Importance

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Abstract

A stiffener assembly for mechanically supporting the main body of an electrical connector to a circuit substrate, such as a daughterboard Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The PCB stiffener assembly is utilized to minimize bowing in the PC Board. The stiffener assembly includes a two-piece or split body having a top clamp and a bottom channel. A latch formed on the top clamp fits over and connectively engages a retention structure disposed on a rear surface of the connector housing. A bottom portion of the top clamp is disposed within the bottom channel. The bottom channel rests on the PCB and the legs of the bottom channel extend upward form the surface of the PCB. One leg of the bottom channel rest against the rear panel and fits under the retention structure. Fasteners pass through the PCB and the bottom channel and engage the top clamp thereby retaining the connector on the PCB. The stiffener assembly simultaneously aligns one or more connector modules to one another creating a one piece 'mono-block' like effect while at the same time acting to stiffen the PCB thereby reducing any PCB bowing. The two-piece stiffener assembly allows for individual connector modules to be removed from the PCB by simply removing the top clamp portion of the PCB stiffener assembly. The stiffener provides a mechanism for mechanically supporting the main body of a connector module to a daughterboard PCB in a manner that is easy to manufacture and cost effective.

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First Claim