Electrical connectors – Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield – Multi-part shield body
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2001-10-09
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield
Multi-part shield body
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299484
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a connector comprising an insulating housing, a plurality of contact elements arranged in rows and columns in said housing, and at least one shielding plate arranged between two adjacent columns of contact elements, wherein the shielding plate is contacting one of the contact elements of a column of contacts.
U.S. Pat. No.5,496,183 discloses a connector with shielding plates, wherein the shielding plates are prestressed to mount the shielding plate on the connector housing. The shielding plate is contacting a contact element by means of a contact spring. The shielding plate is further provided with two contact projections for making contact with grounding circuit traces of a printed circuit board.
EP-A-0 746 060 discloses a shielded back plane connector wherein shielding plates are provided having locking tabs and a separate contact spring for contacting a contact element. The shielding plate is further provided with two contact projections for contacting circuit traces of a printed circuit board.
Connectors with shielding plates arranged between adjacent columns of contact elements are further shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,846,727 and 5,403,206.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,341 discloses a connector, wherein the shielding plate is provided with a contact spring contacting a face of a contact element opposite of the shielding plate. The shielding plate is further provided with a contact element for mating with a contact element of a mating connector and with a further contact element for connection to a printed circuit board. In this manner the shielding plate is electrically connected to ground through two terminals. Electrical connection and mechanical support of the shielding plate are provided by separate elements resulting in a complicated manufacturing of the shielding plate and moreover the shielding plate is mechanically supported at several locations increasing accuracy requirements. As in the other known connectors of this type, the shielding plate is a structurally integrated part of the connector having interconnections with the housing of the connector at a plurality of locations.
The invention aims to provide an improved connector of the above-mentioned type.
According to the invention a connector of the above-mentioned type is characterized in that the shielding plate is a structurally separate part provided with fastening means and is attached only to said one contact element by means of the fastening means.
In this manner a connector is obtained, wherein the shielding plate is mechanically supported on one of the contact elements of a column of contacts only without any relationship with any substrate on which the connector is mounted. Further the shielding plate is electrically connected to ground by a single terminal. Manufacturing the shielding plate is relatively simple as it is not necessary to form special receptacle-type or pin-type terminals as parts of the shielding plate.
According to an embodiment of the connector of the invention the shielding plate is provided with protruding tabs engaging said one contact element.
According to a preferred embodiment, each column of contact elements is accommodated in a separate insulating module housing having a plurality of openings extending through the module housing and at least partially exposing said one contact element, wherein the fastening means are attached to said one contact element through the openings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4632476 (1986-12-01), Schell
patent: 4846727 (1989-07-01), Glover et al.
patent: 5104341 (1992-04-01), Gilissen et al.
patent: 5403206 (1995-04-01), McNamara et al.
patent: 5496183 (1996-03-01), Soes et al.
patent: 5620340 (1997-04-01), Andrews
patent: 5632635 (1997-05-01), Vanbesien et al.
patent: 5664968 (1997-09-01), Mickievicz
patent: 0746060 A2 (1996-12-01), None
Framatome Connectors International
Perman & Green LLP
Ta Tho D.
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