Board-to-board electrical connector assembly

Abstract

A board-to board electrical connector assembly is provided for effecting a connection between two circuit boards. The assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first circuit board. A plurality of first terminals are 5 mounted on the dielectric housing and each terminal includes a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board and a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface. A second connector has a dielectric housing for mounting on a second circuit board. A plurality of second terminals are mounted on the dielectric housing of the second connector and each second terminal includes a tail portion 10 for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the second circuit board, and a contact projection for sliding over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of the first terminals upon mating of the connectors.

1. A board-to board electrical connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards, comprising:
 a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first circuit board;  
 a plurality of first terminals mounted on the dielectric housing and each terminal including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board and a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface;  
 a second connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a second circuit board; a plurality of second terminals mounted on the dielectric housing of the second connector and each second terminal including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the second circuit board and a contact projection for continuously sliding over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of said first terminals from the first mating of the connectors until and including the final mated condition of the connectors; and  
 whereby initial engagement of the contact projection of each second terminal with the convex contact portion of a respective one of the first terminals is at minimal engaging forces which increase as the contact projection slides over the convex contact portion and then decreases to allow the connectors to mate and the circuit boards to come together with minimal mating forces at the mated condition of the connectors.  
 
     
     
       2. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first terminals are generally U-shaped with each first terminal having one leg of the U-shape defining said convex contact portion and the other leg of the U-shape defining a mounting portion for mounting the first terminal in the dielectric housing of the first connector. 
     
     
       3. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 2  wherein the tail portion of said first terminal is at an end of the mounting portion of the first terminal opposite said convex contact portion. 
     
     
       4. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 2  wherein the housing of said first connector has an open space between the convex contact portion and the mounting portion of a respective one of first terminals as that the convex contact portion is free to flex upon engagement with the second terminal of the second connector. 
     
     
       5. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 1  wherein the contact projection of each second terminal is at the distal end of a flexible contact arm. 
     
     
       6. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 5  wherein said flexible contact arm comprises one leg of a U-shaped contact section of the second terminal. 
     
     
       7. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 6  wherein said U-shaped contact section of each second terminal is connected to a mounting section for mounting the second terminal in the dielectric housing of the second connector. 
     
     
       8. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 7  wherein the tail portion of each second terminal projects from the mounting section thereof. 
     
     
       9. A board-to board electrical connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards, comprising:
 a plug connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first circuit board; a plurality of plug terminals mounted on the dielectric housing and each terminal including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board, each plug terminal being generally U-shaped with one leg of the U-shape defining a mounting portion for mounting the plug terminal in the dielectric housing and the other leg defining a convex contact portion having a continuous arcuate contact surface;  
 a receptacle connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a second circuit board; a plurality of receptacle terminals each including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the second circuit board, each receptacle terminal having a U-shaped contact section with one leg of the U-shape forming a flexible contact arm having a contact projection at the distal end thereof for continuously sliding over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of a plug terminal from the first mating of the connectors as the plug terminals are inserted into the U-shaped contact sections of the receptacle terminals until and including a final mating condition; and  
 whereby initial engagement of the contact projection of each receptacle  20  terminal with the convex contact portion of a respective one of the plug terminals is at minimal engaging forces which increase as the contact projection slides over the convex contact portion and then decreases to allow the connectors to mate and the circuit boards to come together with minimal mating forces at a mating condition of the connectors.  
 
     
     
       10. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the tail portion of said plug terminal is at an end of the mounting portion of the plug terminal opposite said convex contact portion. 
     
     
       11. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein the housing of said plug connector has an open space between the convex contact portion and the mounting portion of a respective one of plug terminals so that the convex contact portion is free to flex upon engagement with the receptacle terminal of the receptacle connector. 
     
     
       12. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 9  wherein said U-shaped contact section of each receptacle terminal is connected to a mounting section for mounting the receptacle terminal in the dielectric housing of the receptacle connector. 
     
     
       13. The board-to-board electrical connector assembly of  claim 12  wherein the tail portion of each receptacle terminal projects from the mounting section thereof. 
     
     
       14. A board-to board electrical connector assembly for effecting a connection between two circuit boards, comprising:
 a first connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a first circuit board;  
 a plurality of first terminals mounted on the dielectric housing and each terminal including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board and a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface; a second connector having a dielectric housing for mounting on a second circuit board; a plurality of second terminals mounted on the dielectric housing of the second connector and each second terminal including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the second circuit board and a contact projection, at a distal end of a flexible contact arm which comprises one leg of a U-shaped contact section, for sliding over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of said first terminals upon mating of the connectors;  
 the dielectric housing of said first connector includes a plug portion mateable in the U-shaped contact section of said second terminals, with the convex contact portions of the first terminals being at one side of the plug portion for engagement with the contact projections of the second terminals of the second connector; and  
 whereby initial engagement of the contact projection of each second terminal with the convex contact portion of a respective one of the first terminals is at minimal engaging forces which increase as the contact projection slides over the convex contact portion and then decreases to allow the connectors to mate and the circuit boards to come together with minimal mating forces at a mated condition of the connectors.  
 
     
     
       15. A low profile board mountable receptacle connector that is mateable with a board mountable plug connector having terminals formed with a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface for effecting a connection between two circuit boards in parallel relation to each other, comprising:
   a low profile dielectric housing including a mounting face for mounting the plug connector on a first circuit board and a mating face formed with a receptacle area for receiving a plug connector mountable on a second circuit board,        a plurality of receptacle terminals each mountable on said dielectric housing from the mating side thereof,        said receptacle terminals each including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board, and        a U - shaped contact section with one leg forming a flexible contact arm having a free end extending upwardly toward said mating side and being engageable with continuous sliding movement over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of a plug connector terminal from the first mating of the plug connector with the receptacle connector until and including the final mated connection of the plug connector with the mating connector.     
     
