JP2000156263A - Electric connector having reinforced shield to be mounted on circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector assembly capable of mounting a plug-in-type connector on a circuit board such that the connector is surely supported with durability against the force from a fitting plug. SOLUTION: A connector assembly comprises a connector having an insulating housing 32 for holding a plurality of conductive terminals 33 and a connector 30 having a conductive shield 31 for substantially surrounding the housing to form an electromagnetic shield. The connector assembly 20 comprises an auxiliary mount shield 40 mounted on the connector and substantially surrounding the connector. This mount shield 40 comprises a metallic body having a plurality of downwardly extended mount legs to be inserted into the corresponding openings on the circuit board. At least same of mount legs of the mount shield 40 are formed near a front edge and a rear edge of the mount shield 40 with wide intervals to ensure their mechanical installation to the circuit board. The connector 30 is firmly fixed and held on the circuit board by the mount shield 40 with durability to the force from the fitting plug.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to a shielded electrical connector that can be securely attached to a circuit board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a connector used in a computer generally has an insulating housing for holding a plurality of conductive terminals. On one side of such a connector,
The terminal is configured to connect to an electrical contact on a circuit board,
Then, on the other side of the connector, the terminal is configured to be fitted to the mating plug. It is known to substantially enclose the housing with a metallic shield to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI). Conventional connector shields have mounting legs that extend downward. By soldering the terminals of the insulating housing and the mounting legs of the metal shield to the circuit board, the connector can be fixed and electrically connected to the circuit board.

[0003]

The connector of the computer accepts a plug of a peripheral device of the computer,
It functions to communicate signals and supply power.
In this environment, the connector is subjected to frequent insertion and removal of the plug, and is also subject to forces on the plug, such as by pulling on the cord during use. Conventional connectors are not configured to withstand these forces well. Conventional connectors have been found to tend to loosen and undesirably displace from the circuit board.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved connector assembly that includes an auxiliary shield surrounding the connector and providing secure mounting support to a circuit board. This improved mounting fully withstands the insertion force and thus avoids the loosening problems associated with conventional connectors. According to the present invention, there is provided a shielded electrical connector assembly including a connector and an auxiliary mounting shield or second shield. The connector includes a housing in which the terminal cavity extends, and a plurality of electrical terminals housed in the terminal cavity. The terminal has a tail portion projecting from the housing for terminating to a conductor of the circuit board and a contact portion for engaging each terminal of the complementary plug-in connector. Further, the connector includes a conductive or first shield surrounding a portion of the housing. The second shield surrounds and electrically engages a portion of the first conductive shield. The mounting shield has mounting legs extending from its lower edge, and these legs are inserted into the circuit board to secure the connector to the circuit board.

It is an advantage of the present invention that an improved connector assembly for mounting to a circuit board is provided. Another advantage of the present invention is that the connector is securely reinforced on the circuit board. An advantage of the present invention in this regard is that the connector is supported to withstand the forces from the mating plug, and that the connector is not loosened with respect to the circuit board. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that an additional shield for the connector is provided. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, the claims and the accompanying drawings.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are designated by like numerals, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional shielded connector 5. FIG. The connector 5 is configured to be attached to the circuit board 2. Furthermore, connector 5
Receives, in a generally known manner, mating plugs (not shown) of the computer peripherals and establishes a connection between them for supplying signals and power. The conventional connector 5 has an outer conductive shield 1 substantially surrounding an insulating housing holding a plurality of conductive terminals 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the shield 1 has a pair of thin mounting legs 10 extending downward from side portions of the shield 1 through mounting holes in the circuit board 2. Shield 1
Further, a front mounting leg 12 extending downward from the bottom surface of the shield 1 through each mounting hole of the circuit board 2 is provided. Terminal 1
The tail end of 1 protrudes downward from the shield 1 via the circuit board 2. On the lower surface of the circuit board 2, solder is applied to the mounting legs 10 and the terminals 11, and the connector 5 is connected to the circuit board 2.
Is fixed at the mounting position.

[0008] Conventional connector structures have been found to loosen or fail when subjected to significant forces. For example, FIGS. 1 and 2 show undesirable movement and misalignment of the connector 5 relative to the circuit board 2 that typically occurs when the connector 5 is subjected to various forces. During use, the connector 5 is repeatedly subjected to the forces generated by the insertion, removal, pulling and / or vibration of the plug. If such a force becomes excessive, or if such a force is applied to the connector 5 at an angle from the intended plug-in direction, the connector 5 will move forward or backward as shown in FIG. It can be tilted backwards or twisted to the right or left as shown in FIG. Such movements
Loose or bent attachment legs 10 and terminal pins 11, or in the worst case, disconnect these elements or solder connections.

