ZIF-ish connector...

D

Don Y

Guest
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
 
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

PS: should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
 
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

PS: should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
 
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

PS: should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
 
On 2020-07-17 21:28, Don Y wrote:
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion
force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too
expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser
amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high
resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors.  Cost and
\"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!

PS:  should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
Click to expand...

A Molex block connector with a rare-earth magnet to help? (You didn\'t
specify zero _removal_ force. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com
 
On 2020-07-17 21:28, Don Y wrote:
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion
force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too
expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser
amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high
resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors.  Cost and
\"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!

PS:  should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
Click to expand...

A Molex block connector with a rare-earth magnet to help? (You didn\'t
specify zero _removal_ force. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com
 
On 2020-07-17 21:28, Don Y wrote:
On 7/17/2020 6:26 PM, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion
force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too
expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser
amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high
resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors.  Cost and
\"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!

PS:  should also be relatively tolerant of positioning (tolerances?).
I can afford a square inch or so (more if REALLY worthwhile!)
Click to expand...

A Molex block connector with a rare-earth magnet to help? (You didn\'t
specify zero _removal_ force. ;)

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

--
Dr Philip C D Hobbs
Principal Consultant
ElectroOptical Innovations LLC / Hobbs ElectroOptics
Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics
Briarcliff Manor NY 10510

http://electrooptical.net
http://hobbs-eo.com
 
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).
Click to expand...

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
 
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).
Click to expand...

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
 
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).
Click to expand...

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
 
On Fri, 17 Jul 2020 18:26:33 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

What would hold it together after it\'s mated?



--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

Science teaches us to doubt.

Claude Bernard
 
On Fri, 17 Jul 2020 18:26:33 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

What would hold it together after it\'s mated?



--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc

Science teaches us to doubt.

Claude Bernard
 
On 7/17/2020 8:23 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.
Click to expand...

Maybe a few 100 - 1000? It\'s a low use application. What I want to avoid
is having to carefully mate a particular KEYED connector that may have a
\"noticable\" mating force.

I can provide some \"maintenance\" force but it may be limited to something
like \"weight of device being mated\" (and that wieight might not be optimally
positioned wrt the connections.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
Click to expand...

I\'m looking for the mating and \"maintaining\" to be more \"naturally\" applied;
not a secondary operation.

For example, many years ago (80\'s?), we made a \"module\" that had a fancy
ZIP-ish connector on the bottom. Module was about the size of a pack of
cigarettes. Weighed less than a pound. The user would simply \"drop\"
it onto the mating connector. As long as you didn\'t turn the instrument
upside down, the connection was intact.

(we ran a processor\'s bus through the connections so it had to be
reasonably solid else the processor would crash)

In that case, aligning the connectors was aided by the design of
the case -- a \"slot\" ensured the module couldn\'t be translated
left/right/forward/backward any significant amount, yet didn\'t
introduce any frictional load to the insertion/retraction.

Imagine a set of pogo pins spaced ~0.25\" apart. A set of 0.20
pads spaced 0.25\" apart on the mating device. And, a crude guide
that ensures the device will be aligned within 0.025\" of ideal
position.

It can be secured in that position by mechanical detent, magnetic
attraction, weight, etc. -- so long as the \"securing\" is intuitively
part of the mating process (as gravity was, in my previous example)

You could think of replacing the pogo pins with \"leaf spring\"
contacts. But, I suspect those would inevitably get bend, deformed
(when user tried to \"straighten\" them), snapped off, moved out
of alignment (in ANY axis!), etc.

I\'m presently considering a mating \"receptacle\" along the lines of:

[______n_n_n____________<

where the device slips under the lip at the far left and is then
pressed down on the right edge to be held in place by the
\"deformable\" latch on the right. The \'n\' representing spring
loaded contacts mating with conductive SURFACES on the rear
of the device.
 
On 7/17/2020 8:23 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.
Click to expand...

Maybe a few 100 - 1000? It\'s a low use application. What I want to avoid
is having to carefully mate a particular KEYED connector that may have a
\"noticable\" mating force.

I can provide some \"maintenance\" force but it may be limited to something
like \"weight of device being mated\" (and that wieight might not be optimally
positioned wrt the connections.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
Click to expand...

I\'m looking for the mating and \"maintaining\" to be more \"naturally\" applied;
not a secondary operation.

For example, many years ago (80\'s?), we made a \"module\" that had a fancy
ZIP-ish connector on the bottom. Module was about the size of a pack of
cigarettes. Weighed less than a pound. The user would simply \"drop\"
it onto the mating connector. As long as you didn\'t turn the instrument
upside down, the connection was intact.

(we ran a processor\'s bus through the connections so it had to be
reasonably solid else the processor would crash)

In that case, aligning the connectors was aided by the design of
the case -- a \"slot\" ensured the module couldn\'t be translated
left/right/forward/backward any significant amount, yet didn\'t
introduce any frictional load to the insertion/retraction.

Imagine a set of pogo pins spaced ~0.25\" apart. A set of 0.20
pads spaced 0.25\" apart on the mating device. And, a crude guide
that ensures the device will be aligned within 0.025\" of ideal
position.

