Amp LLC

James P Wolowicz

Howard R Shaffer

Douglas W Glover

Earl R Kreinberg

Richard F Granitz

Paul S Vinson

Donald R Harner

John W Wanat

A connector system for distributing power to daughter cards in a card cage includes a power connector for each card mounted on framework of the card cage. Each power connector has individual terminals connected to power conductors connected to a power supply and at least one terminal connected to a return path conductor. Each power connector includes a channel along which an active edge of the card is inserted and moved longitudinally from an open end, opposed from another channel aligned therewith, until the daughter card is fully inserted into the card cage, and signal transmission connectors along the back card edge mate with connectors of the backplane of the card cage. The daughter card is then locked in position; its power connector is then actuated, camming contact sections of its terminals into electrical engagement with contacts along the active edge of the daughter card. Each daughter card is thus powered and correspondingly disconnectable independently of the other daughter cards. An interference arrangement prevents the power connector from being actuated unless the card is locked in position, and prevents unlocking and removal of the card unless the power connector is deactuated. A dielectric rail along the card's active edge is shaped to fit the channel of the power connector and protect the active edge and contact sections therealong exposed in recesses of the rail. A daughter card may have two active edges, each with a rail insertable into channels of a pair of opposed power connectors.

Power connector system for daughter cards in card cages

An active electrical pin contact comprises a hollow contact having a longitudinal gap extending from one end to the other and having a pin contact section. A spring member is disposed and secured in the hollow contact and it includes a rear section, a bowed section, a short front section, and a long flexing section intermediate the rear section and the bowed section. The rear section and the short front section extend along inside surfaces of the hollow contact and the bowed section is disposed in the longitudinal gap including a contact-engaging section extending outwardly beyond an outside surface of the hollow pin contact section. The hollow contact also includes a relief section associated with the long flexing section of the spring member such that the spring member may flex within the relief section when an inward force is exerted on the contact-engaging section when the active pin contact is interconnected with a socket contact.

Active pin contact

An active electrical pin contact comprises a hollow pin contact section having a longitudinal seam extending from one end to the other and including opposed recessed areas defining a longitudinal slot. A spring member is disposed in the hollow pin contact section and it includes a linear section, a bowed section, and a front arcuate section. The linear section and the front arcuate section extend along an inside surface of the hollow pin contact section and the bowed section is disposed in the longitudinal slot including a contact-engaging section extending outwardly beyond an outside surface of the hollow pin contact section.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

James P Wolowicz