CN1868245B - Memory module connector with release mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector assembly for memory module applications includes a first connector for mounting to a dual-sided memory module and a second connector for mounting to a circuit board. The first connector and the second connector may be connected to each other. The second connector includes a latching mechanism that selectively engages and disengages the memory module and pulls the first connector into engagement with the second connector or pushes it out of engagement with the second connector. The latch mechanism includes a latch having an axle rotatably received within a portion of the second connector housing. The latch mechanism further includes an actuator separate from the latch member and interconnected thereto by the shaft such that a line of action of the actuator for operating the latch mechanism is separate from and parallel to a line of action of the latch member.

Description

Memory module connector with release mechanism

technical field

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a memory module to a circuit board, and more particularly to a connector for connecting a DDR memory module to a circuit board, wherein the connector assembly includes a latch engagement and disengagement mechanism.

Background technique

Memory modules have been used in a variety of electronic devices over the years. Almost all such devices, especially computers, rely on memory that can be read and stored. Over the past few years, such memory devices have shrunk in size and evolved from single in-line memory modules, or SIMMs, to dual in-line memory modules, or DIMMs. These DIMM-type memory devices are shrinking in size and electronics manufacturers want to ensure that the memory device's connectors make a reliable connection to the memory device, that the devices are in place, and that they can be assembled at blind angles. Connector.

The present invention relates to a connector assembly particularly suitable for use with DIMMs and with DIMM-type connectors of the DDR type.

Contents of the invention

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved connector assembly for reliably connecting a DDR memory module to a printed circuit board.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector for connecting a double-sided DDR memory module to a circuit board, the connector having means for engaging and disengaging the memory module.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly for memory module applications, which assembly includes a first connector for mounting to a double-sided memory module and a second connector for mounting to a circuit board, the first a and a second connector are engaged with each other, the second connector having a latch mechanism that engages the memory module, disengages the memory module, and pulls the first connector into engagement with the second connector, or Push it out of the second connector.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a memory module connector having the above latch mechanism, wherein the latch mechanism includes a latch member having a shaft or pivot member rotatably received in a part of the connection In the device housing, the latch mechanism further includes an actuator that is separate from the latch and interconnected with the shaft, so that the line of action of the actuator that operates the latch mechanism is in contact with the latch The lines of action are separate and parallel.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly for a memory module, wherein the connector assembly includes two interengaging connector parts, one of the connector parts having a latch mechanism operably associated therewith. A surface-mounted connector, while the other connector is surface-mounted to the support substrate, the latch mechanism engages with the opposite end of the support substrate, the connector part has a corresponding engagement member, the engagement member is oriented so that the mutually engaged connectors Component polarization.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood by studying the following detailed description.

Description of drawings

During the course of this detailed description, frequent reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1 is a perspective view of a DDR memory module and connector assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the DDR memory module removed from engagement with its associated connector;

Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1, but with the memory module connected to the connector and latched in place;

3 is a perspective view of the memory module shown in FIG. 1, showing the memory cells in place on the substrate and mating connectors secured to the substrate;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the memory module shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the connector part shown in Figure 1;

6 is a perspective view of the connector component shown in FIG. 2, but shown in an unlatched state, wherein the latch of the connector is not engaged with the memory module and the actuator of the latch mechanism is raised. high;

Figure 7A is an enlarged detail view of Figure 6 showing the latch mechanism;

Figure 7B is an enlarged detail view of the opposite side of the latch mechanism, showing the detent, "click-stop" mechanism of the connector and actuator;

Figure 8A is a detailed cross-sectional view of the connector latch mechanism in an open, disengaged condition;

Figure 8B is the same view as Figure 8A, showing the latch mechanism in a closed, engaged condition;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the board connector of the connector assembly shown in Figure 1, showing the structure of the combined latch actuator member;

Figure 10 is an oblique elevational view of the latch actuator assembly shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the connector and board shown in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an end view of the connector assembly shown in Figure 2; and,

Figure 13 is an exploded detail view showing the manner in which the latch actuator engages the connector housing.

Detailed ways

The present invention relates to an improved connector assembly for connecting a memory module, particularly a DDR memory module, to circuitry on a circuit board, preferably to circuitry on a motherboard.

1 is a perspective view of a DDR memory module and connector assembly 100 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the memory module assembly 102 disassembled from engagement with its associated circuit board connector assembly 101 . Utilizing the connector assembly of the present invention, the memory module is positioned in an orientation above the surface of the motherboard 109 and generally parallel to the motherboard 109 .

The present invention finds application in the field of memory modules, particularly for implementing low-level connections between DDR memory modules and circuitry on a circuit board, such as the motherboard 109 shown. The module generally includes a pair of memory components 104 , 105 mounted on an intermediate substrate, shown as circuit board 106 . 3 and 4 illustrate the module 102 and its structure in detail.

