U.S. patent application number 10/426716 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-04 for electric connector.
Invention is credited to Ju, Ted.
Application Number | 20040219805 10/426716 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33309941 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040219805 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ju, Ted |
November 4, 2004 |
ELECTRIC CONNECTOR
Abstract
An electric connector is disclosed to include an electrically
insulative housing, and a plurality of terminals respectively
mounted in respective terminal grooves in a tilted position, each
terminal having a base for bonding to a circuit board, a support
arm upwardly extended from one end of the base, and a contact arm
upwardly extended from the other end of the base and supported on
the support arm for contacting a chip module at the top.
Inventors: |
Ju, Ted; (Keelung City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VARNDELL & VARNDELL, PLLC
106-A S. COLUMBUS ST.
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
33309941 |
Appl. No.: |
10/426716 |
Filed: |
May 1, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 12/716 20130101;
H01R 12/52 20130101; H01R 13/2485 20130101; H05K 7/1069
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/066 |
International
Class: |
H01R 012/00 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. An electric connector comprising an electrically insulative
housing, said housing comprising a plurality of terminal grooves
obliquely arranged within said housing, and a plurality of
terminals respectively mounted in said terminal grooves, wherein
said terminals respectively comprising a semicircular base, a
support arm upwardly extended from a first end of said semicircular
base, and a contact arm upwardly extended from a second end of said
semicircular base and protruding above said insulative housing over
a top side of the corresponding said terminal groove, said contact
arm is partially supported on said support arm, said insulative
housing has a rib, and said semicircular base has a hole receiving
said rib of said insulative housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to electric connectors and,
more particularly, to such an electric connector in which the
terminals are obliquely arranged in parallel and compressible.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Electric connectors for connecting a chip module to a
circuit board include two types. FIG. 1 shows an electric connector
according to the first type. FIG. 2 shows an electric connector
according to the second type. The electric connector of the first
type, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises an electrically insulative
housing 1 and a plurality of terminals 2 mounted in the housing 1.
Each terminal 2 has a bottom side provided with a solder ball 3 for
bonding to a circuit board 4, and a top end terminating in a
contact portion 5 for contacting a chip module 6. This design of
electric connector has numerous drawbacks. The contact area between
the contact portion 5 and the chip module 6 is tiny, and a false
contact may occur easily. The contact portion 5 may be permanently
deformed after bent through a number of times, resulting in a
contact problem. Further, in order to prevent contact between
terminals, the terminals must be spaced from one another at a
certain distance. Due to this reason, the size electric connector
cannot be greatly reduced. The terminal 7 for an electric connector
of the second type, as shown in FIG. 2, is an angled terminal
having a smoothly arched contact portion 8 at the top. This design
of electric connector ensures positive contact with the chip
module. However, it has high impedance. Further, the terminal 7
tends to be deformed permanently after a long use. In order to
reinforce the structural strength, the size of the terminal cannot
be greatly reduced as desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the
present invention to provide an electric connector, which has low
impedance. It is another object of the present invention to provide
an electric connector, which ensures positive contact with a chip
module. It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an electric connector, which fits the concept of small-size
design. To achieve these and other objects of the present
invention, the electric connector comprises an electrically
insulative housing having a plurality of terminal grooves, and a
plurality of terminals respectively mounted in the terminal
grooves. Each terminal comprises a base, a support arm upwardly
extended from a first end of the base, and a contact arm upwardly
extended from a second end of the base and protruding over a top
side of the corresponding terminal groove. The support arm supports
the contact arm in positive contact with the loaded chip module
without producing much impedance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a prior art electric
connector connected between a chip module and a circuit board.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another design of prior
art electric connector for connection between a chip module and a
circuit board.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an electric connector for
connection between a chip module and a circuit board according to
the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a terminal for an electric
connector according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 6 is an assembly view of FIG. 5.
[0012] FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a terminal for an electric
connector according to the second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 is an installed view in section of a part of the
electric connector according to the second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0014] FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a terminal for an electric
connector according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a cutaway of a part of the electric connector
according to the third embodiment of the present invention, showing
the terminal positioned in the corresponding terminal groove of the
housing.
