FFC Connector

The present invention relates to a flat flexible cable (FFC) connector, and more particularly to an FFC connector having a bottom entry for facilitating easy insertion of an FFC cable from a bottom direction.

Conventionally, an FFC connector includes a housing with a plurality of terminals assembled therein. The housing further defines an elongate slot for insertion of an FFC cable. Each terminal includes a spring arms extending into the elongate slot such that conductors of the FFC cable abut against to those spring arms thereby making electrical connection therebetween. However, deformation of the springs arms need a great deal of force thereby rendering difficult insertion of the FFC cable.

In order to provide an easy insertion of the FFC cable, an actuator is introduced to a FFC connector to facilitate electrical connections between conductors of the cable and terminals within the connector. In this arrangement, the terminals within the FFC connector will not block the path of the FFC cable during insertion of the FFC cable, i.e. zero insertion force. When the FFC cable is fully inserted, the actuator is then moved such that the conductors of the inserted FFC contact with the terminals of the FFC connector.

In general, insertion direction of the FFC cable is parallel to the terminals, but in some application, the FFC cable comes from a bottom direction. For example, a hard disk drive includes a frame which encapsulates metal disks storing a great deal of data. Signal communication between inside and outside of the frame is facilitated by the FFC cable extending through a slit in the frame and then terminated to the FFC connector mounted on an outer face of the frame. Not only will this increase the length of the FFC cable, but will also complicate the assembly.

It is an objective of this invention to provide an FFC connector wherein an FFC cable is inserted thereto from a bottom entry.

In order to achieve the objective set forth, an FFC connector comprises a dielectric housing having top and bottom faces. The top face defines an elongate slot extending into the housing and the bottom face defining an entrance in communication with the elongate slot for insertion of an FFC cable. A plurality of terminal cells is defined in the housing and each terminal cell being in communication with the elongate slot. A plurality of terminals is assembled in the terminal cells and each terminal includes a base portion received in the housing and a spring arm extending from the terminal cell into the elongate slot. The terminal further forms a soldering tail for mounting to a printed circuit board.

These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an FFC connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of FIG. 1 viewed from a reverse angle;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 1 with an actuator located at a first position;

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of FIG. 1 with the actuator moved to a second position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view taken from a bottom direction;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line VI--VI of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line VII--VII of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is cross sectional view with an inserted FFC cable abutting against a bottom face of the actuator;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view with the inserted FFC cable reaching to a final position;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 8 with the FFC connector mounted in a recess of a substrate;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 10 with an inserted FFC cable reaching to a final position;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of a FFC connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention with an actuator in a first position; and

FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12 with the actuator in the second position.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, an FFC connector 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing 10 having top and bottom faces 10a, 10b. The top face 10a forms an elongate slot 11 extending into the housing 10 and the bottom face 10b forms a bottom entrance 12 in communication with the elongate slot 11 for insertion of a FFC cable 40. A plurality of terminal cells 13 is defined in the housing 10 and each terminal cell 13 is in communication with the elongate slot 11. The elongate slot 11 has a first surface 11a for supporting the inserted FFC cable 40 and a second surface 11b inclined with respect to the first surface 11a. The housing 10 further forms retaining wedges 14 at opposite ends thereof. The housing 10 further defines two guiding recesses 15 adjacent end walls thereof. The recess 15 includes an inclined surface (not labeled). A pair of ground pads 17 is assembled to the housing 10.

A plurality of terminals 16 is assembled in the terminal cells 13. Each terminal 16 includes a base portion 16a received in the housing 10 and a spring arm 16b extending from the terminal cell 13 into the elongate slot 11. The terminal 16 further forms a soldering tail 16c for mounting to a frame or printed circuit board 30 (FIG. 8).

An actuator 20 is assembled to the housing 10 for facilitating electrical connections between the inserted FFC cable 40 and the terminals 16. The actuator 20 includes a cover 21 assembled to the top face 10a of the housing 10 thereby sealing the elongate slot 11 of the housing 10. The cover 21 includes a tongue 22 extending into the elongate slot 11 for urging the FFC cable 40 against the first surface 11a of the elongate slot 11 in which the spring arms 16b extending therethrough. By this arrangement, electrical connections between the inserted FFC cable 40 and the terminals 16 are achieved. The tongue 22 includes a flat surface 22a for pressing against the inserted FFC cable 40 and an inclined surface 22b with respect to the flat surface 11b.

