Method for connecting a loop antenna to a circuit board and an assembly thereof

(19)

(11)

EP 0 902 508 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	25.10.2000 Bulletin 2000/43

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	17.03.1999 Bulletin 1999/11

(21)	Application number: 98307365.1

(22)	Date of filing: 11.09.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: H01R 23/72, H01R 9/09

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

11.09.1997 US 58621 P
20.01.1998 US 73063 P
29.06.1998 US 90986 P

(71)	Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION
	Wilmington, Delaware 19808 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Mickievicz, Scott K. Elizabeth, PA 17022 (US) Whyne, Richard N. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (US) Morin, Scott F. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 (US) Peavy, Jennifer L. Palmyra, PA 17078 (US) Hirsbrunner, Robert T. Hummelstown, PA 17036 (US)

(74)	Representative: Warren, Keith Stanley et al
	BARON & WARREN 18 South End Kensington London W8 5BU London W8 5BU (GB)

(54)	Method for connecting a loop antenna to a circuit board and an assembly thereof

(57) A connector for use in connecting a loop antenna (32) to a circuit board (20) comprises two terminals (40) mounted in a housing (70). The ends (34,36) of the antenna are blade-like and the terminals include receptacles (44) for receiving the blade-like antenna ends. The terminals (40) are secured together by means of the housing (70) which isolates the terminals from one another and holds them together as a unit. The housing supports the terminals in mutually spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of circuit termini (24) on the board (20) to which the terminals are to be connected. A predetermined amount of solder (28) is disposed on each of the circuit termini, whereafter the terminals can be automatically positioned on the respective termini by means of the housing and be secured to the termini at the same time as other components, in a reflow soldering process. Subsequently, the ends (34,36) of the antenna are mated with the receptacles of the terminals.

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