KR100532561B1 - Surface mount connector having improved terminal structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a surface mount connector having an improved terminal structure that maintains a multi-pole structure with reduced pitch of terminal solder tail portions while avoiding short circuits between adjacent terminal contacts. The connector has an insulated connector housing, the insulated connector housing having a plurality of terminals installed in the housing on opposite sides of a corresponding connector engagement slot. The terminal has a contact portion facing the slot and arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch. Solder tail portions of the terminals extend to the underside of the terminals and are arranged in parallel at a pitch equal to one half of the pitch of the terminal contacts.

Description

SURFACE MOUNT CONNECTOR HAVING IMPROVED TERMINAL STRUCTURE}

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to surface mount connectors mounted by soldering to printed circuit boards, and more particularly to surface mount connectors having a terminal structure with an improved pitch arrangement of connector solder tails.

Prior art surface mount connectors use an insulating housing having a plurality of terminals. This terminal has a contact on an end of the terminal and is inserted into a slot formed in the connector housing. Solder tail portions are formed at the other ends of the terminals and extend to both sides of the connector housing. The solder tail portion is arranged at substantially the same height as the bottom surface of the connector housing so as to be in contact with the conductive pad of the circuit board. In such a connector, an increase in the number of terminal contacts causes a decrease in the pitch of the solder tail and the pitch of the contacts of the terminal. This situation occurs when the overall size of the connector is reduced.

In such conventional connectors, the reduction in the solder tail portion pitch requires the pitch of the terminal contacts to be reduced. In order to reduce the pitch between the terminals, the clearance of adjacent terminal contacts is also reduced. This reduction in clearance increases the likelihood of causing a short circuit between adjacent terminal contacts when the surface mount connector is engaged with a corresponding opposite connector, which may reduce the safety of the connection made between the two connectors.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a surface mount connector assembly using a preferred embodiment of a surface mount connector constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and a method for positioning the surface mount connector on a circuit board and a right angle to provide an I / O type connection; How to connect with the connector.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the surface mount connector shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a plan view of the surface mount connector shown in FIG.

4 is a perspective view of a pair of terminals used in the surface mount connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 arranged in opposing pairs.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the surface mount connector of FIG. 1 engaged with a corresponding right angle connector.

6 is a plan view of the corresponding right angle connector of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the terminal contact portion of the terminal used for the right angle connector of FIG. 5; FIG.

8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an external connector used in the connector assembly of FIG. 1, intended to be connected to the horizontal connection portion of the right angle connector of FIG. 5;

9 is a plan view of a partial cross section of the outer connector of FIG. 8 with the top cover portion removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a plurality of surface mount connector assemblies coupled together and aligned with external cable connectors to corresponding rectangular connectors. FIG.

The present invention is for a surface mount connector that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

Thus, a general object of the present invention is to provide a surface mount connector capable of maintaining a high density terminal arrangement with a reduced pitch of solder tails while avoiding short circuits between adjacent terminal contacts.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a surface mount connector in which the pitch of the terminal solder tail portion decreases even when the number of terminal contacts increases, and the terminal contacts are provided with a pitch larger than the pitch of the solder tail portion.

In order to achieve the above object according to the main aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surface mount connector having an insulated connector housing and a plurality of terminals disposed in the connector housing, the terminals being along an end of one set of these terminals. A contact formed, the contact being arranged in parallel along a slot formed in the connector housing at a predetermined pitch. The terminals of each solder tail portion extend out from the connector housing only along the connector on one side, but form a parallel arrangement with a pitch equal to one half of the pitch of the contact. The solder tail portion extends substantially the same height along the bottom surface of the connector housing and extends outwardly from the housing.

According to another main aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surface mount connector comprising an elongated connector housing made of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of conductive terminals installed on opposite sides of a corresponding connector-receiving passage within the connector housing. Includes a contact facing inwardly with a corresponding connector engagement slot formed in the connector housing. The terminal also includes a solder tail portion for attaching the connector to the printed circuit board by soldering, the solder tail portion extending outward from the connector housing along the bottom surface of the connector housing.

