Orthogonal card edge connector

Abstract

A system, according to one embodiment, includes a first end having several first contacts configured for coupling with a circuit board, a second end oriented about orthogonal to the first end, and a plurality of leads connecting the first and second contacts. The second end has a plurality of second contacts configured for coupling directly with a card edge of an electronic device. The orientation of the second end relative to the first end is fixed. A system, according to another embodiment, includes a circuit board, a plurality of such connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a first end having a plurality of first contacts configured for coupling with a circuit board;   a second end oriented about orthogonal to the first end, the second end having a plurality of second contacts configured for coupling directly with a card edge of an electronic device, the orientation of the second end relative to the first end being fixed; and   a plurality of leads connecting the first contacts to the second contacts.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second end has an alignment feature dividing the second contacts into multiple arrays. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second end has an alignment feature dividing the second contacts into multiple identical arrays. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second contacts are female contacts. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein portions of all leads extend along a common plane. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a profile pattern of at least one array of the second contacts matches a profile pattern of at least one array of the first contacts. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second end includes an elongated slot configured to receive the card edge of the electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the second contacts are positioned along both sides of the elongated slot. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , comprising at least one ground plane extending generally parallel to the leads. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first end has a same physical shape as the card edge of the electronic device. 
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the system has an aspect ratio of at least 1:2. 
     
     
         12 . A system, comprising:
 a circuit board;   a plurality of connectors, each connector having:
 a first end having a plurality of first contacts coupled to the circuit board; 
 a second end oriented about orthogonal to the first end, the second end having a plurality of second contacts configured for coupling directly with a card edge of an electronic device, the orientation of the second end relative to the first end being fixed; and 
 a plurality of leads connecting the first contacts to the second contacts. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second end has an alignment feature dividing the second contacts into multiple arrays. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second contacts are female contacts. 
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein portions of all of the leads extend along a common plane, wherein a profile pattern at least one array of the second contacts matches a profile pattern of at least one array of the first contacts. 
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second end includes an elongated slot configured to receive the card edge of the electronic device. 
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the circuit board is a board selected from a group consisting of: a motherboard and an option board. 
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of electronic devices each having a card edge coupled to the second end of a respective one of the connectors. 
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , comprising a fan for inducing air flow across the connectors in a direction parallel to the first end. 
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein closest facing portions of at least some of the connectors are spaced apart by a distance sufficient to allow substantially uninhibited airflow therebetween in a direction parallel to the first end.