EP4233131A1

EP4233131A1 - Connector for connecting an electrical termination to a printed circuit and corresponding assembly methods

Info

Publication number: EP4233131A1
Application number: EP21791387.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Régis BAPTISTE
Original assignee: Banks and Acquirers International Holding SAS
Current assignee: Banks and Acquirers International Holding SAS
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2021-10-14
Publication date: 2023-08-30
Also published as: WO2022084162A1; FR3115637B1; US20230396004A1; CA3195074A1; FR3115637A1

Abstract

The proposed invention relates to a connector (C) for connecting an electrical termination to a printed circuit. The connector takes the form of a metal plate (P) comprising: - a peripheral zone (ZP) for attaching the connector to the printed circuit; - a central opening (OC) for inserting the electrical termination; - a plurality of retaining tabs (PM1, PM2, PM3, PM4) for retaining the electrical termination, each of the retaining tabs extending from the peripheral zone to the central opening, and comprising an elastically deformable portion (PED) via which the retaining tab is connected to the peripheral zone and a free end (EL) forming an edge of the central opening, the free end comprising a rounded portion (AR) and a sharp edge (AV), the rounded portion and the sharp edge being respectively positioned opposite the other such that the rounded portion faces a first surface, referred to as the detachable assembly surface (FAD), of the metal plate, and such that the sharp edge faces a second surface, which is referred to as the permanent assembly surface (FAP), of the metal plate, and which is opposite the first surface.

Description

TITLE: Connector for connecting an electrical termination to a printed circuit, corresponding assembly processes.

Technical area

The field of the invention is that of electrical connection devices. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of connectors which make it possible to connect an electrical termination, such as a leg of an electronic component or the end of an electrical wire, to a printed circuit.

Prior art

Many solutions exist when it comes to connecting components or electrical wires on a printed circuit.

A first, classic connection solution is to solder the electrical terminations (legs of the component or stripped ends of electrical wires for example) directly to the printed circuit. However, this solution has certain drawbacks. For example, it does not allow easy dismantling of the mounted component, since it is necessary to unsolder it to remove it, with the risk of damaging the printed circuit during this operation. Moreover, in certain situations (particular design of the electronic component or of the printed circuit for example) it is sometimes complex to carry out direct soldering of the component on the printed circuit.

A second connection solution is based on the use of connection sockets. Pre-soldered or crimped into the printed circuit, these sockets accommodate and hold the electrical terminations of the electrical components or wires to be connected to the printed circuit. The implementation of such a connection solution is however sometimes restrictive. Firstly, the size of the sockets, and in particular their height, mean that they are not suitable for many types of electronic assemblies. Secondly, the installation of these sockets often requires the use of a specific crimping tool. Thirdly, it is common for these connection sockets to be designed to cooperate with a specific male part, mounted on the electrical termination to be connected: the electrical termination cannot therefore be inserted as it is in the connection socket, which complicates mounting.

A third connection solution consists in implementing the electrical connection by means of an elastic or spring contact connector. This type of connector (ball connector or spring plungers, for example) is mounted in compression on the printed circuit, so as to maintain electrical contact. Such connectors are however by nature relatively bulky (both in height and in terms of surface area on the printed circuit), and their use often requires the provision of a counter-support element on the other side of the printed circuit, in order to avoid the deflection of the latter under the continuous pressure of the contact. Furthermore, the implementation of this type of connection again most often requires the use of two specific complementary parts to ensure the electrical connection.

Thus, the existing solutions for connecting an electrical termination to a printed circuit have several drawbacks. Many of them are based on the implementation of very specific connectors, in the sense that a connector suitable for the connection of a type of electrical termination (a flexible wire, or an electrical termination of a particular diameter for example) n It is generally not suitable for the connection of another type of electrical termination (a rigid wire, or an electrical termination of another diameter for example). In addition to suffering from a lack of universality, these specific connectors are often expensive, bulky, and the source of many constraints in terms of assembly (strict solutions imposing, for example, assembly on one side of the printed circuit, need to use special tools for crimping part of the connector on the printed circuit, making the assembly more complex due to the fact that the connector comprises a male part and a female part, etc.). The alternative solution consisting of not using a specific connector and soldering the electrical termination directly on the printed circuit, although not presenting the same constraints, is not free from drawbacks either: it is not always suitable for the connection of certain electronic components, and it does not allow easy and quick dismantling of the component once it is mounted.

