Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having part permanently... – Adapted to be secured to conductor formed on printed circuit...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-19
2001-10-02
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having part permanently...
Adapted to be secured to conductor formed on printed circuit...
C439S083000, C439S076100, C439S638000, C029S843000, C174S263000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296534
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of encapsulating an electrical adapter assembly, and particularly to a method which provides effective shielding and grounding functions.
2. Description of Prior Art
Electrical connectors in a computer are connected to each other to transmit electrical signals therebetween. If connectors have the same standard, they can be directly engaged with each other. An electrical adapter is required to electrically connect two connectors which have different standards. The adapter must have good grounding and shielding characteristics, for effective transmission of high speed and high frequency electrical signals.
In earlier times, conventional electrical adapters usually consisted of flat cables or wires. However, the flat cables or wires were not provided with shielding means. With the development of computers, an adapter plate with a shielding cover is now commonly used. The cover is stamped from tinplate.
Referring to
FIG. 9
, Taiwan Patent Application No. 82206792 discloses such kind of adapter plate and cover. A conventional adapter assembly
6
comprises a first connector
60
, a second connector
61
, dual stacked adapter plates
62
,
63
for electrically connecting the first connector
60
to the second connector
61
, and a pair of inner shields
64
, and a pair of outer covers
65
covering the inner shields
64
. Each inner shield
64
forms a plurality of contact tabs
641
at opposite ends thereof, for electrically contacting conductive shells (not labeled) of the first and second connectors
60
,
61
, respectively. One shield
64
forms several latches
642
at opposite side walls thereof. The other shield
64
has opposite side walls
642
. In assembly, the shield
64
are covered over the adapter plates
62
,
63
, with the latches
642
latching with the side walls
643
. Shielding and grounding is thereby provided. However, the plate-like shields
64
cannot reliably seal off the adapter plates
62
,
63
. Additionally, the shields
64
are made from tinplates, which are relatively expensive raw materials.
FIG. 10
illustrates Taiwan Patent Application No. 88121901A01, filed on Mar. 31, 2000 by the Applicant of the present invention. The said Application discloses a “Z” shaped adapter assembly
7
which includes a first electrical connector
70
, a second electrical connector
71
, an adapter plate
72
connecting the first connector
70
to the second connector
71
, and a conductive shell
75
covering the first and second connectors
70
,
71
and the adapter plate
72
. The first and second connectors
70
,
71
have first and second tail portions
73
,
74
projecting beyond respective opposite surfaces of the plate
72
. However, the conductive shell
75
is also plate-like, and is also stamped from a tinplate. Furthermore, pressing force produced during injection molding of the conductive shell
75
can cause the conductive shell
75
to deform inwardly. Upon deformation, the conductive shell
75
can even contact the exposed tail portions
73
,
74
of the first and second connectors
70
,
71
. Such contact results in a short circuit.
Hence, an improved electrical adapter assembly and a method of encapsulating the same are required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a method of encapsulating an electrical adapter assembly having effective shielding and grounding characteristics;
A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical adapter assembly providing reliable signal transmission between electrical connectors having different standards.
An electrical adapter assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an adapter plate, and first and second electrical connectors mounted onto opposite first and second surfaces of the adapter plate. The first and second connectors comprise first and second conductive contacts, respectively. The first and second conductive contacts have tail portions projecting beyond the second and first surfaces of the adapter plate, respectively.
A method of encapsulating the electrical adapter assembly comprises steps described below. First, trimming the first and second tail portions to facilitate subsequent formation of smooth soldered dots. Second, soldering the first and second tail portions to the adapter plate, forming the smooth soldered dots. Third, placing insulative layers over the soldered dots. Fourth, placing shielding layers over the insulative layers; Fifth, soldering edges of the shielding layers to the adapter plate with soldering tin; Sixth and finally, enclosing the adapter assembly within a non-conductive material by injection molding.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4700473 (1987-10-01), Freyman et al.
patent: 5-217616 (1993-08-01), None
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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