     
       16. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 15  in which said receptacle terminals each have a mounting portion extending into the receptacle housing from a mating side thereof. 
     
     
       17. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 15  in which said receptacle terminals each have a first mounting leg that defines said tail portion and which extends outwardly from said receptacle housing mounting face, said U- shaped contact section being connected to said first mounting leg at an end thereof opposite said tail portion, and a second mounting leg having a terminal end extending into said receptacle housing in opposite directed relation to said flexible contact arm.   
     
     
       18. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 17  in which said U- shaped contact section includes a second leg that defines an open space between said one leg that forms said flexible contact arm for permitting flexing of said contact arm relative to said second leg.   
     
     
       19. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 15  in which said one leg that forms said flexible contact arm has an enlarged receptacle terminal engaging portion at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
       20. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 15  in which said receptacle terminal tail portions are configured for surface mounting with said first circuit board. 
     
     
       21. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 15  in which said receptacle area of said housing is defined by a pair of elongated receptacle sections each having a respective row of said receptacle terminals configured to receive respective plug portions of a plug connector. 
     
     
       22. A low profile board mountable receptacle connector that is mateable with a board mountable plug connector having terminals formed with a convex contact portion defining a continuous arcuate contact surface for effecting a connection between two circuit boards in parallel relation to each other, comprising:
   a low profile dielectric housing including a mounting face for mounting the plug connector on a first circuit board and a mating face formed with a receptacle area for receiving a plug connector mountable on a second circuit board,        a plurality of receptacle terminals each mountable on said dielectric housing,        said receptacle terminals each including a tail portion for connection to an appropriate circuit trace on the first circuit board, a mounting section for securement to said housing, and a U - shaped contact section including first and second legs which define an open space into which a plug portion of a plug connector is insertable, and one of said legs of said U - shaped section forming a flexible contact arm having a free end extending upwardly toward said mating side and being engageable with continuous sliding movement over the continuous arcuate contact surface of the convex contact portion of a plug connector terminal from the first mating of the plug connector with the receptacle connector until and including the final mated connection of the plug connector with the mating connector.     
     
     
       23. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 22  in which said mounting section of each receptacle terminal includes a mounting leg extending into the receptacle housing from a mating side thereof. 
     
     
       24. The low profile board mountable receptacle connector of  claim 22  in which said mounting section of each receptacle terminal includes a first mounting leg, said tail portion of each receptacle terminal being connected at one end of said first mounting leg, said first mounting leg extending outwardly from said receptacle housing mounting face, said U- shaped contact section being connected to said first mounting leg at an end thereof opposite said tail portion, and a second mounting leg having a terminal end extending into said receptacle housing in opposite directed relation to said flexible contact arm.   
     
     
       25. A low profile board mountable plug connector that is mateable with a board mountable receptacle connector having terminals with respective contact portions for effecting a connection between two circuit boards in parallel relation to each other, comprising:
   a low profile dielectric housing including a mating face for mating with a receptacle connector and a mounting face for mounting the plug connector on a first circuit board,        a plurality of plug terminals mounted on said dielectric housing each including a tail portion for connection to a circuit trace on the first circuit board,        said plug terminals each being generally U - shaped with one leg of the U - shape being directly connected to said tail portion and defining a mounting portion for mounting the plug terminal in the dielectric housing and the other leg defining a contact portion exposed for deflectable mating engagement with a receptacle terminal of a receptacle connector as an incident to relative movement of said plug and receptacle connectors in a direction perpendicular to the mating face of the plug connector, said other leg of the each plug connector terminal having a convex shape with a continuous arcuate contact surface substantially the length of the other leg which defines an initial arcuate contact surface portion at a terminal end section thereof, a maximum force arcuate surface portion at an intermediate section thereof, and a final latched arcuate surface portion at an end section opposite said terminal end section, said continuous arcuate contact surface being engageable by a contact portion of a respective receptacle connector terminal for continuous sliding movement of the receptacle connector terminal contact portion over the continuous arcuate contact surface from the first mating of the plug connector with the receptacle connector until and including the final mated connection of the plug connector with the mating receptacle connector, whereby upon initial engagement of a receptacle terminal of a receptacle connector as an incident to mating engagement of the plug and receptacle connectors, minimal engaging forces are incurred which progressively increase as the receptacle terminal slides over the arcuate terminal contact surface and which then progressively decrease to permit minimal mating forces at a mating condition of the connectors.     
     
     
       26. The low profile board mountable plug connector of  claim 25 , in which said U- shaped plug terminals define an open space between said mounting portion and the contact portion for permitting free flexing of said contact portion upon engagement of a receptacle terminal of a receptacle connector.   
     
     
       27. The low profile board mountable plug connector of  claim 25  in which said continuous arcuate contact surface of each plug U- shaped terminal is defined on an outer side of the other leg of each terminal.   
     
     
       28. The low profile board mountable plug connector of  claim 25  in which said plug connector housing includes a generally rectangular shaped base and at least one elongated plug portion extending in upstanding relation to the base, and said plug terminals being mounted on said plug portion. 
     
     
       29. The low profile board mountable plug connector of  claim 25  in which said plug connector housing includes a generally rectangular shaped base and two elongated plug portions extending in upstanding relation to the base, and said plug terminals being mounted on said elongated plug portions. 
     
     
       30. The low profile board mountable plug connector of  claim 25  in which said plug terminals each have a tail portion that is surface mountable on the first circuit board.