Abstract:
A stackable connector assembly for transmitting audio and video signal and configured by a module, terminals and metal shielding, characterized in that the module is configured by three stacked housings and a base plate, wherein at least one of the housing is configured as an optical connector, while the other two housings are configured as analog signal connector. Those three housings are assembled firstly, and then the base plate is attached from the bottom direction so as to fixedly secure the connector assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a stacked connector assembly, and more particularly to a connectors assembly having an optical connector and two analog video connectors. The stacked connector assembly features a compact dimension so as to reduce usage of a printed circuit board on which the connector assembly is mounted.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    Conventionally, an audio connector mounted to a computer system is an analog connector (a) which is generally embodied with two audio connectors stacked together, such as shown in FIG. 5. However, more and more optical connector (b) has been incorporated in the computer system so as to transmit digital data of video. As a result, it has become a trend to incorporate the optical connector to the computer system. Accordingly, the optical connector has become a standard device for the modern computer system. As shown in FIG. 4, when those two connectors are assembled to the printed circuit board, both take a certain surface area of the printed circuit board. As a result, it doubles the usage of the surface area. In addition, parts of those two connectors are overlapped as well thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. For example, assembling processes have to be done separately, and each of the connectors needs their own shielding. This does not meet the requirements form the market. There is a room for improving the connectors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly in which an optical connector as well as an audio connector are compactly stacked together so as to reduce the surface area needed for mounting the same onto a printed circuit board.  
           [0004]    In order to achieve to the object set forth, the main plastic module of the present invention is configured by three stackable plastic housings and a base plate. At least one of the plastic housings is used to configure a fiber optical connector and the other two plastic housings are adapted to configure the analog signal connectors. The bottom housing includes a longitudinal rib with respect to a receiving slot arranged on a bottom face of the middle housing. As such, the middle housing can be attached to the base housing by the engagement between the slot and the rib. The middle housing further includes a rib on a top face thereof. A terminal support is integrally formed with the middle housing. The upper housing is provided with-a slot with respect to the rib of the middle housing so as to attach thereto. The upper housing is also provided with a terminal support. The base plate is provided with three sets of through holes in align with terminal tails of the terminals of the connectors. The connectors are assembled firstly in a stack subassembly, the base plate is assembled to the sub-assembly so as to integrally attach to the connectors. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 is an assembled view of the connector assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of housings of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 5 is an illustrational view of conventional connectors.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0010]    The present invention can better understood for its features as well as advantages through the description made to a preferred embodiment together with the drawings.  
         [0011]    Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the stackable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention generally includes a module  10 , terminals  20  and metal shielding  30  enclosing the module  10  and the terminals  20 . The improvements of the present invention resides in:  
         [0012]    The module  10  is configured by first, second and third housings  11 ,  12 ,  13  and a base plate  14 . The first housing  11  is adapted to be configured as an optical connector, while the second and third plastic housings  12  and  13  are analog connectors. The first housing  11  is provided with a first longitudinal rib  111  on a top face thereof. The second housing  12  is provided with a slot  121  with respect to the longitudinal rib  111  of the first housing at a bottom face thereof. The second housing  12  is therefore attached to the first housing  11  by the engagement between the slot  121  and the rib  111 . The second housing  12  is further provided with a second longitudinal rib  122  at a top face thereof. The second housing  12  is further provided with a second terminal support  123  at a rear portion thereof. The third housing  13  is provided with a third slot  131  with respect to the second longitudinal rib  122  of the second housing  12 . As a result, the third housing  13  is attached to the second housing  12  by the engagement between the third slot  131  and the second longitudinal rib  122 . The third housing  13  is further integrally formed with a third terminal support  132 . The base plate  14  is provided with footprints  14 a,  14 b and  14 c each aligns to a corresponding terminal set from the first, second and third housings  11 ,  12  and  13 . In assembly, the first, second and third housings  11 ,  12  and  13  are firstly assembled to form a sub-assembly, then the base plate  14  is attached to the sub-assembly from the bottom direction so as to form a stacked connector assembly.  
         [0013]    Referring to FIG. 2, the metal shielding  30  is attached to the module so as to provide EMI shielding. The metal shielding  30  is configured by a front panel  31  of “U-shape” and a back panel  32  of “7-shape” attached to the front panel  31 . The front panel  31  is provided with first, second and third windows  31  a,  31  b and  31  c with respect to the first, second and third housings  11 ,  12  and  13 . The front panel  31  is further formed with two clips  311 . The back panel  32  is configured with a top panel  321  with first side flaps  322  attached thereto. The back panel  32  further includes a pair of second side flap  323  on a back portion thereof. The second side flap  323  has a trapezoid shape. The second side flap  323  is provided with hooking windows  324  so as to engage with the clips  311 . In assembly, the front panel  31  is attached to the front face of the module  10  so as to cover its front face and side wall. Then the back panel  32  is assembled to the module  10  from the back direction such that the hooking windows  324  are interlocked with the clips  311 . By this arrangement, the metal shielding  30  is assembled to the module  10  providing excellent EMI shielding effect.  
         [0014]    During the assembly of the module  10 , the terminals  20  or even coupler of fiber can be properly assembled to the first, second and third housings  11 ,  12  and  13 . The terminals  20  are properly supported by the second and third terminal supports  123  and  132  so as to correctly position the pitch of each terminal set. The terminals  20  assembled to the first housing  11  can be bent through  90  degrees. Finally, the footprints  14 a,  14 b and  14 c of the base plate  14  can aligned to terminals  20  so as to fixedly position terminal tails of the terminals  20 . Finally, after the metal shielding  30  is enclosed to the module  10  the assembly is done with reduced material used.  
         [0015]    Because the fiber connector and the analog connectors are assembled stacked together, the surface area used on the printed circuit board is therefore reduced. In addition, assembling of the fiber connector and the analog connectors to the printed circuit board can be done simultaneously. This will also benefit the time saving on material management, inventory and delivery.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIG. 4, the module  10  can be used with another three-port video connector  50 . In this case, the metal shielding  60  can be designed accordingly such that the three-port video connector  50  can be included. The metal shielding  60  has a similar configuration such as the metal shielding  30  discussed above, a front panel  61  of “U-shape” and a back panel  62  of “7-shape”. The front panel  61  is formed with totally six (6) windows  61   a  to  61   f  corresponding to accessing ports of the connector  50 . The front panel  61  is also provided with a pair of hooking windows  611 . The back panel  62  is formed with a pair of side flaps  623  of trapezoid shape. The side flap  623  is formed with a pair clips  624  corresponding to the hooking windows  611  so as to interlock to each other when assembled.  
         [0017]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.