ELECTRICAL CONNECTORThe present invention relates to an electrical connector, particularly, but not exclusively, to an electrical connector suitable for providing an electrical link through which power is supplied for an assembly comprising a substrate bearing layers of conductive material on opposed surfaces thereof, for example an electroluminescent lamp or similar device.
Such an assembly may consist of a layer of dielectric material placed between electrodes. When an AC supply is connected across the electrodes a magnetic field is generated. In an electroluminescent lamp which may consist of a layer of dielectric material and phosphor between two electrode layer the field excites the phosphor which emits light through the electrodes, at least one of which is nonopaque.
It is desirable for the electrical connections of the above type to satisfy a number of desirable criteria including ease of attachment. For example, the connector should consist of a minimum number of parts and be readily assembled. Existing connectors may comprise individual conductors which are bonded by conductive adhesive. This may under some circumstances give an imprecise setting and a link between plates and conductors which does not permit adjustment or easy release.
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which obviates or mitigates the disadvantages of existing connectors of the above type.
The invention therefore provides an electrical connector means comprising a main body portion having at least two extension portions in the form of outwardly extending lugs, each lug extending in a plane spaced from or at an oblique angle to that of the body portion so as to permit inclusion of electrode means between said lugs, said connector means having at least two strip portions of conductive material formed thereon, wherein a first one of said strip portions is provided upon a first surface of the connector and a second one of said strip portions is provided upon a second, opposite, surface of the connector, each strip portion extending at least along an appropriate one of said lugs so that the first strip portion is positipned upon the first lug so as to confront the second strip portion positioned upon the second lug.
Conveniently, the first lug and its associated strip may be laterally displaced from the second lug and its associated strip, with respect to the body portion.
Conveniently the two lugs may be arranged to contact the electrodes of an electrode/dielectric plate assembly in a force- or 'snap'-fit, or secured in any suitable manner.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip portions are applied to the surfaces of at least the lugs by a printing process, conveniently a screen printing process.
In this manner, a high degree of accuracy is achieved, permitting great precision in the placing or setting of the strip portions.
In a preferred embodiment the connector is of a generally elongate shape having at one end portion thereof a lengthwise slot which forms two lugs. Mounted on these lugs and along the length of the connector are two printed conductive strips, one on each connector surface, each extending along a respective one of the two lugs. The dielectric material and plates are held between the lugs and thus an electrical link is established by the contact of the conductive strip portions and the plates mounted on each side of the dielectric material.
In an alternative embodiment, there may be provided four strip portions, two of which extend along the first surface of the conductor in side-by-side relationship one on each side of the slot and the other two of which similarly extend along the opposed surface. Thus each lug has two strips thereon, one on each opposed surface. Conveniently the polarities of the voltage applied to each strip are such that the lugs may be arranged to extend forwardly or rearwardly of the plane of the body portion, i.e., the connector is reversible.
Preferably said conductive connection means are provided by a plurality of conductive strip portions mounted on the connector and running to outer end surfaces of said lugs.
There now follows a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that the description is given by way of example only and not by way of limitation.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a connector according to the invention;Figure 2 is a perspective view of a electroluminescent lamp for use with the connector shown in Fig.
1, Figure 3 is an elevational view of the connector in use with the lamp as shown in Figures 1 and 2. andFigure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector.
Figure 1 shows a connector generally referred to by reference numeral 10 comprising an elongate body portion 12 comprising a plastics tape slotted at an end portion thereof to form a raised lug 14, a depressed lug 16 and bearing conductive strips 18. The conductive strips 18 are printed upon the portion 12 by a screen printing process and extend parallel with each other along the length of the connector, one strip being formed on the inward facing surface of each of the raised lug 14 and depressed lug 16. Thus there are two electrical connections, one on each lug, each lug having a conductive strip on its inward facing surface applied thereto by a screen printing process.
Reference is now made to Figure 2 which is a perspective view of an electroluminescent lamp 20 which consists of a dielectric sheet 22, an earth plate 24 and a transparent electrode plate 26. Suitable insulation is provided (not shown) which may form part of a housing or casing. When an AC supply is applied across the plates 24 and 26 the phosphor layer of the dielectric sheet 22 is excited and light is emitted through transparent electrode plate 26. The connector 10 provides the electrical connections for these plates as will be described.
Figure 3 shows the connector 10 in use with the lamp 20. A precise electrical connection is made to the plates 24 and 26 by these plates being held in position between lugs 14 and 16, the strips 18 on the surfaces of the lugs will be brought into contact with the plates. In the example shown the strip on the underside of lug 14 provides an electrical connection to electrode plate 26, and the strip on the upper side of lug 16 provides an electrical connection to earth plate 24. The polarities of voltage applied to these strips 18 is appropriate -to give the required electroluminescent effect. The electrical connections are accurately established and readily located for straightforward use of the lamp 20.
Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the connector.
In this example, four conductive strips 18 are applied to the connector by a screen printing process. Each conductive strip 18 is mounted singly along one surface of a lug, so that each lug has one conductive strip 18 on its inner face and one conductive strip 18 on its outer face. The polarities of voltages applied to each of these strips 18 is such that the connector can be connected in either of two orientations, i.e. the connector is reversible.
Various modifications can be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the screen printed strips need not, if preferred, extend along the entire length of the connector, but may be arranged to extend along the lugs only. The lugs themselves need not be of the illustrated 'V' shape as in the first embodiment, the only requirement is that one lug establishes one electrical connection and the other lug establishes the other electrical connection.
Advantages associated with the use of the invention include precise setting of spacing of conductor leads for making edge connections. Moreover, the connector is of a one-piece construction permitting the connection to be made to the electroluminescent lamp in a single step, instead of the attachment of two separate connectors.
Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.