sacrificial connector  10 . Preferably, the sacrificial connector  10  can be secured to the first complementary connector  20  to the extent of withstanding a disengagement force of at least 4 Newtons (N). Here, the disengagement force refers to the force required to disengage the sacrificial connector  10  from the first complementary connector  20 . 
     For illustration purposes, the sacrificial connector  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises an elongated insulative housing  2  with a longitudinal base  4  and a plurality of contacts received in the housing  2 . The housing  2  forms a first mating surface  6  and a second mating surface  8 . Since the first complementary connector  20  is a socket at its mating surface and the second complementary connector  30  is a header at its mating surfaces, the sacrificial connector  10  has a header at the first mating surface  6  and a socket at the second mating surface  8 . 
     At each end of the sacrificial connector  10  is a bonding device  14 . The bonding device  14  may be any device that is able to temporarily hold the sacrificial connector  10  in place with respect to the first complementary connector  20  at the first mating surface  6  as the second complementary connector  30  is plugged and unplugged to and from the sacrificial connector  10  at the second mating surface  8  during each mating cycle. 
     The bonding device  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a latching device with a latch release  12 , a latch member  16  extending in the direction of the first mating surface  6  and a hole  18  in the latch member  16 . As the sacrificial connector  10  engages with the first complementary connector  20  at the first mating surface  6 , a protrusion  22  coupled to an end wall on the first complementary connector  20  pushes the latch member  16  outwards away from the end wall of the first complementary connector  20  as the latch member  16  rides over the slope of protrusion  22 . As the latch member  16  passes the ridge of the protrusion  22 , the hole  18  in the latch member  16  engages with the protrusion  22  of the first complementary connector  20  causing the latch member  16  to fall back to its original horizontal position. This is the locked position of the latching device and the sacrificial connector  10  is engaged to the first complementary connector  20 . To disengage the sacrificial connector  10  from the first complementary connector  20 , the latch release  12  is depressed inwards towards the housing  2  of the sacrificial connector  10 . In doing so, the hole  18  in the latch member  16  disengages with the protrusion  22  on the first complementary connector  20 , and the two connectors  10 ,  20  can be easily disengaged by pulling the sacrificial connector  10  in a direction away from the first complementary connector  20 . 
     In cases where there is no bonding device  14  coupled to the sacrificial connector  10  and/or in cases where there is no corresponding device on the first complementary connector  20  to engage with the bonding device  14  on the sacrificial connector  10  such as to secure the sacrificial connector  10  to the first complementary connector  20  during the un-mating of the second complementary connector  30  from the sacrificial connector  10 , there is a need to have a separate engagement device to secure the sacrificial connector  10  to the first complementary connector  20 . 
       FIG. 3  shows another sacrificial connector  100  in relation to another first complementary connector  200 . The sacrificial connector  100  comprises an elongated insulative housing  110  with a longitudinal base  103  and a plurality of contacts received in the housing  110 . The housing  110  forms a first mating surface  106  and a second mating surface  108 . 
     At one end of the housing  110  of the sacrificial connector  100  is a housing extension  120  which further comprises a hook  123  at one end of the housing extension  120  furthest from the second mating surface  108 . Preferably, there is one housing extension  120  at each end of the housing  110  of the sacrificial connector  100 . 
     The first complementary connector  200  comprises a housing  210  wherein at one end of the housing  210  is a housing protrusion  220 . Preferably, there is one housing protrusion  220  at each end of the housing  210  of the first complementary connector  200 . The housing protrusion  220  further comprises a horizontal through-hole  240  which is in alignment with the housing extension  120  of the sacrificial connector  100  and a vertical tunnel  230 . It is preferred but not mandatory that the tunnel  230  be made perpendicular to the through-hole  240 . Preferably the tunnel  230  extends from a first surface  231  of the housing protrusion  220  to a second surface  232  of the housing protrusion  220 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a close-up view of a vertical cross-section of the housing protrusion  220  with the sacrificial connector  100  and the first complementary connector  200  in an engaged position. While there is frictional resistance at the areas of contact between the housing extension  120  of the sacrificial connector  100  and the through-hole  240  of the housing protrusion  220  of the first complementary connector  200 , the frictional resistance may not be sufficient to prevent the disengagement of the sacrificial connector  100  from the first complementary connector  200  during the un-mating of the second complementary connector (not shown) from the sacrificial connector  100 , especially when the disengagement force is greater than 4 Newtons (N). Here, the disengagement force refers to the force required to disengage the sacrificial connector  100  from the first complementary connector  200 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an exemplary engagement device  300  of the present invention in position before engagement with the first complementary connector  200  that is engaged with the sacrificial connector  100 . The engagement device  300  comprises a bracket body  310  which at least will partially envelop the sacrificial connector  100  once it is engaged and at least one engaging portion  320  extending from the bracket body  310  to the first complementary connector  200  and coupling to a portion of the first complementary connector  200 . 