The terminals in the connector are arranged such that each pair of terminal contacts are placed in opposite alignment with each other. The terminal may include a solder tail of one terminal in the selected pair of opposing terminals extending out of the connector housing along the bottom surface of the connector housing, while the other terminal of the other terminal of the selected pair of terminals is extended. Solder tails are formed extending below the one terminal and both of the two solder tails are arranged in a parallel relationship. In this way, the solder tails of the terminals on both sides of the passage extend out from the connector on only one side of the connector. The contact portions of the terminals are arranged at a predetermined pitch, and the solder tail portions are arranged at a pitch equal to half (1/2) of the preset pitch.

In a preferred embodiment, the connector housing may be formed as a receptacle connector housing having two parallel slots, or a receptacle that engages a portion of the corresponding connector. Terminal contacts of the terminals of the two rows are inserted into corresponding sides of each slot. The solder tail portion of the terminal inserted into the side of one of the two slots extends outward along only one side of the connector housing, while the solder tail portion of the terminal is inserted into the other side of the two slots. The solder tail portion of the terminal extends outward along the other side of the connector housing.

In this way, the terminal contact portion is provided at a predetermined pitch which is twice the pitch of the terminal solder tail portion. With such a structure, the pitch between adjacent terminal contacts becomes relatively wide, and a short circuit between adjacent terminal contacts can be successfully avoided to ensure a safe electrical connection between the connector and the corresponding connector. Likewise, the pitch between adjacent solder tail portions can be made relatively narrow, thereby increasing the connection density of the circuit on the printed circuit board. The solder tail portion extends outwardly from the bottom surface of the connector housing, so that the welding of the solder tail portion to the contact pad of the circuit board can be performed without interference of the connector housing.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

While the following detailed description is described, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

1 is a perspective view of a surface mount connector assembly, generally designated as (1), which includes a preferred embodiment of a surface mount connector 5 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The surface-mounted connector of the present invention provides a connection between circuits on a circuit board 2 and series wires that are terminated by a wire connector, such as a connector 4 in the form of I / O, enclosed in a cable 3 and shown. It is particularly suitable to provide. The interposed right angle connector 6 is engaged with the surface mount connector 5 to provide a connector having a two-row leaf terminal arrangement that can be engaged with an I / O type cable connector 4.

Two methods of mounting the surface connector assembly 1 to the printed circuit board 2 and engaging the cable connector 4 connected to one end of the wire cable 3 with the surface connector assembly 1. The method is shown. In one method, as shown in the lower right of FIG. 1, a single surface connector 5 is mounted on the circuit board and will therefore be engaged with a single right angle connector 6. In another method, as shown at the upper left of FIG. 1, two surface connectors 5 are bonded to opposite surfaces of the circuit board 2, and two right-angle connectors 6 are engaged. Each right angle connector 6 can be engaged with an opposite cable connector 4.

The surface mount connector assembly 1 comprises a surface mount connector 5 mounted on a surface of a printed circuit board 2 and an engagement right angle connector 6 which is engaged with an upper portion of the surface connector 5.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surface mount connector 5 includes a connector housing 7 formed of an electrically insulating material and a plurality of connectors mounted to the connector housing 7 at a predetermined pitch P. FIG. It can be seen that the conductive terminal 8 is included. This connector housing 7 may generally comprise a pair of slots 9 formed inside the housing and open to the top surface of the connector housing 7 to form a receptacle connector. Are shown as rectangles.

The terminals 8 are mounted inside the connector housing 2 in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined pitch P with respect to the contact portions 10 of the opposing terminals on opposite sides of the slot 9 (FIG. 2). ). The terminals 8 are arranged in two rows with the terminals aligned as shown in FIG. 4. It is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 that two sets of terminals 8 are mounted in two separate rows 64a, 65a and 64b, 65b in each slot 9. Note that each of the terminals 8 has a solder tail portion 11 protruding along the bottom wall of the connector housing 7 such that the solder tail portion is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the connector housing. Can be.

