IP Library Granted Patent US 7,598,924
Granted Patent B2
US 7,598,924 · App. 12/070,994 · Granted Oct 6, 2009

Disconnectable electrical connection

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,598,924
App. No.
12/070,994
Granted
Oct 6, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus including an antenna; a printed wiring board (PWB); and a connection system electrically connecting the antenna to the PWB. The connection system includes a first spring contact and a second spring contact. The first and second spring contacts are removably resiliently biased against each other. The first spring contact is directly connected to the antenna. The second spring contact is electrically connected to the PWB.

Claims (40)

1. An apparatus comprising:

an antenna;

a printed wiring board (PWB); and

a connection system electrically connecting the antenna to the PWB, wherein the connection system comprises a first spring contact and a second spring contact, wherein the first and second spring contacts are removably resiliently biased against each other, wherein the first spring contact is connected to the antenna, and wherein the second spring contact is electrically connected to the PWB.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first spring contact comprises a first end which is in a spring biased contact with the antenna.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the second spring contact comprises a first end which is in a spring biased contact with the PWB.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the second spring contact comprises a first end which is in a spring biased contact with the PWB.

5. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein first and second spring contacts comprise second ends which extend generally towards each other and are located in a side-by-side contact.

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the antenna and the PWB are located generally parallel to each other, wherein the first and second spring contacts each have a second end contacting each other, and wherein the second ends extend away from the antenna and the PWB, and towards each other, in general reverse opposite directions.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the antenna and the PWB are located generally parallel to each other, and wherein the first and second spring contacts exert a biasing force against each other in a plane which is spaced from and between the antenna and the PWB.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising a housing including a first housing section and a removable second housing section, wherein the first housing section has the PWB therein, wherein the first spring contact has a second end which extends out of the first housing section in a general cantilever fashion into an area adapted to be covered by the second housing section.

9. An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the second spring contact is connected to the second housing section and has a second end which extends from the second housing section in a general cantilever fashion.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the second ends of the first and second spring contacts exert opposite spring contact forces against each other in directions generally between major planes of the first and second housing sections, wherein the spring contact forces do not exert a substantial separation force between the first and second housing sections.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the antenna and the PWB are located generally parallel to each other, and wherein the opposite spring contact forces do not exert a substantial separation force to push the antenna and the PWB apart in a direction generally perpendicular to the antenna and the PWB.

12. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first spring contact is in a first housing section, wherein the second spring contact is in a second housing section removably connected to the first housing section in a general partially stacked configuration, and wherein the first and second spring contacts exert a biasing spring force against each other in a direction which does not push the stacked configuration apart.

13. An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein the second housing section comprises a battery cover adapted to retain a battery with the first housing section.

14. An apparatus as in claim 13 wherein the battery cover comprises a housing member overmolded onto the antenna.

15. An apparatus as in claim 14 wherein the second spring contact is heat staked onto the housing member.

16. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the first spring contact is directly connected to the antenna.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a first housing section and a removable second housing section;

a first electrical component in the first housing section;

a second electrical component in the second housing section, wherein the second housing section comprises a removable battery cover; and

a connection system for removably electrically connecting the second electrical component with the first electrical component, wherein the connection system comprises at least one spring contact located between the first and second housing sections with a spring contact force in a direction generally between major planes of the first and second housing sections which does not exert a substantial separation force between the first and second housing sections.

18. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the second electrical component comprises an antenna.

19. An apparatus as in claim 18 wherein the removable battery cover comprises an overmolded housing member which is overmolded onto the antenna.

20. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the at least one spring contact comprises two spring contacts, wherein a first one of the spring contacts extends from the first electrical component in a general perpendicular direction, wherein a second one of the spring contacts extends from the second electrical component in a generally perpendicular direction, and wherein second ends of each of the first and second spring contacts are in a general side-by-side contacting position.

21. An apparatus as in claim 20 wherein the first spring contact comprises a first end which is in a spring biased contact with the first electrical component.

22. An apparatus as in claim 21 wherein the second spring contact comprises a first end which is in a spring biased contact with the second electrical component.

23. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the first and second electrical components have generally parallel planar shapes, and wherein the direction of the spring contact force is located between the first and second electrical components and does not intersect the first or second electrical components.

24. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the second housing section has a generally planar shape connected to the first housing section in a general partially stacked configuration at a receiving area of the first housing section.

25. An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein the connection system comprises means for substantially preventing the connection system from exerting the substantial separation force between the first and second housing sections.

26. A battery compartment cover comprising:

an antenna;

an overmolded housing member overmolded on the antenna, wherein the housing member has a general planar shape; and

an electrical spring contact connected to the housing member, wherein the spring contact has a first end connected to the antenna and a second end extending from the housing member in a general cantilever fashion, wherein the second end is adapted to contact another contact and exert a biasing spring contact force in a direction generally parallel to a major plane of the generally planar shaped housing member.

27. A method comprising:

providing a first spring contact connected to a first electrical component, wherein the first electrical component is in a first housing section;

providing a second spring contact connected to a second electrical component, wherein the second electrical component is in a second housing section; and

removably connecting the second housing section to the first housing section, wherein the first and second spring contacts directly contact each other and removably electrically connect the first and second electrical components to each other, and wherein a contact force between the first and second spring contacts is in a direction generally between major planes of the first and second housing sections.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2015
From: NOKIA CORPORATION
To: NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
Reel/Frame 035496/0763 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2008
From: HYNES, CHRIS; PARK, YOUNGDAE; TREVORROW, MICHAEL
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020736/0912 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2008
From: LEHTOLA, HEIKKI
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 020736/0916 →