Electrical connectors – Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield – Multi-part shield body
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-04-03
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Electromagnetic or electrostatic shield
Multi-part shield body
C439S607070
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210228
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a shielded electrical connector having a new and improved electromagnetic shield.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wide variety of electrical connectors require protection against the egress or ingress of radio frequency interference (RFI) and/or electromagnetic interference (EMI). This is particularly true in electrical connectors used with high speed electronic equipment. “EMI” has become fairly generic to describe most types of interference caused by electronic waves.
EMI protection typically is provided by substantially enclosing a connector, at least about its mating interface, with an electrically conductive shield. Such shielding enclosures typically are stamped and formed from sheet metal material. The shields are grounded, such as to a ground wire of an electrical cable or to a ground circuit trace on a printed circuit board. When two connectors are mated, it is desirable to have the shields of the two connectors in positive engagement to establish a common ground therethrough and to prevent electromagnetic radiation from or to the connectors in the area of the mating interface thereof.
Heretofore, EMI protection at the interface of a pair of mating connectors has been accomplished simply by overlapping the two shields of the respective connectors. Although this method is quite effective, it requires additional space in the mating direction of the connectors and this is highly undesirable when space is critical in miniaturized, high speed electronics. The same type of space problem arises when radially extending flaps are used between the shields to establish positive engagement, with the space problem being in the transverse direction rather than the mating direction.
In order to solve the space problems described above, positive engagement between a pair of shields of a pair of mating connectors has been accomplished by using flexible, cantilevered ground arms which are stamped directly out of a side wall of at least one of the shields at the mating interface of the connectors. Although such flexible ground arms do not require additional space, they create further problems in creating stamped openings about the arms through which electromagnetic interference can pass. In addition, if the flexible arms are too short, they are susceptible to failure due to stress and strain from numerous mating and unmating cycles of the connectors. In other words, it is desirable to have relatively long cantilevered ground arms, but the size of connectors often do not allow sufficient dimensions to lengthen the arms. The present invention is directed to solving one or more of this myriad of problems in shielded electrical connectors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electromagnetic shield for at least one electronic component.
Another object of the invention is to provide an electrical connector with a new and improved electrically conductive shield.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the shield includes an electrically conductive enclosure having walls means defining an open end at a mating face of the component. The wall means include a first wall and second wall extending generally transversely of an end wall. A flexible ground arm is integrally formed from both the end and second walls and include a contact portion for engaging a conductive ground portion of a complementary mating electronic component. By forming the ground arm from two adjacent walls, the length of the ground arm can be extended.
As disclosed herein, the enclosure is stamped and formed of conductive sheet metal material. The end and second walls are generally perpendicular to each other, and the ground arm has a generally right-angular configuration. The ground arm is cantilevered, with a proximal end anchored integrally with the end wall and with a free distal end contiguous with the second wall. The contact portion is at the distal end of the ground arm.
The invention also contemplates that the enclosure includes a pair ofthe end walls at opposite major sides of the open end of the disclosure, extending transversely of the second wall, and a pair of the ground arms integrally formed from respective pairs of the end walls and the second wall. The invention also contemplates an electrical connector which includes a dielectric housing defining a mating face of the connector, along with a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing, and with the electromagnetic shield being disposed about the housing at the mating face thereof.
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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Brunker David L.
Simmel George M.
Molex Incorporated
Vu Hien
Weiss Stephen Z.
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