Abstract:
A board-stacking connector has surface-mounting connections to electrical contact pads or lands on two facing surfaces on two printed circuit boards that are spaced from each other a predetermined distance in two substantially parallel planes. The connector takes the form of a generally cylindrical shell of metallic material and defines an axis and a substantially uniform cross-sectional area along that axis. The shell has a wall closed on itself to define an internal cavity forming two openings, one at each of its axial ends, and this wall further defines generally flat contact surfaces normal to said axis and surrounds each of said respective openings. One of the contact surfaces is arranged to be in contact with a pad or land on one printed circuit board and the other of the contact surfaces is arranged to be in contact with a pad or land on the other spaced printed circuit board. The internal cavity is dimensioned so as to produce capillary action of molten solder on each of the pads or lands that are in contact with the contact surfaces, so that excess solder on the pads or lands is drawn into this cavity, at both axial openings, during reflow soldering.
Abstract:
A feeder and method are disclosed for individually dispensing surface-mount contacts in a strip of tab-connected contacts on a pick-and-place machine having a pick-up member and pick-up station actuator for actuating the feeder when the pick-and-place machine is ready for pick-up surface-mount contact oriented along a predetermined direction at the pick-up station. The strip of contacts are fed from a roll or spool and the end received within a guide, with the strip being advanced to position the end contact or connector to be mounted suspended beyond the guide. When the component is ready to be mounted, it is sheared or severed at a connecting tab from the strip to free it. The component is temporarily held in place while the freed component is moved towards the vacuum pick-up nozzle of the pick-and-place machine, and released at such time that the pick-up member of vacuum nozzle has sufficiently engaged the contact to enable it to pick up the contact and remove it from the pick-up station. A control circuit, using a PLC, obtains signals from a series of sensors to regulate the cycle of advancing and sensing the strip of contacts with a series of actuators in the form of solenoids, which cycle is commenced when a pick-up nozzle of a surface mounting machine is sensed at the pick-up station. The tension of the strip is regulated by the control circuit, and a collection system is provided to remove cut off fragments of connecting tabs or carrier strips from the pick-up station.
Abstract:
A printed circuit contact system for use in high speed digital applications includes a generally tapered slotted socket made of beryllium copper or other conductive spring material. The socket has a wave-like configuration which forms a series of outer contact portions which alternate with increasingly smaller inner contact portions. Insertion of an appropriately dimensioned pin through the socket causes engagement of the pin with at least one of the inner contact portions to radially expand the socket and force adjoining outer contact portions to abut against a sleeve lining a hole in a printed circuit board into which the socket is inserted. Expansion of the socket provides at least one portion thereof which is always under optimum load, assuring proper retention and physical and electrical contact over extended periods.
Abstract:
A solid single leg terminal includes an electrical conductor end portion at one end and an opposing substantially solid mounting end portion for mounting through a whole other printed circuit board. The mounting end portion forms an elongate mounting leg of substantially uniform cross-section and defines a longitudinal axis. The mounting leg is dimensioned to be substantially fully receivable within the whole from one side of the printed circuit board through to the other side of the printed circuit board. At least one elongate indentation is provided in the mounting end portion substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis to facilitate splitting of the mounting leg along the indentation into two half leg portions and splaying same into abutment against the other side of the printed circuit board to secure the position of the terminal on the printed circuit board. A method of forming the terminals is also described.
Abstract:
There is provided an insulation displacement connector (IDC) assembly having a main body defining at least one wire channel. The main body has at least one substantially flat surface to which a vacuum nozzle can be affixed in order to pickup the IDC assembly. The IDC assembly has at least one contact member with a piercing, cutting or slicing end that is slideably disposed within the main body, and a mounting end that extends from the main body. The mounting end of the contact is attached to a printed circuit board. An insulated conductor, such as wire, cable, and/or ribbon, can be quickly and easily inserted in the channel without being pierced by the piercing end of the contact. When a user pushes down on the IDC, the contact slides into the channel and pierces the insulated conductor.
Abstract:
There is provided electrical contact for circuit boards. Each leg of the pin section has a deformable segment that can expand or contract along the direction of the leg to alleviate stress created by relative movement of printed circuit boards and/or off-board components interconnected thereby. The deformable segments have members that project in opposing directions relative to the direction of the leg, so that the segments are symmetrical. In one embodiment, each leg has a deformable segment having a outwardly curved shape. In another embodiment, each leg has a deformable segment in the shape of a rectangular frame. The deformable segments define at least one opening where the two legs of the pin section are not overlapping, which breaks the capillary flow of solder between the legs. The amount of solder that flows into the electrical contact is selectively controlled by the selected placement of the deformable segments.
Abstract:
One and two piece surface mount pin constructions include excess solder receiving channels. In the one piece construction an elongate channel is provided through a tubular pin which is flared or swaged at the lower end to form a base. In the two piece construction a solid pin is provided at a lower end with a uniform cross section in the form of a regular polygon, such as a square, hexagon or octagon. The resulting edges are press-fit against an internal surface of a sleeve which is also swaged at a lower end to form a base. The spaces between the sleeve and the flat or convex surfaces on the captured end of the pin provide the solder-receiving channels. A bead or shoulder on the pins can provide a stop for a vacuum nozzle. When a flared upper lip is used for this purpose it can also serve as a reservoir or well to receive excess solder beyond the amount that can be received in the channels.
Abstract:
A surface mounted connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board includes a base which has a generally flat surface suitable for contact with an attachment to a conductive surface of the printed circuit board. An electrical contact, which may be in the form of a pin, post, IDC, test point, or receptacle, has at least one portion projecting from the base in a direction normal to the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact to the base. The contact, base and the bent intermediate connecting portions are all formed from a generally flat sheet of conductive material. A blank for the surface mounted connector, as well as a rolled strip of connectors is disclosed.
Abstract:
A surface mounted contact for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board includes a base which has a generally flat surface suitable for contact with an attachment to a conductive surface of the printed circuit board. An electrical contact, which may be in the form of a pin, post, IDC, test point, receptacle, or jumper has at least one portion projecting from the base in a direction normal to the base. At least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connects the contact to the base. The contact, base and the bent intermediate connecting portions are all formed from a generally flat sheet of conductive material. A blank for the surface mounted connector, as well as a rolled strip of connectors is disclosed.
Abstract:
A box contact is disclosed which is coated on the interior surface thereof proximate to the lower open end as well as on the upper ends of the mounting legs with a solder-resistant tape to prevent solder from wicking into and blocking the lower open end of the contact portion. The method of producing such anti-wicking box contacts is also described.