CA1252218A - Circuit board with staggered rows of contact pads - Google Patents
Circuit board with staggered rows of contact padsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1252218A CA1252218A CA000548840A CA548840A CA1252218A CA 1252218 A CA1252218 A CA 1252218A CA 000548840 A CA000548840 A CA 000548840A CA 548840 A CA548840 A CA 548840A CA 1252218 A CA1252218 A CA 1252218A
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- board
- circuit board
- lever
- contact
- rows
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
Circuit Board With Staggered Rows of Contact Pads.
ABSTRACT
A low insertion force electrical connector system comprises a receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows with the contacts in one of said rows staggered relative to the contacts of the other of the rows.
A low insertion force system selectively spaces apart or closes the electrical contacts to limit insertion of a circuit board with a low force. Devices are provided for aligning and locking the circuit board within the receptacle and an actuating system is arranged to serially operate the aligning and locking devices first followed by the low insertion force system.
ABSTRACT
A low insertion force electrical connector system comprises a receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows with the contacts in one of said rows staggered relative to the contacts of the other of the rows.
A low insertion force system selectively spaces apart or closes the electrical contacts to limit insertion of a circuit board with a low force. Devices are provided for aligning and locking the circuit board within the receptacle and an actuating system is arranged to serially operate the aligning and locking devices first followed by the low insertion force system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein relates to a circuit.
board connector system. It i.s pa.rticularly suited :Eor use in computer systems where:i.n a series of daughter S boards are connected to a mother board. The connector system of this invention enables the daughter boards to be inserted into the connector system readily by the computer user.
It is known to make connections between daughter and mother boards by using pin connectors which are soldered to the respective boards.
Alternatively, the pins may be electrically ~5~
interconnected by a wrap~ype connecti~n. It i~ al~v - known in a general ~ense to make high density connections between the daugh~er and mother board~.
There are also a number of schemes which are known o provide zero or low insertion force connection~. Typical low insertion force connector are illustrated in U.S. Patent Number~ 3~553,630 to Scheingold et al; 4,179,177 to Lapraik; 4,047~782 to Yeager; 3,899,234 ~o Yeager et al; 3,130,351 to Giel;
3,022,481 to Stepowayt and 3,683,317 to Walkup.
Similar devices are also disclo~ed in ~R Patent Application~ 2,028,015A to Ohtsuki and 2,022,329A to Leather.
In the various prior art patent~ and paten~
applications noted above, the connec~or assemblie~
include opposing rows o~ 6pring-type contact. ~he low or zero insertion force mechani~m~ vary to some degree but generally include ~ome mechani~m for deflecting the :~ ~pring contact~ to ~pace them apar~ to allow ea~y ~o in~ertion of a printed wiring board to the connector.
~~ Thereafter, ~he contacts are put into engagem~t with corre~ponding pads on ~he prin~d wiriQg boar~ ~o ~ake the desired electr$cal connect$ons. In ~o~e C~B~, the Bpring contacts are nor~ally biased ~ow~rds ~ngagem~nt = with ~he printed circui~ board and t~le low inser~ion - force mechanism ~preads them apart to allow entry of the printed wiring board to the connector. In other approaches~ the con~ac~ members are normally ~paced apart and are deflectPd by the low insertion orce mechanism into engagement with the printed wiring board. It i~ al80 known to employ cam and follower arrangements as the low insertion force connector mechanism. The cam member i8 actuable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired.
The invention described herein provLde6 a connector ~y~tem for mounting on a mother circuit board which receives a daughter board in a manner that it i~
ea~ily inserted or released from the mother boardO The daugh~er board can be readily aligned within an electrical connector receptacle. ~he sy~tem enable~
the in~ertion of a daughter board ln the connector receptacle in a ~ingle orientation. The ~ystem ha~ an improved low in~ertion force electrical connector - ~yRtem h~ing a high den~ity of individual connection~
and permi~s easy ~ervice~bility by a use~.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As described and claimed in our copending Canadian Patent Application No. 469,824, hereinafter termed the "parent application", a low insertion foree electrical connector system is provided comprising an electrica:L connector receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows. The low insertion force system selectively spaces apart the electrical con-tacts in one row from the electrical contacts in an opposing row to allow the insertion of an electrical plug member with a low insertion force or for providing engagement of said contaets in the one and opposing rows with the plug memher so that the recep-tacle contacts make eleetrical eonnection with desired eon-tacts of the plug member.
The plug member may comprise a portion of an electronic module or a circuit board such as a printed wiring board.
In accordance with the present invention, a printed wiring board, circuit board or electronie module is provided with a plug portion for insertion in an eleetrieal eonneetor receptacle. The plug portion includes two parallel rows of contact pads arranged thereon with the pads in one row being staggered relative to the pads in -the other row. This permits an increased number of connections which ean be made to the circuit board for a given size thereof. PreEerably, the plug portion of the circuit board further includes aligning and ~ S~
locking holes for accurately aligning the circuit board in an electrical receptacle connector system. In a most preferred embodiment, a locating notch is also provided in one side of the plug porti.on whereby the circuit board can be inserted in the electrical receptacle in only one orientation.
B~IEF DESC~IPTION OE ~HE ~RA~L~
Figur~ 1 is a perspec~ive view of a ~ide entry card housing employing a plurality of co~ector systems in accordance with this invention. ~
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ~traight-in o~ top entry card housing employing a plurality of connector systems in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 and 3a are exploded per~pect~ve views of a connector ~ystem in accordance w~th this invention including a plurality of contact se~ment~
Figure 4 i~ a per~pective view of a connector ~ystem in accordance with this invention~mounted to back plane or mother board with a low in~er~ion force mechanism in its open position for insertion of a module board or daughter board.
Figure 5 i~ a perspe~tive view of the connector ~y~m a~ ln Figur~ 3 whlch ha~ ~ee~
partially cut away to ~how the locking and alignment fea~ure t~ereof with re~pec~ ~o a module board-inseEted therein~
Figure 6 i~ an end view and cro~s-section of two adjacen~ connector ~y~tem6 ~ accordance ~ith th~
inventiorl with th~ low insertion force meckanism in respectively opened and closed positis:~ns~.
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective vies~ of a connector system in accordance with this invention 5 illu trating the loc}cing and aligning mechanismO
Figure 8 i~ a top YieW o one end of a connector system in accordance with thi~ invention.
Figure 9 is a ~ide view of he end of the connector system shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 i~ an end view of the end portion o~ the connector 5y8tem shown in Figure 8~
Figur~ 11 is a ~ront v~ew of the locking and aligning lPver arranged in the end of the connector ~ystem ~hown in Figure~ 8-10.
~igure 12 i~ an exploded per~pec~ive of the oppo~ing end of the connector ~ystem in accordance with this invention.
Figure 13 i~ an end view of the opposiny end o the connector 6y8tem ~hown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 i~ a top view partially cut a~ay to reveal th~ locking and aligning lever in the-opposing end of the connector ~ystem of Figure 12.
~ igure 15 i~ a ~ide view of ~he oppo~g end o the connector ~yfite~ of Figure 12.
~?~2Z~
Figure 16 iE; a bottom view of the-opposing end of the connector system as in Figure 12.
DETAILE~. I;ESCRIPTION Q~CHE PREFERRED_EM~()DI~
~; . .
Referrin~ now to Figures 1 4, the in~ention will be described in grea~er detail. ~he circuit board connector system 10 of this invention i~ adapted to provide a high density of individual connect~on~ which 10 permits increased ~peed of signal~ in the system. U~er serviceablllty is a particularly important concern in the personal computer field in addition to the maintenance aspect. The circuit board connector ~ystem 10 of this ~nvention allow~ the computer owner ~o add additional features by buying additional mother or daughter boards 11 which can be readily inserted in ~he circuit board connector system~ 10 of thi~ invention.
The connector system can be moun~ed on a mother c~rcuit board or backplane thereby adding increa~ed features to the compu~er.
The circuit board connector sys~e~ 10 of thi~ inventi on ~an be arranged on ~he mother c~rcuit board 12 in one plane~ In Figure 1~ card hous~ng 13 and mother circu~t board 12 ar~ arranged to receive .
daughter clrcuit board 11 by ~liding the daugh~er board in from the ~ide of the mo her board ir a direc~io parallel to the plane of the mother board~ The eircuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention acts as the bottom guide for th~ daughter board 11~ The card ho~lsing 13 also includes top ~-shaped eyes or guides 14 whioh~
with the circui board connec or system 10 J serves to provide alignment for the daughter board 11 a~ it i8 slid from the s;de into the card hou~iny 13.
It is a ~eature of the circuit board c¢nneotor system lO of thi5 invention that the dauyhter board can be insert~d ~rom the side as in Figure 1 or from the top as in Figure 2. In the embodiment o~
Figure 2, a card hou~ing lS i~cludes a plurality of circuit board connector systems lO arranged ~n parallel and mounted to the ~other circuit board 12. The card housing 15 includes ~-shaped ~ide guides 16 arranged ~n correspondence with the ~ircuit board comlect~r ~ tem~
10 along each of the ~;ide~ 17 an~ 18 of the card housing lS. In thi~ embodiment, the daughter board 11 1~ in~erted into the circuit board connec~o~ ~ystem 10 by filiding it down ~he side guides 1~ anl3 through th@
top o~ the clrcult board connecto~ ~ySteD~ 10.
