EP0801447B1 - Shielded connector having a plug and a base with locking/ unlocking member - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shielded connector and more specifically a shielded connector of the type comprising a plug and a receptacle and provided with a locking / unlocking member.

It relates more particularly to connectors intended to be fixed on a flat support, in particular a printed circuit board provided with holes metallics.

The Applicant has proposed in the European patent application EP-A-0 649 195 a connection element comprising an insulating bridge having a "U" shaped section and angled contact elements opening out inside the U-shaped structure at one end. The other end is inserted in force ("press fit") in metallized holes on a printed circuit board. In further, according to an interesting characteristic, it comprises a rear insulating body surrounding the electrical contact elements in their bent part and a pin of retention also inserted in the printed circuit board.

This connection element forms a base intended to receive a complementary form. The provisions adopted allow advantageously protect the trigger guard during wave welding operations the connection element and other components of the card.

For some applications, it is necessary to have a connector insensitive to electromagnetic interference, especially when signals conveyed are so-called "weak" signals at high or very high frequency. For this do, the connector components must be shielded. In addition, one must achieve good ground continuity between the two elements (plug and socket), on the one hand, and between the base and the printed circuit board, on the other hand.

Shielded connection elements have been proposed, for example in US-A-5,277,624 (Patrick CHAMPION et al.), US-A-5,259,773 (Patrick CHAMPION et al.) Or US-A-5,356,301 (Patrick CHAMPION et al.). These elements modular connections allow electrical contacts to be made from a motherboard and / or a daughterboard.

To achieve mass continuity, two tabs are provided butt-shaped elastic metal, integral with the base and cooperating with orifices drilled in walls opposite the base, so as to come into galvanic contact with the shielding of the corresponding plug. Although this couple of tabs exert a pressure force on the plug, the retention of the plug the interior of the base is mainly produced by the insertion of the contact elements pins of one of the components (for example the base) in the female contacts of the other component (for example the form). In other words, there is no provision actual locking and the quality of ground continuity may fluctuate.

The invention therefore relates to a connector provided with a effective locking / unlocking, while remaining simple.

It also aims to allow good continuity of mass between the base and the plug.

It therefore aims to fulfill these two functions simultaneously, without having resort to complex means.

In a preferred embodiment, it also keeps, for the base, most of the advantageous structure of the connection element according to the European patent application EP-A-0 649 195 cited above.

To achieve the goal, the invention provides in particular an element of shield forming a spring, associated with an insert made of insulating material arranged on the end of the base. The shielding element comprises a harpoon cooperating with an orifice provided in a wall of the plug to ensure the locking function. The unlocking is done simply by pressing on the insert and removing the plug.

In addition, the shielding element ensures good ground continuity in pressing substantially its entire width on the shield of the plug.

The whole does not significantly increase the complexity of manufacturing operations, nor the cost price.

The subject of the invention is therefore a shielded connector comprising a socket and plug intended to be coupled by inserting the plug into the base, the plug being covered with a shielding of conductive material electricity on at least one of its walls, characterized in that at least one first wall of the base, corresponding to that of the plug, is covered with a shield made of electrically conductive material, in that this shield is extended towards the front of the base by at least one tongue forming a spring, so as to press on the shield of the plug when inserting it, in that at least a tongue is provided with first hooking means, in that the shielding of the file includes second means for attaching complementary to the first and cooperating with them so as to lock the plug in the socket, after complete insertion of this, and allow galvanic contact between the shields of the plug and the base, in that an insert made of insulating material is threaded on the front end of the tongue forming a spring, in that this piece reported in the form of a lever resting on the shield of the plug so to release the first attachment means from the second attachment means, by press the insert, unlock the plug and authorize its removal from the base, when subjected to an extraction force.

• La figure 1 illustre un mode de réalisation préféré pour une embase de connecteur selon l'invention ;
• Les figures 2a à 2c sont des figures de détail illustrant l'élément de blindage formant ressort associé à l'embase selon la figure 1 ;
• La figure 3 illustre la phase de montage du blindage sur l'embase de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 4 illustre les phases de montage des organes de blindages d'une embase selon l'invention ;
• La figure 5 illustre, en coupe, un connecteur selon l'invention pour lequel la fiche et verrouillée dans l'embase ;
• La figure 6 illustre, en coupe, le déverrouillage de la fiche hors de l'embase.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows with reference to the appended figures, and among which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment for a connector socket according to the invention;
• Figures 2a to 2c are detail figures illustrating the shielding element forming a spring associated with the base according to Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 illustrates the phase of mounting the shielding on the base of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 illustrates the phases of mounting the shielding members of a base according to the invention;
• FIG. 5 illustrates, in section, a connector according to the invention for which the plug is locked in the base;
• FIG. 6 illustrates, in section, the unlocking of the plug outside the base.

