Low insertion force electrical interface assembly and actuable interface assembly therefor

摘要

An actuable interface assembly for a connector to be mounted relative to an interface assembly. The connector comprises a first array of electrical interface contacts. The actuable interface assembly includes a second array of electrical interface contacts each for connection to a corresponding contact in the first array and carrier means for mounting the second array of contacts. The contacts in the first and second arrays are axially elongated to an exposed and free end. The first and second arrays of contacts are located, when the connector is mounted relative to the interface assembly, in mirror image to each other with each contact in the second array spaced apart from the corresponding contact in the first array in both axial and transverse directions by the same amount and in the same direction. Operable means is movable between a non actuated and an actuated condition. A compound movement cam means is connected to the operable means and to the carrier means and is operable for moving the carrier means. The operable means when continuously moved from the non actuated to the actuated condition first moves each of the contacts in the second array parallel with the axes of the corresponding contacts in the first array to a position which is opposed in a transverse direction with the free and exposed ends of the contacts, the second moves each of the contacts in the second array transverse to the axes of the corresponding contacts in the first array into engagement with the free and exposed ends of the corresponding contacts.