There is therefore a need for a type of connectors allowing the connection of an electrical termination on a printed circuit, which does not have at least certain disadvantages of the connectors of the prior art. More particularly, there is a need for a new type of connector that is compact, inexpensive, easy to produce, simple to use, and which is suitable for use in a wide variety of assembly contexts.

Summary of the invention

The present technique makes it possible to partly solve the problems posed by the prior art. The present technique in fact relates to a connector for the connection of a electrical termination on a printed circuit, the connector taking the form of a metal plate which comprises: a peripheral zone for fixing said connector on said printed circuit; a central hole for the insertion of said electrical termination; a plurality of holding lugs for holding said electrical termination, each of said holding lugs extending from said peripheral zone towards said central orifice, and comprising an elastically deformable portion by which the holding lug is connected to said peripheral zone and a free end forming an edge of said central orifice, said free end comprising a rounding and a sharp edge, said rounding and said sharp edge being respectively positioned opposite each other so that said rounding is oriented towards a first face, called the removable assembly face, of the said metal plate, and that the said sharp edge is oriented towards a second face, called the permanent assembly face, of the said metal plate, opposite to the said first face.

In this way, the connector according to the proposed technique is less expensive and easier to produce than the connectors of the prior art, while offering greater flexibility of use.

In a particular embodiment, each of said retaining lugs further comprises a bead with a “V” shaped section, which connects the elastically deformable portion of the retaining lug to the free end of the retaining lug.

In a particular embodiment, said metal plate is circular in shape.

In a particular embodiment, said metal plate comprises at least three holding lugs.

In a particular embodiment, said retaining lugs are evenly distributed around said central orifice.

In a particular embodiment, at least one of said removable assembly face and said permanent assembly face comprises a marking associated with a distinctive sign.

In a particular embodiment, said metal plate is made of steel or beryllium copper alloy.

In a particular embodiment, the width and the length of the metal plate, when the metal plate is of rectangular parallelepiped shape, or the diameter of the metal plate, when the metal plate is of circular shape, are between 2.5 and 4 millimeters; the thickness of the connector is between 0.1 and 0.4 millimeters; and the internal diameter of the central orifice is between 0.4 and 0.8 millimeters.

According to another aspect, the present technique also relates to a removable assembly method of an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector as previously described, said method being characterized in that it comprises: a step of fixing said connector on said printed circuit, at the level of the peripheral zone of said connector, said connector being positioned so that its central orifice is opposite an insertion hole provided in said printed circuit and intended to accommodate said electrical termination; a step of inserting said electrical termination into said central hole, said insertion being performed on the side of the removable assembly face of said connector.

According to yet another aspect, the present technique also relates to a method for permanently assembling an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector as previously described, said method being characterized in that it comprises : a step of fixing said connector on said printed circuit, at the level of the peripheral zone of said connector, said connector being positioned so that its central orifice is opposite an insertion hole arranged in said printed circuit and intended to accommodate said electrical termination; a step of inserting said electrical termination into said central hole, said insertion being performed on the side of the permanent assembly face of said connector.

The different embodiments mentioned above can be combined with each other for the implementation of the invention.

tricks

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, among which:

[Fig la] shows three views of the same connector (a perspective view of a first face of the connector, a perspective view of a second face of the connector, opposite the first face, and a view in section and in perspective produced according to the cutting plane materialized by the axis A-A visible on the view of the first face), in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique; [Fig lb] is an enlarged view of a portion of the sectional view of Figure la, showing in more detail a retaining tab of the connector of Figure la, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 2a] shows a perspective view of an assembly of the removable assembly type between an electrical termination and a connector, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 2b] is a truncated sectional view of the removable assembly illustrated in relation to FIG. 2a, according to the section plane materialized by the axis B-B visible in FIG. 2a, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 3a] shows a perspective view of an assembly of the permanent assembly type between an electrical termination and a connector, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 3b] is a truncated sectional view of the permanent assembly illustrated in relation to FIG. 3a, according to the section plane materialized by the C-C axis visible in FIG. 3a, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 4] shows a perspective view of another connector, in a particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 5] shows two views of another connector (a perspective view of a first face of the connector and a perspective view of a second face of the connector, opposite the first face), in a particular embodiment the proposed technique;

[Fig 6] shows a truncated sectional view of a retaining lug of a connector, in another particular embodiment of the proposed technique;

[Fig 7] illustrates the different steps of a method for assembling an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector according to the proposed technique, in a particular embodiment;

[Fig 8] illustrates different connection configurations of an electrical termination on a printed circuit by means of a connector according to the proposed technique, in various particular embodiments.