To fix ideas, without limiting in any way the scope of the invention, a preferred embodiment of the connector will be described below according to the invention, namely a connector comprising a receptacle whose structure substantially conforms to that described in the European patent application EP-A-0 649 195 mentioned above. Also in what follows, only the elements essential to a good understanding of the invention will be specified. For a more description detailed view of the base, we will profitably refer to this patent application European.

Figure 1 illustrates such a base 1, in longitudinal section. In apart from the provisions specific to the invention, which will be explained below, it essentially comprises three parts: a front insulating bridge 10, of cross section "U" shaped, a rear insulator 11 and a set of electrical contact elements 6 bent at 90 °. The front trigger guard 10 has two lateral branches, 12 and 13, and a central region 14 pierced by the electrical contact elements 6. In the example illustrated, these are male elements. The number of contact items 6 and their arrangement depends on the specific application. They are in general organized in a matrix form: rows and columns. The front parts 61 (linear) open out between the branches, 12 and 13, and are intended to be inserted in female contacts carried by a plug (not shown on the figure 1).

The branches, 12 and 13, form on the front face a mouth comprising flared lips (bevels), 15 and 16.

The rear insulating body 11 covers the rear of the contact elements electric 6, at least over the area between the central region 14 of the trigger guard 10 and the bend of these electrical contact elements. The 60 ends of the parts vertical of these are force-fitted ("press fit") into metallized holes of a printed circuit board CI, and soldered in the usual way.

The rear insulating body 11 is advantageously provided with a pin retention 12 also pressed into the printed circuit board CI.

According to a first characteristic of the invention, the base is provided at least one shielding member and preferably two: 2-4 and 5, arranged on the upper and lower faces, respectively, of the upper and lower, 12 and 13, of the base 1. These are metal plates whose thickness is weak, however sufficient to maintain a spring effect. To fix ideas, for bases contained in a cube of approximately 30 mm side, the thickness typical is 0.3 mm.

In addition to the primary shielding function of base 1, this system allows also good ground continuity with the shielding of a plug 7 inserted in the base 1, as will be shown with reference to FIG. 5. Finally, it allows a locking of this same plug 7 inside the base 1.

The upper armor member comprises two plates 2 and 4. It is illustrated in more detail by Figures 2a to 2b. FIG. 2a illustrates, in section, the two plates, 2 and 4, making up the upper member. Figure 2b illustrates, in exploded, these two plates before assembly and Figure 2c illustrates a detail of the below plate 2, after 180 ° rotation.

The plate 2, or locking bar, consists of a body main 20, extended on the front face by lugs 22 forming a spring (three in the example described), the shape of which is substantially that of a flared "V". This body main 20 is extended on the rear by curved tabs 21 (three in the example described) intended to hang on the rear of trigger guard 10. To do this, we provides a suitable slot or orifices 17 on the central region 14.

The plate 4 comprises a main body 40 covering the surface upper part of upper branch 12 and extended on the front by tabs curved 42 (three in the example described) intended to hang on the front of the trigger guard 10, more precisely on the upper flared lip 15.

However, before joining these two plates, 2 and 4, with the trigger guard 10, it is necessary to assemble them. To do this, we plan a row orifices 41 (three in the example described) in the main body 40 of the plate 4 and tabs 25 cut from the main body 20 of the plate 2. As the shows Figure 2b, the two plates, 2 and 4, are brought together and joined one to the other (vertical arrow), the tongues 25 being introduced into the orifices 41. Then, by a relative translational movement (horizontal arrow), the two plates are secured by the engagement of the tongues 25 in the orifices 41.

Just snap this set, plates 2 and 4, on the base as this is shown in FIG. 4. The curved tabs 42 are hooked to the lip 15 and, by spring effect, the curved tabs 21 are snapped into the slot or the holes 17.

The lower armor member 5 is illustrated more particularly by the Figures 3a to 3c.

It comprises a main body 50 substantially covering the face lower of the lower arm 13 of the trigger guard 10. This main body 50 extends, towards the front, by tabs or rubbers 52 curved on themselves, so as to bring out. Alternating with these tongues, hooks 53 are provided, also constituted by tabs curved on themselves but of lower height. Finally, a set of tongues or harpoons 54 is also provided, cut out on the front of the main body 50, but behind the tabs 53.