The cover 21 forms a retaining slot 21a at a bottom face thereof for receiving a portion of the inserted FFC cable 40. The retaining slot 21a further includes a leading edge 21b facilitating easy insertion of the FFC cable 40. The cover 21 includes a pair of retaining lugs 23 on opposite ends thereof for engaging with retaining wedges 14 formed on the housing 10. A pair of guiding posts 24 extends downward from the cover 21 corresponding to the guiding recesses 15 of the housing. The guiding post 24 includes an inclined face 24a flushed to the inclined surface 22b. By this arrangement, downward movement of the actuator 20 is accurately guided.

Referring to FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view with the actuator 20 located in a first position, while in FIG. 7 the actuator 20 reaches to a second position in which the elongate slot 11 formed in the upper face 10a is completely sealed by the actuator 20.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the FFC connector 1 in according to the present invention is assembled to a frame or a printed circuit board 30 having a slit 31 therein. The entrance 12 of the FFC connector 1 is right above the slit 31 for entrance of the FFC cable 40. In assembly, the FFC cable 40 is firstly inserted till a tip portion 40a thereof received in the retaining slot 21a of the cover 21. When the actuator 20 is located at the first position, the tongue 22 does not fully extend into the elongate slot 11 thereby providing a comparable large opening for insertion of the FFC cable 40. When the FFC cable 40 is retained in the retaining slot 21a, the actuator 20 starts moving downward thereby narrowing the elongate slot 11 as the tongue 22 extends therein. The actuator 20 is then moved downward such that the inclined surface 22b of the tongue 22 slides over the second surface 11b of the elongate slot 11 thereby pushing the FFC cable 40 toward the spring arms 16b of the terminals 16. When the actuator 20 reaches to its final position, i.e. the retaining lugs 23 securely engages with the retaining wedges 14, the FFC cable 40 is electrically connected to the terminals 16 of the housing 10. In addition, during the downward movement of the actuator 20, the FFC cable 40 wipes over the spring arms 16b which provides reliable electrical connections.

In the previous application, the FFC connector 1 is assembled on an upper face 30a of a frame or a printed circuit board 30 and right above the slit 31. In a second application, the FFC connector 1 is assembled in an opening 132 of a frame or a printed circuit board 130.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, an FFC connector 1A in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing 110 having front and rear faces 110a, 110b. The front face 110a forms an elongate slot 111 extending into the housing 110 for insertion of a FFC cable 40. A plurality of terminal cells 113 is defined in the housing 110 and each terminal cell 113 is in communication with the elongate slot 111. The elongate slot 111 has a first surface 111a for supporting the inserted FFC cable 40 and a second surface 111b inclined with respect to the first surface 111a.

A plurality of terminals 116 is assembled in the terminal cells 113. Each terminal 116 includes a base portion 116a received in the housing 110 and a spring arm 116b extending from the terminal cell 113 into the elongate slot 111. The terminal 116 further forms a soldering tail 116c.

An actuator 120 is assembled to the housing 110 for facilitating electrical connections between the inserted FFC cable 40 and the terminals 116. The actuator 120 includes a cover 121 assembled to the front face 110a of the housing 110 thereby sealing the elongate slot 111 of the housing 110. The cover 121 includes a tongue 122 extending into the elongate slot 111 for urging the FFC cable 40 against the first surface 111a of the elongate slot 111 in which the spring arms 116b extending therethrough. The cover 121 further defines a passage 124 for entrance of the FFC cable 40. By this arrangement, electrical connections between the inserted FFC cable 40 and the terminals 116 are achieved. The tongue 122 includes a flat surface 122a for pressing against the inserted FFC cable 40 and an inclined surface 122b with respect to the flat surface 111b.

When the actuator 120 is located at the first position, the tongue 122 does not fully extend into the elongate slot 111 thereby the FFC cable 140 can be easily inserted into the elongate slot 111. When the FFC cable 40 is positioned, the actuator 120 starts moving along a left direction thereby narrowing the elongate slot 111 as the tongue 122 extends therein. The actuator 120 is then moved further such that the inclined surface 122b of the tongue 122 slides over the second surface 111b of the elongate slot 111 thereby pushing the FFC cable 40 toward the spring arms 116b of the terminals 116. In addition, during the movement of the actuator 120, the FFC cable 40 wipes over the spring arms 116b which provides reliable electrical connections therebetween.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.