Shielded electrical connector

Details Shielded electrical connector Shielded electrical connector

1999-04-09

2001-03-20

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield

Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...

Reexamination Certificate

active

06203373

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to connectors which are shielded against ingress and egress of electromagnetic and radio frequency interferences.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrical circuitry often is provided with protection from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI) emanating from or entering the system. Although EMI and RFI now are often used interchangeably, EMI has been used to connote energy occurring anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum and RFI has been limited at times to interference in the radio communication band. EMI energy can be generated outside as well as inside the system. External EMI energy can interfere with the operation of electronic equipment within the system, while internal EMI energy can create “cross talk” and “noise” which can cause erroneous data transmission.
Electrical connectors are particularly prone to disruptions from EMI energy because of the numerous contact areas and openings for electrical terminals and cables. A typical electrical connector includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The housing may have a forward mating section. In order to protect the connector from disruptions caused by EMI energy, shields are provided about the dielectric housing and, particularly, the mating section thereof. Such shields often are fabricated of stamped and formed conductive sheet metal material. The sheet material is stamped and then formed or folded into an enclosure for the connector housing. One of the problems with such shields is that they often are made of multiple components which cause EMI “leakage” and the components are not held together by sufficiently strong engaging means. The present invention is directed to solving these problems in a multi-component shield which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved shielded electrical connector of the character described.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the shielded connector includes a dielectric housing having a front mating end for interfacing with a complementary mating connector. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and include contact portions for engaging appropriate terminals of the mating connector. First and second shields of sheet metal material substantially surround the housing. The first shield includes a clamping arm projecting therefrom. The second shield includes a hole for receiving the clamping arm of the first shield. The clamping arm of the first shield is inserted through the hole in the second shield and is bent into engagement with the second shield to hold the shields together about the housing.
As disclosed herein, the housing includes a rear end, a top wall and opposite side walls. The first shield is a main shield mounted on the housing about at least the top wall and opposite side walls thereof. A pair of the clamping arms project rearwardly from opposite sides of the main shield. The second shield is a rear shield about the rear end of the housing and includes a pair of the holes for receiving the clamping arms of the first shield.
Other features of the invention include the rear shield having recessed areas into which the clamping arms are bent. The rear shield is formed by a rear wall and side flanges projecting forwardly from the rear wall overlapping the opposite sides of the main shield. The holes in the rear shield are located at the junctures of the rear wall and the side flanges thereof.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5094627 (1992-03-01), Uekido
patent: 5288248 (1994-02-01), Chen
patent: 5637015 (1997-06-01), Tan et al.
patent: 5702271 (1997-12-01), Steinman
patent: 5919062 (1999-07-01), Wu
patent: 5980320 (1999-11-01), Slack et al.
patent: 5984726 (1999-11-01), Wu
patent: 6012948 (2000-01-01), Wu
patent: 296 02 268 U1 (1996-11-01), None
patent: 8-222324 (1986-08-01), None
patent: 86200240 (1997-01-01), None

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