These harpoons 54 cooperate with the tongues 53 so that the plate 5 can be hung on the lower lip 16 of the trigger guard 10, as shown more particularly Figure 1. The latter has a rear wall 19a steep so that it is trapped between the tongues 53 which slide on the wall before 19b, gently sloping, the harpoon 54 which snaps onto the rear face 19a. The bent tabs 52, forming a spring, come inside the trigger guard 10.

In a first variant illustrated in FIG. 3a, the main body is extended by a vertical wall 51, folded back to form a horizontal plate 55. The latter has an orifice 56 intended to receive the retention pin 12, before insert it into the PCB. According to this variant, the plate 5 is secured to the base 1, on the one hand, by the set of front tabs, 53 and 54, on the other part, by the retention pin 12, as shown in FIG. 4.

Advantageously, additional curved legs 57 are provided, on the back of the horizontal plate 55. These, as shown in FIG. 3b, are forcibly inserted into metallized holes Tm, made in the circuit board printed CI. This variant allows a good recovery of mass on the circuit printed.

In a second variant, illustrated in FIG. 3c, the plate lower, 5 ', always has a main body 50', which ends in a wall vertical 51 ', but the horizontal plate is replaced by an inward fold 55' intended to be inserted into a slot 18 provided on the rear of the central region 14 trigger guard 10.

According to an important characteristic of the invention, the organs of shields play a triple role, shielding proper, ground continuity between, at least the base and the plug (and preferably also with the printed circuit) and locking / unlocking of the plug in the socket.

To illustrate these functions more fully, we will consider the FIG. 5 which illustrates a complete connector according to the invention, comprising a base 1 (as just described) and a plug 7.

The latter conventionally comprises a main body 70, in insulating material, trapping a set of electrical contact elements 8, complementary to the electrical contact elements 6, in equal number, and arranged in space appropriately so that the electrical coupling can be carried out by introducing the former into the latter.

The set of electrical contact elements 8 is connected to the rear of the plug 7 (in the example described) to a multi-strand cable 71.

In a preferred variant of the invention, provision is made for shielding the outer, upper and lower walls of sheet 7: plates 9a and 9b, respectively.

Ground continuity between the plug 7 and the base 1 is achieved by the friction of the rubbers 52 on the shield 9b, on the one hand, and by the friction of the tabs 22 forming a spring on the shield 9a, more precisely of the zone 26 constituting the bottom of the "V" (see Figure 2c).

We can see that this area is very important since it covers practically the entire width of the upper arm 12 (with the exception of the zones restricted harpoons 24, the role of which will be explained below, and slots between legs 22). The galvanic contact is therefore of good quality, especially since the wipers 52 also contribute to this contact and, moreover, by spring effect, have tendency to push main body 70 up (i.e. towards legs) 22).

The locking function, for its part, is achieved simply by this spring effect. Indeed, if the shielding 9a is provided with orifices 90a cooperating with the harpoons 24, when the plug 7 is fully inserted in the base 1, the harpoons 24 snap into these holes. This operation therefore locks the plug 7 inside the base and allows the effective friction of the zones 26 of the legs 22 on the shield 9a.

For the majority of applications, the coupling of plug 7 on the base 1 must be reversible. You must be able to unlock card 7 and be able to extract it from the base 1.

To do this, according to the most important characteristic of the invention, an insert 3 is provided, made of insulating material. This piece has the form general of a tongue comprising one or more slot (s) 32 in the or which the ends of the tabs 22 of the plate 2 can be inserted (see figure 1). To be able to secure this added piece 3 to the plate 2, provision is made holes 31 in the bottom of the slot (s) 32, so that the harpoons 23, made on the ends of the tongues 22 snap into these orifices. We thus obtains a locking of the insert 3 on the plate 2.

The lower front end 33 of the insert 3 is bevelled, the bottom 34 being flat. When the plug 7 is pressed, the bottom 34 of the insert slides on the upper wall of the body 70 of the plug 7, or more precisely on the shield 9a. The harpoons 24 are introduced into the orifices 90a causing the locking of the plug and the galvanic contact of zones 26, as described previously.

If one presses on the front of the insert 3 (force F ₁ ), due to the aforementioned bevel 33, the latter tips and the harpoons 24 are removed from their housings 90a. If this support is maintained and a withdrawal force is exerted (arrow F ₂ ), the plug can then be released from the base 1, the bevel 33 sliding on the upper wall of the plug 7. These two operations ( pressure and removal) can be done simply. It suffices to press with, for example, the thumb of one hand on the front of the insert 3, forming a lever, and to exert traction on the plug 7 with the other hand.