The two rows of solder tail portions 11 of the terminals 8 arranged in one slot 9 protrude from one side of the connector housing, while the solder tail portions of the rows of terminals 8 of the other slot 9 Protrudes from the other, opposite side of the connector housing 7. In this relationship, the solder tail 11a of the terminal 8a and the first slot 9a of the two connection slots of the contact portion 10a of the terminal line are formed on one side of the connector housing 7 (Fig. While extending to the right as viewed from 2, the solder tail 11b of the terminal 8b and the second slot 2 of the two connection slots of the contact portion 10b of the terminal line are connected to the connector housing ( Extends to the other, opposite side of 7) (left side as seen in FIG. 2).

Turning now to FIG. 4, an opposite pair of terminals of the connector 5 is shown in a position that takes two rows inside each of the slots 9. It can be seen that each of the terminals includes a terminal body portion 12, a pair of contacts 13a and 13b, and a solder tail portion 11 coupled thereto. In order to allow the solder tail 11 to be positioned in the manner described above, the solder tail 11 of each terminal 8 is approximately half the width of the corresponding opposite terminal body portion 12. So that the solder 11 of a row of terminals in one slot 9 extends out from the connector housing 7, but each terminal 8 in a different row of terminals disposed in the same slot 9. Extends below the terminal body portion 12. Such passage is facilitated by recesses or cavities 62 formed at the rightmost side of the terminal body portion 12. As a result, it can be seen that the pitch of the solder tail 11 is half of the terminal pitch P, that is, 1/2 · P.

The contacts 10 of the terminal 8 are formed in an unusual shape, each of which preferably comprises two divided contacts 10a, 10b extending parallel to one another. One of the divided contacts 10a is longer than the other of the two divided contacts 10b, so that an arc provided at the distal end of each of the divided contacts 10a, 10b. The shaped contacts 13a, 13b are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the contact 10, ie in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2, these contacts 13a, 13b slightly protrude into the connector housing engagement slot 9.

In assembling the surface mount connector assembly 1 to the edge portion of the printed circuit board 2, the surface mount connector 5 is first shown on the surface of the circuit board 2, as shown in the close side of FIG. 1. It is mounted near the edge portion 70 of the circuit board 2 as shown. The solder tail portion 11 of the connector 5 protrudes outward from the connector housing 7 along the sides of the connector housing 7 (which may be considered front and rear in view of FIG. 1). . The solder tail portions 11 are aligned in opposite directions to conductive pads (not shown) formed on the surface of the circuit board 2. Then, in order to fix the connector 5 to the circuit board 2, the solder tail portion 11 and the conductive pad are surface soldered by soldering in a preferred method such as electrodeposition soldering. The pitch of the solder tail portion 11 is equal to 1/2 of the pitch P of the terminal contact portion 10, thereby reducing the area occupied by the connector 5 and the solder tail portion 11 of the connector. Let's do it. Thus, a high density connection to the circuit board 2 can be achieved while using the reduced space of the circuit board.

The surface mount connector 5 is of simple construction, which comprises a connector housing 7 and a plurality of conductive terminals 8 mentioned above. The solder tail 11 is also formed in a simple external shape in that the solder tails extend outward along the bottom wall of the connector housing 7 outside of the connector housing 7. Such a structure prevents the solder tail portion 11 from becoming too long and facilitates the manufacture of the solder tail portion 11 of the terminal 8. It is also easy to maintain the arrangement pitch of the solder tail 11 corresponding to the predetermined pitch P, and it is possible to surface solder the solder tail portion 11 to the circuit board 2 by the usual electrodeposition soldering method. Let's do it.

In addition, the solder tail portion 11 protrudes on two opposite sides of the connector housing 7 so that the solder tail portion 11 and the circuit board contact pads of the circuit board are exposed to the outside of the connector housing 7. It will be in a state. By doing this, it is possible to perform any test smoothly and reliably that the connectors 5 are installed on the circuit board without the connector housing 7 acting as an obstacle to the observer's observation by video inspection or other methods. Let's do it.

