(19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 984 516 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
17.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/42 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 04.08.1999 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
(54) |
Electrical connector for a PCB
Elektrischer Verbinder für eine gedruckte Schaltung
Connecteur électrique pour un circuit imprimé
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
DE ES FR IT SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
04.09.1998 GB 9819227
|
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
08.03.2000 Bulletin 2000/10 |
(73) |
Proprietor: Delphi Technologies, Inc. |
|
Troy, MI 48007 (US) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Volpone, Mathew V.
58256 Ennepetal (DE)
- Hold, Klaus
42289 Wuppertal (DE)
- Kerr, Geoffrey
Ormskirk,
Lancashire L39 3NU (GB)
|
(74) |
Representative: Denton, Michael John |
|
Delphi European Headquarters,
64 avenue de la Plaine de France,
Paris Nord II,
BP 60059, Tremblay-en-France 95972 Roissy Charles de Gaulle Cédex 95972 Roissy Charles de Gaulle Cédex (FR) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 488 894 US-A- 4 157 207
|
US-A- 3 054 078 US-A- 4 634 200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for mounting on a printed
circuit board (PCB).
Background of the Invention
[0002] Within the electrical systems in a motor vehicle it is becoming common practise to
provide an electrical control unit handling both electrical power and electrical control
signals. Such control units include at least one PCB which requires connection to
an input wiring harness providing power and control signals into the control unit,
and to an output wiring harness providing power and control signals out of the control
unit. In some circumstances, where specific conductors of the input harness are connected
to specific conductors of the output harness, the PCB just provides a through connection
between the specific conductors of the harnesses. Such an arrangement increases the
size and the cost of the PCB.
[0003] US-A-3054078 discloses a two-part connector having shorting clips for electrically connecting
two or more adjacent terminals in each part.
Summary of the Invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned problem.
[0005] An electrical connector in accordance with the present invention, for mounting on
a printed circuit board, comprises a first housing having a base wall mountable on
one side of the printed circuit board; a second housing having a base wall mountable
on the other side of the printed circuit board, the base wall of the first housing
and/or the second housing having an extension which can be positioned in an aperture
in the printed circuit board and engage the other housing; a first row of electrical
terminals passing through, and secured in, the base walls and the or each extension
to provide electric contacts in the first housing and electric contacts in the second
housing; a second row of electrical terminals passing through, and secured in, the
base wall of the first housing to provide electric contacts in the first housing connectable
with the printed circuit board; and a third row of electrical terminals passing through,
and secured in, the base wall of the second housing to provide electric contacts in
the second housing connectable with the printed circuit board; wherein the second
row is positioned on one side of the first row and the third row is positioned on
the opposite side of the first row to the second row.
[0006] The present invention provides an electrical connector which has connections to a
PCB and connections which bypass the PCB, allowing a reduction in size and cost of
the PCB, and a reduction in wiring complexity.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a top view of an electrical control unit having an electrical connector
in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line II-II of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0008] An electrical control unit 10 suitable for installation in a motor vehicle is shown
in Figures 1 to 3. The control unit 10 handles both electrical power and electrical
control signals and includes a casing 12 with a printed circuit board (PCB) 14 mounted
inside the casing. An electrical connector 20 in accordance with the present invention
is mounted on the PCB 14 and opens through the casing 12 on both sides of the PCB.
[0009] The electrical connector 20 comprises a first housing 22 mounted on one side of the
PCB 14, and a second housing 24 mounted on the other side of the PCB. The first housing
22 opens through the upper wall 16 of the casing 12 and the second housing 24 opens
through the lower wall 18 of the casing. The second housing 24 has a base wall 28
with an extension 32 which extends through an aperture 30 in the PCB 14 and engages
the base wall 26 of the first housing 22.
[0010] A first row 34 of electrical terminals 36 is mounted in the base walls 26,28 of each
housing 22,24. Each terminal 36 of the first row 34 extends through the base walls
26,28 and through the extension 32 (and hence through the aperture 30 in the PCB 14)
to provide an electric contact 38 in the first housing 22 and an electric contact
40 in the second housing 24.
[0011] A second row 42 of electrical terminals 44 is mounted in the base wall 26 of the
first housing 22. Each terminal 44 of the second row 42 extends through the base wall
26 to provide an electric contact 46 in the first housing 22 and to make an electrical
connection with an electrical conductor (not shown) on the PCB 14 in any suitable
manner, such as by soldering.