It can be seen that the size and dimensions of the memory components 104 , 105 do not match the support substrate 106 in the middle. In the lateral direction, the memory component 105 is smaller than the substrate 106, offset by a distance W (FIG. 3) from the side 1090 of the substrate 106, while the other memory component 104 has engagement grooves or cutouts formed on opposite corners along one side thereof. 140. Two memory components are mounted on opposite surfaces of an intermediate substrate in the form of a circuit board 106 having a plurality of conductive contact pads 206 arranged thereon for mating with the module connector 108 (Fig. 3). The connector 108 has an elongated housing in which between its two opposing side walls 200 a central slot 201 is defined. The housing includes a series of conductive terminals 202 with tails 204 extending from the connector 108 in alignment with circuit board contact pads 206 to which they are attached by soldering or other suitable means. The connector 108 is disposed on the circuit board 106 near its side 1090 and within the bounds of an offset distance W of one memory module 105 from the circuit board side 1090 .

Another connector 110 is secured to the motherboard 109 and mates with a mating connector 108 secured to the memory module assembly 102 . The components of connector 110 are best shown in FIG. 5 , which is an exploded perspective view of connector assembly 101 . As shown in FIG. 5, the connector 110 includes an elongated housing made of an electrically insulating material. The connector housing has two opposite ends 114 interconnected by a pair of side walls 113 which are laterally spaced apart from each other to define a longitudinally extending connector engagement slot 112 of the connector between the ends 114. . In the illustrated embodiment, the slot 112 includes a base portion 112a in a central portion thereof, and the slot 112 is rectangular, so it may be referred to as a plug that accommodates another mating connector 108, as is well known in the art. (plug) part of the socket (receptacle) type connector.

Connector 110 includes a series of conductive terminals 151 , each conductive terminal preferably including a tail 152 emerging from the connector housing for connection to contact pads 150 provided on support circuit board 109 . The terminal 151 also includes pairs of contact portions 153 separated from each other so as to be aligned on both sides of the groove 112 in the longitudinal direction on both sides of the base portion 112a. The end 114 of the connector housing houses a pair of latch mechanisms 120 intended to engage in some manner the opposite ends 107a, 107b of the support substrate 106 so that the memory module 102 can be selectively latched into the board. The connector 110 is connected, or otherwise unlatched and partially ejected from the board connector 110 .

Referring now to FIG. 10 , which is an oblique elevational view of one of the latch mechanisms 120 , it can be seen that the mechanism 120 includes a latch member 122 having a body portion 122 a having a button formed thereon for engaging The memory module 102 supports the engagement grooves 124 of the end portions 107 a , 107 b of the substrate 106 . The engagement groove 124 has two opposing surfaces 126 , 127 , wherein the upper surface 126 can be considered a latching surface as it snaps onto the support substrate 106 . The other surface 127 can be thought of as the pop-up surface, since when turned, it will engage and push up the ends 107a, 107b of the support substrate. The latch 122 is separate from the actuator 125 which includes a handle portion extending from a body portion 128 . The main body portion 128 and the latch member 122 are connected together by a shaft or pivot rod 121 extending transversely thereto. The shaft 121 has two exposed portions which are accommodated in auxiliary fitting recesses 161 formed in the housing of the connector 110 . The shaft 121 may be integrally formed with the latch 122 and actuator 125, as shown, or it may be formed as a separate unit to which the latch 122 and actuator 125 are assembled.

The spacing of the actuator 125 from the latch 122 provides for operation of the mechanism along two distinct, separate lines of action. This is best shown in FIG. 11 , which is a top plan view of connector 110 in place on motherboard 109 . The latches 122 are positioned within the connector 110 , particularly within the opening or recess 160 , so that they engage the ends 107 a , 107 b of the support substrate 106 of the memory module 102 . Along a first line of action, labeled LE in FIG. 11 , downward and upward movement of the latch member 122 occurs due to rotation of the actuator 125 . Along the outside of the connector 110, the actuator 125 is detached from this line and operates along its own line of action LA, which is generally parallel to the first line of action LE. With shaft 121 retained within journal or groove 161 , latch 122 is maintained in a rotatable orientation within connector 110 . These journals 161 are located on the sides of the opening 160 that receives the latch so as to evenly support the latch for rotation within the connector housing and so that the movement of the actuator up and down does not create a force applied to the latch mechanism 120, This force may disengage the latch mechanism 120 from its engagement with the connector 110 . The journal 161 has the shape shown in Figure 13, ie has a circumferential area sufficient to allow gripping of the shaft 121 while still holding the shaft in place.