Detailed description of the invention

The proposed technique relates to a connector making it possible to mount and electrically connect an electrical termination on a printed circuit. The term "termination electrical" is understood here in a broad sense, and covers both a connection leg of an electronic component to be pricked, the end of a flexible or rigid electrical wire, a tinned wire, a wire with a crimped insert (eg with a terminal or a tip), or even the end of an antenna for example.

Throughout the description and in the figures, elements of the same type are identified by the same reference.

A connector according to the proposed technique is illustrated in relation to FIG. 1a, in a particular embodiment. The connector C takes the form of a metal plate P, that is to say a substantially flat metal part (or at the very least flat over a major part of its surface), and whose thickness is small. in comparison with its other dimensions. More particularly, figure la shows three views of the same connector: a VFAD perspective view of a first FAD face of the connector, a VFAP perspective view of a second FAP face of the connector, and a VC sectional view made according to the cutting plane materialized by the A-A axis visible on the VFAD view. The first face FAD and the second face FAP correspond to the two main opposite faces of the metal plate P. The metal plate P comprises a plurality of holding lugs (at least two according to the general principle of the proposed technique, and four in the mode particular embodiment illustrated in Figure la: PMI, PM2, PM3 and PM4) which extend from a peripheral zone ZP of the metal plate towards a central through hole OC arranged in the center of the metal plate. In a particular embodiment, these retaining lugs are all shaped and dimensioned substantially identically, and they are evenly distributed around the central orifice OC. According to a particular characteristic, the retaining lugs are formed directly in the metal plate P, by means of cutouts (e.g. cut lines and/or slots) adapted from the metal plate. Each of the retaining lugs comprises an elastically deformable portion PED, by which it is connected to the peripheral zone ZP of the metal plate, and a free end EL forming an edge of the central orifice OC. The free ends EL of the retaining lugs thus together delimit a zone of the substantially circular central orifice, of diameter d when the elastically deformable portions are not deformed. This diameter d is referred to as the internal diameter of the central orifice in the rest of the document.

The flexible nature of the elastically deformable portion PED is obtained by adjusting various parameters such as, for example, the material of the metal plate, the thickness of the metal plate and/or the width of the retaining tab. In this way, the elastically deformable portion is made capable of deforming under the exercise of an external pressure force, then of resuming its initial shape corresponding to a state of rest when said external pressure force is no longer applied, under the effect of an elastic restoring force intrinsic to the material used. Thanks to these elastically deformable portions, it is possible to insert into the central orifice of the connector an electrical termination of substantially circular section and whose diameter is greater than the internal diameter of the central orifice. The elastic return force of the elastically deformable portions - then deformed - allows in this case the maintenance of the electrical termination in the connector, as described later in relation to Figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b. This design of the retaining lugs also advantageously allows a connector according to the proposed technique to be able to accept several diameters of electrical terminations, the elastically deformable portions being simply more or less deformed, depending on whether the diameter of the electrical termination accommodated in the central orifice is more or less large (but, in any case, at least greater than the internal diameter of the central orifice, otherwise the maintenance is no longer assured). This design of the retaining lugs also allows the connector to be able to accommodate, if necessary, electrical terminations whose section is not necessarily circular (eg square or even rectangular sections).