[0012] A third row 48 of electrical terminals 50 is mounted in the base wall 28 of the second
housing 24. Each terminal 50 of the third row 48 extends through the base wall 28
to provide an electric contact 52 in the second housing 24 and to make an electrical
connection with an electrical conductor (not shown) on the PCB 14 in any suitable
manner, such as by soldering.
[0013] In the present invention, the second row 42 of terminals 44 is offset from the first
row 34 of terminals 36 on one side of the first row, and the third row 48 of terminals
50 is offset from the first row on the opposite side of the first row to the second
row.
[0014] The electric contacts 38,46 in the first housing 22 are electrically connectable
with corresponding electric contacts in a housing (not shown) of an electrical connector
(not shown) which can mate with the first housing. The electric contacts 40,48 in
the second housing 24 are electrically connectable with corresponding electric contacts
in a housing (not shown) of an electrical connector (not shown) which can mate with
the second housing.
[0015] Where the control unit 10 is used in a motor vehicle, a first wiring harness can
be mated with the first housing 22 and a second wiring harness can be mated with the
second housing 24. The terminals 44 provide electrical connections between the first
wiring harness and the PCB 14. The terminals 50 provide electrical connections between
the second wiring harness and the PCB 14. The terminals 36 provide electrical connections
between the first and second wiring harnesses without connecting with the PCB 14.
Compared to previously known arrangements, this allows a reduction in size and cost
of the PCB 14, and reduces wiring complexity.
[0016] The terminals 36 of the first row 34 are preferably assembled in the connector 20
by pushing the terminals into suitable apertures 54 in the base wall 28 and extension
32 of the second housing 24 from the rear of the second housing, and then installing
the first housing 22 by passing the terminals through suitable apertures 56 in the
base wall 26 of the first housing. The terminals 36 of the first row 34 preferably
have shoulders 58 to prevent over-insertion of the terminals in the apertures 54 in
the second housing 24, and to prevent removal of the terminals after the first housing
22 is in position. The terminals 36 of the first row 34 preferably have teeth 60 which
bite into the base wall 28 and extension 32 of the second housing 24 to retain the
terminals in the second housing. With this arrangement, the extension 32 of the second
housing 24 is positioned in the aperture 30 of the PCB 14 before the first housing
22 is installed. The first and second housings 22,24 may be mounted on the PCB 14
in any suitable manner, such as by a snap fit or using screws.
[0017] The above described arrangement may be modified by providing an extension on both
the base wall of the first housing and the base wall of the second housing, with the
extensions abutting in the aperture in the PCB or on one side of the PCB.
1. An electrical connector (20) for mounting on a printed circuit board (14) comprising
a first housing (22) having a base wall (26) mountable on one side of the printed
circuit board; a second housing (24) having a base wall (28) mountable on the other
side of the printed circuit board, the base wall of the first housing and/or the second
housing having an extension (32) which can be positioned in an aperture (30) in the
printed circuit board and engage the other housing; a first row (34) of electrical
terminals (36) passing through, and secured in, the base walls and the or each extension
to provide electric contacts (38) in the first housing and electric contacts (40)
in the second housing; a second row (42) of electrical terminals (44) passing through,
and secured in, the base wall of the first housing to provide electric contacts (46)
in the first housing connectable with the printed circuit board; and a third row (48)
of electrical terminals (50) passing through, and secured in, the base wall of the
second housing to provide electric contacts (52) in the second housing connectable
with the printed circuit board; wherein the second row is positioned on one side of
the first row and the third row is positioned on the opposite side of the first row
to the second row.
2. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein only the base wall (28) of
the second housing (24) has an extension (32).
3. An electrical connector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the electrical terminals
(36) of the first row (34) have teeth (60) which bite into the base wall (28) of the
second housing (24) to secure the terminals in the second housing.
4. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the electrical
terminals (36) of the first row (34) have shoulders (58) for substantially preventing
removal of the terminals from the first or the second housing (22, 24) after assembly
of the electrical connector.
