Connector arrangement

Abstract

A connector system for electrically connecting contacts of a flexible printed circuit carried by a daughter board with fixed contacts carried by a mother board, the flexible circuit serving as a connector to circuits on the daughter board, and the contacts of the flexible printed circuit arranged on an edge of the daughter board. Guides on the mother board enable the daughter board to slide in guided, edge-wise direction toward the face of the mother board, with the contacts on the flexible circuit in registry with contacts on the mother board. Driven cam/locking means carried by the mother board engages mating structure on the daughter board to press the edge of the daughter board tightly toward the face of the mother board in locking motion while camming the daughter board bodily laterally over the surface of the mother board whereby the contacts wipe upon one another as they move into locked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector system for electrically connecting flexible circuit contacts carried by a daughter printed circuit board with fixed contacts carried by a mother printed circuit board, said flexible circuit contacts being connected to flexible circuit structure that serves as a connector to circuits on the daughter board, and said flexible circuit contacts being arranged adjacent an edge of said daughter board, said system including guides on said mother board for enabling said daughter board to slide in guided, edge-wise direction toward the face of said mother board, with said flexible circuit contacts in registry with said fixed contacts on said mother board, and driven cam/locking means carried by said mother board and engaging mating structure on said daughter board to press said edge of said daughter board tightly toward said face of said mother board in locking motion while camming said daughter board bodily laterally over the surface of said mother board whereby said contacts wipe upon one another as they move into locked position.   
     
     
       2. The connector system of claim 1 wherein said cam/locking means comprises at least one pair of oppositely movable driven members engageable on corresponding cam surfaces defined by said mating structure on said daughter board. 
     
     
       3. The connector system of claim 2 wherein said mating structure on said daughter board comprises a series of block members extending along said edge of said daughter board, said cam surfaces being defined at oppositely directed ends of each of said blocks, said driven members adapted to move against said cam surfaces in motion parallel to the face of said mother board and parallel to said edge of said daughter board. 
     
     
       4. The connector system of claim 3 wherein said flexible circuit structure includes a plurality of conductor traces, a conductive ground plane and interposed dielectric, said flexible circuit structure having a characteristic impedance matched to the impedance of said circuits on said daughter board. 
     
     
       5. The connector system of claim 4 wherein said flexible circuit contacts are of the pad-type and are arranged in a planar array, said contacts being spaced less than about one hundred mils on center. 
     
     
       6. The connector system of claim 5 and further including a resilient contact array mounting that includes a resilient pad member having low stress relaxation when held in compression. 
     
     
       7. The connector system of claim 6 wherein said resilient pad member is supplemented by a plurality of spring loaded biasing members that provide resilient mounting for said contact array to enhance reliable electrical connection between the contacts on said mother and daughter boards, said resilient pad member distributing the contact loading force, and said spring loaded biasing members providing distributed supplemental contact loading and compensation for creep, variations in the thickness or resilience of said pad member, and/or other factors contributing to loss of stress in said pad member. 
     
     
       8. An electrical connector system electrically interconnecting conductive paths of a first circuit with corresponding electrically conductive paths of a second circuit comprising, a first circuit board on which said first circuit is disposed, connector receptacle structure on said first circuit board, a first planar array of pad-type contacts in said connector receptacle structure and connected to said first circuit,   a second circuit board on which said second circuit is disposed,   connector structure carried by said second circuit board for insertion into said connector receptacle structure, a second planar array of pad-type contacts on said connector structure, said connector structure including structure defining first and second ramp surfaces in orthogonal relation to one another,   latch mechanism including a camming surface,   actuator structure for moving said camming surface between an open position and a latched position in engagement with said connector structure ramp surfaces,   said actuator structure being operable, with said pad-type contact arrays in face to face engagement, to cause said latch mechanism camming surface to interact with said first and second ramp surfaces to produce conjoint clamping and wiping action of said engaged pad-type contact arrays, said latch mechanism in its latched position securing said first and second circuit boards together.   
     