The present invention provides a connector assembly in which the connector can be easily and securely and completely attached, and which can effectively avoid the loosening, moving and cutting problems described with respect to conventional connectors. I do. FIGS. 3-10 show connector assemblies 20 (FIGS. 3-6) and 120 (FIGS. 7-10) according to two embodiments of the present invention. Each of the connector assemblies 20, 120 includes a connector 30. This connector 30 is similar to the conventional connector 5 described with reference to FIGS.

The connector 30 is attached to the circuit board 22 and receives a mating plug (not shown) from its front. The connector 30 includes an external conductive shield 31.
And an insulating housing 32 that holds a plurality of conductive terminals 33 (FIG. 3). Each terminal 33 is connected to the circuit board 2
It has a tail portion 34 extending from the housing for termination to the two conductors. Opposite the tail portion 34, each terminal 33 has a contact portion 35 in the housing 32, which is engaged with each mating terminal of the plug. As shown, the connector 30 has a 90 ° configuration such that the tail portion 34 is perpendicular to the contact portion 35 in the plug-in direction.

[0011] The conductive shield or first shield 31 comprises:
It substantially surrounds the housing 32 and has a front profile with a front opening for receiving a plug. FIG.
1, the first shield 31 includes a pair of side mounting protrusions 36, which extend downward from the side of the shield 31 through the mounting holes 50 of the circuit board 22. These side mounting projections are bent such that their distal ends are inclined inward, as shown. Further, as shown, the connector 30 also has a front mounting projection 37 that extends downwardly from the lower surface of the shield 31 for insertion into the mounting hole 52 of the circuit board 22.

The connector assemblies 20 (FIGS. 3-6) and 120 (FIG. 7) substantially surround the connector 30 and securely reinforce the connector 30 to the circuit board 22.
Each of -10) further comprises an auxiliary mounting shield or second shield 40, 140, respectively. This second shield 40, 140 substantially surrounds and electrically engages the first shield 31. The mounting shields 40, 140 are securely attached to the circuit board 22 while tightly holding the connector 30 to provide reliable electrical contact and structural integrity to withstand the forces from the mating plugs. It is configured as follows.

More specifically, in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, the mounting shield 40 includes two spaced-apart opposing side plates 41 and a top plate 42 joining them together, the plates comprising a connector. 30 define an internal cavity shaped to cooperately receive 30. As shown, the second shield 40 receives the connector 30 such that the front contour of the first shield 31 projects forward from the front edge of the second shield 40. Mounting shield 40
Further includes a plurality of mounting legs 43 extending downward from the lower edge of the side plate 41. To securely hold the connector 30 within the mounting shield 40, the mounting shield 40
Has a plurality of clamping flanges 44, which extend from the lower edge of each side plate 41 and are bent inward at substantially right angles to retain the lower surface of the connector 30, as shown in FIGS. . Further, as shown in FIG.
Clamp tab 45 extends from the trailing edge of top plate 42 and is bent around the trailing edge of connector 30. The second shields 40, 140 are formed by stamping and folding the metal sheet into the shape shown.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3-6, the mounting shield 40 includes a rear leg support 46 extending rearward from the side plate 41, which is internal to retain the rear of the connector 30 within the mounting shield 40. Bending part 48
(FIGS. 4 and 5). The rear mounting leg 47 is
It protrudes downward from the rear leg support 46 so as to be inserted into the hole (FIG. 7) of the circuit board 22.

When the connector 30 is inserted into the mounting shield 40 to form the connector assembly 20, the connector assembly 20 is ready to be mounted on the circuit board 22.
As shown in FIG. 3, the circuit board 22 has a plurality of holes 50, 5 and
1, 52. These holes are correspondingly arranged to receive the mounting protrusions and terminals of connector assembly 20. More specifically, the connector mounting protrusion 3
6, 37 are inserted into holes 50, 52, respectively. Also, the second
The mounting legs 43 and 47 of the shield 40 are inserted into the holes 51.