Figure lb shows an enlarged view of part Z of sectional view VC of figure la, making it possible to better highlight the characteristics of a holding tab, and in particular of its free end EL, in one embodiment particular. According to the general principle of the proposed technique, the free end EL of a retaining lug comprises at least one rounded AR (ie a rounded surface) and at least one sharp edge AV. The rounded AR and the sharp edge AV are located on the periphery of the central orifice OC (in other words, they define an edge thereof), and are respectively positioned one vis-à-vis the other so that the rounded AR is oriented towards the first face FAD of the metal plate and the sharp edge AV is oriented towards the second face FAP of the metal plate. In other words, when the relative position of these two elements is considered when the elastically deformable portion PED of the retaining tab is at rest (ie not deformed, due to the fact that no electrical termination is yet inserted in the central hole OC of the connector), the rounded AR is located on the side of the first face FAD of the connector while the sharp edge AV is located on the side of the second face FAP of the connector. According to a particular characteristic, the sharp edge AV results from the intersection between the rounding AR and a flat surface SP of the free end EL, located on the side of the second face FAP of the connector, the rounded AR and the flat surface SP then being preferably configured to form, together, at the level of the sharp edge AV, an acute angle. These general characteristics of the free ends of the retaining lugs - rounded, sharp edge, and their respective positioning - make it possible to confer different functions on each of the two main faces of the connector: as is now detailed in relation to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b, the first FAD face can thus be described as the “removable assembly face” of the connector, and the second FAP face as the “permanent assembly face” of the connector.

Figures 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b illustrate more particularly the way in which the retaining lugs of a connector such as that shown in relation to Figures la and lb are deformed when an electrical termination is inserted into the central hole of the connector, depending on the side of the connector through which the electrical termination is inserted (the electrical termination having a section with a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the central hole of the connector).

In the situation represented in relation to FIGS. 2a and 2b, the electrical termination TE is inserted into the central orifice via the face of the connector towards which the rounded AR of the free ends of the retaining lugs are oriented: in other words, the insertion is therefore carried out on the side of the removable assembly face FAD of the connector. Figure 2a shows a perspective view of such an assembly (an arrow illustrating the direction of insertion SI of the electrical termination TE in the connector), while Figure 2b shows truncated and enlarged sectional views of this assembly, along the cutting plane materialized by the axis BB visible in Figure 2a. When inserting the electrical termination TE into the connector, because the diameter of the electrical termination is greater than the internal diameter of the central orifice of the connector, the elastically deformable portions of the retaining tabs deform under the action the pressure exerted by the electrical termination on the free ends of the retaining tabs. The free ends of the retaining lugs are pushed towards the face of the connector opposite to the face by which the electrical termination is inserted into the connector. In the case described here of an insertion by the removable assembly face FAD, the contact between the connector and the electrical termination TE is then established at the level of the roundings AR of the free ends of the retaining lugs, as shown in the figure 2b. With this type of contact at the level of a rounded zone of the connector, which promotes sliding, the sliding of the electrical termination in the central orifice remains possible. In particular, by applying to the electrical termination an extraction force in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion SI, it is possible to remove the electrical termination TE from the connector without degrading the connector. Used in this way, the connector therefore makes it possible to make an assembly of the "removable assembly" type of an electrical termination on a printed circuit on which the connector would be fixed: the electrical termination can be removed without damaging the connector, and it is thus possible to disconnect and reconnect an electrical termination in the connector multiple times.

In the situation represented in relation to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the electrical termination TE is inserted into the central orifice by the face of the connector towards which the sharp edges AV of the free ends of the retaining lugs are oriented: in other words , the insertion is therefore carried out on the side of the FAP permanent assembly face of the connector. Figure 3a shows a perspective view of such an assembly (an arrow illustrating the direction of insertion SI of the electrical termination TE into the connector), while Figure 3b shows truncated and enlarged sectional views of this assembly, along the cutting plane materialized by the C-C axis visible in Figure 3a. When inserting the electrical termination TE into the connector, because the diameter of the electrical termination is greater than the internal diameter of the central orifice of the connector, the elastically deformable portions of the retaining lugs deform under the action the pressure exerted by the electrical termination on the free ends of the retaining tabs. The free ends of the retaining lugs are pushed towards the face of the connector opposite the face by which the electrical termination is inserted into the connector. In the case described here of insertion via the permanent assembly face FAP, contact between the connector and the electrical termination TE is then established at the level of the sharp edges AV of the free ends of the retaining lugs, as shown in figure Figure 3b. With this type of contact, removing the electrical termination from the connector is made difficult, because of the “claw” effect exerted by the sharp edges of the retaining lugs on the electrical termination. In particular, even by applying to the electrical termination a force in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion SI, it is not possible to remove the electrical termination TE from the connector without significantly damaging the connector or without tearing it from the circuit. printed on which it would be fixed. Used in this sense, the connector therefore makes it possible to produce a "permanent assembly" type assembly of an electrical termination on a printed circuit: the electrical termination cannot be removed from the connector without irreversible deformation or destruction of at least part of the assembly.