The circuit board connector ~y tem 10 of th~3 invention require~. no soldering to the mothe~ circuit board 12. The connector system 10 includes no pins which can be easily damaged or bemt in making connection~ to the mother circuit board 12.
S Pre~erably, the connector system 10 i 8 of the low or zero insertion force type so that the daughter boards 11 are easily removed or inserted as desiredJ
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention which i~ best illust-ated by reference to Figure 3I the connector syfitem 10 is compri~ed of a body shell 19 which ~ adapted to ~upport, in a floating fashion, a plurality of contact segmentfi 20.
Each segment 20 can be cus~omized as o its function ~n the circuit board connector ~y~tem 10~ For in~tance, 50me of the 6egments 20 oan be configured to carry ~ignal~t while others can be configured to be power carryiny. Thu~, dif~erent segment~ 20 can ~erve totally different function6. Since the ~egments ~0 are supported ln a floating arrangement with~n the body 8hell 19 they can be independently ~elf-aligned relati~e ~o the mother circuit board 12. Thi~ can be achieved ~ecau~e the ~arious ~egments 20 ~r~ able to sl~de within the body shell 19 ~o that they c~n be preci~ely located on the contact pad~ 21 of the mother ~ 5 ~
circuit board 12r Thi5 allows the circuit desi~ner to concentrate on closer tolerances for the contact pad~
21 relative to one another on the mother board 12 while all~wing looser tolerances within the connector system 5 10 itself, In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system 22 for ali~ning and locking the daughter board 11 within the connector system 10 is providedu ~he ~ystem is briefly illus~rated by referring to Figurefi 4 and 5. Aligning and locking lever~ 23 and 24 are pivotally ~upported in opposlng ends of the body shell 19. The daughter boards 11 include a correspondin~ pair of alignment holes 25 a~d 26 in Figure 4. The connector system 10 is shown in it~ open position adapted for receipt and in~ertion of the daughter board 11.
In Figure S~ the conn~c~or ~ystem 10 ifi shown with the daughter board 11 fully inserted and with the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 in its closed position.
In ~hi~ po~ition, projections 27 of the re~pective locking levers 23 and 24 are inserted within the holes 25 and ~6 to align and lock the daughter boar~ 11 in a desir*d relationship relative to the plane o~ the mother board 120 Projectlon 27 o~ lock~ng lever ~3 ~s~
serves to align the daughter board in ia lateral sense within the connector system 10. Projection 2g on locking lever 23 abs~ract~ one end of cord slot 40 when - connector 1~ i~ in the c~ osed positionv assurin~ that daughter board 11 cannot be inse.ted in either the horizontal or the vertical direction until the connec or i~ DpenedO A notch 28 in the daughter board provides clearance ~or projection ~9 when lever 23 is in the closed position with the daughter board properly in place.
The connector -~ystem 10 employs a zero or low insertion force ~ystem 30 having spring contact~ 31 and 32 and a cam 33 and follower 34 arrangement. The cam and follower act upon the ~pring contacts 31 and 32 to provide, in an open position as shown in the left-hand system 10, a low or zero insertion force for the daughter board into the system.
Conver~ely, when ~n a closed po~itlon, a~ shown in the right hand ~y~tem 10 of Figure 6~ an electrically contacting engagement i~ made ~etwee~ the ~pring contact~ and respective contact pads 35 on th~ daughter boa d 11.
In accordance wlth yet ~no~her ~pec~ of th~
present invention, the respective spring co~act are arranged in an altern~ting high and low fashion to allow an increased density of electrical contacts.
An actua~ing system 36, a~ best illustrate~ in Figure& 7-16, i~ provided which is adapted to serially actuate the respective ~l~gning and locking system 22 and low insertion force ~ystem 30.
The actua~ing system 36 includes an actuating lever 37 which includes a pad 38 which i~ adapted to operate as an actuating cam. It al~o includefi a follower portion 39 on each of the locking leYer~ 22 and 23. ~pon pivoting the actuating lever 37~ the pad 38 a~d fol1ower portions 39 coopera~e ~o provide the de~ired ~erial actuation of the respectiYe aligning and locki~g ~y~tem 22 and low insertion ~orce sy~tem 300 The circuit board connector ~ystem 10, and the variou~ aspect~ of the invention em~odied therein, i~ now described in greater detail to define t~e
The invention herein relates to a circuit.
board connector system. It i.s pa.rticularly suited :Eor use in computer systems where:i.n a series of daughter S boards are connected to a mother board. The connector system of this invention enables the daughter boards to be inserted into the connector system readily by the computer user.
It is known to make connections between daughter and mother boards by using pin connectors which are soldered to the respective boards.
Alternatively, the pins may be electrically ~5~
interconnected by a wrap~ype connecti~n. It i~ al~v - known in a general ~ense to make high density connections between the daugh~er and mother board~.
There are also a number of schemes which are known o provide zero or low insertion force connection~. Typical low insertion force connector are illustrated in U.S. Patent Number~ 3~553,630 to Scheingold et al; 4,179,177 to Lapraik; 4,047~782 to Yeager; 3,899,234 ~o Yeager et al; 3,130,351 to Giel;
3,022,481 to Stepowayt and 3,683,317 to Walkup.
Similar devices are also disclo~ed in ~R Patent Application~ 2,028,015A to Ohtsuki and 2,022,329A to Leather.
In the various prior art patent~ and paten~
applications noted above, the connec~or assemblie~
include opposing rows o~ 6pring-type contact. ~he low or zero insertion force mechani~m~ vary to some degree but generally include ~ome mechani~m for deflecting the :~ ~pring contact~ to ~pace them apar~ to allow ea~y ~o in~ertion of a printed wiring board to the connector.
~~ Thereafter, ~he contacts are put into engagem~t with corre~ponding pads on ~he prin~d wiriQg boar~ ~o ~ake the desired electr$cal connect$ons. In ~o~e C~B~, the Bpring contacts are nor~ally biased ~ow~rds ~ngagem~nt = with ~he printed circui~ board and t~le low inser~ion - force mechanism ~preads them apart to allow entry of the printed wiring board to the connector. In other approaches~ the con~ac~ members are normally ~paced apart and are deflectPd by the low insertion orce mechanism into engagement with the printed wiring board. It i~ al80 known to employ cam and follower arrangements as the low insertion force connector mechanism. The cam member i8 actuable to move the follower member to deflect or close the spring contacts as desired.
The invention described herein provLde6 a connector ~y~tem for mounting on a mother circuit board which receives a daughter board in a manner that it i~
ea~ily inserted or released from the mother boardO The daugh~er board can be readily aligned within an electrical connector receptacle. ~he sy~tem enable~
the in~ertion of a daughter board ln the connector receptacle in a ~ingle orientation. The ~ystem ha~ an improved low in~ertion force electrical connector - ~yRtem h~ing a high den~ity of individual connection~
and permi~s easy ~ervice~bility by a use~.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As described and claimed in our copending Canadian Patent Application No. 469,824, hereinafter termed the "parent application", a low insertion foree electrical connector system is provided comprising an electrica:L connector receptacle having a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in at least two opposing rows. The low insertion force system selectively spaces apart the electrical con-tacts in one row from the electrical contacts in an opposing row to allow the insertion of an electrical plug member with a low insertion force or for providing engagement of said contaets in the one and opposing rows with the plug memher so that the recep-tacle contacts make eleetrical eonnection with desired eon-tacts of the plug member.
The plug member may comprise a portion of an electronic module or a circuit board such as a printed wiring board.
In accordance with the present invention, a printed wiring board, circuit board or electronie module is provided with a plug portion for insertion in an eleetrieal eonneetor receptacle. The plug portion includes two parallel rows of contact pads arranged thereon with the pads in one row being staggered relative to the pads in -the other row. This permits an increased number of connections which ean be made to the circuit board for a given size thereof. PreEerably, the plug portion of the circuit board further includes aligning and ~ S~
locking holes for accurately aligning the circuit board in an electrical receptacle connector system. In a most preferred embodiment, a locating notch is also provided in one side of the plug porti.on whereby the circuit board can be inserted in the electrical receptacle in only one orientation.
B~IEF DESC~IPTION OE ~HE ~RA~L~
Figur~ 1 is a perspec~ive view of a ~ide entry card housing employing a plurality of co~ector systems in accordance with this invention. ~
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ~traight-in o~ top entry card housing employing a plurality of connector systems in accordance with this invention.
Figure 3 and 3a are exploded per~pect~ve views of a connector ~ystem in accordance w~th this invention including a plurality of contact se~ment~
Figure 4 i~ a per~pective view of a connector ~ystem in accordance with this invention~mounted to back plane or mother board with a low in~er~ion force mechanism in its open position for insertion of a module board or daughter board.
