WO2022118216A1

WO2022118216A1 - Cable assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2022118216A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/061184
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yunlong Qiao; Kok Hoe LEE; Saujit Bandhu
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
Priority date: 2020-12-02
Filing date: 2021-12-01
Publication date: 2022-06-09
Also published as: CN220672889U

Abstract

A cable assembly is disclosed. The cable assembly includes a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads and an overmold encapsulating at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The overmold defines an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction. A mating portion of the printed circuit board extends forwardly from the mating surface. One or more cables extend rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction. An upper projection directly connects to the upper surface and extends forwardly along the X direction, and the upper projection is directly connected to the upper surface at a location rearward of the mating face along the X direction.

Description

CABLE ASSEMBLY

Background

Servers in data centers have ever-increasing data rates. Improved and standardized connectors offer superior mechanical performance, electrical performance and cost characteristics over current PCB cable assemblies

Summary

In some aspects of the present disclosure, a cable assembly is disclosed. The cable assembly can include a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads and an overmold encapsulating at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The overmold can define an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction. A mating portion of the printed circuit board can extend forwardly from the mating surface. One or more cables can extend rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction. An upper projection can be directly connected to the upper surface and can extend forwardly along the X direction, the upper projection can be directly connected to the upper surface at a location rearward of the mating face along the X direction.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, a cable assembly is disclosed. The cable assembly can include a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads and an overmold encapsulating at least a portion the printed circuit board. The overmold can define an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction. A mating portion of the printed circuit board can extend forwardly from the mating surface. One or more cables can extend rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction. A lower projection can be directly connected to the mating face and can extend along the X direction. The lower projection can include a horizontal component extending along the Y direction and a vertical component extending along the Z direction.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, a cable assembly is disclosed. The cable assembly can include a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads and an overmold encapsulating at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The overmold can define an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction. A mating portion of the printed circuit board can extend forwardly from the mating surface. One or more cables can extend rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction. A central projection can be directly connected to the mating face and can extend along the X direction, and the central projection can be adapted to be disposed below, along the Z direction, an upper surface of a cage of a board mount connector when the cable assembly is releasably connected to the board mount connecter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a cable assembly, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of a mating connector, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of a cable assembly connected to a mating connector, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of a cable assembly, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of a cable assembly, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cable assembly connected to a mating connector, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present description. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

Spatially related terms, including but not limited to, “lower,” “upper,” “beneath,” “below,” “above,” and “on top,” if used herein, are utilized for ease of description to describe spatial relationships of an element(s) to another. Such spatially related terms encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the particular orientations depicted in the figures and described herein. For example, if an object depicted in the figures is turned over or flipped over, portions previously described as below or beneath other elements would then be above those other elements.

As used herein, when an element, component or layer for example is described as forming a “coincident interface” with, or being “on” “connected to,” “coupled with” or “in contact with” another element, component or layer, it can be directly on, directly connected to, directly coupled with, in direct contact with, or intervening elements, components or layers may be on, connected, coupled or in contact with the particular element, component or layer, for example. When an element, component or layer for example is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled with,” or “directly in contact with” another element, there are no intervening elements, components or layers for example.

As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”, “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to.” It will be understood that the terms “consisting of’ and “consisting essentially of’ are subsumed in the term “comprising,” and the like.

The data center industry has created several data center consortiums in recent years to offer standardized data products and to encourage data/computer sever suppliers to build servers with higher data rates. Common printed circuit board (PCB) materials available today require improvements as data rates continue to increase. As a result, special high-performance materials are being developed, but these materials can be costly. For some applications, a costly repeater/retimer component may be necessary when using common PCB materials to improve signal quality over long circuit traces, connectors, and cables. Twinaxial cables, or “Twinax”, may be used to eliminate or minimize the need for costly PCB materials and repeater/retimers. A Mini Cool Edge IO (MCIO) application can be designed to work with a number of interfaces, and improved interface designs for a cable assembly and/or a mating connector can enhance connection security, mechanical rigidity, and ease of manual connection or disconnection. Disclosed embodiments of an MCIO cable assembly can be used in next generation server applications which support PCIe Gen4 / Gen5 speeds.

Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of a cable assembly 108, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view of a mating connector 104, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Together, the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 can form a connector system 100, and the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 can releasably connect to one another as exemplarily shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the disclosed mating connector 104 and/or board mount connector 107 are shown and described as merely exemplary elements, and that a wide range of mating connectors 104 and/or board mount connectors 107 are within the scope of this disclosure and can connect to the disclosed cable assembly 108 in the manners disclosed and shown.

The cable assembly 108 can include a latch 130, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) 140 and an overmold 150. As will be described further below, the latch 130 can define a latch engagement portion 132 and the PCB 140 can define a mating portion 142 and one or more electrically conductive contact pads 144. The PCB can have a thickness of 1.57, or about 1.57, mm. As can be seen in the figures, an X direction can be orthogonal to a Y direction, and each of the X direction and the Y direction can be orthogonal to a Z direction. For clarity, moving rearwardly along the X direction can indicate moving from the overmold 150 along the cables 120 towards the upper-right in FIG. 1, while moving forwardly along the X direction can indicate the opposite direction. Further, moving upwardly along the Z direction can indicate moving upward vertically, as shown in FIG. 1, while moving downwardly along the Z direction can indicate the opposite direction. Moving to the lower right, from the perspective of FIG. 1, can indicate moving forwardly in the Y direction, whereas moving in the opposite direction can indicate moving rearwardly in the Y direction.

The mating connector 104, which in some embodiments can be a board mount connector 107, can releasably or permanently connect with the cable assembly 108 in an electrical and/or mechanical fashion. Such a connection is exemplary shown, as a connector system 100, in FIG. 3. The mating connector 104 can receive a portion of the PCB 140 and electrically connect to one or more conductive contact pads 144 on the PCB 140. The mating connector 104 can include a cage 106. The cage 106 can provide structural support and an engagement interface for the mating connector 104. The cage 106 can also engage with latch engagement portions 132 of the latch 130 to thereby permanently or releasably connect the mating connector 104 to the cable assembly 108. In some embodiments, the conductive pads 144 can be disposed on a forward portion 142, or a mating portion, of the PCB. One or more cables 120, which can be TwinAx cables, can extend rearwardly along the X direction. The cables 120 can be electrically connected to portions of the PCB 140, which can be rear portions of the PCB 140.

The overmold 150 can be proximate and/or in contact with the PCB 140 and, in some embodiments, can circumscribe, encapsulate, partially circumscribe or partially encapsulate a portion of the PCB 140, such as a rear portion of the PCB 140 as measured along the X direction. The overmold 150 can include electrically insulating, or substantially insulating, materials such as, but not limited to, polymers, rubbers, ceramics, organic materials, metals, carbon, and metal alloys. As can be exemplarily seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the overmold 150 can define an upper surface 160 perpendicular to the Z direction, a lower surface perpendicular to the Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b perpendicular to the Y direction, and a mating face 172 perpendicular to the X direction. In various embodiments, one or more of the upper surface 160, lower surface 164, lateral surfaces 168a, 168b, and mating face 172 need not be perpendicular to, or parallel with, any of the X, Y or Z directions. One or more shoulders 176 can be defined in the overmold 150 proximate the mating face 172, upper surface 160, and lateral surfaces 168a and/or 168b.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show various features of the overmold 150, including a central projection 200, a first lower projection 220a, a second lower projection 220b, a first upper projection 250a and a second upper projection 250b. The central projection 200 can extend from the overmold 150, and in some embodiments extends forwardly along the X direction. In some embodiments, the central projection 200 can extend from the mating face 172. The central projection 200 can define a central projection leading edge 202, which can be a forward-most portion of the central projection 200 as measured along the X-direction. The central projection 200 can also define an upper surface 203, which can be flush or co-planar with the upper surface 160. The upper surface 203 can also be perpendicular to the Z direction, and can define an upper-most surface of the central projection 200 along the Z direction. A central projection lower angled surface 204, a central projection upper angled surface 208 and central projection lateral angled surfaces 212a, 212b, can be formed towards the forward portion (along the X direction) of the central projection 200.

