GB2315614A - Shielded electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A shielded electrical connector assembly 4 has a housing 30 having a plurality of first contacts 12 disposed in columns 16 of the housing, and shielding 22 surrounding the housing. The shielding includes a plate located in each gap 32 between the columns. A second connector assembly 6 adapted to mate with the first connector assembly 4 has a housing having second contacts and shielding 38,40,42 surrounding the second connector assembly. Shield sections 44,46 extend adjacent the second contacts in a space between adjacent columns so that when the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are mated, the plate of the first connector assembly and the shield sections 44,46 of the second connector are engaged.

Description

SHIELDED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a shielded electrical connector assembly for closely spaced signal transmission.

In numerous applications, the signal transmissior speed along signal lines is being greatly increased. Ir addition, some applications are requiring that thc electrical connectors for carrying these signal transmissions utilize closely spaced signal paths. It ic well known that in high density applications the signal transmission of one line may effect that of another. Ir addition, these signal transmission lines may be effectec by external sources or the overall connector may emit electromagnetic interference that may effect components located near by.

In order to isolate the signal transmission liner within a connector, it is known to provide shielding in the form of conductive members disposed about the connector tc prevent electromagnetic interference external to thc connector from effecting the signal transmission liner therein or electromagnetic interference being from thc connector. In order to assure that the signal transmissior along adjacent signal lines within the connector do not effect each other, it is further known to include shieldinc between the adjacent signal paths. An example of c connector of this type is disclosed in US patent 5,429,520.

The connector assembly includes first and second connectors to be mounted on printed circuit boards where the first connector comprises a pin-field enclosed within a U-shapec insulative housing where the pin-field is arranged in rowC and columns. A second connector is provided wit complementary contacts arranged in similar rows anc columns. Each connector includes outer shielding that becomes interengaged when the two connectors are mated. Tht second connector further includes contact ground plates located between adjacent columns that extend outward from the connector a distance substantially corresponding to the bottom of the U-shaped first housing. The bottom of the Ushaped first housing includes slots for receiving the ground plates of the second connector where disposed in each of the slots are contact tongues such that as the second connector is inserted the contact tongues come into contact with the ends of the contact ground plates. The contact tongues are connected to the shielding of the first connector such that complete shielding is provided. While the aforegoing may function admirably, it is desired to provide an improved shielding structure. It is further desired that the improved shielding structure be constructed such that it would be adaptable to other types of connection systems.

The improved shielded electrical connector assembly according to the present invention is a shielded electrical connector assembly comprising: a first connector assembly including a housing having a plurality of first contact receiving passageways arranged in at least two columns and having a gap therebetween; first contacts disposed in the contact receiving passageways and having a mating end and a conductor engaging end; and shielding disposed in a generally surrounding relationship with the housing where the shielding includes a plate located in the gap between the at least two columns; a second connector assembly adapted to mate with the first connector assembly, the second connector assembly including a housing having a plurality of second contact receiving passageways arranged in at least two columns corresponding to the columns of the first connector assembly with a space therebetween; second contacts having a conductor engaging end and a mating end complementary to the mating end of the first contacts and disposed in the second contact receiving passageways; and shielding generally surrounding the second connector assembly where a shield section connected to the shielding extends along the second contacts in the space; where when the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are mated, the plate of the first connector assembly and the shield section of the second connector are engaged with each other; characterized in that, the shielding of the second connector is configured such that the shield section is disposed along the column such that a pair of shield sections exist in the space between the column and, upon mating of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly, the plate electrically engages both shield sections.

It is an advantage of this invention that the plate is constructed such that a pair of shield sections can be electrically engaged. It is another advantage of this invention by enabling the plate to electrically engage a pair of shield sections, the second connector assembly can be instructed in a modular manner. It is yet another advantage that the plate is engaged along side surfaces thereof.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to the present invention wherein the second connector assembly is representatively illustrated by modular shielding sections prior to mating; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of Figure 1 wherein the representational second connector assembly is shown initially mating with the first connector assembly; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembly of Figure 1 showing the first connector assembly and the representation of the second connector assembly fully mated; Figure 4 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an embodiment of the representative second connector assembly of figures 1-3 configured as a cable connector; Figure 5 is a partially exploded view of a module incorporated into the second connector assembly of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an upper perspective view of an electrical signal contact of the connector of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of a ground contact for the connector of Figure 5; Figure 8 is an upper perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the signal contact of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an initial stamping of contacts incorporated into the first connector assembly; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the contacts of Figure 9 having a housing thereabout; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the module of Figure 10 wherein the contacts of Figure 9 are separated; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the module of Figure 11 having a shroud disposed about a mating end of the contacts; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 12 wherein a plate is disposed along one side thereof; Figure 14 is an upper, side perspective view of the plate and end plate of the first connector assembly; Figure 15 is a partial top view of the conductive plate of Figure 14; Figure 16 is a perspective view of an assembly of modules of Figure 13 inserted into an upper shield portion; Figure 17 is an upper perspective view of the upper conductive shield member of Figure 16; Figure 18 shows perspective view of an upper shield portion having received all of the modules with an end plate to be attached thereto; Figure 19 is a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 18 with a lower shield portion affixed thereto; Figure 20 is an upper perspective view of the lower shield member; Figure 21 is a perspective view of the completely assembled first connector assembly with a keying member affixed to the lower shield member.

With reference now to Figure 1, a shielded electrical connector assembly according to the present invention is shown generally at 2. The connector assembly 2 includes a first connector assembly 4 and a second connector assembly 6. For ease of description and clarity, in Figures 1-3, the second connector assembly 6 is representatively illustrated as the conductive shields 8 of modules l0a-f.

The first connector assembly 4 includes a plurality of contacts 12 disposed within contact receiving passageways 14 arranged in columns 16. The contacts 12 include a conductor engaging end 18 and a mating end 20 (best seen in Figures 9-11). A conductive shield 22 is disposed in a generally surrounding relationship and includes an upper shield member 24, a lower shield member 26 and end plates 28. Disposed within the shell-like structure of the outer shielding is an insulative housing structure 30 wherein the contact receiving passages 14 are disposed. The column 16 of the contact receiving passageways are separated by a gap 32 wherein a conductive plate 34 (best seen in Figure 14) is disposed. The conductive plate 34 and the end plate 28 may advantageously be identically constructed. A keying member 36 is affixed to the lower shield 26 to assure mating is only possible with a proper corresponding second connector assembly 6.

The second connector assembly 6 is constructed with outer shielding having a top section 38, a lower section 40 and opposing outer walls 42. The shielding of the second connector assembly 6 is partitioned by shield sections 44,46. The second connector assembly 6 also includes a housing wherein contact receiving passageways 48 (Figure 5) are disposed. In this embodiment, the housing is made up of individual insulative sections 50 (Figure 5) located within the modular shielding shells 10a-f such that the shield section partitions 44,46 are located in a spaced manner within the outer shielding 38,40,42.

With reference now to Figure 2, as the connector assemblies (4,6) are mated, a plurality of fingers 52a,b that extend from both the plate 34 and end plate 28, as in this case they are identically configured, to engage both of the shield sections 44,46 or an inner and outer surface 42a,b of the side-walls 42 respectively. This will be more fully described below with reference to Figures 14 and 15.

With reference to Figure 3, further insertion of the second connector assembly 6 results in a wiping interconnection by the fingers 52a,b along the sides of the partition shield sections 44,46 or each side 42 a,b of the end plate 28 that is highly advantageous as it assures that any oxidization or contamination thereupon is removed so that a reliable electrical interconnection is formed therebetween. In addition, as the connector assemblies 4,6 are further mated the upper shield 24 and the lower shield 26 may be constructed so they engage the upper surface 38 and lower surface 40 of the shielding of the second connector assembly 6, thereby forming a complete shielding shell about the connector assembly 2 to isolate the signal transmissions therein.

With reference now to Figure 4, the second connector assembly 6 is shown as a composite of male cable connectors 8, each including a shielding shell 54 that surrounds the housing section 50 wherein second contacts 56 are disposed.

The shielding shell 54 corresponds to the modules 10a-f of figures 1-3. The second contacts 56 are fully enclosed within the shielding shell 54. An overmolded housing portion 59 is provided at the rear-end of the connector 8.

A complementary keying member 6l is disposed upon the overmolded housing 59. The keying member may be used to hold the modules 8 together or the modules 8 may be joined together by such processes as resistance or laser welding, or bonding through the use of glue or epoxy, a single housing member 59 could be formed thereby joining multiple modules 8 together.

With reference now to Figure 5, the housing of the complete second connector assembly is made up of individual insulative sections 50 that contain contact receiving passageways 48 therein. The contact receiving passageways 48 receive signal contacts 56a and ground contacts 56b as required. One particularly advantageous configuration is having a pair of signal contacts 56a separated by a ground contact 56b. The contacts 56a,b are held in the housing 50 by a boss 58. Each contact 56 includes a complementary mating portion 60 and a conductor engaging portion 62. In this case, the complementary mating portion 60 is a pin and the conductor engaging portion 62 is formed as an IDC structure for engaging insulative leads 64 of a cable 66.

The ground contact 56b is similarly configured and may be adapted for engaging a ground or drain wire of the cable 66. The housing portions 50 are retained in the shielding shell 54 by way of lugs 68 that are molded to extend outward through orifices in the shielding shell 54.

With reference now to Figures 6-8, second contacts 56 will be described in detail. In Figure 6, a second contact 56a is shown that is particularly advantageous as a signal contact. The front mating end 60 is a section of bar material that would be rolled or drawn during the manufacturing process so that no rough edges as a result of shearing a plate or sheet exist and if desired a plated surface could be imparted thereupon. This pin section 60 would be joined to a stamped and formed conductor engaging section 62 along a forward tongue 70. The tongue section 70 further includes an orifice 72 though which the boss 58 of the housing 50 would be disposed for mechanically fixing the second contact within the housing 50. With respect to the contacts shown in Figure 7, this contact is particularly suitable to be a ground contact 56b. The contact is constructed generally as described above with respect to Figure 6, but includes a rear tail 74 having an offset portion 76 that is adapted to be affixed to the shielding 54.

With reference to Figure 8, an alternative construction that could be used with either a ground contact or a signal contact is shown at 56a' , In this alternative embodiment, the complementary mating end 60' is formed unitarially with the tongue 70' of a conductor engaging end 62' by folding a side-section 78' upward therefrom and through a reverse bend 80' that continues to a side-wall 82'. As is readily apparent, the side-wall 78' and 82' provide smooth surfaces for engagement by a mating complementary female contact, such as that shown in Figure 9.

With reference now to Figure 9, the contacts 12 of the first connector assembly 4 are constructed as a stamped grid 84 having conductor engaging ends 18 and mating ends 20. The conductor engaging ends 18 are configured for engaging conductive traces on a printed circuit board by being received within plated through holes therein, other configurations as required are envisioned. The mating end 20 is constructed as a pair of opposing spring contact arms 86 adapted to receive a complementary pin contact, such as 60 therebetween. A leg section 88 interconnects the mating ends 20 and conductor engaging ends 18. These leg sections 88 are adapted in length for adjustment of impedance and signal path propagation as is known in the art. The leg portions 88 are further joined together by a carrier 90 near the mating ends 20.

With reference now to Figure 10, the contact grid 84 of Figure 9 is then encompassed within an insulative housing 90 along the leg portion 88. The housing 90 is shown as a complete overmould, but could also be a plate with open channels or sandwiched separately moulded components.

With reference to Figure 11, the contacts 12 are separated from one another by stamping openings 94 along the carrier strip 90 such that the carrier strip is segmented. The structure of Figure 11 now represents a basic module for building the first connector assembly 4 where modular techniques are to be used.

With reference now to Figure 12, the contact module of Figure 11 comprising the contacts 12 and the insulative housing 92 is provided with a rectangular shroud 96 at the mating end 20 of the contacts 12. The shroud 96 may be shell-like with an open interior or include passageways 14.

The shroud 96 has a rear end 98 that abuts the encompassing insulative housing 92. A pair of opposing wall portions 100 are formed that extend along either side of the contacts 12 that will define a column 16 of the assembled first connector assembly 4. In each of the opposing wall portions 100 are formed indentations 102 that are staggered relative one another. This is best seen by comparing the indentations 102 of Figure 12 with the indentations 102 of Figure 16. The staggering of the indentations 102 on opposite sides 100 of the shroud 96 is provided to receive the fingers 52a,b therein and providing relief, whereby the fingers 52a,b may resiliently deflect as the shield sections 44,46 of the second connector 6 is inserted therein.