Providing an intervening connection, or intermediate connector, between the surface mount connector 5 and a corresponding cable connector surrounding a plurality of end-treated wires, such as in the case of connectors in the form of input / output ("I / O") Right angle connectors 6 are provided as part of the overall surface mount assembly 1. The right angled, intermediate connector 6 is surface mounted such that the bottom surface 5a of the intermediate connector 6 housing body 16 substantially contacts the circuit board 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Housing engaging portion having an internal cavity 61 engaged in an upper portion of the connector 5 and sized to receive substantially the entire connector housing 7 of the surface mount connector 5 therein. And a pair of plug portions 60 disposed in 14. The housing body 16 of the intermediate connector 6 not only surrounds the engagement portion 14, but also the second row leaf receptacle portion when the second engagement portion of the intermediate connector is engaged with the cable connector 4. It also extends to one side of the intermediate connector, as shown in FIG. 5, which receives 15. The two row leaf portions 15 receive and support the contacts 19 of the plurality of conductive terminals 17 and provide a surface for supporting and arranging the terminals 17 in two separate terminal sets, each Has a set of two opposing rows of terminals 19.

The terminals 17 of the intermediate connector 6 are mounted at the same arrangement pitch P as the contacts 10 of the surface mount connector terminals 8, and similarly the two engagement slots of the surface mount connector 5 ( 9) two sets of terminals corresponding to the terminals 8 in two rows are formed. Contact 18 at the end of the terminal 17 extending a sufficient distance to protrude into the first engagement portion 14 and the cavity 61 located along the bottom surface 16a of the connector housing body 16. Is provided. In this regard, the contact 18 projects into each engagement slot 9 of the surface mount connector 5 and is in electrical contact with and engaged with the corresponding contact 10 of the connector terminal 8. A second contact 19 is provided at the other end of the intermediate connector terminal 17 and formed into a specific shape by folding in the engagement portion 15 and overlapping in the opposite direction as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. . These contacts are provided such that they are in opposing positions in pairs near the engaging end 15 of the intermediate connector 6.

The housing body 16 of the intermediate connector 6 comprises an end block 20 which is provided at opposite ends of the housing body as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, and on the circuit board 2 the intermediate connector ( 6) provide means for mounting. Each of these end blocks 20 comprises screw holes 21 which pass through in the vertical direction, as shown. Each end block has a connector guide pin 22 facing the front of the connector housing 16. These guide pins are located on opposite sides of the connector housing 16 and are provided for guiding the opposite cable connector 4 to be engaged with the intermediate connector 6. The guide pins 22 may include a shaft integrally connected to the final plug end 26 of the cylindrical shaft 24 through the narrow neck portion 25, as shown in FIG. 6. The plug ends 26 may vary in size, with one plug end 26b being the other plug end 26a to provide polarization characteristics such that the cable connector 4 ensures proper orientation with respect to the intermediate connector 16. And the plug ends may differ in their axial size, one larger than the other.

In order to complete the surface mount connector assembly 1, the right angle connector 6 is first fixed on the circuit board 2 by engaging the connector with the upper part of the surface mount connector 5. One way of securing these intermediate connectors 6 to the surface mount connectors 5 and to the circuit board is shown in the center of FIG. 1. The intermediate connector 6 is engaged with two corresponding surface mount connectors 5 in such a way that the entire connector housing 7 of the connector 5 is received in the first engaging portion of the intermediate connector housing 16. In this way, the solder portion of the solder tail portion 11 is also surrounded by the cavity 61 of the first engagement portion 14, so that the surface mount connector housing 7 and the solder tail portion 11 are covered. All of the ends (i.e., the parts to be soldered) of are covered by the connector housing 16 to avoid exposure to the external environment.