Figure 5 i~ a perspe~tive view of the connector ~y~m a~ ln Figur~ 3 whlch ha~ ~ee~
partially cut away to ~how the locking and alignment fea~ure t~ereof with re~pec~ ~o a module board-inseEted therein~
Figure 6 i~ an end view and cro~s-section of two adjacen~ connector ~y~tem6 ~ accordance ~ith th~
inventiorl with th~ low insertion force meckanism in respectively opened and closed positis:~ns~.
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective vies~ of a connector system in accordance with this invention 5 illu trating the loc}cing and aligning mechanismO
Figure 8 i~ a top YieW o one end of a connector system in accordance with thi~ invention.
Figure 9 is a ~ide view of he end of the connector system shown in Figure 8.
Figure 10 i~ an end view of the end portion o~ the connector 5y8tem shown in Figure 8~
Figur~ 11 is a ~ront v~ew of the locking and aligning lPver arranged in the end of the connector ~ystem ~hown in Figure~ 8-10.
~igure 12 i~ an exploded per~pec~ive of the oppo~ing end of the connector ~ystem in accordance with this invention.
Figure 13 i~ an end view of the opposiny end o the connector 6y8tem ~hown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 i~ a top view partially cut a~ay to reveal th~ locking and aligning lever in the-opposing end of the connector ~ystem of Figure 12.
~ igure 15 i~ a ~ide view of ~he oppo~g end o the connector ~yfite~ of Figure 12.
~?~2Z~
Figure 16 iE; a bottom view of the-opposing end of the connector system as in Figure 12.
DETAILE~. I;ESCRIPTION Q~CHE PREFERRED_EM~()DI~
~; . .
Referrin~ now to Figures 1 4, the in~ention will be described in grea~er detail. ~he circuit board connector system 10 of this invention i~ adapted to provide a high density of individual connect~on~ which 10 permits increased ~peed of signal~ in the system. U~er serviceablllty is a particularly important concern in the personal computer field in addition to the maintenance aspect. The circuit board connector ~ystem 10 of this ~nvention allow~ the computer owner ~o add additional features by buying additional mother or daughter boards 11 which can be readily inserted in ~he circuit board connector system~ 10 of thi~ invention.
The connector system can be moun~ed on a mother c~rcuit board or backplane thereby adding increa~ed features to the compu~er.
The circuit board connector sys~e~ 10 of thi~ inventi on ~an be arranged on ~he mother c~rcuit board 12 in one plane~ In Figure 1~ card hous~ng 13 and mother circu~t board 12 ar~ arranged to receive .
daughter clrcuit board 11 by ~liding the daugh~er board in from the ~ide of the mo her board ir a direc~io parallel to the plane of the mother board~ The eircuit board connector system 10 of thi~ invention acts as the bottom guide for th~ daughter board 11~ The card ho~lsing 13 also includes top ~-shaped eyes or guides 14 whioh~
with the circui board connec or system 10 J serves to provide alignment for the daughter board 11 a~ it i8 slid from the s;de into the card hou~iny 13.
It is a ~eature of the circuit board c¢nneotor system lO of thi5 invention that the dauyhter board can be insert~d ~rom the side as in Figure 1 or from the top as in Figure 2. In the embodiment o~
Figure 2, a card hou~ing lS i~cludes a plurality of circuit board connector systems lO arranged ~n parallel and mounted to the ~other circuit board 12. The card housing 15 includes ~-shaped ~ide guides 16 arranged ~n correspondence with the ~ircuit board comlect~r ~ tem~
10 along each of the ~;ide~ 17 an~ 18 of the card housing lS. In thi~ embodiment, the daughter board 11 1~ in~erted into the circuit board connec~o~ ~ystem 10 by filiding it down ~he side guides 1~ anl3 through th@
top o~ the clrcult board connecto~ ~ySteD~ 10.
The circuit board connector ~y tem 10 of th~3 invention require~. no soldering to the mothe~ circuit board 12. The connector system 10 includes no pins which can be easily damaged or bemt in making connection~ to the mother circuit board 12.
S Pre~erably, the connector system 10 i 8 of the low or zero insertion force type so that the daughter boards 11 are easily removed or inserted as desiredJ
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention which i~ best illust-ated by reference to Figure 3I the connector syfitem 10 is compri~ed of a body shell 19 which ~ adapted to ~upport, in a floating fashion, a plurality of contact segmentfi 20.
Each segment 20 can be cus~omized as o its function ~n the circuit board connector ~y~tem 10~ For in~tance, 50me of the 6egments 20 oan be configured to carry ~ignal~t while others can be configured to be power carryiny. Thu~, dif~erent segment~ 20 can ~erve totally different function6. Since the ~egments ~0 are supported ln a floating arrangement with~n the body 8hell 19 they can be independently ~elf-aligned relati~e ~o the mother circuit board 12. Thi~ can be achieved ~ecau~e the ~arious ~egments 20 ~r~ able to sl~de within the body shell 19 ~o that they c~n be preci~ely located on the contact pad~ 21 of the mother ~ 5 ~
circuit board 12r Thi5 allows the circuit desi~ner to concentrate on closer tolerances for the contact pad~
21 relative to one another on the mother board 12 while all~wing looser tolerances within the connector system 5 10 itself, In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system 22 for ali~ning and locking the daughter board 11 within the connector system 10 is providedu ~he ~ystem is briefly illus~rated by referring to Figurefi 4 and 5. Aligning and locking lever~ 23 and 24 are pivotally ~upported in opposlng ends of the body shell 19. The daughter boards 11 include a correspondin~ pair of alignment holes 25 a~d 26 in Figure 4. The connector system 10 is shown in it~ open position adapted for receipt and in~ertion of the daughter board 11.
In Figure S~ the conn~c~or ~ystem 10 ifi shown with the daughter board 11 fully inserted and with the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 in its closed position.
In ~hi~ po~ition, projections 27 of the re~pective locking levers 23 and 24 are inserted within the holes 25 and ~6 to align and lock the daughter boar~ 11 in a desir*d relationship relative to the plane o~ the mother board 120 Projectlon 27 o~ lock~ng lever ~3 ~s~
serves to align the daughter board in ia lateral sense within the connector system 10. Projection 2g on locking lever 23 abs~ract~ one end of cord slot 40 when - connector 1~ i~ in the c~ osed positionv assurin~ that daughter board 11 cannot be inse.ted in either the horizontal or the vertical direction until the connec or i~ DpenedO A notch 28 in the daughter board provides clearance ~or projection ~9 when lever 23 is in the closed position with the daughter board properly in place.
The connector -~ystem 10 employs a zero or low insertion force ~ystem 30 having spring contact~ 31 and 32 and a cam 33 and follower 34 arrangement. The cam and follower act upon the ~pring contacts 31 and 32 to provide, in an open position as shown in the left-hand system 10, a low or zero insertion force for the daughter board into the system.
Conver~ely, when ~n a closed po~itlon, a~ shown in the right hand ~y~tem 10 of Figure 6~ an electrically contacting engagement i~ made ~etwee~ the ~pring contact~ and respective contact pads 35 on th~ daughter boa d 11.
In accordance wlth yet ~no~her ~pec~ of th~
present invention, the respective spring co~act are arranged in an altern~ting high and low fashion to allow an increased density of electrical contacts.
An actua~ing system 36, a~ best illustrate~ in Figure& 7-16, i~ provided which is adapted to serially actuate the respective ~l~gning and locking system 22 and low insertion force ~ystem 30.
The actua~ing system 36 includes an actuating lever 37 which includes a pad 38 which i~ adapted to operate as an actuating cam. It al~o includefi a follower portion 39 on each of the locking leYer~ 22 and 23. ~pon pivoting the actuating lever 37~ the pad 38 a~d fol1ower portions 39 coopera~e ~o provide the de~ired ~erial actuation of the respectiYe aligning and locki~g ~y~tem 22 and low insertion ~orce sy~tem 300 The circuit board connector ~ystem 10, and the variou~ aspect~ of the invention em~odied therein, i~ now described in greater detail to define t~e
2~ prefesred embodiments thereof. Referrlng now to ~igure~ 3, 4, 7 and 12, there i8 fihown an electrlca~
co~nec~or ~y~tem which comprlse~ ~n -electr~c~l connec~or seceptacle for attachment ~o a e~cuit board 12 ~uch a~ ~ mot~r board or backpl ne. The recept~cle 10 is adapted to receive an elec~rical plug member 11 which can co~prise part of an electronic module or a circuit board ~uch as a daughter board.
Receptacle 10 is comprised of a body ~hell 19 a~d contact segm~nt~ 20 as previously described~ ~he body ~hell 19 comprises an elongated ~lot 40 defined by opposing side walls 41 and 42 and end wall 43. Region 44 of the slot opposing the end wall 43 is open. The circuit board 11 can ~herefore ~e in~erted into the receptacle 10 from the top or from the ~ide in the direction shown by the arrow~ 45 and 460 As shown in Figure 7 and 12~ the segments 20 are in~erted int~ the body shell 19 from the bot~om.