As is apparent from the drawing, the mounting shield 4
The mounting legs 43, 47 of the connector 30 are the mounting legs 36 of the connector 30,
It is considerably wider than 37. Further, the mounting legs 43 and 47 of the mounting shield 40 are arranged at the foremost position and the last position of the mounting shield 40, respectively. These features of the mounting legs 43, 47 act to provide a mechanically stable force distribution on the circuit board.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGS.
The mounting shield 140 includes two spaced-apart opposing side plates 141 and a top plate 142 joining them, which define an internal cavity shaped to cooperate to receive the connector 30. The connector 30 has a second contour such that its front contour projects beyond the front edge of the second shield 140 to receive a mating plug.
Attached inside shield 140.

In order to fix the mounting shield 140 to the circuit board 22, the mounting shield 140 further includes a plurality of mounting legs 14 extending downward from the lower edge of the side plate 141.
3, 147. Attach shield 30 to connector 30
Mounting shield 140 to hold it securely within
Has a plurality of clamping flanges 144 which extend from the lower edge of each side plate 141 and are bent inward at a substantially right angle to retain the lower surface of connector 30 as shown in FIG. . Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the clamp tab 145 extends from the trailing edge of the top plate 142 and is bent downward at a substantially right angle about the trailing edge of the connector 30.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10, the mounting shield 140 includes a rear mounting leg 147 extending downward from the side plate 141. Still referring to FIG. 9, a rear tab 148 extends from the side plate 141 and is bent inward at a substantially right angle to retain the rear surface of the connector 30. Connector 30 is mounting shield 1
When the connector assembly 120 is formed by inserting the connector assembly 120 into the circuit board 22, the connector assembly 120 can be attached to the circuit board 22. As shown in FIG. 7, the circuit board 22 has a plurality of holes 50, 51, 52. These holes
Correspondingly arranged to receive the mounting protrusions and terminals of connector assembly 120. In particular, the connector mounting protrusion 36 and the front mounting protrusion 37 are inserted into the holes 50, 52, respectively. Also, the mounting leg 143 of the second shield 140
And 147 are inserted into holes 51.

As is apparent from the drawing, the mounting shield 1
The mounting legs 143 and 147 of the forty are wider than the mounting protrusions 36 and 37 that protrude directly from the connector 30. Furthermore,
The mounting legs 143 and 147 of the mounting shield 140 are arranged at the foremost position and the last position of the mounting shield 140, respectively. These features of the mounting feet 143, 147 act to provide a mechanically stable force distribution on the circuit board.

The connector assemblies 40 and 140 are mounted on the circuit board 2
2 and its mounting legs 43, 47 (FIG. 6) and 1
When the projections 43 and 147 (FIG. 8) protrude from the lower surface of the circuit board 22, solder is attached to the projections of the mounting legs 43, 47, 143 and 147. Solder is attached to these mounting legs 43,
47, 143 and 147 are fixed to the circuit board 22, and the second
It works to fix the shields 40,140.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular features of this embodiment. Various changes and substitutions will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that such changes and substitutions be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a conventional connector at an undesired displaced position on a circuit board caused by a force having an upper or lower component.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a conventional connector at an undesirably displaced position on a circuit board caused by a force having a left or right component.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing components of the connector assembly according to the present invention and a circuit board on which the connector assembly is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the connector assembly of FIG. 3 in an assembled state;
It is the perspective view which looked at the connector assembly from the lower front.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG. 4 inserted into a circuit board.

FIG. 7 illustrates another connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a circuit board to which the connector assembly is attached.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state where the connector assembly of FIG. 7 is inserted into a circuit board.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the connector assembly of FIG. 7;

Claims (20)

