Electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector includes a first layer formed of a copper based material and a second layer formed of an iron-nickel alloy. The second layer has a thickness of 8% to 30% of the thickness of the electrical connector. The electrical connector also includes a third layer which is formed of a solder alloy that consists essentially of 17% to 28% indium by weight, 12% to 20% zinc by weight, 1% to 6% silver by weight, 1% to 3% copper by weight, and a remaining weight of the solder alloy that is tin.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: a first layer formed of a copper based material; a second layer formed of an iron-nickel alloy, wherein the second layer has a thickness 8% to 30% of the thickness of the electrical connector; and a solder layer formed of a solder alloy consisting essentially of: 17% to 28% indium by weight; 12% to 20% zinc by weight; 1% to 6% silver by weight; 1% to 3% copper by weight; and a remaining weight of the solder alloy being tin.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder alloy includes 23% to 26% indium by weight.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder alloy includes 24% to 26% indium by weight.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder alloy includes 25% to 26% indium by weight.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder alloy includes 5.5% to 6% silver by weight.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder alloy includes 5.75% to 6% silver by weight.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the solder layer is in direct and intimate contact with the second layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an electrically conductive connector designed according to some embodiments;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross section diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of layers in the electrical connector taken along the lines 2-2 in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross section diagram schematically illustrating an arrangement of layers of another example electrically conductive connector designed according to some embodiments;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector soldered to a silver coated glass surface illustrating stresses in the glass surface after soldering according to some embodiments;

(6) FIG. 5 is a graph of a percentage of glass samples with cracking vs. a percentage of indium in a solder alloy used to attach an electrical connector to the glass samples according to some embodiments;

(7) FIG. 6 an indium-tin phase diagram according to some embodiments;

(8) FIG. 7 is a binary phase diagram of zinc and tin according to some embodiments;

(9) FIG. 8 is a binary phase diagram of indium and zinc according to some embodiments; and

(10) FIG. 9 is ternary phase diagram of tin, indium, and zinc showing a eutectic trough according to some embodiments.

(11) The following additional figures are referenced in Appendix A:

(12) FIG. 10 is photomicrograph of a solder joint according to some embodiments;

(13) FIG. 11 is photomicrograph of a solder joint according to some embodiments;

(14) FIG. 12 is a is ternary phase diagram of tin, indium, and zinc overlaid with glass cracking test results according to some embodiments;

(15) FIG. 13 is a graph of the number of glass cracks vs. indium alloys of a solder alloy on an electrical terminal for various power profiles according to some embodiments;

(16) FIG. 14 is another graph of the number of glass cracks vs. indium alloys of a different solder alloy on a different electrical terminal for various power profiles according to some embodiments;

(17) FIG. 15 is yet another graph of the number of glass cracks vs. indium alloys of a different solder alloy on a different electrical terminal according to some embodiments;

(18) FIG. 16 is cross section view of an electrical connector soldered to a silver coated glass surface according to some embodiments;

(19) FIG. 17 is a finite element analysis graph of a glass solder interface of an electrical terminal connected to a glass surface by a first solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(20) FIG. 18 is a finite element analysis graph of a glass solder interface of an electrical terminal connected to a glass surface by a second solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(21) FIG. 19 is a finite element analysis graph of a glass solder interface of an electrical terminal connected to a glass surface by a third solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(22) FIG. 20 is a finite element analysis graph of a glass solder interface of an electrical terminal connected to a glass surface by a fourth solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(23) FIGS. 21A-21D are elemental maps showing concentrations of silver, zinc, tin, and indium in a solder joint formed of a solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(24) FIGS. 22A and 22B are optical micrographs and scanning electron micrographs of a solder joint formed of a first solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(25) FIGS. 23A and 23B are optical micrographs and scanning electron micrographs of a solder joint formed of a second solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(26) FIGS. 24A and 24B are optical micrographs and scanning electron micrographs of a solder joint formed of a third solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(27) FIG. 25 is an elemental map of a solder joint formed of a first solder alloy according to some embodiments;

(28) FIG. 26 is an elemental map of a solder joint formed of a second solder alloy according to some embodiments; and

(29) FIG. 27 is an elemental map of a solder joint formed of a first solder alloy according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(30) Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

(31) FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an electrical connector 10 that is adapted to make an electrical connection between a wire electrical cable 12 and a conductive contact pad 14 on a planar surface 16, such as a glass windshield or rear window of an automobile. This connector may be used to establish electrical connections from the vehicle's wiring system to circuits, such as heaters or antennae on the glass surface. The conductive contact pad 14 is typically silver-based. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 has a wire attachment portion 18 that is crimped to the wire cable 12 and a planar contact portion 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the contact portion 20 has at least two layers 22, 24 of electrically conductive material. The first layer 22, formed from, for example, a copper-based alloy has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) that is greater than the CTE of the second layer 24, formed from, for example, an iron-nickel alloy. Two examples of suitable iron-nickel alloys are INVAR (typical composition 64% Fe, 36% Ni) or KOVAR (typical composition 54% Fe, 29% Ni, 17% Co). The difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material forming the first layer 22 and the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass is greater than the difference between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material forming the second layer 24 and the coefficient of thermal expansion of glass.