[0016] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a part of the electric
connector according to the third embodiment of the present
invention, showing the terminal bonded to the circuit board.
[0017] FIG. 12 is an elevational view of a terminal for an electric
connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a part of the electric
connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention, showing the terminal bonded to the circuit board.
[0019] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a part of an electric
connector according to the fifth embodiment of the present
invention, showing the solder balls located on the strip-like
bonding portions of the terminals and bonded to the circuit
board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3.about.6, an electric connector 10 is
designed for connection a chip module 20 to a circuit board 30,
comprising an electrically insulative housing 14 having a set of
terminal grooves 12 and a plurality of terminals 16 respectively
mounted in the terminal grooves 12 of the housing 14. The terminals
16 are shaped like an oblong open loop, each comprising a smoothly
arched base 160, a contact arm 162 and a support arm 164
respectively upwardly extending from the two distal ends of the
smoothly arched base 160, and a solder ball (or the like) 166
located on the bottom side of the smoothly arched base 160 for
soldering to the circuit board 30. The contact arm 162 has a
smoothly arched contact portion 168 protruding over the top side of
the corresponding terminal groove 12 for contacting a corresponding
contact of the chip module 20. During installation, the chip module
20 is pressed on the contact portions 168 of the terminals 16 to
force the contact portion 168 of each terminal 16 against the
support arm 164 of the respective terminal 16, therefore the
contact arm 162 is compressed on the support arm 164 and maintained
in contact with the chip module 20 positively. Because the contact
arm 162 is supported on the support arm 164, it will not be
excessively deformed. Further, the contact arm 162 and the support
arm 164 form a parallel circuit, reducing the impedance of the
electric connector 10. The terminal grooves 12 of the housing 14
are arranged in parallel and tilted in one direction. When
installed in the terminal grooves 12, the terminals 16 are
respectively maintained in a tilting position. This design
minimizes the height of the electric connector 10 without reducing
the desired arm of force of the terminals 16.
[0021] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the terminal, referenced
by 40, is shaped like an oblong open loop, each comprising a
smoothly arched base 42, a contact arm 44 and a support arm 46
respectively upwardly extending from the two distal ends of the
smoothly arched base 42, and a bonding portion 48 protruded from
the bottom side of the smoothly arched base 42 for soldering to the
circuit board, referenced by 50. The tail end of the bonding
portion 48 extends in horizontal. The contact arm 44 has a top end
terminating in a smoothly arched contact portion 49, which is
shaped like an invertedly disposed U-turn and supported on the
support arm 46. When installed, the support arm 46 supports the
smoothly arched contact portion 49 in positive contact with the
chip module.
[0022] FIGS. 9.about.11 show a third embodiment of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the terminal 70 comprises
a punch hole 76 formed in the base 72, and an elongated bonding
portion 74 downwardly protruded from one end of the punch hole 76.
The bonding portion 74 is formed of a part of the base 72 by
stamping. When the bonding portion 74 is formed, the punch hole 76
is produced. The extending direction of the bonding portion 74 is
not in parallel to the circuit board 80. During installation, the
bonding portion 74 is inserted into the solder pate 82 at the
circuit board 80 and fixedly soldered thereto. Further, the housing
90 has a rib 94 disposed in each terminal groove 92. When the
terminal 70 inserted into the terminal groove 92, the punch hole 76
is coupled to the rib 94.
[0023] FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present
invention. According to this embodiment, the bonding portion 102 is
a hollow cylindrical member downwardly protruded from the bottom
side of the base of the terminal 100 and formed by stamping. When
installed, the bonding portion 102 is soldered to the solder paste
112 at the circuit board 110.
[0024] FIG. 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
According to this embodiment, the terminal has at least one
strip-like bonding portions 130 downwardly suspended from the base
120 and mounted with a solder ball for bonding to a circuit board
110.
[0025] A prototype of electric connector has been constructed with
the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 3.about.14. The
electric connector functions smoothly to provide all of the
features discussed earlier.
[0026] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *