GB2098412A

GB2098412A - Shielded electrical connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2098412A
Application number: GB8114370A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRW Connectors Ltd
Current assignee: TRW Connectors Ltd
Priority date: 1981-05-11
Filing date: 1981-05-11
Publication date: 1982-11-17
Also published as: GB2098412B

Abstract

A plug 10 comprising an electrically conductive shell, an insulating body 17, 18 and pins 21 also includes one or more strips 25 of resilient electrically conductive material having mounting portions 26 and a contacting portion 31. When a cooperating socket (40, Figure 6, not shown) is coupled with the plug 10, the contacting portion 31 is resiliently urged towards a flattened condition against the shell wall and hence provides a good electrical connection between the shell and a conductive shell (41, Figure 6) of the socket. RF shielding is hence provided with the aid of the strip 25, which may be of beryllium-copper or phosphor bronze. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to electrical connectors The present invention relates to electrical connectors of the plug and socket type provided with RF shielding means interconnecting the normally earthed casing or shell portions of the plug and socket. The invention is more particularly concerned with multi-pin connectors of elongate rectangular cross-section which are normally manufactured to certain standard sizes and shapes. There is an increasing demand from manufacturers of electronic components that such multi-pin connectors be provided with RF shielding and there is a problem in satisfying the size and shape specifications of such connectors and the shielding requirements in an economically assembled unit.

The present invention solves this problem by providing an extremely economical arrangement of the RF shielding means which utilised to the full the benefits of established connector designs and minimises the additional manufacturing steps required.

According to the invention there is provided an electrical connector plug comprising an electrically conductive shell of elongate rectangular cross-section forming a cavity to receive a socket having a complementary electrically conductive shell, an insulating body housed in the shell, a plurality of pins mounted in the insulating body so as to project therefrom within the cavity, RF shielding means including a pair of strip portions of resilient electrically conductive material, each comprising a mounting portion attached within the shell and a contacting portion positioned within the cavity adjacent a respective longitudinal adjacent shell wall with an inward deformation so as to be resiliently urged towards a flattened condition against the shell wall by a socket inserted into the cavity.

Preferably the mounting portion of each shielding strip portion is clamped between the insulating body and the wall of the shell.

Preferably the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is bowed convexed away from the adjacent shell wall.

Preferably, the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is divided into a plurality of independently moveable fingers extending towards the opening of the cavity. This ensures reliable connection electrically between the plug and socket shells over the full width of the socket cavity.

In order to reduce the risk of damage to the connector portion, the wall of the socket shell may be formed with an internal lip adjacent the mouth of the cavity and the connector strip is so dimensioned that its free end edge terminates within the lip so as to be protected by the lip.

The invention includes a connector comprising a plug as described above and a complementary socket having an electrically conductive shell arranged to be electrically connected to the plug shell by said RF shielding means.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a bottom view (towards the pins) of a plug according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the plug shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, Figure 4 is an elevation of an RF shielding strip portion forming a part of the plug of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 is an end side elevation of the strip shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a connected plug and socket connector utilising the plug of Figs. 1 to 5.

An electrical connector plug is indicated generally in the drawings at 10. The plug comprises an electrically conductive front shell 11 and an electrically conductive rear shell 12 both of which are made e.g. from mild steel. The two shells are flanged at 13 and 14 respectively and are joined e.g. by rivets 15, 16.

Mounted within the front and rear shells are a front insulating body 17 and a rear insulating body 18, both formed from a synthetic plastics material such as a polyester. A plurality of short contact members 19 and a plurality of long contact members 20 project rearwardly from the socket and define pins 21 which project forwardly from the front insulating body 18 and are located wholly within the cavity 22 formed by the front shell 1 The contact members are mounted in the insulating bodies 17, 1 8 and have flanges held in locating recesses formed at the junction of the two bodies 17, 18.

As shown in Figure 6, a socket 40 which is formed with a plurality of pin-sockets 43 to receive the contact pins 21 is received within the cavity 22 of the plug to make electrical connection with the pins 21.

The socket 40 has an outer shell 41 formed of an electrically conductive material such as mild steel. Eiectrical connection between the shells of the plug and socket may occur during mating but is not assured. Also any connection would be iocalised due to the rigidity of the shells. There is a requirement for RF shielding necessitating a reliable system of electrical connection between the plug and socket shells. In order to achieve this, RF shielding means is provided within the cavity of the plug 10.