This engagement of the intermediate connector 6 causes the contacts 18 at one end of the associated terminal 17 to engage with the opposite contacts 10 of the surface mount connector terminals 8, respectively. When engaged, the contact 13a of one of the two contacts 13a, 13b provided at the contact 10 of the surface mount connector 5 sweeps the surface of the intermediate connector contact 18, thereby. It will remove stains and other types of surface contaminants. Thus, the terminal structure combines a self-cleaning function, thereby making it possible to ensure good electrical coupling.

In addition, the pitch of the contact 10 and the pitch of the contact 18 are equal to twice the pitch of the solder tail portion 11 of the surface mount connector 5, so that between the adjacent contacts 10, 18. The spacing becomes relatively wide. This terminal structure thus avoids the possibility of shorting of adjacent terminal structures in the connector.

The intermediate connector 6, which engages with the surface mount connector 5, is a screw hole 21 of the end blocks 20 formed at opposite ends of the connector housing 16 and an opening formed in the printed circuit board 2. It can be directly fixed to the circuit board 2 through the screw 28 penetrating (27). By directly fixing the intermediate connector 6 to the circuit board 2, any external force acting on the intermediate connector 6 when the cable connector 4 is engaged with the intermediate connector is applied to the surface mount connector 5. Not directly, but directly to the circuit board 2. This structure avoids the force acting on the soldering ends of the solder tail portion 11 of the surface connector 5.

When the intermediate connector 6 is engaged with the surface connector 5, the second row leaf engagement portion 15 formed along the upper portion of the intermediate connector 6 protrudes from the housing 16 of the intermediate connector. , Along the plane generally parallel to the circuit board 2 together with the guide pin 22, lies past the edge of the circuit board 2. Thus, the cable connector 4 can be mounted without being disturbed by the edge 70 of the circuit board 2 to facilitate the installation work.

When the cable connector 4 is engaged with the intermediate connector 6, the force acting on the intermediate connector 6 from the connector 4 is transmitted directly to one side of the circuit board 2, as mentioned above. So that the acting force does not act as surface mount connector 5 to protect the soldered end of the solder tail portion 11. The right-angle connector 6 is engaged with the surface connector 5 such that the contact portions 18 of the terminals 17 of the relay connector 6 mesh with each other in a one-to-one relationship. Thereby, the conductive pad (not shown) of the circuit board 2 is positioned in the engaging portion 15 of the right angle connector 6 in an electrical conductor state.

The cable connector 4 is thus engaged with the engagement portion 15, resulting in the connection of the wires of the cable 3 with the conductive pads (and circuits) of the circuit board 2. The contact portion 19 of the intermediate connector terminal is located in the engagement portion 15. This terminal comprises a pair of split contacts 19a, 19b having short and long lengths aligned in the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. The split contacts 19a, 19b assist in cleaning the opposing contacts in the cable connector 4 in the same manner as discussed above for the surface mount connector terminals 8. A metal shell 29 can be fitted up around the engaging portion 15 of the connector 16 and the opposite metal shell 31 in the corresponding-engaging portion 30 of the cable connector 4. Suitable for contact with

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cable connector 4 is adapted to be interdigitated with the intermediate connector engaging portion 15. This cable connector 4 includes a connector housing 32 in which a plurality of terminals 33 are provided. This connector housing 32 is covered by a metal shielding cover 34 on the outer upper side and the lower side. The connector housing 32 is formed at one end and includes an engaging portion 30 protruding from the metal cover 34. The metal shell 31 fits around the engaging portion 30 and protrudes out of the engaging portion.

The terminals 33 of the cable connector 4 are installed in a parallel arrangement inside the connector housing 32 at the same pitch as the pitch P of the terminal 8 of the surface mount connector 5. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal 33 includes contacts 35 located on the upper and lower sides of the engaging portion 30, and of the intermediate connector 6 located within the engaging portion 15. Two sets of contacts 19 are respectively engaged. An insulation removal contact 36 is formed on the terminal 33 and is provided inside the connector housing 32. As is known in the art, the insulated wires 37 of the cable 3 lying in the metal cover 34 end to the terminal 33 in a conventional manner by pressing them tightly against the terminal 33. Is connected.