     
       9. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector structure is of block configuration and includes a pair of recesses, each of which defines a set of said first and second ramp surfaces in orthogonal relation to one another, said latch mechanism includes a pair of latch members that have opposed camming surfaces, and operation of said actuator structure moves said latch members to cause said opposed camming surfaces of said latch members to enter said recesses and interact with said first and second ramp surfaces, said latch members in their latched position being disposed in said recesses and securing said first and second circuit boards together. 
     
     
       10. The connector system of claim 8 and further including guide channel structure carried by said first circuit board for receiving said second circuit board, said latch mechanism being operative to press said connector structure tightly toward the face of said first board in locking motion while camming said second board bodily laterally in said guide channel structure and over the surface of said first board whereby said contact arrays wipe upon one another as they move into locked position. 
     
     
       11. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector receptacle structure further includes biasing structure opposite said latch mechanism. 
     
     
       12. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector structure further includes flexible circuit structure that includes a plurality of conductor traces, a conductive ground plane and interposed dielectric, said flexible circuit structure interconnecting the array of pad-type contacts on said connector structure with circuit elements carried by said second circuit board. 
     
     
       13. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector structure further includes resilient contact array mounting structure that includes a resilient pad member having low stress relaxation when held in compression. 
     
     
       14. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector structure further includes transmission line structure that has a plurality of conductor traces connected to corresponding terminals of said second planar array of pad-type contacts, said terminals being spaced less than about one hundred mils on center. 
     
     
       15. The connector system of claim 14 wherein said transmission line structure is flexible and includes a plurality of conductor traces, a conductive ground plane and interposed dielectric, said transmission line structure interconnecting the array of pad-type contacts on said connector structure with circuit elements carried by said second circuit board. 
     
     
       16. The connector system of claim 15 wherein said connector structure further includes resilient contact array mounting structure that includes a resilient pad member having low stress relaxation when held in compression. 
     
     
       17. The connector system of claim 16 wherein said connector receptacle further includes biasing structure opposite said latch mechanism. 
     
     
       18. The connector system of claim 8 wherein said connector structure further includes an elastomeric pad member supplemented by a plurality of spring loaded biasing members that provides resilient mounting for one of said contact arrays to enhance reliable electrical connection between the contact arrays on said circuit boards, said elastomeric pad member distributing the resilient contact loading force, and said spring loaded biasing members providing distributed supplemental contact loading and compensation for creep, variations in the thickness or resilience of said pad member, and/or other factors contributing to loss of stress in said pad member. 
     
     
       19. A high frequency electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting conductive paths of a first circuit element with corresponding conductive paths of a second circuit element comprising a first planar array of pad-type contacts that are disposed on a first nonconductive substrate,   flexible sheet-form plural conductor transmission line structure that has one end electrically connected to said first circuit element and its other end connected to corresponding pad-type contact of said array,   a resilient contact array mounting that includes an elastomeric member supplemented by a plurality of spring loaded biasing members, said elastomeric member distributing resilient contact loading force, and said spring loaded biasing members providing distributed supplemental contact loading and compensation for creep, variations in the thickness or resilience of said pad member, and/or other factors contributing to loss of stress in said pad member,   a cooperating second array of pad-type contacts mounted on a second nonconductive contact support substrate and electrically connected to said second circuit element, and   locking means carried by one of said substrates and engaging mating structure on the other of said substrates for pressing said substrates together in locking motion while camming said first array laterally over the surface of said second array whereby said pad-type contacts wipe upon one another as they move into locked position.   
     
     
       20. The connector system of claim 19 wherein said flexible plural conductor transmission line structure includes a ground plane and plural conductor traces that have characteristic impedances matched to the impedance of the electrical circuit to which they are connected. .Iadd. 
     