The RF shielding means shown comprises a pair of strip portions 25 formed from an electrically conductive resilient material such as beryllium-copper or phosphor bronze. Each strip portion comprises a mounting portion 26 and a contacting portion 27. The mounting portion 26 is generally channel shaped comprising a web 28 and two side walls 29 and 30. The contacting portion 27 which extends from and is integral with the side wall 30 of the channel shaped mounting portion is bowed and is divided into a plurality of resilient fingers 31 which extend away from the side wall 30.

Each strip portion 25 is mounted in the socket 10 adjacent a respective longitudinal wall of the shell with the channel shaped mounting portion 26 embracing an edge of the combined front and rear insulating bodies and trapped between the insulating bodies and the rear shell 12. The mounting portions 26 thus assist in trapping and clamping the insulating bodies 17 and 18 within the rear shell 12. The contacting portions 27 are located within the cavity 22 and adjacent the inner surface of respective side walls of the front shell 11. In this position, the fingers 31 are bowed convexedly away from the wall of the shell so that they can be urged towards a flattened condition against the wall when a socket is inserted into the plug cavity.The wall of the front shell 11 is formed with an internally projecting lip 32 adjacent the mouth of the cavity and the ends of the fingers 31 terminate within the lip and are of a length such that, when stressed they terminate at or adjacent the lip 32 so that they are at all times protected by the lip.

In use, when a socket is inserted as a close fit into the cavity 22, as shown in Figure 6, the bowed fingers 31 of the shielding strip are resiliently deformed between the shell walls of the plug and the socket so as to ensure good electrical connection between the shells, one of which will normally be grounded.

The RF shielding strip portions can be manufactured with different numbers of fingers to suit different sizes of socket and plug. The contacting surface may be plated with gold or other noble metal is desired.

Although two separate shielding strip portions are conveniently used along the longitudinal walls, a single strip or more than two separate strips may be used and may extend along one or both narrow end walls as well as the long walls.

For example there may be two strip portions each having a right angle bend.

Claims

1. An electrical connector plug comprising an electrically conductive shell of elongate rectangular cross-section forming a cavity to receive a socket having a complementary electrically conductive shell, an insulating body housed in the shell, a plurality of pins mounted in the insulating body so as to project therefrom within the cavity, RF shielding means including a pair of strip portions of resilient electrically conductive material, each comprising a mounting portion attached within the shell and a contacting portion positioned within the cavity adjacent a respective longitudinal shell wall with an inward deformation so as to be resiliently urged towards a flattened condition against the shell wall by a socket inserted into the cavity.

2. A plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting portion of each shielding strip portion is clamped between the insulating body and the wall of the shell.

3. A plug as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is divided into a plurality of fingers extending towards the opening of the cavity.

Appendant claims 5 to 8 renumbered as claims 4 to 7

3. A plug as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is bowed convexedly away from the adjacent shell wall.

4. A plug as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is divided into a plurality of fingers extending towards the opening of the cavity.

5. A plug as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wall of the shell is formed with an internal lip adjacent the mount of the cavity and the connector strip has a free end edge which terminates within the lip.

6. A plug as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting portion of each said shielding strip portion is generally channel shaped and embraces an edge of the insulating body.

7. An electrical connector plug substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.

8. An electrical connector comprising a plug as claimed in any preceding claim and a complementary socket having an electrically conductive shell arranged to be electrically connected to the plug shell by said RF shielding means.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims filed on 10 May, 1982.

Superseded Claims 1 to

4.

New or Amended Claims:-

1. An electrical connector plug of elongate form having a plurality of rows of pins, comprising an electrically conductive shell of elongate rectanguiar cross-section forming a cavity to receive a socket having a complementary electrically conductive shell, an insulating body housed in the shell, a plurality of pins mounted in the insulating body so as to project therefrom within the cavity, RF shielding means including a pair of strip portions of resilient electrically conductive material, each comprising a mounting portion clamped between the insulating body and a respective elongate wall of the shell and a contacting portion positioned within the cavity adjacent the shell wall with an inward deformation so as to be resiliently urged towards a flattened condition against the shell wall by a socket inserted into the cavity.

2. A plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contacting portion of each shielding strip portion is bowed convexedly away from the adjacent shell wall.