WO2002082584A2

WO2002082584A2 - Electrical terminal tail aligner

Info

Publication number: WO2002082584A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/010286
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takao Kodama; Masahiro Sakano; Takao Ito; Hirokazu Hori; Shinichi Maezono
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2001-04-05
Filing date: 2002-04-03
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: JP2002313463A; WO2002082584A3; AU2002307059A1

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a connector housing for mounting on a circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and include tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the circuit board. A tail aligner plate has a thickness direction and includes a plurality of relatively movable portions having positioning holes for receiving the tail portions therethrough in the thickness direction. Adjacent ones of the movable portions are located at different levels in the thickness direction to provide clearance therebetween.

Description

ELECTRICALTERMINAL TAILALIGNER

Field of the Invention:

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a tail aligner plate for aligning the terminal tails of an electrical connector adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board.

Background of the Invention:

Circuit board mounted electrical connectors typically include some form of dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The terminals have tail portions projecting therefrom for connection, as by soldering, to circuit traces on the printed circuit board. Most often, the terminal tails are inserted into holes in the printed circuit board. One of the problems with circuit board mounted electrical connectors is maintaining the spacing or pitch of the terminal tails corresponding to the spacing or pitch of the terminal insertion holes in the circuit board, hi order to solve this problem, various configurations of tail aligner plates have been used in an attempt to maintain proper spacing or pitch for the terminal tails. Unfortunately, such tail aligners create additional problems. Specifically, the free length of the terminal tails has been used to compensate for a pitch offset caused by the difference in thermal expansion and contraction between the circuit board and the molded housing of the connector. Unfortunately, the use of tail aligner plates reduces the effective terminal tail length and, consequently, thermal changes cause stress at the solder connections of the terminal tails to the circuit board, resulting in problems with solder cracking and/or solder peeling.

Japanese Utility Model Registration 2523606 and Japanese Patent Kokai Publication Hei 10-41026 (U.S. Patent No. 6,062,877) disclose techniques for preventing solder cracking and/or solder peeling in electrical connectors of the character described above. The former publication addresses the problem of thermal expansion and contraction by providing slits or notches in the terminal guide or aligner. In the latter publication, a tail aligner is provided with a plurality of relatively movable portions through which the terminal tails extend. Elastic deformation of the movable portions absorb the stresses acting on the solder connections of the terminal tails. Unfortunately, the movable portions limit the density or number of terminals in any given size of connector, because spaces are required between the movable portions to accommodate their relative movement.

The present invention is directed to solving these various problems by providing improvements in a tail aligner plate which has movable portions through which the terminal tails extend.

Summary of the Invention:

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved tail aligner plate for an electrical connector typically adapted for mounting on a circuit board. However, the invention should not be limited specifically to circuit board mounted connectors. hi the exemplary embodiment of the invention, an electrical connector includes a dielectric connector housing adapted for mounting on a circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and include tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the circuit board. A tail aligner plate includes a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thiclαiess direction. The tail aligner plate has a plurality of relatively movable portions with positioning holes for receiving the tail portions therethrough in the thickness direction. Adjacent ones of the movable portions are at different levels to provide clearance between the adjacent movable portions in the thiclαiess direction.

As disclosed herein, the connector housing is configured to provide a right-angled connector, with the terminal tail portions being right-angled tails of the terminals. The movable portions of the tail ahgner plate are elongated and fixed at opposite ends thereof but being free between the opposite ends. A plurality of longitudinally spaced positioning holes are provided in at least some of the movable portions. one embodiment of the invention, the positioning holes are located entirely within the bounds of respective ones of the movable portions. In another embodiment, the positioning holes are located between adjacent movable portions, with a part of each hole being located in both the adjacent movable portions.

A further feature of the invention is to provide the movable portions which are at a lower level in the thickness direction closer to the circuit board to be thinner than the movable portions in an upper level. With this arrangement, more elastic deformation can be provided in the thinner movable portions closer to the circuit board, correspondingly reducing the stresses acting on the solder connections of the tail portions to the circuit board.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings:

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a section through a right-angled electrical connector incorporating a tail aligner plate according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tail aligner plate incorporating the concepts of the invention; FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the tail aligner plate of Figure 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken generally along line 4-4 of Figure 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken generally along line 5-5 of Figure 3;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken generally along line 6-6 of Figure 3;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of a tail aligner plate according to the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken generally along line 8-8 of Figure 7;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken generally along line 9-9 of Figure 7; and

FIGURE 10 is a section taken generally along line 10-10 of Figure 7.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments: Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to Figure 1, the invention is embodied in a right-angled electrical connector, generally designated 12, which mounts a plurality of right-angled conductive terminals 14. Connector 12 includes a dielectric connector housing 16 which is adapted for mounting on a circuit board 18. The housing may be molded of plastic material or the like and defines a receptacle 20 for receiving a complementary mating connector. The housing includes a wall 22 defining the rear of receptacle 20.