     
       21.  An electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting, in a readily removable manner, circuit boards that have a generally orthogonal relationship with each other, comprising: first and second rigid circuit boards on which arrays of conductive paths of respective first and second circuits are disposed,   first connector structure,   a flexible circuit that carries conductive paths that correspond to the circuits to be connected, said flexible circuit being supported by said first connector structure,   second connector structure with which said first connector structure can be mateably, releasably engaged,   one of said connector structures being mounted on said first rigid circuit board in position to engage the other of said connector structures, and the other of said connector structures being mounted on the face of said second rigid circuit board in position to be engaged,   an electrical interconnection between the conductive paths of the circuit board on which said first connector structure is mounted and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit, and   said mateable connector structures constructed and arranged to enable, releasable electrical interconnection between conductive paths on the other of said circuit boards and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit by reversible motions that include engaging motion of said first circuit board edgewise toward the face of said second circuit board, to carry the connector structure mounted on said first circuit board into mating engagement with the connector structure mounted on the face of said second board, and motion of one of said connector structures in a direction transverse to the direction of said engaging motion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The electrical connector system of claim 21 wherein a cam arrangement associated with said connector structures causes motion of said connector structure on said first board in said transverse direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. An electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting, in a readily removable manner, circuit boards that have a generally orthogonal relationship with each other, comprising:   first and second rigid circuit boards on which arrays of conductive paths of respective first and second circuits are disposed,   first connector structure,   a flexible circuit that carries conductive paths that correspond to the circuits to be connected, said flexible circuit being supported by said first connector structure,   second connector structure with which said first connector structure can be mateably, releasably engaged,   one of said connector structures being mounted on said first rigid circuit board in position to engage the other of said connector structures, and the other of said connector structures being mounted on the face of said second rigid circuit board in position to be engaged,   an electrical interconnection between the conductive paths of the circuit board on which said first connector structure is mounted and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit, and   said mateable connector structures constructed and arranged to enable releasable electrical interconnection between conductive paths on the other of said circuit boards and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit by reversible motions that include engaging motion of said first circuit board edgewise toward the face of said second circuit board, to carry the connector structure mounted on said first circuit board into mating engagement with the connector structure mounted on the face of said second board, and motion of said connector structure on said first circuit board in a direction transverse to the direction of said engaging motion,   there being spring means disposed between said connector structures to bias said connector structures transversely relative to one another to one side during said engaging motion, and a cam arrangement associated with said connector structures, effective to cause said connector structure on said first board to move in a direction transverse to the direction of said engaging motion in opposition to said spring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The electrical connector system of claim 21 or 23 wherein said transverse motion is perpendicular to the plane of said first board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The electrical connector system of claim 22 or 23 wherein said cam arrangement includes a ramp surface carried by one of said connector structures engaged in a relative slidable camming motion by an element carried by the other connector structure to produce said transverse motion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The electrical connector system of claim 22 or 23 wherein said cam arrangement includes means to enable increase of pressure upon an array of contact pads associated with conductive paths of said system. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The electrical connector system of claim 22 or 23 wherein said cam arrangement includes means to enable wipe of an array of contact pads associated with conductive paths of said system. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The electrical connector system of claim 22 or 23 constructed and arranged to enable application of pressure upon an array of contact pads associated with conductive paths of said system preceding wipe of said contact pads. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The electrical connector system of claim 22 or 23 wherein said cam arrangement includes means effective, in producing said transverse movement, to bodily move said first rigid circuit board transversely along with said connector structure thereon. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The electrical connector system of claim 29 wherein said first rigid circuit board is a daughter board and said second rigid circuit board is a mother board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The electrical connector system of claim 23 wherein one of said connector structures is a receptacle structure into which the other of said connector structure is insertable, and said receptacle structure carries said biasing spring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The electrical connector system of claim 31 wherein one of said connector structures supports latch means for securing   
     