The body shell 19 includes internal dividing wall R 47 whioh divide the shell into a plurality o chambe~ 48~
The nu~ber of chambers 48 corresponds to the number of ~egment~ 20 to be supported by the body ~hell l9o A
~erie~ o~ dcpression~ 49 in the ~ide wall 41 and 42 mark the respective locationfi of the internal wall~ 47.
Gener~lly centrally of e~ch of the ~ide wall6 41 and 42 of each respec~ive chamber 48 there i~ loc~ted rectangular hole 50. Th~ comprise~ par~ of ~ ~y~tem for supporting the ~egments 20 within the bo~y shell 19 ~n ~n independent floating arrangemen ~o that each segment 20 can be independently aligned to tXe circuit board 12.
The other element~ of the floating support ~y~tem 51 are a projection 52 correspondingly centrally l~cated on each segment 20 ~ide wall 53 and ~4. The projections 52 have a ~yramid ~hape ~o that when the segment~ 20 are inserted into the chamber 48, ~he projection~ 52 spread apart the respective ~ide wa:Ll 41 and 42 until the projections 52 ~nap into the holes 50. The hole~ 50 are larger in width and height than the corresponding width and height of the projection 52 thereby allowing the segments to have a limited degree of freedom within the chamber 48 both vertic~lly and from ~ide to side and back to backO A ~tep 55 ln each of the ~ide walls 41 and 42 provides a corresponding internal ~tep ~urface 56 limiting vertical movement of the segment 20 when the receptacle 10 i~ mounted to the circui~ board 12. This provides an e~fective means for clampiny the segmen~s down on the circuit board 12.
~ach ~egment 20 include~ a longitudln~l ledge 57 in each of the re~pective ~ide wall~ 53 and^54 wh$ch i~ adapted to engage the re~pe~tive stop ~urface~ 56.
The body ~hell 19 further ~nclude~ ~n ~l~gnme~t projection 58 at one end 44 wh~ch ~8 ~dapted to mat~
with a corresponding alignment hole in th~ circuit board 12. The segments 20 include at one end an alignment pro~ection 61 adapted $o seat in corr~sponding alignment holes 6~ of the circu;t board 12 when the se~ments 20 are inserted in the cavatie~ 48 of the ~hell 19~ The alignment projections 58 and 61 extend in a spaced apart arrangement across the ent.ire receptacl~ 10 and provide an effective means ~Eor aligning the receptacle on the circuit board 1~ when the projection~ ~eat ~n the ali9nment hole~ 59 and 62.
The sesments 20 can ~loat particularly from s:ide to ~ide within the body ~hell 19 to a limited extent since each segmen~ includes it~ own alignment projection sy~tem 61.
Very accurate alignment of each segment is achieved to ~he circuit board 12 and there iB no buildup of any tolerance mismatch ~ver ~he length of the receptacle 10. Thi6 is a higly ~ignificant feature ~ince it i~ de~ired to pack a~ many contact~ a~
po8~ble into each segment. I~ iR a uni~ue feature of the present invention that a very high den~ity o~
electr~cal contacts can be employ~d ln the réceptacle ~hlle maintaining adequ~ e al~g~ment with the corre~ponding con~act p~ds 21 of the clrcui~ board 12.
Each ~egment 20 i~ composed of a seg~ent bvdy 63 which is arran~ed ~o ~upport ~wo opposing rows of spring contact members 64. One end 6~ of each ~pring contact member comprises a contact portion for engaging S a corresponding contact pad 5 of a daughter board 11.
The oppo$ing end 66 of the ~pring contact mem~er 64 compri~e~ a lever-type contact portion for engaging and contacting the contact pad~ 21 of the mother board 12.
The use of lever-type contact 66 ~nd contact pads 21 provides a gas-tight, high pre~fiure connection. The end of the contact portion 66 i5 forced int:o the contact pad 21 and, by digging into it, makes a good electrical connection becau~e it breaks through ~he oxide~ on the ~urface of the pad. With thi~ type of contact arrangement, it i~ not nece~sary to provide gold contact pads or gold plating of the portion 66. A
tin-to-tin connection, which is much le~ expen~ive, i8 thereby po~sible. The contact pads 35 on the daughter board, however, are normally gold plated.
The contact memberR 64 c~n be ~elected to be 6ignal carrying, ~uch a~ the narrow contact member~ 32, or they can be power or current carry~ng suc~ ~ th@
relatively wider contact member 68. The ~e$ment~ 20 can therefore have their func ~on3 tailored ~ de~ired for handling ~ignals o~ power or any other function which might be requiredO
It i~ a preferred feature of the present invention to provide the highe~t densi~y of contact member~ 64 in the egment 20. Thi~ i8 partially accomplished by providing alternating high 32 and low 31 contact me~ber~ in each respective row of c~nta~t~.
Further, respective high contacts 32 in one row are arranged in opposition to respective low contact8 31 in the opposing row of contac~ members 64.
Corr~spondingly, a low contact 31 in the ~ne row of contacts is an opposition ~o a high contact in the opposing row of contacts. These high and low contact~
32 and 31 are adapted to engage two staggered rows of contact pads 35 as illustrated i~ Figure 1 by staggering the contact pads 35 in two rows a~ shGwn.
It i~ pos6ible to provide a higher dens~ty o~
contacts with a greater tolerance concerning the alignment of the contact portion 6~ of each ~egment ~o with the padfi 35. This min~mizea the ri~k of a mi~regictration be~ween the contact portlo~ 65 of the respecti~e high and law contacts 32 and 31 of each segment with the contact pad~ 35. It ~l~o en~ble~
reduced ch~nce of ~horting in tbe event th2t t~
contact portions 65 are ~lightly bent since-- there is ql~ite a large distance between high contacts in any particular row. Thi~ i~ also true of the low contact~, Thi~ ~cheme permit~ the size of the pads 35 to be 5 increased and minimizes the criticality of a spacing between the pad~.
A series o~ connector ~y~tems 10 can be placed on a mother circuit board 12 with any type of conventional hold down or clamping device 70 6uch as the one illustrated in Figure 60 The clamping members 71 or 72 are arranged to engage the ~tep 5~ in the side wall~ 41 or 42. The clamping members 71 or 72 are secured to the circuit board or mother board 12 by bolts 73 or otherwi~e f astened to the ci rcuit ~oard 12 5 80 as to enable the contact~ 66 of the spring contact members 64 to engage the pad~ 35 on the mother board 12. A~ previously described, the stop ~urface 56 engage6 the ledge 57 o~ the ~egment 2D to hold the segme~t 20 ~o that the contact~ 66 make good electrical 20 connection to the contaclt pads 35. The clamping member 71 i~ adapted to be employed between ~d~acer~t reoeptacle~; 10 wherea~ the clamping membe~ 72 i~
adapted to clalup a free ~lde 41 of the receptacle 10.
A great de~l of flexibillty in constru~t~ng ~a computer circuit board system i~ possible with-a desiyn of this electrical connector system. The receptacle 10 can have any multiple of segments 20; for example, 5, 7, 11, etc., as desired. A plurality of receptacles lD
can be arranged on the mother board ~in~ aajacent parallel rela~ionship as shown in Figures 1 and 6.
If d2sired, the receptacle can ex~end beyond the mother board 1~ so that additional connector segment~ ~0 in the recep~acle 10 can be connected to othe~ types o~ plug portions and circuit conneators or elements. For example, the receptacle 10 can encompass the mother board as well as accommodate other totally different types of connectio~s located completely of the mother board.
Each of the segment~ 20 lncludes a low or zero insertion force mechanism :Eor system 30O The contact members 64 in the embodiment ~hown ~n Figure 6 are biased toward~ the contact me~nber~ o the opposing ro~ ~o tha'c lf they were in thei r f ree ~tate, they 20 would take the po itions show~ in phantom ln the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 60 The low lnsertion orce mechani~n thereby employ~ a cam 33 and follower 34.
W~en the C~DI 33 i~ rot~ted to a po~tion shown in the le~-hand receptacle 10 of F~gure 6, follower 34 move~ upwardly to deflect the spring member 64 in one row away from the spring members 64 in the opposing row. This allow~ he circuit board 11 to be ir.~er~ed in the slot 40 with a low or zero insertion force. When the cam 33 i~ rotated to the positions shown in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, the follower 34 i~ lowered to release the contact member 64 ~o that the contact portion 65 engage the respective con~act pads 35 o the daughter board 11. Preferably, each ~egment lnclude~ it~ own separate follower member 34,, E~owever, the cam member 33 preferably compr;se~ a unitary member or metal rod extending through all the segment~ 20 in the receE~tacle 10. The cam m~ter 33 15 preferably ha~ an oblong or oval cros~-section.