Still referring to Figure 1, conductive terminals 14 are right-angled in configuration as defined by right-angled elbows 24. Contact portions 26 extend through rear wall 22 of housing 16 and into receptacle 20 for making contact with appropriate terminals of the complementary mating connector. Tail portions 28 of the terminals extend downwardly from elbows 24 for insertion into appropriate holes 30 in circuit board 18. The tail portions are solder connected to the circuit board by solder connections 32.

Connector housing 16 includes standoffs 34 at the bottom thereof for spacing the housing from the circuit board. A tail aligner plate, generally designated 36, is mounted to a mounting portion 38 at the bottom of the connector housing. As can be seen in Figure 1, tail portions 28 of terminals 14 extend through tail aligner plate 36 which maintains proper spacing or pitch of the terminals to correspond to the spacing or pitch of holes 30 in circuit board 18. The concepts of the invention are directed primarily to improvements in tail aligner plate 36. It should be understood that, while the invention is shown herein in an electrical connector 12 adapted for mounting on circuit board 18, tail aligner plates can be used with electrical connectors other than board mounted connectors.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, tail aligner plate ("tail aligner") 36 is a plate-like component which includes a main body portion 40 which may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like. The body defines a longitudinal direction indicated by double-headed arrow "A", a width direction indicated by double-headed arrow "B" and a thickness direction indicated by double-headed arrow "C". The body portion is formed with a plurality of elongated movable portions 41 and 42 that extend generally parallel to each other in the width direction "B" of the tail aligner. Movable portions 41 and 42 are fixed at opposite ends 41a and 42a, respectively, to body portion 40. Otherwise, the movable portions are free to move relative to each other between their fixed opposite ends. A plurality of positioning holes 44 extend through the tail aligner between adjacent ones of movable portions 41 and 42. In the embodiment of Figures 2-6, parts of each positioning holes 44 are located in both of the respective adjacent movable portions. The positioning holes penetrate the thickness of body portion 40 of tail aligner 36 in the thickness direction "C" so that tail portions 28 of terminals 14 extend therethrough as seen in Figure 1. Mounting portions 40a of body 40 are press fit into mounting portions 38 of housing 16.

Referring to Figures 4-6 in conjunction with Figures 2 and 3, the invention contemplates that adjacent ones of movable portions 41 and 42 be located at different levels in the thickness direction "C" of body portion 40 to provide clearance between the adjacent movable portions in the thickness direction. This can be seen clearly in Figure 4 wherein a gap 48 is provided in the thickness direction between movable portions 41 in the upper level thereof and movable portions 42 in the lower level thereof. This gaps allows the movable portions to freely move relative to each other particularly in the longitudinal direction "A" (Fig. 2) of the tail aligner. Therefore, the terminal density of the connector can be increased from the prior art because spacing is not required between the movable portions in their direction of movement. By locating the movable portions in different levels, movable portions 41 in the upper level thereof, for instance, are free to move without any interference with or by the movable portions 42 in the lower level thereof. As stated above, parts of each positioning hole 44 are located in both of the respective adjacent movable portions 41 and 42. This can be seen by the bottom depiction in Figure 4. It can be seen that one part 44a of positioning hole 44 is located in movable portion 41 in the upper level thereof, and one part 44b of the positioning hole is located in movable portion 42 in the lower level thereof. The lower depiction of Figure 4 also shows a terminal tail portion 28 in phantom and illustrates how the tail portion can move or "skew" by the configuration of the movable portions 41 and 42 of tail aligner 36. The upper edges of hole parts 44a and 44b are tapered or outwardly flared to facilitate this movement of the terminal tail portions. The direction in which terminal tail portion 28 is inclined or skewed is primarily in the longitudinal direction "A" (Fig. 2) of tail aligner 36. However, the tail portion can be somewhat inclined also in the width direction "B" of the tail aligner with the shape of the holes. Accordingly, it is possible to absorb stresses acting on the solder connections of the terminal tail portions to avoid solder cracking and/or solder peeling.