It can be secured in that position by mechanical detent, magnetic
attraction, weight, etc. -- so long as the \"securing\" is intuitively
part of the mating process (as gravity was, in my previous example)

You could think of replacing the pogo pins with \"leaf spring\"
contacts. But, I suspect those would inevitably get bend, deformed
(when user tried to \"straighten\" them), snapped off, moved out
of alignment (in ANY axis!), etc.

I\'m presently considering a mating \"receptacle\" along the lines of:

[______n_n_n____________<

where the device slips under the lip at the far left and is then
pressed down on the right edge to be held in place by the
\"deformable\" latch on the right. The \'n\' representing spring
loaded contacts mating with conductive SURFACES on the rear
of the device.
 
On 7/17/2020 8:23 PM, whit3rd wrote:
On Friday, July 17, 2020 at 6:26:46 PM UTC-7, Don Y wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

How many matings? BGA can kinda do it, if you add heat. Zebra-stripe
might work if you have some clamping force, like a hinged lid.
Click to expand...

Maybe a few 100 - 1000? It\'s a low use application. What I want to avoid
is having to carefully mate a particular KEYED connector that may have a
\"noticable\" mating force.

I can provide some \"maintenance\" force but it may be limited to something
like \"weight of device being mated\" (and that wieight might not be optimally
positioned wrt the connections.

If you find a really good solution, tell us; it\'d be a great way to connectorize
batteries.

Lever-acting ZIF isn\'t commonly used for only four positions.
Click to expand...

I\'m looking for the mating and \"maintaining\" to be more \"naturally\" applied;
not a secondary operation.

For example, many years ago (80\'s?), we made a \"module\" that had a fancy
ZIP-ish connector on the bottom. Module was about the size of a pack of
cigarettes. Weighed less than a pound. The user would simply \"drop\"
it onto the mating connector. As long as you didn\'t turn the instrument
upside down, the connection was intact.

(we ran a processor\'s bus through the connections so it had to be
reasonably solid else the processor would crash)

In that case, aligning the connectors was aided by the design of
the case -- a \"slot\" ensured the module couldn\'t be translated
left/right/forward/backward any significant amount, yet didn\'t
introduce any frictional load to the insertion/retraction.

Imagine a set of pogo pins spaced ~0.25\" apart. A set of 0.20
pads spaced 0.25\" apart on the mating device. And, a crude guide
that ensures the device will be aligned within 0.025\" of ideal
position.

It can be secured in that position by mechanical detent, magnetic
attraction, weight, etc. -- so long as the \"securing\" is intuitively
part of the mating process (as gravity was, in my previous example)

You could think of replacing the pogo pins with \"leaf spring\"
contacts. But, I suspect those would inevitably get bend, deformed
(when user tried to \"straighten\" them), snapped off, moved out
of alignment (in ANY axis!), etc.

I\'m presently considering a mating \"receptacle\" along the lines of:

[______n_n_n____________<

where the device slips under the lip at the far left and is then
pressed down on the right edge to be held in place by the
\"deformable\" latch on the right. The \'n\' representing spring
loaded contacts mating with conductive SURFACES on the rear
of the device.
 
On 2020-07-18, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

those magnetic charging cables?

The ring connector on cordless electric jugs?

If it\'s consumer you can design the connectaor as an enclosure feature,

--
Jasen.
 
On 2020-07-18, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

those magnetic charging cables?

The ring connector on cordless electric jugs?

If it\'s consumer you can design the connectaor as an enclosure feature,

--
Jasen.
 
On 2020-07-18, Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
I\'m looking for a connector that can be mated blind with no insertion force.
Sort of like LAYING a PCB onto a set of pogo pins (but they are too expensive
and not very robust).

Contacts will need to pass ~500mA (though I can be argued into lesser amounts).

And, I only need a handful of conductors (4-8).

Gold plate, likely, as I don\'t want to deal with corrosion or high resistance
connections.

[Unfortunately, I can\'t think of a consumer product that I could point to
as an example... most seem to have \"real\" connectors. Cost and \"robustness\"
are issues as it is intended for the consumer market.]

advTHANKSance!
Click to expand...

those magnetic charging cables?

The ring connector on cordless electric jugs?

If it\'s consumer you can design the connectaor as an enclosure feature,

--
Jasen.
 
On 7/17/2020 11:18 PM, Jasen Betts wrote:
> those magnetic charging cables?

I thought of those -- and could probably repurpose a handful of them for
prototyping... worry about how to REALLY make them, later.

> The ring connector on cordless electric jugs?

\"cordless electric jugs\"???

> If it\'s consumer you can design the connectaor as an enclosure feature,

I\'m hoping to purchase the connector pair from someone who knows how to
make connectors, reliably -- instead of having to learn how to do that,
myself. Then, figure out how to accommodate it in the packaging...
 
On 7/17/2020 11:18 PM, Jasen Betts wrote:
> those magnetic charging cables?

I thought of those -- and could probably repurpose a handful of them for
prototyping... worry about how to REALLY make them, later.

> The ring connector on cordless electric jugs?

\"cordless electric jugs\"???

> If it\'s consumer you can design the connectaor as an enclosure feature,

I\'m hoping to purchase the connector pair from someone who knows how to
make connectors, reliably -- instead of having to learn how to do that,
myself. Then, figure out how to accommodate it in the packaging...
 
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