Electrical connectors – Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield – Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-04
2001-09-11
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield
Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287146
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a connector for mounting on a printed circuit board and which includes a grounding system, in conjunction with a terminal tail aligner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical connectors are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from simple connecting interfaces between hard conductor wiring to more sophisticated applications involving such components as printed circuit boards, flat flexible cables and optical fibers. Basically, electrical connectors include some form of contacts, terminals or other conductors which interconnect one electrical device to another electrical device. The electrical connectors may involve systems whereby the connectors provide receiver-transmitter functions which, in addition, can convert high speed signals from solid (copper) cables or fiber optic cables to high speed signals on a system printed circuit board. As used herein, the terms “electrical” or “electrical connectors” are intended to include optical devices.
For instance, in the telecommunications industry, switching systems or circuitry may be provided on a rather sizable mother board at a particular location. A plurality of high speed electrical converter modules are mounted by appropriate frame structures on the mother board. Mating “plug-in” connector modules are plugged into the converter modules from outside the switching system. The incoming signals from the cables attached to the plug-in modules are at high speed, such as in the gigabit range, and the converter modules transfer and maintain the signals at high speed and transmit them to the circuitry on the mother board. Continuing problems have been encountered in the design and manufacturability of such systems. Many of the problems center around providing adequate protection for the connecting interface from electromagnetic interference (EMI) as well as providing protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD). The present invention is directed to solving those problems by providing a simple system which is cost effective to manufacture, assemble and use, and which provides extensive EMI and ESD protection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved grounded electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit board and including a terminal tail aligner.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes a dielectric housing having a forward mating end and a rear terminating end, with a plurality of terminal-receiving passages extending therebetween. A plurality of terminals are received in the passages. Each terminal includes a tail portion projecting rearwardly from the housing. The tail portions include right-angled end portions for connection to the printed circuit board. At least one ground member is mounted on the housing and includes a ground contact arm projecting forwardly for engaging a complementary mating connector. An ESD clip projects downwardly from the ground member for insertion into an appropriate mounting hole in the printed circuit board. A tail aligner is mounted to the rear end of the housing and has a plurality of apertures through which the end portions of the terminals extend.
As disclosed herein, the ground member is a one-piece structure stamped and formed of conductive sheet metal material. Preferably, a pair of the ground members are spaced laterally of the housing, with the respective ground contact arms of the ground members projecting forwardly at opposite sides of the mating end of the housing.
The tail aligner includes a slot for receiving a portion of the ground member(s). A shield is mounted about at least the rear terminating end of the housing in engagement with the ground member. Complementary interengaging means are provided between the shield and the tail aligner. The shield includes at least one grounding leg projecting downwardly for connection to an appropriate ground circuit on the printed circuit board.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Avery Hazelton P.
Banakis Emanual G.
Dunham David E.
Legge Jeannette H.
Mead David G.
Molex Incorporated
Sircus Brian
Tirva A. A.
Webb Brian S.
LandOfFree
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