The central projection lower angled surface 204 can be angled to be non-parallel with the X and Z directions and parallel with the Y direction. The central projection upper angled surface 208 can be angled to be non-parallel with the X and Z directions and parallel with the Y direction. The central projection lateral angled surfaces 212a, 212b can be angled to be non-parallel with the X and Y directions and parallel with the Z direction. In various embodiments, a width of the central projection 200, as measured along the Y direction, is, is about, is at least, or is at most 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% or 50% of a distance between opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b.

The first lower projection 220a can extend from the overmold 150, and in some embodiments extends forwardly along the X direction. In some embodiments, the first lower projection 220a extends from the mating face 172. The first lower projection 220a can define a vertical component 224a and a horizontal component 232a. The vertical component 224a can define a vertical component angled surface 228a and a vertical component leading edge 230a, which can include a forward-most surface of the vertical component 224a as measured along the X direction. The horizontal component 232a can define a horizontal component angled surface 236a and a horizontal component leading edge 238a, which can include a forward-most surface of the horizontal component 232a as measured along the X direction. The horizontal component leading edge 238a and/or the vertical component leading edge 230a can be disposed forward of the mating face 172 as measured along the X direction. The vertical component 224a can extend substantially along the X and Z directions and can be perpendicular to the Y direction. The horizontal component 232a can extend substantially along the X and Y directions and can be perpendicular to the Z direction. The horizontal component 232a can be perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the vertical component 224a. In some embodiments, the horizontal component 232a and the vertical component 224a can be joined at a location, or at more than one location, forward of the mating face 172 along the X direction.

In some embodiments, the horizontal component 232a extends to one of the opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b, as measured along the Y direction. In various embodiments, a width of the horizontal component 232a, as measured along the Y direction, is, is about, is at least, or is at most 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 45% of a distance between opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b. In some embodiments, a portion (such as a lower surface) of the horizontal component 232a is co-planar, or flush, with the lower surface 164.

In some embodiments, a portion (such as a lateral surface) of the vertical component 224a is co-planar, or flush, with one of the opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224a extends to the shoulder 176, as measured along the Z direction. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224a extends to the lower surface 164, as measured along the Z direction. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224a extends from the lower surface 164 to the shoulder 176, as measured along the Z direction. In various embodiments, a height of the vertical component 224a, as measured along the Z direction, is, is about, is at least, or is at most 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 45% of a distance between the lower surface 164 and the upper surface 160. The vertical component leading edge 230a can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the Z axis and/or the horizontal component leading edge 238a can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the Y axis. In some embodiments, the first lower projection 220a is L- shaped. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224a and the horizontal component 232a form an L-shape.

The first lower projection 220a and the second lower projection 220b can be identical, similar, and/or can be mirror images of each other as seen across a plane containing the X and Z directions between the first lower projection 220a and the second lower projection 220b. However, for clarity, the second lower projection 220b will now be described in detail.

The second lower projection 220b can extend from the overmold 150, and in some embodiments extends forwardly along the X direction. In some embodiments, the second lower projection 220b can extend from the mating face 172. The second lower projection 220b can define a vertical component 224b and a horizontal component 232b. The vertical component 224b can define a vertical component angled surface 228b and a vertical component leading edge 230b, which can include a forward-most surface of the vertical component 224b as measured along the X direction. The horizontal component 232b can define a horizontal component angled surface 236b and a horizontal component leading edge 238b, which can include a forward-most surface of the horizontal component 232b as measured along the X direction. The horizontal component leading edge 238b and/or the vertical component leading edge 230b can be disposed forward of the mating face 172 as measured along the X direction. The vertical component 224b can extend substantially along the X and Z directions and can be perpendicular to the Y direction. The horizontal component 232b can extend substantially along the X and Y directions and can be perpendicular to the Z direction. The horizontal component 232b can be perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the vertical component 224b. In some embodiments, the horizontal component 232b and the vertical component 224b can be joined at a location, or at more than one location, forward of the mating face 172 along the X direction.

In some embodiments, the horizontal component 232b extends to one of the opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b, as measured along the Y direction. In various embodiments, a width of the horizontal component 232b, as measured along the Y direction, is, is about, is at least, or is at most 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 45% of a distance between opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b. In some embodiments, a portion (such as a lower surface, as measured along the Z direction) of the horizontal component 232b is co-planar, or flush, with the lower surface 164.

In some embodiments, a portion (such as a lateral surface, as measured along the Y direction) of the vertical component 224b is co-planar, or flush, with one of the opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224b extends to the shoulder 176, as measured along the Z direction. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224b extends to the lower surface 164, as measured along the Z direction. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224b extends from the lower surface 164 to the shoulder 176, as measured along the Z direction. In various embodiments, a height of the vertical component 224b, as measured along the Z direction, is, is about, is at least, or is at most 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40% or 45% of a distance between the lower surface 164 and the upper surface 160.

The vertical component leading edge 230b can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the Z axis and/or the horizontal component leading edge 238b can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the Y axis. In some embodiments, the first lower projection 220b is L- shaped. In some embodiments, the vertical component 224b and the horizontal component 232b form an L-shape.

FIGS. 4 and 5, among others, also show the first upper projection 250a and the second upper projection 250b. The first upper projection 250a can include a base 254a and an upper projection member 258a. The upper projection member 258a can define an upper projection member angled surface 262a and an upper projection member leading edge 264a, which can be a forward-most portion of the first upper projection 250a as measured along the X direction. The base 254a can join to, or be in contact with, the upper surface 160, and the base 254a (and thus the first upper projection 250a) can be directly connected to the upper surface 160 at a location rearward of the mating face 172, as measured along the X direction. The upper projection member 258a can extend along the X direction. In some embodiments, the upper projection member 258a can extend forwardly along the X direction. In various embodiments, the upper projection member leading edge 264a is forward of, along the X direction, the mating face 172, central projection leading edge 202, vertical component leading edge 230a, vertical component leading edge 230b, horizontal component leading edge 238a and/or horizontal component leading edge 238b. In various embodiments, the upper projection member leading edge 264a is rearward of, along the X direction, the mating face 172, central projection leading edge 202, vertical component leading edge 230a, vertical component leading edge 230b, horizontal component leading edge 238a and/or horizontal component leading edge 238b.

As measured along the Z direction, the upper projection member 258a can be located above the upper surface 160. In some embodiments, a non-zero distance, or a gap, exists between the upper projection member 258a and the upper surface 160, as measured along the Z direction. An upper projection member upper surface 266a can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the X and Y directions and can be perpendicular with, or substantially perpendicular with, the Z direction. The upper projection member upper surface 266a can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the upper surface 160, lower surface 164, horizontal component 232a and/or horizontal component 232b. The upper projection member angled surface 262a can be formed at, or proximate, the upper projection member leading edge 264a, and can be angled such that the upper projection member angled surface 262a is non-parallel with the X and Z directions and is parallel with the Y direction.

The first upper projection 250a and the second upper projection 250b can be identical, similar, and/or can be mirror images of each other as seen across a plane containing the X and Z directions located between the first upper projection 250a and the second upper projection 250b. However, for clarity, the second upper projection 250b will now be described in detail.

FIGS. 4 and 5, among others, also show the second upper projection 250b. The second upper projection 250b can include a base 254b and an upper projection member 258b. The upper projection member 258b can define an upper projection member angled surface 262b and an upper projection member leading edge 264b, which can be a forward-most portion of the second upper projection 250b as measured along the X direction. The base 254b can join to, or be in contact with, the upper surface 160, and the base 254b (and thus the second upper projection 250b) can be directly connected to the upper surface 160 at a location rearward of the mating face 172, as measured along the X direction. The upper projection member 258b can extend along the X direction. In some embodiments, the upper projection member 258b can extend forwardly along the X direction. In various embodiments, the upper projection member leading edge 264b is forward of, along the X direction, the mating face 172, central projection leading edge 202, vertical component leading edge 230a, vertical component leading edge 230b, horizontal component leading edge 238a and/or horizontal component leading edge 238b. In various embodiments, the upper projection member leading edge 264b is rearward of, along the X direction, the mating face 172, central projection leading edge 202, vertical component leading edge 230a, vertical component leading edge 230b, horizontal component leading edge 238a and/or horizontal component leading edge 238b.

As measured along the Z direction, the upper projection member 258b can be located above the upper surface 160. In some embodiments, a non-zero distance, or a gap, exists between the upper projection member 258b and the upper surface 160, as measured along the Z direction. An upper projection member upper surface 266b can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the X and Y directions and can be perpendicular with, or substantially perpendicular with, the Z direction. The upper projection member upper surface 266b can be parallel with, or substantially parallel with, the upper surface 160, lower surface 164, horizontal component 232a and/or horizontal component 232b. The upper projection member angled surface 262b can be formed at, or proximate, the upper projection member leading edge 264b, and can be angled such that the upper projection member angled surface 262b is non-parallel with the X and Z directions and is parallel with the Y direction.

In some embodiments, the first upper projection 250a and second upper projection 250b are disposed on opposed sides of the central projection 200, as measured along the Y direction. In various embodiments, the first upper projection 250a and second upper projection 250b are each disposed between opposed lateral surfaces 168a, 168b, as measured along the Y direction.

As described above, the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 can releasably connect to one another as exemplarily shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the connector system 100 when the mating connector 104 is releasably connected to the cable assembly 108. Portions of the mating connector 104, such as the mating connector main body 105 and cage 106, can be seen engaging portions of the cable assembly 108.

In some embodiments, the first and second lower projections 220a, 220b and/or the horizontal components 232a, 232b are below (as measured along the Z direction) the mating connector 104, mating connector main body 105, and cage 106 when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. In various embodiments, as measured from a center of the cable assembly 108 along the Y direction, the first and second lower projections 220a, 220b and/or the vertical components 224a, 224b are laterally outside of or beyond (as measured along the Y direction) the mating connector 104, mating connector main body 105, and cage 106 when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. The central projection 200 can be above (as measured along the Z direction) the mating connector main body 105 and below the cage 106 when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. In some embodiments, the upper surface 160 is above (as measured along the Z direction) the mating connector main body 105 and below the cage 106 when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. In some embodiments, the upper projections 250a, 250b, and/or the upper projection members 258a, 258b are above (as measured along the Z direction) the mating connector main body 105 and the cage 106 when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. In various embodiments, a portion of the cage 106 is above (as measured along the Z direction) the upper surface 160 and below the upper projections 250a, 250b and/or the upper projection members 258a, 258b when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108. Further, in some embodiments, a portion of the cage 106 can engage with, or insert into, the shoulder 176 formed in the overmold 150.

The disclosed embodiments provide numerous benefits for the efficient, secure and stable operation of a connector system 100. In particular, any of the above-mentioned features of the overmold 150, such as the first and second lower projections 220a, 220b, horizontal components 232a, 232b, vertical components 224a, 224b, central projection 200, upper surface 160, upper projections 250a, 250b, and/or the upper projection members 258a, 258b can contact, contact in a mechanically biased fashion so as to press two adjacent components together and/or be disposed proximate the mating connector 104, mating connector main body 105 and/or cage when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108.

Thus, based on the embodiments described and shown, when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108, relative movement between the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 in the Z direction is limited or prevented by contact between the cage 106 and/or the mating connector main body 105 and the first and second lower projections 220a, 220b, horizontal components 232a, 232b, lower surface 164, upper surface 160, central projection 200, upper projections 250a, 250b and/or upper projection members 258a, 258b. Also, when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108, relative movement between the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 in the Y direction is limited or prevented by contact between the cage 106 and/or the mating connector main body 105 and the first and second lower projections 220a, 220b and/or the vertical components 224a, 224b. Additionally, when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108, relative movement between the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 in the Y direction is limited or prevented by contact between the cage 106 and the shoulder 176. When the contact between the above-described elements is a biased contact, an enhanced mechanical securement can be provided.

Furthermore, when the mating connector 104 is connected to the cable assembly 108, relative movement between the cable assembly 108 and the mating connector 104 in the X direction (when moving towards one another) is limited or prevented by contact between the cage 106 and/or the mating connector main body 105 and the mating face 172, upper projections 250a, 250b and/or bases 254a, 254b.

In some embodiments, one or more of the overmold 150, PCB 140, cage 106, mating connector main body 105, or any constituent element thereof, can be cast, molded, machined or otherwise formed as a single, integral component. In some embodiments, the overmold 150, PCB 140, cage 106, mating connector main body 105, or any constituent element thereof, can be formed of or can include a metal, metal alloy, polymer, composite material, ceramic, organic material, electrically -conductive material, electrical insulator, or any other material known to those skilled in the art.

The terms and expressions that have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, it should be understood that although the present disclosure has been specifically disclosed by specific embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those of ordinary skill in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure. The complete disclosures of the patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated. To the extent that there is any conflict or discrepancy between this specification as written and the disclosure in any document that is incorporated by reference herein, this specification as written will control.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cable assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads; an overmold encapsulating at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the overmold defining an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction, a mating portion of the printed circuit board extending forwardly from the mating surface; one or more cables extending rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction; and an upper projection directly connected to the upper surface and extending forwardly along the X direction, the upper projection being directly connected to the upper surface at a location rearward of the mating face along the X direction.

2. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper projection extends forwardly of the mating face along the X direction.

3. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper projection is adapted to be disposed above, along the Z direction, a cage of a board mount connector when the cable assembly is releasably connected to the board mount connecter.

4. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper projection is disposed between the lateral surfaces along the Y direction.

5. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a forward end of the upper projection, along the X direction, is disposed higher, along the Z direction, than the upper surface.

6. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the upper projection and the upper surface.

7. A cable assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads; an overmold encapsulating at least a portion the printed circuit board, the overmold defining an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction, a mating portion of the printed circuit board extending forwardly from the mating surface; one or more cables extending rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction; and a lower projection directly connected to the mating face and extending along the X direction, the lower projection including a horizontal component extending along the Y direction and a vertical component extending along the Z direction.

8. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the horizontal component and the vertical component are joined at a location forward of the mating surface along the X direction.

9. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a forward leading edge, along the X direction, of the horizontal component and a forward leading edge, along the X direction, of the vertical component are both disposed forward of the mating surface as measured along the X direction.

10. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the horizontal component extends to one of the opposed lateral surfaces as measured along the Y direction.

11. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower projection is L-shaped.

12. A cable assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board having one or more conductive contact pads; an overmold encapsulating at least a portion of the printed circuit board, the overmold defining an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart along a Z direction, opposed lateral surfaces spaced apart along a Y direction, and a mating face perpendicular to an X direction, a mating portion of the printed circuit board extending forwardly from the mating surface; one or more cables extending rearwardly from the printed circuit board along the X direction; a central projection directly connected to the mating face and extending along the X direction, wherein the central projection is adapted to be disposed below, along the Z direction, an upper surface of a cage of a board mount connector when the cable assembly is releasably connected to the board mount connecter.

13. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the central projection defines an upper face perpendicular to the Z direction, the upper face being co-planar with the upper surface of the overmold.

14. The cable assembly of claim 1, further including an upper projection extending along the X direction, and a forward portion of the upper projection, along the X direction, is disposed above the central projection in the Z direction.

15. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein the central projection is not directly connected to the upper surface of the overmold.

16. The cable assembly of claim 1, wherein a width of the central projection, along the Y direction, is less than two-thirds of the distance between the lateral surfaces.