Depending on the face of the connector through which an electrical termination is inserted, the connector therefore makes it possible to produce either a removable assembly, or else a permanent assembly, which gives the connector great flexibility of use.

To promote the "sliding" effect (case of the removable assembly of Figures 2a and 2b) or accentuate the "claw" effect (case of the permanent assembly of FIGS. 3a and 3b) of the retaining lugs on the electrical termination, additional particular characteristics can be implemented, in particular as regards the shape of the retaining lugs. Thus, in the particular embodiment illustrated in relation to FIGS. 1a and 1b, each retaining lug also comprises a bead B of "V"-shaped section, which connects its elastically deformable portion PED, substantially planar, to its end free EL. More particularly, as illustrated in figure lb in particular, the bead B is connected to the elastically deformable portion PED at the level of the end of one of the two branches of the "V", the free end EL of the retaining tab is carried by the other branch of the "V" (the body of this branch carrying for example the rounded AR, and the end of this branch carrying the sharp edge AV), and the tip of the "V" is oriented towards the first FAD face of the connector. The advantage of such a configuration is clearly visible in FIGS. 2b and 3b. Thus, as shown in Figure 2b, when the electrical termination is inserted through the removable assembly face FAD of the connector, the branch of the "V" of the bead B which carries the free end of the retaining tab - and more particularly rounded AR at which contact is then established - is substantially tangent to the surface of the TE electrical termination inserted into the connector, which makes it easier to slide (and this even in the event of slight deformations of the tab maintenance due to friction during the application to the electrical termination of an extraction force in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion SI). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3b, when the electrical termination is inserted via the FAP permanent assembly face of the connector, the branch of the "V" of the bead B which carries the free end of the retaining tab - and more particularly the sharp edge AV at which contact is then established - is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the electrical termination TE inserted into the connector, which makes it possible to maintain and accentuate the "claw" effect even in the event of deformation of the retaining tab due to an attempt to extract the electrical termination, by application of an extraction force in the direction opposite to the direction of insertion SL

In a particular embodiment, in order to allow a user to better distinguish the removable assembly face from the permanent assembly face when using the connector - and thus reduce the risk of making the wrong type of assembly (removable vs. permanent) - at least one of these two faces includes a marking associated with a distinctive sign. According to a particular characteristic, one of the faces comprises a marking associated with a distinctive sign, and the other does not. Alternatively, according to another characteristic particular, each of the two faces comprises a marking, the removable assembly face having a marking associated with a first distinctive sign, and the permanent assembly face having a marking associated with a second distinctive sign, different from the first. Figure la shows an example of this type, with a two-point MFAD marking engraved on the FAD removable assembly face of the connector, and a single-point MFAP marking engraved on the permanent FAP assembly face of the connector. Such marking can also be used during the quality control of a printed circuit comprising one or more connectors according to the proposed technique, in order to check, possibly in an automated way, that the assembly has been carried out in the expected direction (removable vs. permanent).

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures la and lb, the metal plate - and therefore more generally the connector - is circular in shape and comprises four retaining tabs. In addition, each retaining tab comprises a "V" section bead connecting the elastically deformable portion of the retaining tab to its free end. This example is however purely illustrative and not limiting. In particular, other connector shapes and a different number of retaining lugs can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the proposed technique, such as for example a connector formed in a metal plate of generally rectangular parallelepipedal shape, as illustrated in relation with FIG. 4, or even a connector comprising three holding lugs, as illustrated in relation with FIG. 5. A connector of circular shape, however, has the advantage of not having a radial mounting direction. Similarly, a connector comprising at least three retaining lugs (and not just two retaining lugs for example) ensures better stability and better retention of the electrical termination inserted therein. In the same order of considerations, other shapes of intermediate portion than a bead of "V" section can be envisaged to connect the elastically deformable portion of a retaining tab to its free end, simpler as illustrated in relation with figure 6, or more complex. A bead of "V" section as described in relation to FIG. a sliding effect (during a removable type assembly) and a claw effect (during a permanent type assembly) satisfactory, while maintaining a shape relatively simple to produce.