With reference now to Figure 13, a plate 34 is disposed along one side of the encompassing insulative housing 92 such that the fingers 52a,b extend forwardly along the shroud 96 such that fingers 52b correspond with the indentations 102. As is easily imagined when a plurality of these modules are stacked as, shown in Figure 16, the fingers 52a correspond to one set of indentations 102 in the shroud 96 to one side thereof, while fingers 52b correspond to the indentations 100 on the shroud 96 or the other side thereof.

With reference now to Figure 14 and Figure 15, the plate 34, which also can function as the end plate 28 will be described in greater detail. The plate 34 includes a plate section 104 that overlies the insulative encompassing housing 92. A plurality of tabs 106 extend outward therefrom and are used for affixing the plate 34 to both the upper shield 24 and lower shield 26. The tabs 106 are constructed to fit through openings 108 and be folded over in a manner conventional with sheet metal forming.

Disposed along this plate section 104 are a pair of ears 110 folded inward for joining the plate to the encompassing housing 92. Corresponding slots (not shown) would be formed in the encompassing housing 92 and these ears 110 would be received therein. Extending from a front end 112 of the plate section 104 are the fingers 52a,b. Fingers 52a,b extend in a wave-like manner to free ends 114 which are formed outward such that a receiving funnel 116 (Figure 15) is formed therebetween. As further seen in Figure 15, each of the fingers 52a,b includes an inwardly directed portion 118 that may be advantageously formed to correspond at least to the center line of the plate portion 104 such that when the shield section 44,46 of the mating second connector assembly 6 is inserted therebetween these contacting portions 188 form an electrical engagement therewith. In addition, the fingers 52a,b may advantageously be constructed such that the outwardly turned portions 114 cooperate with the respective shroud 96 to retain the shroud in position relative to the encompassing housing portion 92.

With reference now to Figure 16, the module of Figure 13 is inserted into the upper shield portion 24 such that the tabs 106 extend through the openings 108 formed therein. As shown in Figure 16, one desirable configuration is to have a module of six units according to Figure 13 make up the first connector assembly 4. By properly spacing the tabs 106 and openings 108, the housing 30 of the first connector assembly 4 is defined by the individual housing portions 92,96 that are spaced apart by a gap 32 wherein the plate 34 is located.

With reference to Figure 17, the upper plate 22 includes a top shield portion 24 having multiple openings 108 formed therein for receiving the tabs 106 of the plates 34. By way of a bend 120 the upper plate portion 24 is integrally formed with a rear plate 122 also including openings 108 for receiving the tabs 106 of the plates 34.

Extending from a lower edge 124 of the plate 122 are contact portions 126 that are configured to be received with plated through holes on the printed circuit board.

Other configurations may in fact be useful. The upper plate 24 includes a forward up-turned leading edge 128 for guiding the second connector therein. In addition, it may be desirable to form a contact surface 130 toward the leading edge 128 that would engage the side surface 38 of the second connector assembly 6.

With reference now to Figure 18, once all of the modules of Figure 13 have been received within the upper conductor 22, the outer end plate 28 that may be advantageously constructed identically to the plates between the columns 16 of contact receiving passageways 14.

With reference now to Figures 19 and 20, a lower conductive member 26 is provided. The lower conductive member 26 includes a plate portion 132 where openings 108 are formed for receiving tabs 106 of the plates 28,34. The plate portion 132 includes a forward down-turned edge 134 that, in cooperation with the up-turned leading edge 128 of the upper shield 24 acts as a guide structure for receiving the second connector assembly 6. In addition, it may be desirable for a contact surface 136 to be included along the plate 132 towards the down-turned edge 134 in order to engage the lower surface 40 of the shielding encompassing a second connector assembly 6. The down-turned edge 134 continues into a mounting flange 138 having a plurality of openings 142 therein. With reference to Figure 21, a keying member 36 with resilient arms 142 may be affixed to the mounting flange 138 by extending the arms 140 through the openings 140 in a snap-fit manner.

