Electrical connectors – Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield – Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-19
2001-08-14
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield
Shielding individually surrounding or interposed between...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273758
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to connectors used in multiple-unit connector assemblies, and more particularly to an improved grounding shield for use with wafer connectors.
In the field of telecommunications and in other electronic fields, cable assemblies are used to connect one electronic device to another. In many instances, the cable assemblies have at one or more of their ends, a plurality of connector modules, each of which serves to connect a plurality of individual wires to an opposing connector, such as a pin connector. It is desirable to provide very high density pin counts while maintaining superior cross-talk performance. Proper selective grounding of certain terminals is required to provide increased data transfer.
Structures for attaining these aims are known in the art, but tend to be bulky and require additional, valuable, empty unused area. Such structures are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,538, issued Jan. 5, 1993, in which a connector has a plurality of slots and cavities with signal contacts being received within the cavities of the connector. A grounding shield is provided having a plurality of contacts in the form of spring fingers which are positioned to protrude into the unoccupied slots. These spring fingers serve as contact portions that contact selected terminal pins. In this construction, each connector has to be custom configured for each installation.
The present invention is therefore directed to a novel and unique grounding shield for use with connector modules, such as wafer connectors, that efficiently maximizes pin counts and which is simple and inexpensive to make and use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved grounding shield for use with wafer connector modules which has a simple standard construction, and permits ease of assembly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a grounding shield for use with wafer connectors which does not increase the connector size or result in a decrease of pin density in an opposing connector.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a grounding shield of singular modular configuration which is variable to accommodate as many grounding paths as desired.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a grounding shield having at least one depression formed therein that extends into contact with a selected terminal of the connector to define a ground path without modifying the configuration of the connector.
The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by way of its unique structure.
In accordance with one principal aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided with an insulative housing with a defined body portion, the body portion including a receptacle defined therein that accommodates a plurality of conductive terminals, each of which has a contact assembly for contacting a conductive pin of an opposing connector. A conductive grounding shield is provided that fits on the connector housing body portion and serves to at least partially enclose the terminals in the receptacle. The grounding shield has at least one contact portion disposed thereon that takes the form of a depression that may be drawn in the grounding shield. The depression extends into electrical contact with a selected, opposing terminal in the connector receptacle. The depression may be permanently and conductively joined to the one terminal.
The connector may include a nonconductive insert disposed within the receptacle portion thereof. This insert encloses and may separate the terminals from each other and further define a series of openings into the connector receptacle that permit the passage of conductive pins from the opposing connector to enter the connector and engage the terminals thereof. The insert may include one or more apertures formed in a top wall thereof and aligned with the terminals so that the depression may extend through the aperture and into contact with its corresponding terminal. The grounding shield has a large cover portion that serves to partially define a face of the connector.
In another principal aspect of the present invention the connector housing body has a general U-shaped configuration that defines the receptacle thereof, with the housing having a base wall and a pair of parallel sidewalls that extend along opposing longitudinal edges of the housing. Each of the terminals of the connector has a flat body portion that is disposed between its contact portion and the tail portion. The grounding shield may be considered as overlying the terminals and closing off a top of the receptacle. The grounding shield may similarly include a flat top wall and two sidewalls, with the top wall of the shield having a dish formed therein by drawing so that a portion thereof extends away from the shield top wall in opposition to and into contact with one of the terminal body portions. The dish portion may be connected to the terminal body portion by a resistance weld.
In another principal aspect of the present invention, a nonconductive insert, preferably formed from a dielectric material, is provided for insertion in the receptacle. This insert supports the terminals and also supports the grounding shield. The insert has a series of openings formed in a front face thereof that defines passages for conductive pins of the opposing connector to enter and engage the terminals of the connector. The dish portion extends through one of the insert apertures to effectuate its contact with the terminal body portion.
In yet another principal aspect, the present invention incudes an electrical connector module having an insulative body portion with a series of conductive terminals disposed within the body portion. The connector has a grounding shield which lies upon the outer surface of the body portion and which includes a cover portion that extends in a first plane. The grounding shield has at least one depression formed therein that extends away from the cover portion thereof and into opposition with a selected one of the connector terminals. This depression includes a contact portion spaced away from the grounding shield cover portion that is supported in its extent by a portion of the grounding shield that is also drawn during the forming process. In the preferred embodiment, the depression contact portion or a tip thereof, extends within a second plane, different from and generally parallel to the first plane so that the grounding shield contact portion may easily abut one of the connector terminals. A dielectric insert is provided having one or more apertures formed therein that provide passages through which the depressions extent in their path of ground contact to selected terminals. The contact portions of the grounding shield are preferably joined to their corresponding opposing terminals, such as by resistance welding or the like.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clearly understood through consideration of the following detailed description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4615578 (1986-10-01), Stadler et al.
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patent: 5586911 (1996-12-01), Miller et al.
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patent: 5993259 (1999-11-01), Stokoe et al.
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patent: 6066000 (2000-05-01), Masumoto et al.
patent: 6095863 (2000-08-01), Tung
patent: 6115257 (2000-05-01), Laity
Lloyd Keith
Magajne Michael F.
Duverne J. F.
Molex Incorporated
Sircus Brian
Tirva A. A.
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