     
        said releasable electrical connection. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  The electrical connector system of claims 21 or 23 wherein one of said connector structures is a receptacle structure into which the other of said connector structures is insertable, said insertable connector structure supporting said flexible circuit, an array of contacts is disposed on the circuit board on which said connector receptacle is mounted, with said connector receptacle structure defining the bounds of said array of contacts on said circuit board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.34. An electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting, in a readily removeable manner, circuit boards that have a generally orthogonal relationship with each other, comprising:   first and second rigid circuit boards on which arrays of conductive paths of respective first and second circuits are disposed,   first connector structure,   a flexible circuit that carries conductive paths that correspond to the circuits to be connected, said flexible circuit being supported by said first connector structure,   second connector structure defining a receptacle into which said first connector structure can be mateably, releasably inserted,   one of said connector structures being mounted on said first rigid circuit board adjacent an edge thereof in position to engage the other of said connector structures, and the other of said connector structures being mounted on the face of said second rigid circuit board in position to be engaged,   an electrical interconnection between the conductive paths of the circuit board on which said first connector structure is mounted and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit, and   said mateable connector structures constructed and arranged to enable releasable electrical interconnection between conductive paths on the other of said circuit boards and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit by reversible motions that include engaging motion of said first circuit board edgewise toward the face of said second circuit board, to cause insertion of said first connector structure into said receptacle, and motion of said connector structure on said first circuit board in a direction transverse to said insertion direction,   there being spring means disposed between said first connector structure and said receptacle connector structure to bias said connector structures transversely relative to one another during insertion motion,   and a cam arrangement associated with said connector structures, effective to cause said connector structure on said first board to move in a direction transverse to the direction of said insertion motion in   
     
     
        opposition to said spring means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.35.  The electrical connector system of claims 21, 23 or 34 constructed to enable wiping action of a predetermined extent at contacts on one of said circuit boards during final movement of said connector structures to a secure position. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.36.  An electrical connector system for electrically interconnecting, in a readily removable manner, circuit boards that have a generally orthogonal relationship with each other, comprising: first and second rigid circuit boards on which arrays of conductive paths of respective first and second circuits are disposed,   first connector structure,   a flexible circuit that carries conductive paths that correspond to the circuits to be connected, said flexible circuit being supported by said first connector structure,   second connector structure with which said first connector structure can be mateably, releasably engaged,   one of said connector structures being mounted on said first rigid circuit board in position to engage the other of said connector structures, and the other of said connector structures being mounted on and projecting outwardly from the face of said second rigid circuit board in position to be so engaged,   an electrical interconnection between the conductive paths of the circuit board on which said first connector structure is mounted and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit, and   said connector structure being mateably engageable by motion of one of said rigid circuit boards and its connector structure in edgewise engaging motion toward the face of the other rigid circuit board;   cooperating, sliding rigid ramp surfaces carries by each of said connector structures constructed to engage during edgewise movement of said first board toward said second board to cause simultaneous lateral wiping and edgewise pressure applying actions of predetermined extent at contacts on one of said circuit boards for electrical connection between said contacts and the corresponding conductive paths of said flexible circuit by final pressure-applying edgewise movement of said first board toward the face of   
     
     
        said second board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37.  The electrical connector system of any one of claims 21, 22, 23, 34 or 36 wherein an array of contacts on said flexible circuit receives biased support for electrical connection by an elastomeric pad member supplemented by a plurality of spring loaded biasing members that provide resilient mounting for said contacts to enhance reliable electrical connection, said elastomeric pad member distributing the resilient contact loading force, and said spring loaded biasing members providing distributed supplemental contact loading and compensation for creep, variations in the thickness or resilience of said pad member, and/or other factors contributing to loss of stress in said pad member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The electrical connector system of any one of claims 21, 22, 23, 34 or 36 wherein both portions of said flexible circuit are provided with arrays of contacts biased for electrical connection, each by an elastomeric pad member supplemented by a plurality of spring loaded biasing members that provide resilient mounting for said contacts to enhance reliable electrical connection, said elastomeric pad member distributing the resilient contact loading force, and said spring loaded biasing members providing distributed supplemental contact loading and compensation for creep, variations in the thickness or resilience of said pad member, and/or other factors contributing to loss of stress in said pad member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The electrical connector system of claim 21, 22, 23, 34 or 36 wherein the flexible circuit and the configuration of said conductive paths thereon provide predetermined impedance values. .Iaddend.