Input/output intercard connector

Abstract

An intercard connector system is formed by a connector matable with a circuit board mounted header assembly. The connector carries a plurality of terminals each having a first end profiled to engage a conductor and an opposite second end profiled to engage a pin terminal of the header assembly. The profiling of the connector and header assemblies are such as to allow multiple configurations in high density arrays.

We claim: 
     
       1. An intercard connector system comprising an elongated header member of rigid insulative material having oppositely directed mounting and mating surfaces, said header member having the mounting surface engaging a circuit board, profiled means at each end of said header member allowing mating only in a direction coplanar to said mating surface, a plurality of pin terminals mounted in said header member in patterned array with one end of each terminal engaging circuitry of said circuit board and the other end projecting from said mating surface; and   a connector member having an elongated housing of rigid insulative material having a mating portion profiled to be received in said header member in a direction parallel and adjacent to said mating surface and a terminating portion, a plurality of terminal passages each extending between said mating and terminating portions with adjacent passages opening in opposite directions at said terminating portion enabling said passages to have a close centerline spacing, and a plurality of first and second terminals alternating in adjacent ones of said passages, each said terminal having a conductor engaging first end and a pin engaging second end, the first ends of said first terminals opening in one direction and the first ends of said second terminals opening in the opposite direction, said first and second terminals being inserted alternately into adjacent passages in a direction normal to the axis of said passage so that said first ends are accessible from the respective sides of said connector and said second ends are accessible only from the mating face.   
     
     
       2. An intercard connector system according to claim 1 wherein a pair of header members are mounted on opposite sides of a circuit board and each pin terminal extends through said circuit board with end portions extending from the mating surfaces of respective header members.   
     
     
       3. An intercard connector system according to claim 1 wherein each said terminal of said connector member has a conductor engaging first end formed by at least one insulation piercing slot. 
     
     
       4. A intercard connector system according to claim 1 further comprising a cover engagable with said connector member to enclose said termination portion thereof. 
     
     
       5. An intercard connector system according to claim 1 wherein each said pin engaging second end of each terminal of said connector member is planar with at least one cantilever beam which receives a respective pin terminal normal to the axis of the beam and by moving said connector parallel to the axis of the terminals carried thereby. 
     
     
       6. An intercard connector system according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of covers mounted on opposite sides of said connector housing so as to enclose the conductor engaging ends of the terminals mounted therein. 
     
     
       7. An intercard connector system according to claim 1 wherein each said terminal in said connector member further comprises latching/stabilizing means. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  A connector system comprising a header member having a mating face in a connector receiving cavity profiled to receive a mating connector in a direction parallel to said mating face and a plurality of contacts each with one end extending from the mating face,   a connector member comprising a housing having a front mating end profiled for reception in said cavity, a rear terminating end, and a plurality of terminal passages extending therebetween, said mating end having a mating surface for reception against said mating face, said passages opening at said mating end as a plurality of parallel slots on said mating surface and at said terminating end as a plurality of parallel channels on opposite sides of said housing, adjacent slots extending to channels on opposite sides, alternate slots extending to channels on the same side, said connector member further comprising a plurality of terminals in respective passages, each terminal having a conductor engaging portion in a respective channel for being joined to an electrical wire and a contact engaging portion in a respective slot, said slots being spaced so that each slot receives one of said ends of said respective contacts for engagement by said contact engaging portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A connector system as in claim 8 wherein each said contact engaging portion comprises a cantilever beam which is resiliently biased to engage one of said ends of said contacts when said mating end is received in said cavity. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A connector system as in claim 8 wherein said header further comprises a mounting surface oppositely directed from said mating surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A connector system as in claim 10 wherein said contacts are pin terminals each having an end extending from the mounting surface. .Iaddend.