8A and 8B are detailed cross-sectional views of the connector latch mechanism in the open, disengaged condition and in the closed, engaged condition, respectively. In FIG. 8A , it can be seen that the two connectors 108 , 110 engage each other slightly so that the ends 107 a , 107 b of the support substrate 106 hit or contact the bottom latch surface 127 . The latch can be moved further by turning the actuator arm 125 downward toward the center of the connector, or by continuing to press the memory module into the connector 110 . After the two connectors are fully engaged, the latch is in the position shown in FIGS. 8B and 12 , with the top engagement surface of the latch 122 over and in contact with the ends 107a, 107b of the support substrate 106 .

To ensure that the operation of the actuator 120 is audible and tactile, ie a "touch" feel, the actuator may be provided with projections in the form of detents 129 along its body portion 128 (Figs. 7B and 13). The detent projects laterally outwardly of the actuator body portion 128 a prescribed distance. As best shown in FIG. 7B, the board connector 110 is provided with one or more notches 115 along the end 114 of the connector housing. These notches 115 are vertically separated from each other and fulfill at least two functions. They first hold the actuator 125 in a particular orientation. With the three notches shown, the positions are "open" (Fig. 6), "closed" (Fig. 12) and "centered". This function can be thought of as a lock-type function for setting the latch mechanism in a specific position. It also provides the tactile feel of the audible device used to verify the position of the latch mechanism. This helps to install memory modules in unclear locations.

To assist the installer in connecting the memory module to the board connector 110, the connector of the present invention provides blind mate and polarization features. As best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 11, the modular connector 108 (FIG. 4) is provided with a pair of notches 213a, 213b formed in the ends 210, 211 of the connector housing. The notches 213a, 213b define two projections 212a, 212b which project from the housing ends 210, 211 in an offset manner such that a tab 212a is located on the bottom right side of the connector housing right end 210 when viewed from above. , and still when viewed from above, another protrusion 212b is located on the top left side of the left end 211 . In other words, the tabs 212 a , 212 b are located on either side of the centerline of the module connector 108 .

To accommodate these lugs in a polarized manner, as shown in FIG. 11 , the board connector 110 is provided with two complementary shaped openings 180a, 180b. These notches accommodate the bumps in one orientation only. The notches are also offset on either side of the imaginary centerline of the board connector 110, the offset notch 180a receiving the protrusion 212a, and the offset notch 180b of the board connector 110 receiving the offset protrusion of the module connector 108. Block 212b. This also helps to provide the inventive connector assembly with a blind-sight mating feature whereby the installer can position one of the tabs on one end of the memory module within the notch of its corresponding board connector, The remainder of the module connector 108 is then easily introduced into the board connector 110 .

Utilizing the connector of the present invention, board connectors and module connectors can be surface mounted on their corresponding circuit boards and module boards, thereby achieving a reliable and firm connection to these boards without or using auxiliary components such as screws Install the hardware.

Claims (13)

1. A connector assembly for connecting a pair of memory modules to a circuit board, the connector assembly comprising: a pair of first and second connectors engageable with each other, the first connector being securable to a support substrate Above, the support substrate supports a pair of memory modules, the second connector can be fixed to the circuit board, the second connector includes a latch mechanism that selectively engages the memory modules, disengages the memory modules, and pulls the first a connector is brought into engagement with, or pushed out of engagement with, a second connector; The latch mechanism includes a latch having a shaft rotatably received within a portion of the second connector, and an actuator separate from the latch and interconnected with the shaft for operation The line of action of the actuator of the latch mechanism is separate and parallel to the line of action of the latch member. 2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a plug connector and the second connector comprises a socket connector. 3. The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second connector comprises: an elongated connector housing having at least one groove extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of conductive terminals disposed On at least one side of the recess, the recess is configured to receive a corresponding opposing portion of the first connector therein. 4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first connector includes an elongated connector housing, and when the first and second connectors are engaged together, the recess A portion of the first connector housing is accommodated therein. 5. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the groove includes a pair of openings for preventing incorrect insertion of the first connector into the groove, the pair of openings being offset from each other. 6. The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein said first connector housing includes a pair of tabs received within said recess opening. 7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the first connector housing tabs are disposed on opposite ends of the first connector housing. 8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft extends transversely to the actuator. 9. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the shaft, actuator and latch are formed together as one piece. 10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a groove formed therein to engage a portion of the substrate. 11. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the second connector housing includes at least one journal receiving a shaft therein. 12. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism includes at least one tab that engages the second connector during actuation of the latch mechanism. 13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein said engagement between said projection and said second connector produces an audible sound to indicate that said latch mechanism is engaged with said second connector. The degree of engagement between two connectors.

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