Importance

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Abstract

A power connector for interconnecting power between printed circuit boards (12, 24) includes plug and receptacle contacts (40, 70) linked to signal connector halves (16, 28) alos mounted on the circuit boards such that the plug and receptacle contacts intermate along a given axis as the connector halves are intermated. The receptacle contact (70) includes an array of resilient contact fingers (80-82) spaced apart and staggered to engage the plug contact (40) upon mating along the given axis at given points to reduce insertion forces, preclude undue wear of the plug contact from repeated engagements while carrying sufficient current to effect a power transfer from one board to another board. The contacts further include a plurality of posts (48, 74, 76) spaced apart to distribute current to the thin conductive traces of boards to preclude undue resistance heating of such traces in the circuits defined thereby. Insulating housings (52, 56) of the plug and receptacle contacts are provided with the housing (56) surrounding the receptacle contact to preclude accidental shorting as between multiple contacts.

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First Claim