Connector assembly

Details Connector assembly Connector assembly

1999-11-22

2001-03-27

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

With supporting means for coupling part

Supporting plural, independent coupling parts

C439S676000, C439S607070

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206725

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly adapted to be mounted on a circuit board, and particularly to a modular connector assembly which is well shielded and provides good signal communications capabilities.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
As the multi-function trend becomes more popular in the computer industry, the number of electrical connectors used in a computer to interconnect the computer with electronic peripheral equipment increases. Since the space on the mother board in the computer is limited, modular structures have been widely adopted in electrical connectors.
A prior art modular electrical connector is shown in Taiwan Patent Application No. 85103162. The modular connector forms a plurality of mating openings arranged along a longitudinal axis thereof. However, The number of the mating openings as well as the length of the modular connector is limited by the dimensions of the circuit board to which the modular connector is mounted.
Other modular connector types are disclosed in Taiwan Patent Application Nos. 8109709; 86207512 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,639,267; 5,562,507. These modular connectors commonly comprise upper and lower rows of mating openings for receiving corresponding mating connectors therein. Each row of mating openings is arranged along a longitudinal axis, allowing the modular connector to engage with more mating connectors by more efficiently using the limited space on the circuit board.
However, the shielding of these modular connectors normally consists of only one or two outer shell(s) enclosing an entire housing. Since the terminals in the modular connector commonly transmit high frequency signals therethrough, undesired cross-talk is created between the terminals within the same connector. Thus, signal transmissions through the modular connector are adversely affected.
As shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,612, a modular connector assembly provides an additional mid-shield positioned between corresponding lower and upper inserts for reducing cross-talk interference therebetween. However, assembling this connector assembly is very involved since it includes a plurality of lower and upper inserts each received in a corresponding accommodating chamber, a plurality of terminals respectively received in the lower and upper inserts, front and rear shield members and the mid-shield. Furthermore, the steps required to assemble the connector are very tedious since they induce so many parts which need to be assembled in a specific order.
Hence, an improved modular connector is desired both to provide effective shielding and to simplify the assembly process.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a well-shielded connector assembly which protects inserted connectors from both external and internal electromagnetic interference.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly having a plurality of modular subassemblies which can be conveniently and quickly fixed into the connector assembly, thereby simplifying the assembly process.
A third object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly which can be conveniently secured to a metallic panel of a computer enclosure thereby gaining the shielding and grounding benefits of connection to the panel.
An electrical connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an outer shield member and a plurality of insert subassemblies received in the outer shield member. A shielding system is provided to include the outer shield member, a plurality of rear shield members attached to the corresponding insert subassemblies, and a plurality of inner shield members respectively fixed in the corresponding insert subassemblies. The outer shield member defines a plurality of accommodating chambers arranged in upper and lower rows for receiving the insert subassemblies. Each insert subassembly includes a base member, a lower contact module containing a plurality of first contacts, the inner shield member, an upper contact module containing a plurality of second contacts, a positioning member and a rear shield member. Each inner shield member is positioned between the first contacts and the second contacts for preventing cross-talk therebetween. Each rear shield member is attached to the back of the corresponding insert subassembly for cooperating with the outer shield member and the inner shield members to complete the shielding of the whole connector assembly.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be come more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5531612 (1996-07-01), Goodall et al.
patent: 5562507 (1996-10-01), Kan
patent: 5639267 (1997-06-01), Loudermilk
patent: 6019631 (2000-02-01), Chen

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