WO2009083455A2

WO2009083455A2 - Connector assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2009083455A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/067737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thierry Goossens; Gert Droesbeke; Jeroen De Bruijn
Original assignee: Fci
Priority date: 2007-12-28
Filing date: 2008-12-17
Publication date: 2009-07-09
Also published as: WO2009083455A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly having an improved system for dissipating electrostatic charges. The electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector having first electrical terminals, a second connector having second electrical terminals, a first cooperating means (20) adapted to engage a complementary second cooperating means (26) so as an electrostatic discharge occurs prior to connection of the first and the second terminals.

Description

CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly having an improved system for dissipating electrostatic charges. More specifically, the invention relates not only to the field of electrical connector assembly comprising a board connector that can be mounted behind a panel of electronic equipment but also to a connector assembly comprising a first connector adapted to mate with a second connector with improved ESD (Electrostatic discharge) means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrical connector assemblies are used in a wide range of application.

For instance in the telecommunication industry, switching systems or circuitry, a plurality of high speed connectors are mounted with appropriate frame structures on the mother board. Mating plug connectors, e.g. cable connectors, are connected to the complementary board connector from outside the switching system. High speed signals from the plug connector are transferred to the board connector and the latter transmit them to the circuitry on the mother board.

However, usually a large quantity of electrostatic charges is inevitably accumulated by the plug connector which may create sparks when the plug connector engages the board connector. This resulting voltage spike may jump to conductive terminals and be transmitted to circuits of the mother board to thereby damage sensitive components it comprises. It is therefore necessary to provide adequate protection for the connecting interface against electrostatic discharge (ESD) .

In addition, the today market demand tends towards miniaturization to meet space saving. The consequence is that connector assemblies comprise more and more connector elements to be mounted and to be mated in relatively small spaces. A drawback is that such connector assemblies become less user- friendly and sometimes they require dexterity from the user to succeed in connecting such connector elements together.

Consequently, there exists a need in the art for an electrical connector assembly which is both capable to dissipate electrostatic charge accumulated on the plug connector or a socket connector and/or a metallic panel to which the socket connector is fixed before engagement between these connectors and which is more user-friendly from the handling standpoint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention it is provided a connector assembly according to claim 1. In some embodiments, one might also use one or more of the features as defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will readily appear from the following description of one of its embodiments, provided as non-limitative examples, and of the accompanying drawings .

On the drawings : - Fig. IA and IB are perspective views of a connector assembly according to the invention;

- Fig. 2 is a front view of the plug connector shown on Figs. IA and IB,

Fig. 3A, 3B and 3C are sectional view of the connector assembly of Figs. IA, IB and 2 showing the sequential step of the connection of the plug connector with the board connector .

On the different figures, the same reference signs designate like or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figs. IA and IB show an exploded view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. The assembly comprises a plug connector 2, i.e. a cable connector, a board connector (not shown) electrically connected to a printed circuit board 4 and mounted behind a front panel 6 of a chassis of telecom cabinet. The board connector has a mating section situated behind the front panel.

The cable connector 2 comprises at least one housing 8 which receives a plurality of terminals (e.g. female terminals), an outer shielding 10 enclosing a part of the housing 8. The outer shielding 10 includes a first shielding part 12 and a second shielding part 14 made of conductive material. The housing 8 comprises a mating portion 16, protruding from the outer shielding 10, which is adapted to be received into the mating section of the board connector, when the connectors are coupled together for realizing an electrical connection. Referring to Fig. 2, the cable connector 2 includes three individual housings 8 namely an outer right housing, a central housing and an outer left housing, partially enclosed in the outer shielding 10. The central housing is separated from the outer right and outer left housings by a free space 18. The outer shielding is provided with two holes 20, located in the defined free spaces and arranged diagonally in respect to each other with regard to the central housing. According to a preferred embodiment, the shielding braid of the cable is electrically connected to the outer shielding of the cable connector. Two other holes 21 receive respectively a locking means 22, for instance a threaded screw. The screws 22 are pre- mounted into the hole 21 as known from the prior art. However these screws can be mounted as a final step of the mating process . In Fig. IA and IB, is also shown a front panel 6 of a chassis of a cabinet. The front panel 6 comprises windows 24 or port, sized to the dimensions and shape of the housing 8 of the plug connector 2, for providing access to the board connector

(not shown) . The front panel 6 is further provided with two electrically conductive bosses or studs 26 projecting in outwards direction from the panel.

It should be noted that the conductive bosses or stud 26 can be made integral part of the front panel or they can be elements that are fixed to the panel, e.g. by welding, screwing or riveting.

The studs 26 are located in respective position so as to be able to fit into the corresponding holes 21 of the outer shielding of the plug connector. The studs 26 have the shape of a sleeve provided with an inner cavity 28, whose interior surface has a threaded profile complementary to that one of the screw means 22.

Now with reference to Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C, it is explained the connection step of the plug connector with the board connector.

Fig. 3A is a sectional view of the connector assembly in the unmated situation. In this situation, the female terminals of the plug connector are not yet in contact with the complementary male terminals (i.e. contact pins) of the board connector .

Fig. 3B shows a step wherein the plug connector is moved to further enter into the mating section of a board connector. However in this situation, both female and male terminals are still not in contact with each other. As seen in Fig. 3B, the stud 26 of the front panel 6 is facing the hole 20 of the outer shield 10 and is on the verge of entering it; at this stage, the electrostatic charges accumulated by the outer shielding 10 are dissipated via the conductive stud 26 to a grounding loop (see enlarged view) .

It should be understood that the situation depicted in Fig. 3B is an ideal situation wherein the plug connector and the through-holes of the outer shielding are perfectly headed towards and in respect to board connector mating portion and the studs respectively. In fact, when plugging a plug connector with its counterpart connector, there is always a small inaccuracy in the position of the connectors. Hence, during the mating, the outer surface of the stud will always come into contact with the inner surface of the through-hole 20. As a consequence, the electrostatic discharge is usually achieved by the physical contact of both elements.

According to another aspect of the invention, the addition function of the cooperating stud 26 and the through- holes 20 is that these means provide an improved guiding of the plug connector with respect to the board connector in the course of the mating. The conductive stud 26 act as guiding posts which can be accurately guided thanks to the lead-in chamfer profile formed at the front end of the through-hole 20. The final step of the mating process is shown in Fig.

3C. In this situation, the plug connector is fully coupled with the board connector and the respective terminals of both connectors are connected to provide signal transmission. As shown fixation means 22, here threaded screws, are mounted into threaded studs 26 for retaining the plug connector against the front panel 6 so as to avoid any inadvertent unmating of the connector assembly.

According to the invention, a stud of the front panel and a through-hole of the outer shielding provide in cooperation:

-an effective means to achieve electrostatic discharge before engagement of the terminals of the plug and the board connectors;

-a means for guiding of the plug connector with respect to the board connector in order to ensure quick and reliable connection of these parts;

-a means adapted for attaching the plug connector with the panel .

It is to be understood that even though the characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts.

Thus, the assembly according to the invention can also implement a plug connector having one or more housings.

Although in the description the stud projects from the front panel element and the through-hole elements is formed in the outer shielding, these cooperating elements can be easily permutated by the skilled person to bring the set forth advantages .

It should be further noted that the electrostatic discharge can also be achieved without implementing a panel system. For instance, the outer shielding of a plug connector is provided with first cooperating means (e.g. a electrically conductive stud) configured to cooperate with second cooperating means (e.g. receiving through-hole) formed in a shielding of a socket connector. In order to dissipate the electrostatic charges, one of the shielding of the plug and the socket connector is electrically connected to a ground plane, for instance a ground plane of a printed circuit board on which one of the plug and the socket connector is mounted. As a variation, a spring is mounted between the bottom of holes 21 which comprise a screw 22, and the threaded portion of the screw, so as to push the screw towards its most forward position. Then the screw will be first to contact the panel. Consequently, electrostatic charges will discharge before the male and female terminals come into contact.

Claims

1. Connector assembly comprising:

— a first connector (2) provided with an outer shielding and at least a first terminal,

- a second connector adapted to mate with the first connector, said second connector having a mating portion provided with at least a second terminal and being attached to grounding means (6), Wherein the outer shielding includes at least a first cooperating element (20) and the grounding means comprises at least a second cooperating element (26) and, wherein the first and the second cooperating elements are adapted to engage each other to provide electrostatic discharge and to guide the first and second connectors towards their mating positions before the first and the second terminals are electrically connected.

2. Connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the grounding means comprises a front panel.

3. Connector assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second cooperating element is a stud and the first cooperating means is a cavity formed in the outer shielding.

4. Connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein the stud includes an inner cavity adapted to accommodate a locking means received in the cavity of the outer shielding.

5. Connector assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the cavity comprises a chamfered lead-in front portion adapted to guide the stud inside the cavity