The top surface 74 of the follower meraber 1~
arranged to engage the spring contact 64 to dePlect them to ~pace them apart Qr release them ~o that they can engage the daughter board 11. The follower member 20 34 ha~ shaped crofi~-section ~Eor it~ upper port~on.
When it i8 pO i'cioned a~ ln the left-ha~d recep*A/:le 10 in Figure 5 fo~ ~eceipt of the cirGuit boa~d 11, the bottom of the l~haped~ 75, ~ ~erves as ~ ~tap ~ur~ace ~Eor ~lign$ng . he circuit board 11 durlnçl insertion.
The lower portion of ~he ~ollower me~ber 34, cros~-section 76, has a hook-like ~hape ~o that when the follower member is withdrawn as ln the right-hand recep~acle 10 in Figure 6, it i~ held down in the withdrawn position by engagement between the cam 33 and the hook-portion 7S.
The segment body 63 includes an o~ter segment support member 77 and an inner segment ~uppc: rt ~egment 78~ The ~pring contacts 64 are held in place between the respective ~upport member~ 77 and 78. The inner support member 78 al80 ~erveR to support the cam and follower members 33 and 34.
While the low or zero in~ertion force mechanism 30 has been described by reference to the embodiment particularly ~hown in Figure 6, any de~ired low in~ertion force mechanism can be employed as illu~trated ~ the numerous patent~ noted ln the background of ~hi~ application. Wh~le it i~ preferred, in accordanc~ with th1 s invention, for the ~pring ~o con~ac~ member~ 64 in one row to be biased ~c~7ar~3~ the ~prlng ¢ontact members 64 in the oppoising r~ lf de~ired, a~ illu~trated in the background of thi~
inventlorl, the s:~pposi~e approach can be employed. ~n such an oppo~ite appro~ch, the follower mem~r ~er~e~
.5~
to deflect the ~pring con~acts 64 to have the contact portions S5 engage the contact pads 35 or relea~e the s~ring contact~ so tha~ they are.~paced apart in their free ~tate.
Afi illustrated in Figure 7, actuating lever 38 is secured to the cam 33. Thi~ enables the op2rat~r to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 3B between it~
respective open and closed positions illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatlvely, if desired, the length of the lever 3 8 can be made much longer so tha~ an opera~or need only reach to the top of the ci rcuit board area in order to turn it. Thi~ embodiment al~o provides greater leverage on he cam 33 for easier opera~ion. Yet another approach adapted for remote actuation i~ to substitute a lever 79, which by the use of a ~uitable linkage 80 pivotally connected to the end 81 of the leyer 79, can be remotely ac~ua~edO Fo.r example, the linkage 80 can be brought out through a hol'e, not fihown~ in the top of lthe card housing ~ 3 ~hown in Figure 1. By pull~ ng up on the linkage 80 the cam 33 i~ pivoted to open ~he receptacle for in~ertion of the ci rcuit board 11. By pushing down on the linkage 80, the re~erse of the oper~ion takes pl ~c~ ,~
Referring now to Figures 4-5 and 7-16, the aligning and loc~ing system ~2 and the ~ctuating system 36 will be described in greater detail~ As previously described, the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 is 5comprised of locking le~ers 23 and 24. The body shell 19 includes a support extension 82 at it end 44. The lever 23 is pivotally supported about an extension base 83 by means of a split cylinder pin 84 inserted through holes 8~ and 86 in the respective lever 23 and base 83~
10~ 6econd extension ~upport base 87 include~ a ~quarl~h hole 88 through which ~he cam 33 is in~ertedO
Prior to insertion of the cam 33, the actuating lever 37, fork-like projection~ 89, i~ positioned with a ba~e 87 betw~en the legs of the fork-like projection~ 89. A
15810t 90 in the fork-l$ke projections 89 closely fit~
the cros~-section of the cam 33. The cam 33 ~ 8 held within the receptacle 10 a~ter insertion. Insert~on through each of the respective segments 20 by mean~ of a plit pin 91 in~ert~d through a hole 92 in the cam 33 20wi~hin ~ slot 93 i8 best illu~trat2d in F gure 16~ The pin 91 serves to lock the c~m in place and t~e cam, in turn, AerYe to lock the actuating lever 37 in place.
Referring now mor~ particularly ~o the actuating and locking sy~tem~ 22 ~nd 36 at the end 44 of the body ~hell 19, reference i~ had to Figure~ 7-113 The locking lever 23 include~ a first projection 27 which is adapted to be inserted in an a:Lignment hole 25 on one ~ide of the circuit board 1:1. It f~rther include~ a seco~d projection 29 which is adpated to be in~erted in ~he notch 28 on one ide of the circuit board 11~ The locking lever 23 also include~ a followe~ portion 39 defined by the upper surface of one of the ~upport leg~ 95. The follower portion 39 include~ a notch 96. The actua~ing lever 37 ~ncludes a tab 38 which acts a8 a cam. The ~ollower portion 39 also includes a ~top portion 96 in operation when the lever 37 is in it~ ver~ical position as shown. The cam 33 disengage~ ~he segment follower 34 ~o that the contact~ 31 and 32 close against the daughter boards.
In thl~ position, ~he tab or cam 38 ha~ engaged ~he ~top portion 96 to pivot the lever 23 again~t the ci rcuit board 11 EiO ~hat the proj ection~ 27 and 29 seat ~ n the respective ho~e ~5 and ~lo~ 28.
When the lever 37 1~ pivoted in the oppo~ite direc~ion to po~ition as ~h~wn in F~gure 4, the cam ~ab 38 doe~ not pivo~ the lever 23 until it engages the ~top portion 97 def ined by the lower ~ de of the ~lot 96 ~ Theref ore, ~ the lever 37 move~ f rom the ~top ~2 portion 96 to the ~top portion 97~ there i~ no~movement of the lever 23~ ~owever; the cam 33 is rotated from its closed actuation position to its open actuation positiun~ The tab 38 engage~ the ~top por~ion 97 before the lever 37 i~ rotated ~o it~ co~.pletely open position. After the tab 38 engage~ the stop portion 97, continued ~ivoting in a downwardly direction of t:he lever 37 causes the lever 23 to pivot away f rom t:he circuit hoard, thereby disengaging the projectlons 2 and 29 from the respective hole 25 and 810t 2 8 .
Therefore, when the lever 37 ~s moved from it~ closed position to its open po~ition, the contact~ are fir~t spaced apart under the action of the cam 33 and follower 34 and then the locking lever ig di~engaged in a ~erial fashion.
When the lever 37 i~ moved from it8 open posi~lon as in Figure 4 to its clo~ed po~tion a~ in Figure S ~ a rever~e ~eries of operations occur~. When the leYer 37 i~ ~n i~5 full open position, the tab 38, 20 due ~o the pivoting action of the lever 23, moves ~ nto the ~lot 96. Therefore, the upper ~ide ~all of the ~lot ~8 i5 engaged by the tab 38 of the lever 37 ~8 it begins it~ mo~rement in ~n upwardly directi4J10 ~his cau~es the lever 23 to plyot about pin 8~ into ~ts lock.ing and aligned position against the cir~uit board 11 with a small rotation of the lever 37. Thi5 small rotat;o~ however is insufficient to rotate the cam 33 sufficiently against the follower 34 to close the contacts. As the lever 23 pivotB under the action of the pad 38 against the ~top portion 98, the t~b moves out of the ~lot 96 just as the lever 23 fully align~
and locks against the board 11. The lever 37 i8 thereafter free to continue rotation to its upward 10 po~ition again~t the stop 96 and thereby release the contact~ for engagement with the circuit board.
Th~reforer the ~ction of the cam 38 and fol lower 39 i~
~uch that when the lever 37 i~ moved from it~ open position to the clo~ed position, shown i~ Figure 4 and ~5 5~ respectively the circuit board i8 ~irst aligned and locked in place and then the contacts are released to engage the circuit boardO
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of thî~ invention, the aligning and locking ~yste~n 22 and 20 actuating sy~tem~ 36 include the ~econd al igning and - locking lever 24 and a . econd actuating lever- 99. The ~econd lever 24 and the ~econd lever 99 are located at he oppo~ing end 43 of the body ~hell 19D By mea~ of suppor~ extension 100~ the exten~ion 100 ~n~lude~ ~
support 101 about which the lever 24 is ~pivotally supported by a ~plit pin 102. It extends through holes 103 in the lever 24 and 104 in the base 101~ A~
previously described, the cam rod 33 extend~ through a ~lot 93 terminating in a squarish hole 105 in a second support base 106 in the éxtension lOOo The second actuating lever 99 includes a slvt 90 which has a cross-section closely corresponding to the cros~-section of the cam 33. ~he lever 99 i~
po~itloned about ~he cam 33 between the lever 24 and the support base extension 106~ ~he lever 99 includes tab 38 corresponding the tab of the lever 37.
Similarly, the lever 24 include~ a follower portion 39 corrPsponding to the follower portion of the lever 23.
The follo~er portions include a ~lot S including stop portion~ 97 and 98. It also includes stop portion S.
