Method and apparatus for measuring normal contact forces in electrical connector
US4380171A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1980 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L5/0057
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the contact force of a terminal mounted in a multi-terminal circuit board connector, the measured force being applied normal to the surface of a circuit board received in the connector, has a transducer employing four strain gauges connected in a bridge arrangement with pairs of the gauges being positioned at opposite ends of a fully supported beam. The strain at the end points of the beam are averaged by the strain gauges so that no matter where the forces are applied normal to the beam by the terminal being measured, the deflection is always negligible and the area of the beam upon which the contact force is applied is not critical.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.