Patent · US Expired

Two-piece microelectronic connector and method

US6116963A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
24References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 9, 1998
Grant dateSep 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 9, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R43/20
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A multi-piece, low profile microelectronic connector having a simplified, "snap-together" construction requiring no lead carrier. One or more electrical components are located within a rear connector body element, which mates with a front connector body element upon assembly. The leads of the rear body element are shaped so as to cooperate with a series of contour elements ("bumps" in one embodiment) formed inside the plug receptacle cavity in the front connector body element. The shape of the leads and bumps provide a continuous normal force on the distal end of the leads, thereby maintaining them in contact with the corresponding leads of the modular plug. In a second aspect of the invention, a series of mounting pins are provided to permit tandem mounting of multiple connectors to an external device using a minimum number of mounting holes, and maintaining a minimum lateral connector width. A method of manufacturing and assembling the aforementioned connector is also disclosed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.