       FIG. 6A  shows a close-up side view of a vertical cross-section of the housing protrusion  220  with the engagement device  300 , the sacrificial connector  100  and the first complementary connector  200  in an engaged position.  FIG. 6B  shows a close-up top view of a horizontal cross-section of the housing protrusion  220  with the engagement device  300 , the sacrificial connector  100  and the first complementary connector  200  in an engaged position. When in an engaged position, the engaging portion  320  of the engagement device  300  fits into the tunnel  230  of the housing protrusion  220  as illustrated by  FIG. 6A . Without the engagement device  300 , during the un-mating of the second complementary connector (not shown) from the sacrificial connector  100 , the disengagement force, typically greater than 4 Newtons (N), may be exerted on the sacrificial connector  100  causing the sacrificial connector  100  to be disengaged from the first complementary connector  200 . However, when the engaging device  300  is engaged with the sacrificial connector  100  and the first complementary connector  200 , the engaging portion  320  of the engagement device  300  will obstruct the movement of the hook  123  thereby preventing the movement of the housing extension  120  of the sacrificial connector  100  and thus, preventing the sacrificial connector  100  from disengaging with the first complementary connector  200 . 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of another exemplary engagement device  400  of the present invention in position before engagement with the sacrificial connector  10  which is engaged to another first complementary connector  250  that is coupled to the printed circuit board (PCB)  40 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7A , the sacrificial connector  10  has a bonding device  14  coupled to each end of the sacrificial connector  10 . The first complementary connector  250  comprises a housing  255 , a housing protrusion  260  coupled to both ends of the housing  255  and at least one knob  270  extending from the housing  255 . As there is no corresponding device on the first complementary connector  250  to engage with the bonding device  14  on the sacrificial connector  10 , the sacrificial connector  10  may disengage from the first complementary connector  250  during the un-mating of the second complementary connector (not shown) from the sacrificial connector  10 . 
     The engagement device  400  as shown in  FIG. 7A  comprises a bracket body  410  which at least will partially envelop the sacrificial connector  10  once it is engaged and at least one engaging portion  420  extending from the bracket body  410  to the first complementary connector  250 . The engagement device  400  further comprises at least one hole  425  on the engaging portion  420  which is positioned according to and will couple to at least one knob  270  on the housing  255  of the first complementary connector  250  when the engagement device  400  is engaged with the sacrificial connector  10  and the first complementary connector  250 . Preferably, there is more than one knob  270  extending from the housing  255  and more than one hole  425  on the engaging portion  420  of the engagement device  400 .  FIG. 7B  shows the engagement device  400  engaged with the sacrificial connector  10  and the first complementary connector  250 .  FIG. 7C  shows the engagement device  400  further secured to the first complementary connector  250  by at least one securing device  275  such as but not limited to screws. While it is shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C that there is a bonding device  14  coupled to the two ends of the sacrificial connector  10 , it is possible to do away with the bonding device  14  in this case since there is no corresponding device on the first complementary connector  250  to engage with the bonding device  14 . 
       FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of another exemplary engagement device  500  of the present invention in position before engagement with the sacrificial connector  10  engaged to another first complementary connector  280  coupled to the printed circuit board (PCB)  40 . The engagement device  500  comprises a bracket body  510  which at least will partially envelop the sacrificial connector  10  once it is engaged and at least one engaging portion  520  extending from the bracket body  510  to the first complementary connector  280 . The engagement device  500  further comprises at least one engagement lip  530  at the end of the engaging portion  520  which will hook over at least one portion on the first complementary connector  280  when the engagement device  500  is engaged with the sacrificial connector  10  and the first complementary connector  280 .  FIG. 8B  shows the engagement device  500  engaged with the sacrificial connector  10  and the first complementary connector  280 . While it is shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  that there is a bonding device  14  coupled to the two ends of the sacrificial connector  10 , it is possible to do away with the bonding device  14  in this case since there is no corresponding device on the first complementary connector  280  to engage with the bonding device  14 . 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, since many modifications or variations thereof are possible in light of the above teaching. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention. The embodiments described herein were chosen and described in order best to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated thereof. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, when interpreted in accordance with the full breadth to which they are legally and equitably suited.

Technology Category: h