As shown in FIG. 9, guide holes 38 are provided on opposite sides of the cable connector metal cover 34 and guide pins 22 protruding from the connector housing 16 of the intermediate connector 6. To accept. An engagement hook 40 is located inside the guide hole 38 and is formed at the final end of the latch member 30. When the cable connector 4 is engaged with the intermediate connector 6, the engagement portion 30 faces this guide pin 22 and the guide hole 38 so as to face the second engagement portion 15 of the intermediate connector 6. Is derived from When the engagement is complete, the hook 40 is engaged with the neck portion 25 of the guide pin, thereby engaging the head portion 26 of the connector and keeping the connectors 4 and 16 engaged.

The latch member 39 is elastic and contracts laterally. A release lever 41 is positioned along the latch member 39 and acts to retract outwardly the latch member 39 to release engagement of the cable connector 4 and the intermediate connector 16. do. The release lever 41 is located along the side wall of the metal cover 34 and slides in parallel to the engagement direction of the connector 4. These release levers 41 are biased toward the engaging portion by the coil springs 42 and slide each other in the direction of the arrow 43 opposite to the force of the coil springs 42.

By bringing the cable connector 4 into engagement with the intermediate connector 6, the contact portion 19 of the intermediate connector terminal 17 and the contact portion 35 of the cable connector terminal are engaged with each other. The cable connector terminal accommodates the cleaning of the contacts 19, thereby allowing the individual wires 37 of the cable 3 to be connected to the appropriate corresponding circuit on the circuit board 2. When the cable connector 4 is released from the intermediate connector 6, the release lever 41 slides backward in the direction of the arrow 43. The acting portion 44 at the final end of the release lever 41 lies along a bend 45 formed on the base of the latch member 39. When the release lever 41 slides backward as shown, the acting portion 44 is engaged with the bent portion 45, and the hook 40 is engaged with the guide pin 22. The latch member 39 is retracted outwardly to release, thereby ending the separation.

The cable wire 3 can be secured to any one of the metal covers 34 via a clamp bar 46, as shown in FIG. 9. A tapered edge 47 is provided at the end of the housing and provided to facilitate extending the cable 3 inclined in the direction of the tapered edge 47. As shown in FIG. 10, the tapered edge 47 has a plurality of surface mount connector assemblies 1 mounted on the circuit board 2, and the outer space at the edge of the circuit board 2 is narrow and portable. It is provided in consideration of the case where it is limited by a wall or door 48 which serves as part of the overall case housing the circuit board 2, such as the housing of the computer. In this case, each of the plurality of cables 3 extends laterally along the door or wall 48. Therefore, the cable 3 extending outward from the cable connector 4 has a tapered shape of the connector housing 32 so as to avoid applying excessive force to the insulating material placing terminal 37 and the connector clamp bar 46. It is easy to bend in the direction perpendicular to the edge 47 of.

1 shows a state where the surface mount connector 5 mounted on both surfaces of the circuit board 2 and the intermediate connector 6 are engaged with the surface mount connector 5. The intermediate connector 6 provided on the opposing surface of the surface mount connector 5 is fixed on the circuit board 2 by a general screw 28. By mounting two such connector assemblies 1 on both surfaces of the circuit board 2, efficient use of both surfaces of the circuit board 2 is achieved. It will be appreciated that the surface connector 5 can only be mounted on one surface of the circuit board 2 and engage with one corresponding intermediate connector 6.