1. Elektrischer Verbinder (20) zum Anbringen auf einer Leiterplatte (14), umfassend ein
erstes Gehäuse (22) mit einer Basiswand (26), das an einer Seite der Leiterplatte
anbringbar ist; ein zweites Gehäuse (24) mit einer Basiswand (28), das an der anderen
Seite der Leiterplatte anbringbar ist, wobei die Basiswand des ersten Gehäuses und/oder
des zweiten Gehäuses eine Verlängerung (32) aufweist, die in einer Öffnung (30) in
der Leiterplatte positioniert werden und an dem anderen Gehäuse angreifen kann; eine
erste Reihe (34) von elektrischen Klemmen (36), die durch die Basiswände und die oder
jede Verlängerung verlaufen und darin befestigt sind, um elektrische Kontakte (38)
in dem ersten Gehäuse und elektrische Kontakte (40) in dem zweiten Gehäuse vorzusehen;
eine zweite Reihe (42) von elektrischen Klemmen (44), die durch die Basiswand des
ersten Gehäuses verlaufen und darin befestigt sind, um elektrische Kontakte (46) in
dem ersten Gehäuse vorzusehen, die mit der Leiterplatte verbindbar sind; und eine
dritte Reihe (48) von elektrischen Klemmen (50), die durch die Basiswand des zweiten
Gehäuses verlaufen und darin befestigt sind, um elektrische Kontakte (52) in dem zweiten
Gehäuse vorzusehen, die mit der Leiterplatte verbindbar sind; wobei die zweite Reihe
an einer Seite der ersten Reihe positioniert ist und die dritte Reihe an der gegenüberliegenden
Seite der ersten Reihe zu der zweiten Reihe positioniert ist.
2. Elektrischer Verbinder nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem nur die Basiswand (28) des zweiten
Gehäuses (24) eine Verlängerung (32) aufweist.
3. Elektrischer Verbinder nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, bei welchem die elektrischen
Klemmen (36) der ersten Reihe (34) Zähne (60) aufweisen, die in die Basiswand (28)
des zweiten Gehäuses (24) beißen, um die Klemmen in dem zweiten Gehäuse zu befestigen.
4. Elektrischer Verbinder nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei welchem die elektrischen
Klemmen (36) der ersten Reihe (34) Schultern (58) aufweisen, um nach dem Zusammenbau
des elektrischen Verbinders im Wesentlichen die Entnahme der Klemmen aus dem ersten
oder dem zweiten Gehäuse (22, 24) zu verhindern.
1. Connecteur électrique (20) pour un montage sur une carte de circuit imprimé (14),
comprenant un premier boîtier (22) ayant une paroi de base (26) qui peut être montée
sur un premier côté de la carte de circuit imprimé ; un deuxième boîtier (24) ayant
une paroi de base (28) qui peut être montée sur l'autre côté de la carte de circuit
imprimé, la paroi de base du premier boîtier et/ou du deuxième boîtier ayant un prolongement
(32) qui peut être positionné dans une ouverture (30) dans la carte de circuit imprimé
et qui coopère avec l'autre boîtier ; une première rangée (34) de bornes électriques
(36) passant à travers, et fixées dans, les parois de base et le ou chaque prolongement
afin de fournir des contacts électriques (38) dans le premier boîtier et des contacts
électriques (40) dans le deuxième boîtier ; une deuxième rangée (42) de bornes électriques
(44) passant à travers, et fixées dans, la paroi de base du premier boîtier afin de
fournir des contacts électriques (46) dans le premier boîtier qui peuvent être connectés
avec la carte de circuit imprimé ; et une troisième rangée (48) de bornes électriques
(50) passant à travers, et fixées dans, la paroi de base du deuxième boîtier afin
de fournir des contacts électriques (52) dans le deuxième boîtier qui peuvent être
connectés à la carte de circuit imprimé ; dans lequel la deuxième rangée est positionnée
sur un côté de la première rangée et la troisième rangée est positionnée sur le côté
opposé de la première rangée sur la deuxième rangée.
2. Connecteur électrique selon la revendication 1, dans lequel seule la paroi de base
(28) du deuxième boîtier (24) possède un prolongement (32)
3. Connecteur électrique selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel
les bornes électriques (36) de la première rangée (34) présentent des dents (60) qui
mordent dans la paroi de base (28) du deuxième boîtier (24) afin de fixer les bornes
dans le deuxième boîtier.
4. Connecteur électrique selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel
les bornes électriques (36) de la première rangée (34) ont des épaulements (58) pour
empêcher substantiellement le retrait des bornes du premier ou deuxième boîtier (22,
24) après assemblage du connecteur électrique.


REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description