The operation of lever 99 i~ tied to the operation of lever 37 by the cam 33. The inner action of lever 99 with the lever 24 via the tab 38 and follower 39 is ide~tical to the inner action previously de~cribed with the respect ~o the lever~ 37 ~nd 23 and, therefore, i ~ot de60ribed agai~. When the lever 37 is mo~ed between i~B re~pective open ~nd closed posltion~, the lever 99 move~ between corresponding 2 ~
po~itions and interacts with the lever 24 in- the same manner as the lever 37 interacts with the lever 23~
The projections 27 whi.ch serYe to align and lock the circuit board 11 in the receptacle 10 are tapered ~o that a filight misalignment of the circuit board 11 does not prevent alignment and locking of the board into the receptacle. The taper of the projection~ 27 ~erve to move the board into its properly aligned position. I~ should be apparent that the contact~ 67 ~E the receptacle 10 cannot be closed unless the circuit board 11 i~ prope rly locked and aligned within the receptacle. Any misalignment would prevent the projections 27 and 29 from being inserted ln the respective alignment holes 25 and ~lot 28.
This, in turn, would prevent the pivoting o~ the lever~
~3 and 24 into their fully and aligned position. The failure of those levers to pi~ot to their fully aligned and locked positions results in the tab 38 of the lever~ 37 of 99 engaging the ~top portion 96 on the ~o respective f~llower~ 39. Th~s prevent~ Purther pivoting of the lever 37 and the ca~ 33,~ thereby preventin~ engagement o~ the contact to the ci rcult board 11.
FurltheE,, lt ls neces~ary ~h~t the pro~ec~on~
or alignment pin~. 27 and 29 on both ~ides. o~ the receptacle 10 be seated in their resplective hole~ 25 and slot 28 in order to completely close the contacts 67 of the re~eptacle 10. Thu~ the receptacle lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the po~ition shown in Figure 5 unless both corner~; of the ci rcuit board 11 are f ully seated in the connector housing. In the event of a misalignment, the operator cannot close ~he handle 37 completely and must readju~t the circuit board 11 so 10 that the al ignment can take pl ace. When the lever 37 is in the position of Figure 5, the circuit board cannot be pulled out of the receptacle 10, out the side of the receptacle 10, unle~ the handle 37 i~ fir~t pivoted to lts open position as ~hown in Figure 4.
It should be understood that the foregoing description i~ only illustrative o~ the invention.
VariQus al~ernative~ and modification~ can be devised by those ~killed in the art without departing from the invention. ~ccordingly~ the ~re~ent inventlon i8 in~ended o embrace all ~uch alternative~, modifications ~nd Yariance~ which fall within the ~cope of the appended cla~m~.
co~nec~or ~y~tem which comprlse~ ~n -electr~c~l connec~or seceptacle for attachment ~o a e~cuit board 12 ~uch a~ ~ mot~r board or backpl ne. The recept~cle 10 is adapted to receive an elec~rical plug member 11 which can co~prise part of an electronic module or a circuit board ~uch as a daughter board.
Receptacle 10 is comprised of a body ~hell 19 a~d contact segm~nt~ 20 as previously described~ ~he body ~hell 19 comprises an elongated ~lot 40 defined by opposing side walls 41 and 42 and end wall 43. Region 44 of the slot opposing the end wall 43 is open. The circuit board 11 can ~herefore ~e in~erted into the receptacle 10 from the top or from the ~ide in the direction shown by the arrow~ 45 and 460 As shown in Figure 7 and 12~ the segments 20 are in~erted int~ the body shell 19 from the bot~om.
The body shell 19 includes internal dividing wall R 47 whioh divide the shell into a plurality o chambe~ 48~
The nu~ber of chambers 48 corresponds to the number of ~egment~ 20 to be supported by the body ~hell l9o A
~erie~ o~ dcpression~ 49 in the ~ide wall 41 and 42 mark the respective locationfi of the internal wall~ 47.
Gener~lly centrally of e~ch of the ~ide wall6 41 and 42 of each respec~ive chamber 48 there i~ loc~ted rectangular hole 50. Th~ comprise~ par~ of ~ ~y~tem for supporting the ~egments 20 within the bo~y shell 19 ~n ~n independent floating arrangemen ~o that each segment 20 can be independently aligned to tXe circuit board 12.
The other element~ of the floating support ~y~tem 51 are a projection 52 correspondingly centrally l~cated on each segment 20 ~ide wall 53 and ~4. The projections 52 have a ~yramid ~hape ~o that when the segment~ 20 are inserted into the chamber 48, ~he projection~ 52 spread apart the respective ~ide wa:Ll 41 and 42 until the projections 52 ~nap into the holes 50. The hole~ 50 are larger in width and height than the corresponding width and height of the projection 52 thereby allowing the segments to have a limited degree of freedom within the chamber 48 both vertic~lly and from ~ide to side and back to backO A ~tep 55 ln each of the ~ide walls 41 and 42 provides a corresponding internal ~tep ~urface 56 limiting vertical movement of the segment 20 when the receptacle 10 i~ mounted to the circui~ board 12. This provides an e~fective means for clampiny the segmen~s down on the circuit board 12.
~ach ~egment 20 include~ a longitudln~l ledge 57 in each of the re~pective ~ide wall~ 53 and^54 wh$ch i~ adapted to engage the re~pe~tive stop ~urface~ 56.
The body ~hell 19 further ~nclude~ ~n ~l~gnme~t projection 58 at one end 44 wh~ch ~8 ~dapted to mat~
with a corresponding alignment hole in th~ circuit board 12. The segments 20 include at one end an alignment pro~ection 61 adapted $o seat in corr~sponding alignment holes 6~ of the circu;t board 12 when the se~ments 20 are inserted in the cavatie~ 48 of the ~hell 19~ The alignment projections 58 and 61 extend in a spaced apart arrangement across the ent.ire receptacl~ 10 and provide an effective means ~Eor aligning the receptacle on the circuit board 1~ when the projection~ ~eat ~n the ali9nment hole~ 59 and 62.
The sesments 20 can ~loat particularly from s:ide to ~ide within the body ~hell 19 to a limited extent since each segmen~ includes it~ own alignment projection sy~tem 61.
Very accurate alignment of each segment is achieved to ~he circuit board 12 and there iB no buildup of any tolerance mismatch ~ver ~he length of the receptacle 10. Thi6 is a higly ~ignificant feature ~ince it i~ de~ired to pack a~ many contact~ a~
po8~ble into each segment. I~ iR a uni~ue feature of the present invention that a very high den~ity o~
electr~cal contacts can be employ~d ln the réceptacle ~hlle maintaining adequ~ e al~g~ment with the corre~ponding con~act p~ds 21 of the clrcui~ board 12.
Each ~egment 20 i~ composed of a seg~ent bvdy 63 which is arran~ed ~o ~upport ~wo opposing rows of spring contact members 64. One end 6~ of each ~pring contact member comprises a contact portion for engaging S a corresponding contact pad 5 of a daughter board 11.
The oppo$ing end 66 of the ~pring contact mem~er 64 compri~e~ a lever-type contact portion for engaging and contacting the contact pad~ 21 of the mother board 12.
The use of lever-type contact 66 ~nd contact pads 21 provides a gas-tight, high pre~fiure connection. The end of the contact portion 66 i5 forced int:o the contact pad 21 and, by digging into it, makes a good electrical connection becau~e it breaks through ~he oxide~ on the ~urface of the pad. With thi~ type of contact arrangement, it i~ not nece~sary to provide gold contact pads or gold plating of the portion 66. A
tin-to-tin connection, which is much le~ expen~ive, i8 thereby po~sible. The contact pads 35 on the daughter board, however, are normally gold plated.
The contact memberR 64 c~n be ~elected to be 6ignal carrying, ~uch a~ the narrow contact member~ 32, or they can be power or current carry~ng suc~ ~ th@
relatively wider contact member 68. The ~e$ment~ 20 can therefore have their func ~on3 tailored ~ de~ired for handling ~ignals o~ power or any other function which might be requiredO
It i~ a preferred feature of the present invention to provide the highe~t densi~y of contact member~ 64 in the egment 20. Thi~ i8 partially accomplished by providing alternating high 32 and low 31 contact me~ber~ in each respective row of c~nta~t~.
Further, respective high contacts 32 in one row are arranged in opposition to respective low contact8 31 in the opposing row of contac~ members 64.
Corr~spondingly, a low contact 31 in the ~ne row of contacts is an opposition ~o a high contact in the opposing row of contacts. These high and low contact~
32 and 31 are adapted to engage two staggered rows of contact pads 35 as illustrated i~ Figure 1 by staggering the contact pads 35 in two rows a~ shGwn.
