Multicontact electric connector

1. A multiple-contact electrical connector comprising a base ( 1 ) of electrically insulating material, at least two pairs ( 2 , 3 ) of input/output terminals ( 4 - 6 ), two needles ( 11 , 12 ) of electrically conductive material respectively interconnecting the input/output terminals of each pair, first and second plates ( 21 , 22 ) made of electrically insulating material, said first and second plates having through orifices ( 31 - 34 ), said needles being engaged through these orifices so that their ends ( 35 - 37 ) emerge from opposite sides of said first and second plates, the emerging ends of said needles constituting the input/output terminals ( 4 - 6 ) of said two pairs, and means for fixing the first and second plates relative to the base,

the connector being characterized by further comprising:

at least third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 );

means for positioning the third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) between said first and second plates ( 21 , 22 ), said second, third, and fourth plates having through orifices ( 32 , 34 , 41 - 44 ) having at least one cross-section presenting a minimum value substantially equal to a cross-section of the needles ( 11 , 12 ), said orifices being made in the second, third, and fourth plates in such a manner that the needles are slidably mounted in said orifices; and

means ( 50 ) for causing the third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) to move respectively in two substantially opposite directions so as to impart two pre-buckles ( 61 - 64 ) to each needle on either side of a needle's rest position.

2. A connector according to claim 1 , characterized by said needles ( 11 , 12 ) engaging in the orifices ( 31 , 33 ) formed in the first plate ( 21 ) and being secured to said first plate ( 21 ).

3. A connector according to claim 2 , characterized by the first, second, third, and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) being mutually parallel.

4. A connector according to claim 2 , characterized by thicknesses of portions of the second, third, and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) in contact with the needles being smaller than the cross-section of said needles ( 11 , 12 ).

5. A connector according to claim 1 , characterized by the first, second, third, and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) being mutually parallel.

6. A connector according to claim 5 , characterized by thicknesses of portions of the second, third, and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) in contact with the needles being smaller than the cross-section of said needles ( 11 , 12 ).

7. A connector according to claim 1 , characterized by thicknesses of portions of the second, third, and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) in contact with the needles being smaller than the cross-section of said needles ( 11 , 12 ).

8. A connector according to claim 1 , characterized by the plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) being made in one of the following materials: ceramics, plastic materials, silicon, silica.

9. A multiple-contact electrical connector comprising a base ( 1 ) of electrically insulating material;

two pairs ( 2 , 3 ) of input/output terminals ( 4 - 6 );

two needles ( 11 , 12 ) of electrically conductive material respectively interconnecting the input/output terminals of each pair;

first and second plates ( 21 , 22 ) made of electrically insulating material,

said first and second plates having through orifices ( 31 - 34 )

said needles being engaged through these orifices so that ends ( 35 - 37 ) of said needles emerge from opposite sides of said first and second plates,

the emerging ends of said needles constituting the input/output terminals ( 4 - 6 ) of said two pairs;

means for fixing the first and second plates relative to the base,

third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) spaced apart from each other;

means for positioning the third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) between said first and second plates ( 21 , 22 ),

said second, third, and fourth plates having through orifices ( 32 , 34 , 41 - 44 ) having a cross-section presenting a minimum value substantially equal to a cross-section of the needles ( 11 , 12 ),

the needles being slidably mounted in said orifices in the second, third, and fourth plates; and

means ( 50 ) causing the third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) to move respectively in two substantially opposite directions to impart two pre-buckles ( 61 - 64 ) to each needle on either side of a needle's rest position.

10. A connector according to claim 9 , wherein said needles ( 11 , 12 ) engage in the orifices ( 31 , 33 ) formed in the first plate ( 21 ) and are secured to said first plate ( 21 ).

11. A connector according to claim 10 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) are mutually parallel to each other.

12. A connector according to claim 10 , wherein the respectively second, third and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) have a portion in contact with each of said needles, said contact portion having a thickness smaller than the cross-section of said needle ( 11 , 12 ).

13. A connector according to claim 9 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) are mutually parallel.

14. A connector according to claim 13 , wherein the respectively second, third and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) have a portion in contact with each of said needles, said contact portion having a thickness smaller than the cross-section of said needle ( 11 , 12 ).

15. A connector according to claim 9 , wherein contact portions of the second, third, and fourth plates ( 22 , 23 , 24 ) contacting the needles have thicknesses smaller than the cross-section of said needles ( 11 , 12 ).

16. A connector according to claim 9 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) are made in one of the following materials: ceramics, plastic materials, silicon, and silica.

17. A multiple-contact electrical connector, comprising:

a base ( 1 );

first, second, third and fourth plates ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) of electrically insulating material and spaced apart from each other;

orifices ( 31 - 34 ) in the first, second, third and fourth plates;

needles ( 11 , 12 ) passing through first, second, third, and fourth plates via the orifices,

the needles having ends emerging from each of the first and second plates;

pairs of input/output terminals ( 4 - 5 , 6 - 7 ) formed by the emerging ends of the needles,

a cross-section of each orifice of the second plate being substantially equal to a cross-section of the needle passing through the orifice,

the first and second plates being fixed relative to the base with the first and second plates perpendicular to a direction of the needles passing through the first and second plates;

the third and fourth plates ( 23 , 24 ) located intermediate the first and second plates,

the needles slidably passing through the orifices of the third and fourth plates; and

positioning means ( 50 ) positioning the third and fourth plates in two opposite directions, when the needles are in a rest position, to impart to each needle two substantially opposite pre-buckles ( 61 - 62 , 63 - 64 ) formed on either side of a needle's rest position.

18. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the needles slidably pass through the first and second plates.

19. The connector of claim 17 , wherein the positioning means controls movement of the third and fourth plates in the two opposite directions.