Electrical connector

Details Electrical connector Electrical connector

1999-10-25

2001-02-06

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Having resilient means engaging panel opening

C439S607070

Reexamination Certificate

active

06183294

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly to an electrical connector for being securely mounted to a printed circuit board and providing more than one grounding path between the electrical connector and the printed circuit board for eliminating noise interference.
2. Prior Art
With the development of computer technology, more and more electrical connectors mounted to a printed circuit board must provide high frequency transmission to achieve better computer performance. Thus electromagnetic or radio frequency interference becomes an important issue for the electrical connector to overcome.
A method for providing a grounding path for discharging residual static electricity from an electrical connector and decreasing interference during data transmission is exemplified by FIG.
3
. An electrical connector
7
comprises a dielectric housing
71
, a pair of boardlocks
72
and a pair of connecting inserts
73
(only one shown). Each boardlock
72
comprises a substantially square plate
721
and a pair of spaced locking legs
722
. An aperture
723
is defined through the square plate
721
. Each connecting insert
73
has a barrel
731
extending therefrom with an opening
732
defined therethrough. A recess
711
and a receiving hole
712
are formed in opposite ends of the dielectric housing
71
. Each boardlock
72
is securing to the housing
71
by inserting the square plate
721
in the recess
711
and extending the barrel
731
of the connecting insert
73
through the aperture
723
and the receiving hole
712
. Thus, the connecting insert
73
secures the boardlock
72
to the housing
71
. While transmitting data via an electrical connector, noise interference is commonly absorbed by a shielding shell and discharged to a printed circuit board via a grounding path. The grounding path of the connector
7
is provided by a shielding shell (not labeled), the barrel
731
and the boardlock
72
and directed to the printed circuit board. However, not only is the grounding path too long but it also has a large contact resistance since the grounding path is formed by many elements. If the grounding path is interrupted for some reason, such as by incorrect assembly, the anti-interference function will fail due to the provision of only one grounding path.
Furthermore, in order to achieve the goal of convenient and fast assembly as well as to properly position the connector on the printed circuit board, a guiding apparatus should be provided. With the development of manufacturing automation, most electrical connectors are mounted to a printed circuit board via surface mounting procedures, such as wave soldering or reflowing, whereby the electrical connector of
FIG. 3
may not be properly attached to the printed circuit board. Furthermore, manufacturing costs of the connector of
FIG. 3
will be increased. The copending application Ser. No. 09/053,417 filed April 1998 and having the same assignee with the invention, also discloses another type prior art connector having retention devices thereof.
An object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector which can overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of the conventional invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide an electrical connector which can be securely mounted to a printed circuit board and provide more than one grounding path.
Accordingly, an electrical connector in accordance with present invention comprises a dielectric housing, a conductive shell, a pair of boardlocks and a pair of fixing pieces. Each boardlock comprises a main body, a pair of spaced legs downwardly extending therefrom for firmly connecting to the printed circuit board, a first extending portion and a second extending portion. The extending portions are parallel to each other and extend from the main body. The first extending portion fits in a corresponding recess formed in a rear face of the dielectric housing and defines an aperture therein. The second extending portion integrally forms a solder arm parallel to the printed circuit board for facilitating surface mounting of the electrical connector. The solder arm is perpendicular to the first extending portion and the main body. Each fixing piece forms a downwardly extending guiding post perpendicular to the printed circuit board for providing positioning capability, a conductive protrusion, and a joint part formed therebetween. The conductive protrusion of each fixing piece mechanically and electrically connects to the conductive shell via the aperture of the first extending portion of the boardlock and a receiving cavity of the dielectric housing.
The present invention, therefore, provides two grounding paths, one through the boardlock and the other through the fixing piece. The solderability of the electrical connector is also improved.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5630730 (1997-05-01), Wang et al.
patent: 5709556 (1998-01-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5733142 (1998-03-01), Clark
patent: 5807135 (1998-09-01), Clark
patent: 6012954 (2000-01-01), Wu

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