It i~ pos6ible to provide a higher dens~ty o~
contacts with a greater tolerance concerning the alignment of the contact portion 6~ of each ~egment ~o with the padfi 35. This min~mizea the ri~k of a mi~regictration be~ween the contact portlo~ 65 of the respecti~e high and law contacts 32 and 31 of each segment with the contact pad~ 35. It ~l~o en~ble~
reduced ch~nce of ~horting in tbe event th2t t~
contact portions 65 are ~lightly bent since-- there is ql~ite a large distance between high contacts in any particular row. Thi~ i~ also true of the low contact~, Thi~ ~cheme permit~ the size of the pads 35 to be 5 increased and minimizes the criticality of a spacing between the pad~.
A series o~ connector ~y~tems 10 can be placed on a mother circuit board 12 with any type of conventional hold down or clamping device 70 6uch as the one illustrated in Figure 60 The clamping members 71 or 72 are arranged to engage the ~tep 5~ in the side wall~ 41 or 42. The clamping members 71 or 72 are secured to the circuit board or mother board 12 by bolts 73 or otherwi~e f astened to the ci rcuit ~oard 12 5 80 as to enable the contact~ 66 of the spring contact members 64 to engage the pad~ 35 on the mother board 12. A~ previously described, the stop ~urface 56 engage6 the ledge 57 o~ the ~egment 2D to hold the segme~t 20 ~o that the contact~ 66 make good electrical 20 connection to the contaclt pads 35. The clamping member 71 i~ adapted to be employed between ~d~acer~t reoeptacle~; 10 wherea~ the clamping membe~ 72 i~
adapted to clalup a free ~lde 41 of the receptacle 10.
A great de~l of flexibillty in constru~t~ng ~a computer circuit board system i~ possible with-a desiyn of this electrical connector system. The receptacle 10 can have any multiple of segments 20; for example, 5, 7, 11, etc., as desired. A plurality of receptacles lD
can be arranged on the mother board ~in~ aajacent parallel rela~ionship as shown in Figures 1 and 6.
If d2sired, the receptacle can ex~end beyond the mother board 1~ so that additional connector segment~ ~0 in the recep~acle 10 can be connected to othe~ types o~ plug portions and circuit conneators or elements. For example, the receptacle 10 can encompass the mother board as well as accommodate other totally different types of connectio~s located completely of the mother board.
Each of the segment~ 20 lncludes a low or zero insertion force mechanism :Eor system 30O The contact members 64 in the embodiment ~hown ~n Figure 6 are biased toward~ the contact me~nber~ o the opposing ro~ ~o tha'c lf they were in thei r f ree ~tate, they 20 would take the po itions show~ in phantom ln the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 60 The low lnsertion orce mechani~n thereby employ~ a cam 33 and follower 34.
W~en the C~DI 33 i~ rot~ted to a po~tion shown in the le~-hand receptacle 10 of F~gure 6, follower 34 move~ upwardly to deflect the spring member 64 in one row away from the spring members 64 in the opposing row. This allow~ he circuit board 11 to be ir.~er~ed in the slot 40 with a low or zero insertion force. When the cam 33 i~ rotated to the positions shown in the right-hand receptacle 10 of Figure 6, the follower 34 i~ lowered to release the contact member 64 ~o that the contact portion 65 engage the respective con~act pads 35 o the daughter board 11. Preferably, each ~egment lnclude~ it~ own separate follower member 34,, E~owever, the cam member 33 preferably compr;se~ a unitary member or metal rod extending through all the segment~ 20 in the receE~tacle 10. The cam m~ter 33 15 preferably ha~ an oblong or oval cros~-section.
The top surface 74 of the follower meraber 1~
arranged to engage the spring contact 64 to dePlect them to ~pace them apart Qr release them ~o that they can engage the daughter board 11. The follower member 20 34 ha~ shaped crofi~-section ~Eor it~ upper port~on.
When it i8 pO i'cioned a~ ln the left-ha~d recep*A/:le 10 in Figure 5 fo~ ~eceipt of the cirGuit boa~d 11, the bottom of the l~haped~ 75, ~ ~erves as ~ ~tap ~ur~ace ~Eor ~lign$ng . he circuit board 11 durlnçl insertion.
The lower portion of ~he ~ollower me~ber 34, cros~-section 76, has a hook-like ~hape ~o that when the follower member is withdrawn as ln the right-hand recep~acle 10 in Figure 6, it i~ held down in the withdrawn position by engagement between the cam 33 and the hook-portion 7S.
The segment body 63 includes an o~ter segment support member 77 and an inner segment ~uppc: rt ~egment 78~ The ~pring contacts 64 are held in place between the respective ~upport member~ 77 and 78. The inner support member 78 al80 ~erveR to support the cam and follower members 33 and 34.
While the low or zero in~ertion force mechanism 30 has been described by reference to the embodiment particularly ~hown in Figure 6, any de~ired low in~ertion force mechanism can be employed as illu~trated ~ the numerous patent~ noted ln the background of ~hi~ application. Wh~le it i~ preferred, in accordanc~ with th1 s invention, for the ~pring ~o con~ac~ member~ 64 in one row to be biased ~c~7ar~3~ the ~prlng ¢ontact members 64 in the oppoising r~ lf de~ired, a~ illu~trated in the background of thi~
inventlorl, the s:~pposi~e approach can be employed. ~n such an oppo~ite appro~ch, the follower mem~r ~er~e~
.5~
to deflect the ~pring con~acts 64 to have the contact portions S5 engage the contact pads 35 or relea~e the s~ring contact~ so tha~ they are.~paced apart in their free ~tate.
Afi illustrated in Figure 7, actuating lever 38 is secured to the cam 33. Thi~ enables the op2rat~r to rotate the cam 33 by moving the lever 3B between it~
respective open and closed positions illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. Alternatlvely, if desired, the length of the lever 3 8 can be made much longer so tha~ an opera~or need only reach to the top of the ci rcuit board area in order to turn it. Thi~ embodiment al~o provides greater leverage on he cam 33 for easier opera~ion. Yet another approach adapted for remote actuation i~ to substitute a lever 79, which by the use of a ~uitable linkage 80 pivotally connected to the end 81 of the leyer 79, can be remotely ac~ua~edO Fo.r example, the linkage 80 can be brought out through a hol'e, not fihown~ in the top of lthe card housing ~ 3 ~hown in Figure 1. By pull~ ng up on the linkage 80 the cam 33 i~ pivoted to open ~he receptacle for in~ertion of the ci rcuit board 11. By pushing down on the linkage 80, the re~erse of the oper~ion takes pl ~c~ ,~
Referring now to Figures 4-5 and 7-16, the aligning and loc~ing system ~2 and the ~ctuating system 36 will be described in greater detail~ As previously described, the aligning and locking sy~tem 22 is 5comprised of locking le~ers 23 and 24. The body shell 19 includes a support extension 82 at it end 44. The lever 23 is pivotally supported about an extension base 83 by means of a split cylinder pin 84 inserted through holes 8~ and 86 in the respective lever 23 and base 83~
10~ 6econd extension ~upport base 87 include~ a ~quarl~h hole 88 through which ~he cam 33 is in~ertedO
Prior to insertion of the cam 33, the actuating lever 37, fork-like projection~ 89, i~ positioned with a ba~e 87 betw~en the legs of the fork-like projection~ 89. A
15810t 90 in the fork-l$ke projections 89 closely fit~
the cros~-section of the cam 33. The cam 33 ~ 8 held within the receptacle 10 a~ter insertion. Insert~on through each of the respective segments 20 by mean~ of a plit pin 91 in~ert~d through a hole 92 in the cam 33 20wi~hin ~ slot 93 i8 best illu~trat2d in F gure 16~ The pin 91 serves to lock the c~m in place and t~e cam, in turn, AerYe to lock the actuating lever 37 in place.
Referring now mor~ particularly ~o the actuating and locking sy~tem~ 22 ~nd 36 at the end 44 of the body ~hell 19, reference i~ had to Figure~ 7-113 The locking lever 23 include~ a first projection 27 which is adapted to be inserted in an a:Lignment hole 25 on one ~ide of the circuit board 1:1. It f~rther include~ a seco~d projection 29 which is adpated to be in~erted in ~he notch 28 on one ide of the circuit board 11~ The locking lever 23 also include~ a followe~ portion 39 defined by the upper surface of one of the ~upport leg~ 95. The follower portion 39 include~ a notch 96. The actua~ing lever 37 ~ncludes a tab 38 which acts a8 a cam. The ~ollower portion 39 also includes a ~top portion 96 in operation when the lever 37 is in it~ ver~ical position as shown. The cam 33 disengage~ ~he segment follower 34 ~o that the contact~ 31 and 32 close against the daughter boards.
In thl~ position, ~he tab or cam 38 ha~ engaged ~he ~top portion 96 to pivot the lever 23 again~t the ci rcuit board 11 EiO ~hat the proj ection~ 27 and 29 seat ~ n the respective ho~e ~5 and ~lo~ 28.