The invention contemplates that movable portions 41 in the upper level thereof be of a different thickness than movable portions 42 in the lower level thereof. Specifically, stresses caused by thermal expansion and contraction typically are more intense near solder com ections 32 (Fig. 1), i.e., closer to circuit board 18. Consequently, the invention contemplates that movable portions 42 in the lower level thereof can be thinner than the movable portions 41 in the upper level thereof to allow for a greater elastic deformation in the lower movable portions nearer circuit board 18.

A second embodiment of tail aligner 36 is shown in Figures 7-10. The second embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment of Figures 2-6 except for the location of the positioning holes for terminal tail portions 28 of terminals 14. Consequently, like reference numerals are used in Figures 7-10 corresponding to like components described above and shown in Figures 2-6.

More particularly, in the second embodiment, positioning holes 60 are located entirely within the bounds of movable portions 41 and 42 of the tail aligner. As seen best in Figure 7, a plurality of positioning holes 60 are provided in each movable portion 41 and 42 and spaced longitudinally thereof. Otherwise, adjacent ones of movable portions 41 and 42 are located at different levels in the thickness direction "C" of the tail aligner according to the concepts of the invention described above, and as best seen in Figures 8-10. It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electrical connector, comprising: a connector housing for mounting on a circuit board; a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and including tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the circuit board; and a tail aligner plate having a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, the tail aligner plate including a plurality of relatively movable portions having positioning holes for receiving the tail portions therethrough in said thickness direction, and adjacent ones of the movable portions being at different levels in said thickness direction to provide clearance between the adjacent movable portions in the thickness direction.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said connector housing is configured to provide a right-angled connector with said tail portions being right-angled tails of the terminals.

3. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said movable portions are elongated and fixed at opposite ends thereof but being free between the opposite ends.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the movable portions which are at a lower level in the thickness direction closer to the circuit board are thinner than the movable portions in an upper level.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said positioning holes are located entirely within the bounds of respective ones of the movable portions.

6. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said positioning holes are located between adjacent movable portions with a part of each hole being located in both the adjacent movable portions.

7. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said movable portions are elongated, and including a plurality of said positioning holes in at least some of the movable portions spaced longitudinally thereof.

8. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said movable portions extend generally parallel to each other in said width direction.

9. An electrical connector, comprising: a right-angled connector housing for mounting on a circuit board; a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and including right-angled tail portions projecting from the housing for connection to the circuit board; and a tail aligner plate having a longitudinal direction, a width direction and a thickness direction, the tail aligner plate including a plurality of elongated relatively movable portions extending generally parallel to each other in said width direction, the movable portions being fixed at opposite ends thereof but free to move between the opposite ends, the relatively movable portions each having a plurality of positioning holes spaced longitudinally thereof for receiving the tail portions therethrough in the thickness direction, and adjacent ones of the movable portions being at different levels in said thickness direction to provide clearance between the adjacent movable portions in the thickness direction.

10. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the movable portions which are at a lower level in the thickness direction closer to the circuit board are thinner than the movable portions in an upper level.

11. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said positioning holes are located entirely within the bounds of respective ones of the movable portions.

12. The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said positioning holes are located between adjacent movable portions with a part of each hole being located in both the adjacent movable portions.

13. An electrical connector, comprising: a connector housing; a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and including tail portions projecting therefrom; and a tail aligner plate having a thiclαiess direction and including a plurality of relatively movable portions having positioning holes for receiving the tail portions theretlirough in said thickness direction, and adjacent ones of the movable portions being at different levels in said thiclαiess direction to provide clearance therebetween.

14. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein the movable portions which are at a lower level in the thiclαiess direction closer to the circuit board are thinner than the movable portions in an upper level.

15. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said connector housing is configured to provide a right-angled connector with said tail portions being right-angled tails of the terminals.

16. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said movable portions are elongated and fixed at opposite ends thereof but being free between the opposite ends.

17. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said positioning holes are located entirely within the bounds of respective ones of the movable portions.

18. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said positioning holes are located between adj acent movable portions with a part of each hole being located in both the adjacent movable portions.

19. The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said movable portions are elongated, and including a plurality of said positioning holes in at least some of the movable portions spaced longitudinally thereof.