(32) As shown in FIG. 2, a layer of a solder alloy 26 overlays at least a portion of the second layer 24 of the contact portion 20. The solder layer 26 is in direct and intimate contact with the second layer 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the contact portion 20 also includes a third layer 28 of material overlaying the second layer 24 and the solder layer may be in direct or intimate contact with a portion of the third layer 28 while still overlaying the second layer 24. This third layer 28 may be formed of a copper or tin based alloy and may improve the wetting of the solder to the contact portion 20. The third layer 28 may be clad with or plated on the second layer.

(33) To prevent glass cracking caused by a difference in CTE between the contact portion 20 and the glass surface 16, a lower liquidus temperature is preferred. However, to meet the environmental requirements, a higher solidus temperature is needed to prevent failure of the solder joint between the contact portion 20 and the contact pad 14.

(34) FIG. 4 illustrates the nature of solder joints between the contact portion 20 and the glass surface 16 when CTE of glass is less than the CTE of the contact portion 20. Because of its lower CTE, the glass surface 16 should be stretched to the resultant length at high temperature and contact portion 20 should be compressed. Therefore, the glass surface 16 will be in tension and the contact portion 20 will be in compression. This will be an important consideration because the typical tensile strength for annealed glass is about 6,000 psi and the typical tensile strength for tempered glass 17,000 psi, whereas the compressive strength of both types of glass is about 150,000 psi.

(35) Based on the graph of FIG. 5, it is evident that the percentage of cracked solder joints increased rapidly when the indium concentration of a tin-indium solder alloy is less than 45%. However, an indium content greater than 28% decreases the solidus temperature to 120? C., as evident in the indium-tin phase diagram of FIG. 6 and will lower the solder joint creep strength.

(36) For automotive use, the electrical connector 10 must pass a test exposing the solder joint to a temperature of 140? C. with a 0.5 kg load applied, the solidus temperature should be greater than 155? C., assuming creep strength decreases rapidly at temperatures above 90% of the solidus temperature. A lower indium content (i.e., less than 42%) increases glass cracking propensity but increases creep strength even at indium concentration less than 28% as shown by the dotted lines in the indium-tin phase diagram of FIG. 7.

(37) The layer of solder alloy 26 applied to the contact portion has a composition of about 15% to 28% indium by weight, about 5% to 20% zinc by weight, about 1% to 6% silver by weight, and about 36% to 79% tin by weight. As used herein, about means?1% for concentrations less than or equal to 20% and ?3% for concentrations greater than 20%.

(38) Zinc forms eutectic alloys with both tin and indium as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Eutectic or near eutectic alloys are good candidates for soldering alloys. Approximate eutectic troughs in tin-indium-zinc ternary systems are shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, ternary tin-indium-zinc alloys with indium less than 28% and zinc about 5% to 20% zinc are determined to be good candidates for evaluation. A small amount of silver (about 1% to 6% by weight) is added to prevent silver migration from the contact pad on the glass to the solder alloy.

(39) In several examples of the electrical connector 10, the second layer 24 has a thickness that is between 8% to 30% of the thickness of the contact portion 20. Electrical connectors 10 having a second layer thickness in a range of about 8% to 15% of the contact portion thickness and a solder layer containing about 24% indium by weight, about 9% zinc by weight, about 3% silver by weight, and about 64% tin by weight were able to pass a range of environmental exposure tests without causing glass cracking. Electrical connectors 10 having a second layer thickness of about 30% of the contact portion thickness and a solder layer containing about 24% indium by weight, about 9% zinc by weight, about 3% silver by weight, and about 64% tin by weight were able to pass a range of environmental exposure tests without causing glass cracking.

(40) While the examples of the electrical connector 10 presented herein are directed to connecting wires to electrical contact pads on glass these are not limiting, and alternative embodiments may be envisioned having other uses and applications.

(41) Accordingly, an electrical connector 10 and a solder alloy 26 is presented. The electrical connector 10 provides the benefit of providing an electrical connector between a wire cable 12 and contact pad 14 on a glass surface 16 while reducing or eliminating the incidence of glass cracking when soldering the connector 10 to the pad 14 while still meeting requirements to withstand exposure to temperatures up to 150? C. without failure of the solder joint. The solder alloy 26 has the additional benefit of lower cost by being a tin-based alloy rather than the more expensive indium-based alloy.

(42) While preferred embodiments have been described, this disclosure is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to configure a situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments and are by no means limiting and are merely prototypical embodiments.

(43) Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

(44) As used herein, one or more includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.

(45) It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

(46) The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term and/or as used herein refers to and encompasses all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms includes, including, comprises, and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(47) As used herein, the term if is, optionally, construed to mean when or upon or in response to determining or in response to detecting, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase if it is determined or if [a stated condition or event] is detected is, optionally, construed to mean upon determining or in response to determining or upon detecting [the stated condition or event] or in response to detecting [the stated condition or event], depending on the context.

(48) Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any order of arrangement, order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.