As is apparent from the foregoing description and Figures, each connector assembly 4,6 includes shielding thereabout. As the connector assemblies 4,6 are mated, the upper and lower surfaces 38,40 of the shielding of the second connector assembly 6 is received between the plate portion 24 of the upper shield and the plate portion 132 of the lower shield in a telescoping manner. In addition the sides 42 of the second connector assembly 6 are engaged by the fingers 52a,b of end plates 28, thereby assuring a complete outer shell is formed about the connector assembly 2 in order to prevent emission of or interference by electromagnetic phenomena. In addition, it may be desirable to have the shielding of each connector become interconnected electrically by contact surfaces 130,136 that engage respective upper and lower surfaces 38,40 of the shielding of the second connector assembly 6. In order to assure that the signal transmission along adjacent columns within the connector assembly 2 is prevented from interfering with each other, the plates 28,34 include fingers 52a,b that engage partition shield sections 44,46 of the second connector assembly 6 such that an essentially continuous wall is formed along the contacts 12,56 of each connector assembly 4,6 when they are mated. Note, the fingers 56a,b are defined by narrow cuts that do not provide for openings through which electromagnetic leakage could occur. Finally by engaging the partitioning shield sections 44,46 along their sides, the mating connector 6 can be advantageously constructed in a modular manner where two shield sections exist between columns without the need to precisely align the ends of the housing as would be required by a structure according to the teaching of the prior art.

Advantageously therefore, a shielded electrical connector assembly is provided wherein plates located between columns of contacts in a first connector assembly may engage shield sections located between corresponding columns of complementary contacts in a second connector assembly wherein a pair of shield sections are disposed between the columns of contacts in the second connector assembly. The invention is especially advantageous in that it enables the second connector assembly to comprise individual connectors having fully encompassing shielding thereabout. In addition, the modular construction allows for cost reduction by standardization of the components.

Claims (13)

1. A shielded electrical connector assembly comprising: a first connector assembly including a housing having a plurality of first contact receiving passageways arranged in at least two columns and having a gap therebetween; first contacts disposed in the contact receiving passage ways and having a mating end and a conductor engaging end; and shielding disposed in a generally surrounding relationship with the housing where the shielding includes a plate located in the gap between the at least two columns; a second connector assembly adapted to mate with the first connector assembly, the second connector assembly including a housing having a plurality of second contact receiving passageways arranged in at least two columns corresponding to the columns of the first connector assembly with a space therebetween; second contacts having a conductor engaging end and a mating end complementary to the mating end of the first contacts and disposed in the second contact receiving passageways; and shielding generally surrounding the second connector assembly where a shield section connected to the shielding extends along the second contacts in the space; where when the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly are mated, the plate of the first connector assembly and the shield section of the second connector are engaged with each other; characterized in that, the shielding of the second connector is configured such that the shield section is disposed along the column such that a pair of shield sections exists in the space between the column and, upon mating of the first connector assembly and the second connector assembly, the plate electrically engages both shield sections.

2. The shielded electrical connector assembly of claim 1, further characterized in that the second connector assembly is made up of multiple modules where each module includes a section of the housing and at least one of the columns thereof and the shielding is formed as a shell surrounding each section of the housing.

3. The shielded electrical connector assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, further characterized in that the first connector assembly is made up of multiple modules where each module includes a section of the housing having at least one of the columns thereof, where the modules are separated by the gap.

4. The shielded electrical connector assembly of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the plate includes a plurality of fingers adapted to engage the shield sections.

5. The shielded electrical connector assembly of claim 4, wherein a shroud is disposed about the mating end of the first contacts, the shroud having indentations along an outer surface thereof that correspond to the fingers of the shield sections.

6. The shielded electrical connector assembly of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the shielding of the first connector includes a base plate, a top plate, a rear plate and two end plates joined together to form a shell wherein the housing is disposed with the plates therein being electrically connected to the shell, the top plate and base plate constructed to electrically engage the shielding about the second connector when mated therewith.

7. The shielded electrical connector assembly of claim 6, further characterized in that the end plates are constructed in a similar manner as the plate located in the gap, said end plates also engaging the shielding of the second connector when mated therewith.

8. The shielded electrical connector of anyone of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the first connector is for mounting on a printed circuit board and where the conductor engaging end of the first contacts therein are configured for engaging circuit traces upon the printed circuit board.

9. The shielded electrical connector of claim 8, further characterized in that the mating end of the first contacts is configured as a female contact having spring arms for electrically engaging a male contact pin.

10. The shielded electrical connector of any one of the preceding claims, further characterized in that the second connector is a cable connector.

11. The shielded electrical connector of claim 10, further characterized in that the second contacts are male pin contacts.

12. The shielded electrical connector of claim 6, further characterized in that the base plate has a keying member incorporated therewith and the second connector includes a complementary keying member.

13. A shielded electrical connector assembly constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.