The fixing of the intermediate connector 6 on the circuit board 2 is also not limited to the same means as the mounting screw 28. It is also possible to use other fastening means such as fastening pegs provided on the intermediate connector housing body 16. By the use of screws 28, it is easy to fix and detachably mount the intermediate connector 6 to the surface mount connector 5, which is convenient for replacement and repair. The screw 28 used in FIG. 1 is opposite the intermediate connector 6 such that two intermediate connectors 6 mounted on both surfaces of the circuit board 2 can be fixed simultaneously by one common screw 28. Can be engaged with an opening formed in

In a preferred embodiment the connector housing 7 is provided with two rows of engagement slots 9. However, it will be appreciated that in the present invention it is also contemplated to use only one engagement slot 9 formed in the surface mount connector housing 7.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, since the pitch of the contacts arranged in the engagement slot of the surface mount connector can be made relatively wide, a short circuit between adjacent contacts is completely prevented. In addition, since the pitch of the solder tail portion can be made relatively small, high density connection is possible on the circuit board. Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it can be changed or modified without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated that this can be done by one skilled in the art.

The present invention is generally applicable to surface mount connectors and the like mounted by soldering to printed circuit boards.

Claims (20)

A surface mount connector for providing an electrical connection between a mating connector and a circuit on a printed circuit board, An elongated connector housing formed of an electrically insulating material, the elongated connector housing having one or more receptacles formed inside the housing and extending longitudinally of the housing and adapted to receive a portion of the corresponding connector With connector housings, A plurality of electrically insulated terminals disposed within the connector housing, each of the terminals having two ends, one of the ends being external from the connector housing near the bottom surface of the connector housing for soldering to a corresponding surface of the circuit board; A solder tail portion extending toward the other end, the other of the terminal end including a contact portion for contacting the corresponding terminal of the corresponding connector when the connector and the corresponding connector are engaged with each other, the terminal solder tail and the contact portion Includes a plurality of electrically isolated terminals, connected by an intermediate body portion, The terminals are arranged in distinct first and second rows on opposite sides of the connector housing slot, the terminal contacts are arranged in each of the distinct first and second rows at a first predetermined pitch, The terminal solder tail portions are arranged at a second predetermined pitch equal to one-half of the first predetermined pitch, the first and second row terminal solder portions extending from the connector housing along a common side of the connector housing. Surface mount connector extending outwards. The solder tail of claim 1, wherein the solder tail portion of the first row terminal branches at an angle from the first row terminal body portion, extends outwardly from the connector housing, and the solder tail portion of the second row terminal extends from the connector housing. And a branch from the second row terminal body portion at an angle, extending across the first row terminal body portion and extending outwardly from the connector housing. 3. The surface mount connector of claim 2, wherein the second row terminal solder tail portion extends downward from the connector housing through under the first row terminal body portion. 3. The first row terminal body portion of claim 2, wherein the first row terminal body portion includes a recess formed therein, and the second row terminal solder tail portion penetrates the recess to form the first row terminal body portion. A surface mount connector extending outwardly from said connector housing across. 4. The first row terminal body portion of claim 3, wherein the first row terminal body portion includes a recess formed therein, the second row terminal solder tail portion extending through the recess and wherein the first row terminal body portion is formed. Extending outward from the connector housing below the surface mount connector. The surface mount connector of claim 1, wherein each of the terminal contacts is bifurcated and includes separate first and second contact heads aligned with each other and spaced apart from each other. The surface mount connector of claim 6, wherein the first and second contact heads are arranged on the terminal contact at different heights. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes a second receptacle formed therein, extending in the longitudinal direction of the connector housing, and adapted to receive a portion of the corresponding connector inside the housing. Wherein the second receptacle is spaced from the first receptacle, and the second receptacle includes separate third and fourth rows of the terminals on opposite sides. The receptacle of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises an elongated slot formed in the connector housing, wherein the first and second row terminal solder tail portions have a width no greater than half the width of each terminal body portion. Surface mount connector. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receptacle first and second row terminal solder tail portions extend outwardly from the connector housing along one side of the connector housing, and the second receptacle third and fourth row terminal solder tail portions. Is outwardly extending from the connector housing along the opposite side of the connector housing. 