On reading the above, it can easily be seen that the invention achieves the goals it has set for itself. It allows efficient shielding, good ground continuity between the socket and the plug (and also, in a preferential variant, with the printed circuit), as well as a locking of the plug in the base. Unlocking is obtained simply by adding a part added, forming a lever, according to the main characteristic of the invention.

In the alternative, the relative provision of wipers 52 and tabs 22 allow good guiding of the plug 7, when it is inserted into base 1.

These provisions do not imply a significant increase in the complexity of the connector, nor of the manufacturing operations (this compared to a shielded connector). As shown with reference to FIG. 4, the assembly is simple. The additional component cost is insignificant. It concerns essentially the addition of an insert, made of good insulating material market.

It should be clear, however, that the invention is not limited to only examples of precisely described achievements, particularly in relation to Figures 1 to 6. In particular variations in shape and / or dimensions do not are only technological choices imposed by applications specific. Likewise, the materials that can be used are the usual materials of the field.

The connector can also include several connectors individual and at least one insert made of insulating material threaded on the front end of one or more contiguous bases, the insert thus joining the adjacent bases for their simultaneous insertion on the circuit printed.

Finally, other connector structures can be implemented, especially with regard to the base. Although the teaching of the invention is particularly interesting for connectors whose base is intended to be attached to a printed circuit board, it should be clear that this condition is not not indispensable.

Claims (5)

1. Screened connector comprising a socket (1) and a plug (7) which are intended to be coupled by insertion of the plug (7) into the socket (1), the plug being covered by a screening (9a) made of electrically conducting material on at least one of its walls, and at least one first wall of the socket (1), corresponding to that of the plug (7), being covered with a screening (2, 4) made of electrically conducting material, characterized in that

   this screening (2, 4) is extended towards the front of the socket (1) by at least one spring-forming tab (22), so as to bear on the screening (9a) of the plug (1) when the latter is inserted, and in that it comprises

   first fastening means (24) arranged on at least one tab (22),

   second fastening means (90a) complementary to the first means (24), which are arranged on the screening (9a) of the plug (7), and interacting with them so as to latch the plug (1) into the socket (7), after complete insertion thereof, and to allow an electrical contact between the screenings of the plug (7) and of the socket (1),

   and an attached piece made of insulating material (3) threaded onto the front end of the spring-forming tab (22), this attached piece (3) having the form of a lever bearing on the screening (9a) of the plug (7) so as to release the first fastening means (24) from the second fastening means (9a), by bearing on the attached piece (3), unlatching the plug (7) and allowing it to be withdrawn from the socket (1), when it is subjected to an extraction force (F₂).
2. Connector according to Claim 1, characterized in that each spring-forming tab (22) is equipped with a "V"-shaped section, the bottom of the "V" rubbing on the screening (9a) of the plug (7), in that the first fastening means consist of hooks (24) arranged under the "V"s and the second fastening means consist of orifices (90a) into which the hooks (24) penetrate, and in that the lever-forming attached piece (3) is equipped with a profile allowing rocking by pressing of its base onto the screening (9a) of the plug (7) when it is subjected to a pressure force (F₁) on a front region, so as to extract the hooks (24) from the orifices (90a) and to bring about unlocking.
3. Connector according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the screening covering the first wall of the socket (1) consists of a stack of two plates (2, 4) which are equipped with fastening means consisting of complementary cut-outs (25, 41) allowing their assembly, the upper plate (2) being equipped with at least one of the spring-forming tabs (22), and in that the lower plate (4) comprises fastening means (42) consisting of cut-outs sunk into the jaws (15) of the socket (1) and the upper plate (2) consists of fastening means consisting of cut-outs (21) sunk into the rear of the socket (17), the combination of the two assembled plates (2, 4) being fixed by clipping onto the first wall of the socket (1).
4. Connector according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strip extending the screening onto the front of the socket (1) comprises several tabs (22) separated by narrow slots, in such a way that the bearing region (26) covers substantially the width of the screening (9a) of the plug (7).
5. Screened connector consisting of a set of screened connectors according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one attached piece made of insulating material (3) is threaded over the front end of one or more contiguous sockets, the attached piece (3) thus holding the continuous sockets together for their simultaneous insertion onto a printed circuit.

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