According to another aspect, the proposed technique also relates to a method for assembling an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector such as than previously described. Such an assembly method comprises two main steps, illustrated in relation to Figure 7.

In a first step 10, the connector is fixed on the printed circuit, at the level of a substantially planar peripheral zone of the connector. More particularly, depending on the desired assembly configuration (of which various examples are presented later in relation to FIG. 8), the connector is soldered to a suitable contact pad of the printed circuit, either at the level of the peripheral zone of the face of removable assembly of the connector, or at the level of the peripheral zone of the permanent assembly face of the connector. Furthermore, during this fixing step 10, the connector is positioned so that its central orifice is located opposite an insertion hole provided in said printed circuit and intended to accommodate the electrical termination to connect.

In a second step 11, an electrical termination is inserted into the central hole of the connector. This electrical termination has a diameter greater than the internal diameter of the central orifice. As presented above, the pressure exerted by the electrical termination on the retaining lugs during this insertion causes the elastic deformation of the elastically deformable portions of the retaining lugs. Once the insertion movement has been finalized, the retaining lugs maintain the electrical termination in the associated insertion hole of the printed circuit (by the effect of the elastic return force), as well as its electrical connection to the pad. contact of the printed circuit (via the retaining tabs, the connector being made of metal).

More particularly, a connector according to the proposed technique makes it possible to implement two types of assembly, depending on the side of the connector through which the electrical termination is inserted in step 11: a removable assembly when the insertion of the electrical termination is carried out from the side of the removable assembly face of the connector, or a permanent assembly when the insertion of the electrical termination is carried out on the side of the permanent assembly face of the connector.

Is presented in relation to Figure 8, in a perspective view VI and a front view V2, some examples of different possible mounting configurations of an electrical termination on a printed circuit C1 by means of the same connector according to the technique proposed. More particularly, the connector used in these particular embodiments is the circular connector with four holding tabs already described in relation to FIGS. 1a and 1b. In the different configurations A, B, C, D, E and F illustrated, the electrical termination is presented just before its insertion into the connector, on the side where it will be inserted. the connector is also already fixed on the printed circuit, its central hole positioned vis-à-vis a corresponding insertion hole of the printed circuit. The circuit board is shown in a cutaway view, to better highlight how the connector is laid out.

Configurations A, D and F correspond to an assembly of the removable assembly type: indeed, in these configurations, the electrical termination is presented on the side of the removable assembly face of the connector.

Conversely, configurations B, C and E correspond to an assembly of the permanent assembly type: indeed, in these configurations, the electrical termination is presented on the side of the permanent assembly face of the connector.

As shown in these various examples of configurations, the connector according to the proposed technique also offers various other assembly latitudes. For example, it allows, if the context requires it and as illustrated on configurations C, D, E and F, to mount the connector on one side of the printed circuit, but to insert the electrical termination via the other side, opposite , of the printed circuit (the connector and the connected component are then located on either side of the printed circuit, which can prove to be useful in particular in the event of limited available surface on one of the faces of the printed circuit). The same connector (i.e. of the same dimensions) can also be used in connection with different diameters of insertion holes of a printed circuit. For example, configurations E and F show a fixing of the connector opposite insertion holes of smaller diameters than those of configurations A, B, C and D. By thus playing on the respective dimensions of the connector and the diameter of the printed circuit insertion hole opposite which it is positioned, it is possible to adapt the holding force exerted by the holding lugs on the electrical termination. Indeed, with a smaller insertion hole, it is possible to artificially reduce the length of the elastically deformable portion of the retaining lugs, by welding a larger surface of the peripheral zone of the connector, which has the effect of making more rigid the support legs. A smaller insertion hole also makes it possible to more closely guide the electrical termination inserted therein, and thus contribute to a better stability of this electrical termination while reducing the stresses undergone by the connector, in particular in the event of a fall from the connector. 'assembly.

