IP Library Granted Patent US 11,616,330
Granted Patent B2
US 11,616,330 · App. 17/330,944 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Power connector assembly

Inventors: Michael David Herring (Apex, NC); Robert Patterson (Harrisburg, PA)
Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
H01R25/162H01R12/585H01R13/6215
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,616,330
App. No.
17/330,944
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power connector assembly includes a busbar having a mounting surface and openings extending into the busbar being open at the mounting surface and power contacts arranged in a power contact array electrically connected to the busbar. Each power contact includes a main body, a first compliant pin extending from the main body, and a second compliant pin extending from the main body. The first compliant pin is received in the corresponding opening of the busbar to electrically connect the power contact to the busbar. The second compliant pin is configured to be received in a plated via of a printed circuit board to electrically connect the power contact to the printed circuit board. The power contact array mechanically and electrically connects the busbar to the printed circuit board.

Claims (27)

1. A power connector assembly comprising:

a busbar having a mounting surface, the busbar including a metal block having openings extending into the metal block of the busbar, the openings being open at the mounting surface; and

power contacts arranged in a power contact array, the power contacts being electrically connected to the metal block of the busbar to electrically common the power contacts, each power contact including a main body, a first compliant pin extending from the main body, and a second compliant pin extending from the main body, the first compliant pin being received in the corresponding opening of the busbar to electrically connect the power contact to the busbar, the second compliant pin configured to be received in a plated via of a printed circuit board to electrically connect the power contact to the printed circuit board, wherein the power contact array mechanically and electrically connects the metal block of the busbar to the printed circuit board through the power contacts of the power contact array.

2. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power contacts are double ended-press fit pins.

3. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first compliant pin has a first width and the second compliant pin has a second width approximately equal to the first width.

4. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the openings in the busbar each have an opening width, the first compliant pin having a first width greater than the opening width, the second compliant pin having a second width less than the opening width.

5. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power contact includes a head at a first end of the power contact, the head being wider than the busbar opening to rest on the busbar when the power contact is coupled to the busbar.

6. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the power contacts are coupled together by a connecting beam, the connecting beam abutting against the busbar when the power contacts are coupled to the busbar.

7. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power contact has a first tip and a second tip at opposite ends of the power contact, the first compliant pin located between the main body and the first tip, the second compliant pin located between the main body and the second tip.

8. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier holding a plurality of the power contacts, the carrier having a first surface and a second surface, the first compliant pins extending from the first surface, the second compliant pins extending from the second surface, the carrier located between the busbar and the printed circuit board.

9. The power connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein the carrier is a flexible film.

10. The power connector assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first compliant pins secure the carrier to the busbar, and wherein the second compliant pins secure the carrier to the printed circuit board.

11. The power connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the busbar has a terminal configured to be electrically connected to a power supply that supplies power to the busbar.

12. A power connector assembly comprising:

a busbar having a mounting surface, the busbar including a metal block having openings extending into the metal block of the busbar, the openings being open at the mounting surface; and

power contacts arranged in a power contact array, the power contacts being electrically connected to the metal block of the busbar to electrically common the power contacts, each power contact including a main body, a head at a first end of the power contact, and a tip at a second end of the power contact, the power contact having a first compliant pin between the main body and the head, the power contact having a second compliant pin between the main body and the tip, the power contact being loaded into the busbar and a printed circuit board in a loading direction with the tip passing through both the busbar and the printed circuit board, the head being coupled to the busbar, the first compliant pin being received in the corresponding opening of the busbar to electrically connect the power contact to the busbar, the second compliant pin configured to be received in a plated via of the printed circuit board to electrically connect the power contact to the printed circuit board, wherein the power contact array mechanically and electrically connects the metal block of the busbar to the printed circuit board through the power contacts of the power contact array.

13. The power connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the second compliant pin passes through the busbar into the corresponding plated via during loading to electrically connect the second compliant pin to the printed circuit board.

14. The power connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first compliant pin is loaded into the busbar from above and wherein the second compliant pin is loaded into the busbar from above.

15. The power connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the openings in the busbar each have an opening width, the first compliant pin having a first width greater than the opening width, the second compliant pin having a second width less than the opening width.

16. The power connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the openings in the busbar each have an opening width, and wherein the plated vias each have a via width less than the opening width.

17. The power connector assembly of claim 12 , wherein the openings are aligned with the plated vias to allow the power contacts to pass straight through the openings and the plated vias during loading.

18. A power connector assembly comprising:

a busbar having a mounting surface facing a mounting surface of a printed circuit board, the busbar including a metal block having openings extending into the metal block of the busbar, the openings being open at the mounting surface;

a carrier positioned between the busbar and the printed circuit board, the carrier having a first surface and a second surface, the carrier including carrier openings therethrough, the first surface facing the mounting surface of the busbar, the second surface facing the mounting surface of the printed circuit board;

power contacts arranged in a power contact array, the power contacts being received in corresponding carrier openings, each power contact including a main body, a first compliant pin extending from the main body, and a second compliant pin extending from the main body, the main body being coupled to and held by the carrier, the first compliant pin being received in the corresponding opening of the busbar to electrically connect the power contact to the metal block of the busbar to electrically common the power contacts, the second compliant pin configured to be received in a plated via of a printed circuit board to electrically connect the power contact to the printed circuit board, wherein the power contact array mechanically and electrically connects the metal block of the busbar to the printed circuit board through the power contacts of the power contact array.

19. The power connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein the carrier is a flexible film.

20. The power connector assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first compliant pins secure the carrier to the busbar, and wherein the second compliant pins secure the carrier to the printed circuit board.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 7, 2022
From: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 060305/0923 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 26, 2021
From: HERRING, MICHAEL DAVID; PATTERSON, ROBERT
To: TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH
Reel/Frame 056359/0261 →