Augat Inc.

Michael J Bellomo

Donald Santos

Wayne Johnson

Wayne Stewart Alden, Iii

Mark E Lewis

Gregory J Smith

An edge card interconnection system provides enhanced electrical interconnection between a module and a circuit board. Electrical contact length is minimized and deflection of the contacts is controlled as the system is configured to eliminate the need for the contacts to absorb module thickness tolerances. A latching mechanism is easily manipulated and provides significant protection to modules being installed/extracted. A hold-down mechanism facilitates enhanced engagement of the connector with the printed circuit board. An insulative connector portion includes a back-up spring that pushes an inserted module against a set of contacts. Deflection of the contacts is controlled by a wall of the connector portion that prohibits the module from deflecting the contacts beyond a preset amount. The back-up spring absorbs any tolerance(s) in board thickness. A module latch and protection mechanism includes latch arms for engagement with a connector body, the latch arms have tabs disposed thereon upon which manual forces are exerted to release the latch arms from the associated connector body latch mating portion. A connector hold-down mechanism is provided which snaps onto ends of the insulative connector housing and is soldered into a plated through-hole, to fasten the edge card interconnection system to a printed circuit board. The connector hold-down mechanism may have compliant protuberances which engage the plated through-holes in the printed circuit board to guarantee contact to the barrel of the plated through-hole and ensure proper solder attachment thereto.

Edge card connector

Edge card interconnection system

The invention provides a socket for substrates such as single in-line memory modules, circuit boards, and similar components which are inserted into and rotated into fixed position on the socket. The socket housing includes end portions having improved structural integrity for externally mounting cooperative latch elements. The external mounting permits a greater variety of latch sizes and configurations to suit operational requirements. An exemplary latch is preferably metal and comprises a mounting collar having a compliant C-section which corresponds to a latch-receiving section or member on the socket housing, a detent for clasping a memory module, and a resilient section connected therebetween for biasing the detent so that it clasps the memory module in fixed position in the socket. The latch collar is mounted onto the cooperative section of the socket end portion, and the latch is thereby disposed exteriorly on the socket body.

Electronic component socket with external latch

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Millis, MA, United States of America

Michael J Bellomo