Pivoting wafer connector
A multi-contact electrical connector wafer includes an insulating base and at least one bay on a first side of the base. A conductor is associated with the at least one bay and the conductor is adapted to contact a corresponding mating element. The wafer further includes a loading beam adapted to bias the first conductor toward the corresponding mating element upon deflection of the beam. A connector may be formed with a conductive component disposed in a connector housing defining a receptacle opening. The conductive component is arranged in the housing in a manner to allow the conductive component to move relative to the housing. As such, the connector can accommodate a mating connector of a first thickness or a mating connector of a second, different thickness. The connector may also be adapted to accommodate a mating connector that is inserted into the receptacle in a manner that is not collinear with respect to the receptacle.
1 . A multi-contact electrical connector, comprising:
a housing defining a receptacle opening;
at least one conductive component disposed in the housing and arranged to contact a mating connector when placed in the receptacle, wherein the at least one conductive component is arranged in the housing in a manner to allow the at least one conductive component to move relative to the housing.
2 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive component comprises a plurality of conductive components.
3 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive component is constructed and arranged to impart a desired contact force on the mating connector and the at least one conductive component is adapted to move within the housing to accommodate the mating connector when the contact force on the at least one conductive component exceeds a threshold force.
4 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive component is adapted to pivot relative to the housing.
5 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element disposed within the housing and acting on the at least one conductive component to bias the at least one conductive component toward contact with the mating connector when the mating connector is received in the receptacle.
6 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the biasing element is an elastomeric member.
7 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the at least one conductive component includes a plurality of contacts, each contact providing a contact force on the mating connector when the mating connector is received in the receptacle.
8 . The connector of claim 7 , wherein the biasing element is adapted to apply a biasing force that is approximately equal to the sum of the contact forces provided by the plurality of contacts.
9 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive component is disposed at an angle relative to a line that is substantially perpendicular to an insertion axis of the receptacle.
10 . The connector of claim 9 , wherein the at least one conductive component is disposed at approximately a 25 degree angle relative to a line that is substantially perpendicular to an insertion axis.
11 . The connector of claim 10 , wherein the at least one conductive component comprises at least two conductive components, with a conductive component being disposed in the housing on each side of the receptacle.
12 . The connector of claim 10 , wherein the at least one conductive component is angled downward relative to the line that is substantially perpendicular to an insertion axis such that the insertion force of the mating connector in to the receptacle is less than the removal force of the mating connector from the receptacle.
13 . The connector of claim 11 , wherein the wafer on one side of the housing is angled downward relative to the line that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion axis and the conductive component on the other side of the housing are angled upward relative to the line that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion axis such that the insertion force of the mating connector in to the receptacle is approximately the same as the removal force of the mating connector from the receptacle.
14 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive component comprises a multi-contact electrical connector wafer, the wafer comprising an insulating base, at least one bay on a first side of the base, and a conductor associated with the at least one bay, the conductor of the at least one bay being adapted to contact a corresponding mating element.
15 . The connector of claim 14 , wherein the wafer further comprises a conductor biasing element adapted to bias the first conductor toward the corresponding mating element upon deflection of the conductor biasing element.