12. A surface mount connector for providing an electrical connection between a corresponding connector and a plurality of circuits on a circuit board, wherein the circuit of the circuit board has conductive pads formed in some shape on the first surface of the circuit board. A connector housing formed of an electrically insulating material and having a body portion extending between two ends, the connector housing having two opposing sidewalls extending along the body portion and having at least one first slot formed between the sidewalls of the housing. Wherein the first slot extends in the longitudinal direction within the housing body portion and is adapted to receive the engaging portion of the corresponding connector; A plurality of conductive terminals disposed within the connector housing and arranged longitudinally side by side along the slot such that adjacent terminals are separated by a space therebetween, further arranged in separate first and second rows on opposite sides of the slot; A plurality of conductive terminals, A solder tail portion disposed at one end of the terminal body portion for attachment to a circuit board conductive pad, each terminal having a body portion located vertically within the connector housing, the solder tail portion from the terminal body portion A solder tail portion extending from a predetermined angle and extending from the connector housing along the bottom of the connector housing; A contact portion disposed at the other end of the terminal body portion to contact the corresponding terminal of the corresponding connector, The solder tail portions of the first and second rows of terminals extend away from each body portion in the same direction, and the solder tail portions of the first row terminals extend the solder tail portions of the first and second row terminals. And pass across the second row terminal body portion to extend outwardly from the housing along one common side of the housing. The surface mount connector of claim 11, wherein the second preset pitch is equal to one half of the first preset pitch. 12. The surface mount connector of claim 11, wherein the first row terminal solder tail portion passes below the second row terminal body portion. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second row terminal body portion comprises a recess, wherein the first row terminal solder tail portion penetrates the recess when passing across the second row terminal body portion. , Surface mounted connectors. 12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a second slot formed in the housing and spaced apart from the first slot, the second slot being adapted to receive a second engagement portion of the corresponding connector. And; The second slot includes third and fourth rows of terminals disposed therein and arranged on opposite sides of the second slot; And the third and fourth row terminal solder tail portions extend outwardly from the housing along a second side of the housing. The surface mount connector of claim 15, wherein the first and second sides of the housing are opposite sides of the housing. 16. The surface mount connector of claim 15, wherein the third row terminal solder tail portion passes across the fourth row terminal body portion as it extends out from the housing. 18. The surface mount connector of claim 17, wherein the third row terminal solder tail portion passes below the fourth row terminal body portion. 16. The fourth row terminal body portion of claim 15, wherein the fourth row terminal body portion includes a passage formed therein and extending through when the third row solder tail portion passes across the fourth row terminal body portion. Surface mount connector. A surface mount connector for providing an electrical connection between a mating connector and a plurality of circuits on a circuit board, wherein the circuit of the circuit board has conductive pads formed on the first surface of the circuit board. A connector housing formed of an electrically insulating material and having a body portion extending between two ends, the connector housing having two opposing sidewalls extending along the body portion, the first and second receptacles being formed between the sidewalls of the housing. And a receptacle extending longitudinally within the housing body portion and adapted to receive each engagement portion of the corresponding connector; A plurality of conductive terminals disposed in the connector housing and arranged longitudinally side by side along the first and second receptacles, further arranged in separate first and second rows on opposite sides of the first receptacle, A plurality of conductive terminals arranged in separate third and fourth rows on opposite sides of the second receptacle, A solder tail portion disposed at one end of the terminal body portion for attachment to a circuit board conductive pad, each terminal having a body portion located vertically within the connector housing, and additionally along the connector housing along the bottom of the connector housing; A solder tail portion extending from the housing, A contact portion disposed at the other end of the terminal body portion to contact the corresponding terminal of the corresponding connector, The solder tail portions of the first and second rows of terminals extend away from each body portion in the same direction, and the solder tail portions of the first row terminals extend the solder tails of the first and second row terminals. Passes across the second row terminal body portion such that a portion extends outwardly from the housing along one common side of the housing, The solder tail portions of the third and fourth rows of terminals extend away from each body portion in the same direction, and the solder tail portions of the third row terminals extend the solder tails of the third and fourth row terminals. And a portion passing across the fourth row terminal body portion such that a portion extends outwardly from the housing along another common side of the housing.