Stacked printed circuit board connector

• Main Author: DARTY; MARK A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.03.1998
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CURRENT COLLECTORS; ELECTRICITY; LINE CONNECTORS

An electrical connector includes a perimeter wall having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion. An inner surface of the upper portion of the perimeter wall forms a receiving aperture, and an outer surface of the lower portion of the perimeter wall forms a protrusion. Electrical contacts are located on the inner surface of the upper portion of the perimeter wall, and are also located on the outer surface of the lower portion of the perimeter wall. Each electrical contact runs from the outer surface of the lower portion, to the inner surface of the upper portion, and then to a connection point on the printed circuit board. A flange contacts and surrounds the intermediate portion of the perimeter wall. The electrical contacts from the inner surface of the upper portion pass through apertures in the flange before being connected to the connection points on the printed circuit board. These connection points on the printed circuit board may include surface solder mounts or, alternatively, may include pin-in-hole solder mounts. Bolts passing through other apertures in the flange securely mount the electrical connector to the printed circuit board. The upper and lower portions are matable with plugs and receptacles, respectively, mounted on other printed circuit boards. The connectors may also be floatably mounted on the circuit board or alternatively one of the upper or lower portions may be floatably mounted with respect to the other.