As shown in connection with the various embodiments previously presented, the connector according to the proposed technique therefore offers numerous advantages. First, it is compact. More particularly, in a particular embodiment, the width and the length of the connector (when the latter is of rectangular parallelepiped shape) or its diameter (when the connector is circular) are between 2.5 and 4 millimeters, the thickness of the connector is between 0.1 and 0.4 millimeters, and the internal diameter of the central hole is between 0.4 and 0.8 millimeters. The connector is therefore very compact in height, and its grip on the surface of the printed circuit is small. Second, the connector is inexpensive and easy to produce. More particularly, the connectors according to the proposed technique can be produced simply, on a large scale and at lower cost thanks to the implementation of known techniques for cutting and embossing metal plates (or sheets). The manufacture of these connectors can in particular be carried out with a tool to follow, guaranteeing reliable and precise repeatability, with the possibility of supplying these connectors in strip, roll, or reel. In a particular embodiment, the connector is made of steel or beryllium copper alloy, possibly with tin or gold plating, in order to guarantee good performance both in terms of mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. Thirdly, the proposed connector is easy to use, since it comes in the form of a single piece to be soldered onto the printed circuit, and the connection of an electrical termination by means of such a connector is a very simple operation to carry out being limited to inserting the electrical termination into the central hole of the connector. Fourthly, as has been shown in particular in relation to FIG. 8, the same connector is suitable for use in a wide variety of assembly contexts: thus, for example, the assembly may be removable or permanent, the assembly can be carried out on one face or the other of the printed circuit, an electronic component and the connector in which it is maintained can be positioned on the same face or on opposite faces of the printed circuit, the connector accepts several diameters of electrical terminations , etc. The connector according to the proposed technique therefore offers many advantages over the connectors of the prior art.

Claims

1. Connector (C) for connecting an electrical termination to a printed circuit, said connector being characterized in that it takes the form of a metal plate (P) comprising: a peripheral zone (ZP) for fixing said connector on said printed circuit; a central hole (OC) for the insertion of said electrical termination; a plurality of holding lugs (PMI, PM2, PM3, PM4) for holding said electrical termination, each of said holding lugs extending from said peripheral zone towards said central orifice, and comprising an elastically deformable portion (PED) by which the retaining tab is connected to said peripheral zone and a free end (EL) forming an edge of said central orifice, said free end comprising a rounding (AR) and a sharp edge (AV), said rounding and said sharp edge being respectively positioned opposite each other so that said rounding is oriented towards a first face, called the removable assembly face (FAD), of said metal plate, and that said sharp edge is oriented towards a second face, called permanent assembly face (FAP), of said metal plate, opposite to said first face.

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said retaining lugs further comprises a bead (B) of "V" shaped section, which connects the elastically deformable portion (PED) of the retaining lug to the free end (EL) of the retaining tab.

3. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said metal plate is circular in shape.

4. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least three holding lugs.

5. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said retaining lugs are evenly distributed around said central orifice.

6. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said face removable assembly (FAD) and said permanent assembly face (FAP) comprises a marking associated with a distinctive sign.

7. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that said metal plate is made of steel or beryllium copper alloy.

8. Connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: the width and the length of the metal plate, when the metal plate is of rectangular parallelepipedal shape, or the diameter of the metal plate, when the metal plate is of circular shape, are between 2.5 and 4 millimeters; the thickness of the connector is between 0.1 and 0.4 millimeters; the internal diameter of the central orifice is between 0.4 and 0.8 millimeters.

9. Method for removable assembly of an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said method being characterized in that it comprises: a step of fixing said connector on said printed circuit, at the level of the peripheral zone of said connector, said connector being positioned so that its central orifice is opposite an insertion hole provided in said printed circuit and intended to accommodate said electrical termination; a step of inserting said electrical termination into said central hole, said insertion being performed on the side of the removable assembly face of said connector.

10. A method of permanently assembling an electrical termination on a printed circuit, by means of a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said method being characterized in that it comprises: a step of fixing said connector on said printed circuit, at the level of the peripheral zone of said connector, said connector being positioned so that its central orifice is opposite an insertion hole provided in said printed circuit and intended to accommodate said electrical termination; a step of inserting said electrical termination into said central hole, said insertion being performed on the side of the permanent assembly face of said connector.