Connector for printed circuit boards stacked one on another

Abstract

To provide a connector that enables change in the arrangement of signal connections 'S' and grounding connections 'G', merely by putting short-circuit pins in the housing of the connector, but without needing any change made in the circuit pattern on printed circuit boards that are stacked one on another to be electrically connected one to another. The connector has a housing () and a number of vertical holes () pierced in and extending between a top and a bottom of the housing so as to penetrate it, the holes being for insertion of terminal pins (). A front and rear walls () of the housing respectively have horizontal slots () arranged to form an upper row and a lower row to receive contacts (), with each slot extending to intersect the corresponding vertical hole () at a right angle. One of the printed boards () is connected to the contacts held in the slots, and the terminal pins () surface mounted on the other printed circuit board are fitted in the vertical holes () so as to be electrically connected to the contacts (). The connector further has short-circuit pins () and canalled apertures () that are formed in the front and rear walls () each in communication with the two adjacent slots (), such that each short-circuit pin () fitted in the chosen one of the canalled apertures () is kept in touch with the two contacts () held in the two adjacent slots, thereby establishing electrical engagement of the one contact () with the other (), thus changing arrangement of signal connections ‘S’ and grounding connections ‘G’ on the printed circuit board ().