The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 2005
Filed:
Sep. 02, 2004
Vijendra Raghavendra, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
James L. Jones, Iii, Belleville, MI (US);
Truong Q. Nguyen, Canton, MI (US);
Larry J. Kim, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
David Kwang, Southfield, MI (US);
Vijendra Raghavendra, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
James L. Jones, III, Belleville, MI (US);
Truong Q. Nguyen, Canton, MI (US);
Larry J. Kim, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
David Kwang, Southfield, MI (US);
Yazaki North America, Inc., Canton, MI (US);
Abstract
In a smart or intelligent electrical connector assembly, a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in a first connector has circuit traces that extend from various locations on the PCB to a single, particular area between edges of the PCB. Components such as switches and microcontrollers for controlling the connector assembly circuits are electrically connected to the traces at the various locations. A terminal block is mounted at the single, particular area. The terminal block has terminals with ends electrically connected with the traces. The other ends of the terminals extend outward from surfaces of the block towards the edges of the PCB. Wire harness terminals within the first connector and within a second, mating connector of the assembly electrically connect with the terminal block terminals. By having the PCB terminals extend from a location inward from and above the PCB edges, rather than being located directly on the edges themselves, the PCB can be made smaller and the connectors can have a more telescopic fit, resulting in a compact connector assembly.