When the lever 37 1~ pivoted in the oppo~ite direc~ion to po~ition as ~h~wn in F~gure 4, the cam ~ab 38 doe~ not pivo~ the lever 23 until it engages the ~top portion 97 def ined by the lower ~ de of the ~lot 96 ~ Theref ore, ~ the lever 37 move~ f rom the ~top ~2 portion 96 to the ~top portion 97~ there i~ no~movement of the lever 23~ ~owever; the cam 33 is rotated from its closed actuation position to its open actuation positiun~ The tab 38 engage~ the ~top por~ion 97 before the lever 37 i~ rotated ~o it~ co~.pletely open position. After the tab 38 engage~ the stop portion 97, continued ~ivoting in a downwardly direction of t:he lever 37 causes the lever 23 to pivot away f rom t:he circuit hoard, thereby disengaging the projectlons 2 and 29 from the respective hole 25 and 810t 2 8 .
Therefore, when the lever 37 ~s moved from it~ closed position to its open po~ition, the contact~ are fir~t spaced apart under the action of the cam 33 and follower 34 and then the locking lever ig di~engaged in a ~erial fashion.
When the lever 37 i~ moved from it8 open posi~lon as in Figure 4 to its clo~ed po~tion a~ in Figure S ~ a rever~e ~eries of operations occur~. When the leYer 37 i~ ~n i~5 full open position, the tab 38, 20 due ~o the pivoting action of the lever 23, moves ~ nto the ~lot 96. Therefore, the upper ~ide ~all of the ~lot ~8 i5 engaged by the tab 38 of the lever 37 ~8 it begins it~ mo~rement in ~n upwardly directi4J10 ~his cau~es the lever 23 to plyot about pin 8~ into ~ts lock.ing and aligned position against the cir~uit board 11 with a small rotation of the lever 37. Thi5 small rotat;o~ however is insufficient to rotate the cam 33 sufficiently against the follower 34 to close the contacts. As the lever 23 pivotB under the action of the pad 38 against the ~top portion 98, the t~b moves out of the ~lot 96 just as the lever 23 fully align~
and locks against the board 11. The lever 37 i8 thereafter free to continue rotation to its upward 10 po~ition again~t the stop 96 and thereby release the contact~ for engagement with the circuit board.
Th~reforer the ~ction of the cam 38 and fol lower 39 i~
~uch that when the lever 37 i~ moved from it~ open position to the clo~ed position, shown i~ Figure 4 and ~5 5~ respectively the circuit board i8 ~irst aligned and locked in place and then the contacts are released to engage the circuit boardO
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of thî~ invention, the aligning and locking ~yste~n 22 and 20 actuating sy~tem~ 36 include the ~econd al igning and - locking lever 24 and a . econd actuating lever- 99. The ~econd lever 24 and the ~econd lever 99 are located at he oppo~ing end 43 of the body ~hell 19D By mea~ of suppor~ extension 100~ the exten~ion 100 ~n~lude~ ~
support 101 about which the lever 24 is ~pivotally supported by a ~plit pin 102. It extends through holes 103 in the lever 24 and 104 in the base 101~ A~
previously described, the cam rod 33 extend~ through a ~lot 93 terminating in a squarish hole 105 in a second support base 106 in the éxtension lOOo The second actuating lever 99 includes a slvt 90 which has a cross-section closely corresponding to the cros~-section of the cam 33. ~he lever 99 i~
po~itloned about ~he cam 33 between the lever 24 and the support base extension 106~ ~he lever 99 includes tab 38 corresponding the tab of the lever 37.
Similarly, the lever 24 include~ a follower portion 39 corrPsponding to the follower portion of the lever 23.
The follo~er portions include a ~lot S including stop portion~ 97 and 98. It also includes stop portion S.
The operation of lever 99 i~ tied to the operation of lever 37 by the cam 33. The inner action of lever 99 with the lever 24 via the tab 38 and follower 39 is ide~tical to the inner action previously de~cribed with the respect ~o the lever~ 37 ~nd 23 and, therefore, i ~ot de60ribed agai~. When the lever 37 is mo~ed between i~B re~pective open ~nd closed posltion~, the lever 99 move~ between corresponding 2 ~
po~itions and interacts with the lever 24 in- the same manner as the lever 37 interacts with the lever 23~
The projections 27 whi.ch serYe to align and lock the circuit board 11 in the receptacle 10 are tapered ~o that a filight misalignment of the circuit board 11 does not prevent alignment and locking of the board into the receptacle. The taper of the projection~ 27 ~erve to move the board into its properly aligned position. I~ should be apparent that the contact~ 67 ~E the receptacle 10 cannot be closed unless the circuit board 11 i~ prope rly locked and aligned within the receptacle. Any misalignment would prevent the projections 27 and 29 from being inserted ln the respective alignment holes 25 and ~lot 28.
This, in turn, would prevent the pivoting o~ the lever~
~3 and 24 into their fully and aligned position. The failure of those levers to pi~ot to their fully aligned and locked positions results in the tab 38 of the lever~ 37 of 99 engaging the ~top portion 96 on the ~o respective f~llower~ 39. Th~s prevent~ Purther pivoting of the lever 37 and the ca~ 33,~ thereby preventin~ engagement o~ the contact to the ci rcult board 11.
FurltheE,, lt ls neces~ary ~h~t the pro~ec~on~
or alignment pin~. 27 and 29 on both ~ides. o~ the receptacle 10 be seated in their resplective hole~ 25 and slot 28 in order to completely close the contacts 67 of the re~eptacle 10. Thu~ the receptacle lever 37 cannot be fully closed to the po~ition shown in Figure 5 unless both corner~; of the ci rcuit board 11 are f ully seated in the connector housing. In the event of a misalignment, the operator cannot close ~he handle 37 completely and must readju~t the circuit board 11 so 10 that the al ignment can take pl ace. When the lever 37 is in the position of Figure 5, the circuit board cannot be pulled out of the receptacle 10, out the side of the receptacle 10, unle~ the handle 37 i~ fir~t pivoted to lts open position as ~hown in Figure 4.
It should be understood that the foregoing description i~ only illustrative o~ the invention.
VariQus al~ernative~ and modification~ can be devised by those ~killed in the art without departing from the invention. ~ccordingly~ the ~re~ent inventlon i8 in~ended o embrace all ~uch alternative~, modifications ~nd Yariance~ which fall within the ~cope of the appended cla~m~.
Claims
1. A circuit board including (a) a plug portion for insertion in an electrical connector receptacle;
(b) two parallel rows of contact pads arranged on said plug portion with the pads in one of said rows being staggered relative to the pads in the other of said rows, whereby an increased number of connections can be made to said circuit board for a given size thereof;
said plug portion having two alignment and locking holes, one of said holes being located adjacent one side of said plug portion and one end of said rows of said contact pads and the other of said holes being located adjacent an opposing side of said plug portion and the opposing end of said rows of said contact pads; and said plug portion additionally having a notch in one side thereof, said notch being adapted to receive a projection on an actuating means which is movable between a distant unactuated position and an actuated position extending into said notch preventing movement of said board relative to an electrical receptacle, whereby said board can be inserted in the electrical receptacle only when said actuating means is unactuated.
(b) two parallel rows of contact pads arranged on said plug portion with the pads in one of said rows being staggered relative to the pads in the other of said rows, whereby an increased number of connections can be made to said circuit board for a given size thereof;
said plug portion having two alignment and locking holes, one of said holes being located adjacent one side of said plug portion and one end of said rows of said contact pads and the other of said holes being located adjacent an opposing side of said plug portion and the opposing end of said rows of said contact pads; and said plug portion additionally having a notch in one side thereof, said notch being adapted to receive a projection on an actuating means which is movable between a distant unactuated position and an actuated position extending into said notch preventing movement of said board relative to an electrical receptacle, whereby said board can be inserted in the electrical receptacle only when said actuating means is unactuated.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000548840A CA1252218A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1987-10-07 | Circuit board with staggered rows of contact pads |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469824A CA1231147A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Low insertion force circuit board connector assembly |
| CA000548840A CA1252218A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1987-10-07 | Circuit board with staggered rows of contact pads |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469824A Division CA1231147A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Low insertion force circuit board connector assembly |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1252218A true CA1252218A (en) | 1989-04-04 |
Family
ID=4129354
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469824A Expired CA1231147A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Low insertion force circuit board connector assembly |
| CA000548840A Expired CA1252218A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1987-10-07 | Circuit board with staggered rows of contact pads |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469824A Expired CA1231147A (en) | 1984-12-11 | 1984-12-11 | Low insertion force circuit board connector assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA1231147A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7219985B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-05-22 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
-
1984
- 1984-12-11 CA CA000469824A patent/CA1231147A/en not_active Expired
-
1987
- 1987-10-07 CA CA000548840A patent/CA1252218A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7219985B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-05-22 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7246882B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-07-24 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7252375B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-08-07 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7264334B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-09-04 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7275810B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-10-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7278708B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-10-09 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7284850B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-10-23 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7284847B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2007-10-23 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7510273B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2009-03-31 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7669969B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2010-03-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
| US7954934B2 (en) | 1998-05-18 | 2011-06-07 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Ink-jet printing apparatus and ink cartridge therefor |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1231147A (en) | 1988-01-05 |
| CA1252218C (en) | 1989-04-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |