Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-01-09
Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S701000, C439S079000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171115
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an electrical connector of the type having multiple rows and columns of conductive elements for connection with a circuit board.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors for interconnecting a circuit board backplane to a daughterboard generally comprise two mating connector halves each having multiple rows and columns of conductive elements or contacts. It is known to provide each column of contacts as a separate module that includes a vertical array of contacts having an overmolded carrier. Multiple modules are installed in a connector housing to form a complete connector. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,236. Generally, all of the modules in such a connector are substantially identical. However, there are times when it would be desirable to have different types of modules in a connector in order to accommodate different electrical characteristics of signals through the connector. A problem results in that additional tooling and handling is required for the different types of modules, thereby increasing manufacturing costs.
The backplane to daughterboard connectors have a high contact density and are required to operate at relatively high electrical speeds. Due to continuing trends toward miniaturization and improved electrical performance by the electronics industry, requirements for greater contact density and higher electrical speeds are constantly being promulgated. These requirements lead to design conflicts, especially when electrical speeds are in the range of approximately 500 megahertz and above, due to the fact that increasing the contact density places the contacts in closer proximity to each other, thereby leading to crosstalk between neighboring contacts in different signal pairs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an electrical connector of simple and economical construction for mounting on a circuit board.
It is another object of the invention to provide an electrical connector having a modular construction.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an electrical connector having a high contact density which is suitable for use with very high speed electrical signals.
It is yet another object of the invention to improve the electrical performance of a circuit board mountable electrical connector.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a modular electrical connector that can be customized with modules having different electrical characteristics.
These and other objects are accomplished by an electrical connector comprising a housing including a bottom wall having a forward edge and a plurality of parallel spaced-apart slots in the bottom wall extending toward the forward edge. The slots include one type of slots which are open to the forward edge, thereby forming a land beneath each of said one type of slots at the forward edge. A plurality of circuit boards each have a bottom edge, a rearward edge extending upwardly from the bottom edge, and a mounting edge extending rearwardly from the rearward edge. Each of the mounting edges is disposed in a respective one of the slots. The circuit boards include a first type of circuit boards each having a recess in the rearward edge. The recess of each said first type of circuit boards receives one of the lands, thereby keying the first type of circuit boards to the housing.
According to another aspect, the slots include another type of slots each having an end spaced from the forward edge, thereby forming a web between each of said another type of slots and the forward edge. The circuit boards include a second type of circuit boards each having a recess in the mounting edge. The recess of each said second type of circuit boards receives one of the webs, thereby keying the second type of circuit boards to the housing.
According to another aspect, the housing includes a back wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, a plurality of slots in the back wall, and each of the circuit boards has a back edge that is disposed in a respective one of the slots in the back wall.
According to another aspect, the housing includes a front wall that is spaced-apart from the back wall, a plurality of apertures extend through the front wall, and each of the circuit boards extends through a respective one of the apertures.
According to another aspect, the housing comprises two individual pieces, one of the pieces includes the front wall, and the other of the pieces includes the bottom wall.
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Defibaugh George R.
Helster David W.
Mickievicz Scott K.
Sipe Lynn Robert
Kapalka Robert
Nguyen Phuongchi
Paumen Gary F.
Tyco Electronics Corporation
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