[Claims] The connector includes a housing having a terminal cavity extending therethrough and a plurality of electrical terminals housed in the terminal cavity of the housing. A tail portion extending from the housing for termination to a conductor; and a contact portion 35 engaging each terminal of a complementary connector mated with the electrical connector 30; A first conductive shield 31 surrounding the first conductive shield; and a second shield 40, 140 surrounding and electrically engaging a portion of the first conductive shield, the second shield having a lower edge thereof. And a plurality of mounting legs 43, 47, 143, 147 extending therefrom, which are inserted into the circuit board 22 to secure the connector 30 to the circuit board 22. Shielded electrical connector assembly 20, 120 characterized by and. 2. A clamp flange (44, 144) extends from the lower edge of the second shield (40, 140) and is bent around the connector (30) to form the second shield (40).
The connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connector is fixed to the connector 30. 3. The second shield 40, 140 includes opposed side plates 41, 141 and top plates 42, 142 extending between the side plates, and the mounting legs 43, 47, 143, 147 2. The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector extends from a lower edge of said side plate. 4. A clamp tab (45, 145) extending from a trailing edge of said top plate (42, 142) and said first tab (42).
4. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the connector assembly is bent about a trailing edge of the shield. 5. The connector assembly of claim 3, wherein a pair of rear leg supports extend from a rear edge of said side plate and are bent about a rear edge of said connector. 6. The connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rear mounting leg is lowered from the rear leg support so as to be mounted in the hole of the circuit board. 7. The first shield 31 is connected to the terminal 33.
4. The connector assembly according to claim 3, comprising a front profile surrounding said contact portion 35, and wherein the front edge of said second shield 40, 140 is located at the rear of said profile. 8. A connector, comprising: a housing having a front mating portion, the housing having a terminal cavity extending through the housing to the front mating portion; and being housed in the terminal cavity of the housing. A plurality of electrical terminals 33, the terminals 33 extending from the housing for termination to the conductors of the circuit board 22; A first conductive shield 31 surrounding a portion of the housing, the first conductive shield 31 surrounding a portion of the housing, and a front portion surrounding the mating portion of the housing. A first conductive shield 31 having a contoured portion; and a second shield 40 substantially surrounding and electrically engaging a portion of the first conductive shield. And a 140,
The second shield has clamping flanges 44, 144 extending from its edges, the flanges being bent around the connector 30 to secure the second shield around the first shield, and Further, the second shield has a plurality of mounting legs 43, 47, 14 extending from a lower edge thereof.
3, 120. The shielded electrical connector assemblies 20, 120, characterized in that these legs are inserted into through holes in the circuit board 22 to secure the connector 30 to the circuit board 22. 9. The second shield (40, 140) includes opposed side plates (41, 141) and top plates (42, 142), and the mounting legs (43, 47, 14).
9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein 3, 147 extend from a lower edge of said side plate. 10. The connector assembly of claim 9, wherein clamp tabs extend from a trailing edge of said top plate and are bent about a trailing edge of said first shield. 11. The electrical connector of claim 10, wherein a rear leg support extends from a rear edge of said side plate and is bent about a rear edge of said connector. 12. The connector assembly according to claim 11, wherein said pair of mounting legs are lowered from said rear leg support so as to be mounted in corresponding holes of said circuit board. 13. The connector assembly according to claim 8, wherein a front edge of said second shield is disposed at a rear portion of said contour portion. 14. A connector, comprising: a connector 30;
A terminal portion extending from the housing for termination to a conductor of the circuit board; A first conductive shield 31 surrounding a portion of the housing; and a second shield 40, the first conductive shield 31 surrounding a portion of the housing. 140, the second shield comprising a pair of opposed side plates 41, 141;
A top plate 42 extending between these side plates,
142, the plates forming a cavity for receiving the connector 30 such that the second shield substantially surrounds and electrically engages a portion of the first conductive shield, and further includes the second shield. The plurality of mounting legs 43, 47, 143 extending from the lower edge of the side plate,
147, wherein the legs are inserted into the circuit board 22 to securely fix the connector 30 to the circuit board 22.
0,120. 15. The side plate 4 of the second shield 40, 140, wherein a clamp flange 44, 144 is provided.
1, 141 extending from the lower edge and bent around the connector 30 to attach the second shield 40 to the connector 30.
The connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein the connector assembly is fixed to the connector assembly. 16. The connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein a clamping tab extends from a trailing edge of said top plate and is bent around a trailing edge of said first shield. 17. A pair of rear leg supports 46 extend from the rear edge of the side plate 41 and the connector 30
15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the connector assembly is bent about a trailing edge. 18. The connector assembly according to claim 17, wherein a pair of rear mounting legs are lowered from said rear leg support so as to be mounted in corresponding holes of said circuit board. 19. The first shield has a front contour surrounding the contact portion 35 of the terminal 33, and a front edge of the second shield 40, 140 is located behind the contour. The connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein 20. An auxiliary mounting shield (40, 140) for fixing the connector (30) to the circuit board (22). , A conductive shield 31 and the connector 30 is further configured to receive a mating plug for contacting the terminal, the auxiliary mounting shield comprising a pair of spaced apart opposing side plates. 41, 141
A top plate joining the side plates 41, 141 to define a cavity for receiving the connector 30 such that the auxiliary mounting shield substantially surrounds and electrically engages the conductive shield of the connector 30. 4
2, 142; and a plurality of clamp tabs 44, 45, 48, 144, 145, 148 extending from the side plate to hold the connector 30 against the auxiliary mounting shield.
And a plurality of mounting legs 43, 47, 143, 147 extending downward so as to be inserted into through holes of the circuit board 22.