Abstract:
A connector with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation and method of release. A connector includes a housing having an interconnect end and a rear end, the front end configured for interfacing with a reciprocal connector in a linear motion to engage and disengage the reciprocal connector. A latch is held by the housing, wherein the latch includes support arms extending at the rear end of the housing and engaging ends proximate the interconnect end for maintaining the housing relative to the reciprocal connector when in an engaged position. An actuator is rotatably mounted within support arms of the latch for translating a force transverse to the direction of the linear motion and applying the translated force to the latch to move the engaging ends of the latch.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Fields of the Embodiments of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates in general to cable connectors, and more particularly to a connector with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation and method of release. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Storage devices are widely used in computers and data processing systems for storing information in digital form. As computer use continues to increase, there is a corresponding increase in the need to find sufficient storage volume for a greater number of disk drives, or other storage devices. Often a large number of storage devices are packaged together in close proximity to each other in mass storage systems. 
         [0005]    Connectors between devices in computer servers and memory storage racks are a critical component. Connectors must be designed so that the contacts do not become disconnected when subjected to different loads and stresses, such as those imposed by vibration, temperature differences and the like. In addition, the connector should be relatively easy to connect and disconnect, especially within the confined space of a densely populated electronics rack cabinet. 
         [0006]    Connectors often include latches for connection and disconnection to meet such requirements. Such latches ensure that mated contacts remain reliably closed and are prevented from opening during operation of the electronic assembly in which they are used. For disconnection, the latches must be disengaged. Initially, this was achieved by either unscrewing captive screws or pressing a pair of tabs on the latches at each side of the connector towards the center of the connector and then moving the connector to disconnect it. However, the space available for these tabs are usually small and the tabs may be difficult to grasp by a person removing the connector. 
         [0007]    The connector must be disconnected from a port when a connector is designed to hook into the port header in such a way that any stress on the coupling will not allow for a clean dismount. Such a scenario exists with many high-speed signal cable designs today. 
         [0008]    Many contemporary connector designs include a simple pull-back release with a pull-tab that is used to disconnect this connector from the port. The design intent is that the pull tab is simply pulled rearward to release the latches from the connector. However, the pull tab on the release actually makes disconnection difficult because the rearward force on the pull tab both unlatches the connector and disconnects the connector from the port at the same time. When the connector is pulled back by the release tab the entire connector wants to move away from the connector, and the hooks dig into the connector more tightly, which prevents the release of the cable. Essentially, the pull tab is allowing the disconnection step to happen before the unlatching step, which is physically impossible. 
         [0009]    This problem is overcome today by pushing in the cable connector towards the connector and then pulling back on the connector pull tab. This process is inherently a two handed dismount. Moreover, the forward push and rearward pull on the tab allows the unlatching step to happen before the disconnection step. However, this removal method is very unintuitive. 
         [0010]    It can be seen then that there is a need for a connector with a dismount latch that allows separation of the unlatching step from the cable separation step and thereby an improved method of release. 
       SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0011]    To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, embodiments of the present invention include a connector with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation and method of release. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention enable the first motion of the connector release to be that of pushing down instead of pulling away from the connector bulkhead which cams the cable connector out of the port on the system. This separates the unlatching step from the cable disconnection step and prevents the disconnection step from preceding the unlatching step. 
         [0013]    A connector according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing having an interconnect end and a rear end, the front end configured for interfacing with a reciprocal connector in a linear motion to engage and disengage the reciprocal connector, a latch held by said housing, the latch having support arms extending at the rear end of the housing and engaging ends proximate the interconnect end for maintaining the housing relative to the reciprocal connector when in an engaged position and an actuator rotatably mounted within support arms of the latch for translating a force transverse to the direction of the linear motion and applying the translated force to the latch to move the engaging ends of the latch. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for releasing a connector is provided. The method includes applying, to a release actuator coupled to a housing of a connector, a force transverse to a direction of the linear motion for removing the housing of the connector to a latch to move engaging ends of the latch to unlock the connector and while applying the transverse force to the actuator, moving the housing of the connector in the direction of linear motion for removing the housing. 
         [0015]    These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the embodiments of the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, their advantages, and the objects obtained by their use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a connector as known in the prior art having a release latch  110  for disconnecting the connector from a port; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates an operation of the connector for engaging a connector port as known in the prior art; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  illustrates a connector in an unlocked position as known in the prior art; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a port header for engaging a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a comparison drawing illustrating differences between a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention and a connector requiring the two-handed disconnect procedure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a side view of connector showing additional detail of the rotatable latch according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 6  according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a close-up drawing of a camming handle used in the connector of  FIGS. 6 and 7  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    In the following description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration the specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized because structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a connector with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation and method of release. The first motion of the connector release may thus be that of pushing down instead of pulling away from the connector bulkhead in order to cam the cable connector out of the port. This separates the unlatching step from the cable disconnection step and prevents the disconnection step from preceding the unlatching step. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a connector  100  as known in the prior art having a release latch  110  for disconnecting the connector  100  from a port. The connector  100  is shown connected to a device  112 , wherein the connector  100  is hooked into the port header  114 . However, the connector  100  is configured in such a way that any stress on the coupling will not allow for a clean dismount. Unfortunately, this design is found on many of today&#39;s high-speed signal cable connectors. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 1 , a pull-back release latch  110  is shown. The pull-back release latch  110  includes a pull tab  120 . To release the connector  100 , the pull tab  120  is pulled rearward in the direction of arrow  140  to cause the latch  110  to release hooks  130  from the port header  114 . However, the pull tab  120  on the release latch  110  actually makes disconnection difficult because the rearward force on the pull tab  120  both unlatches the connector  100  and disconnects the connector  100  from the port header  114  at the same time. When the release latch  110  is pulled back by the release tab  120  the entire connector  100  wants to move away from the port header  114 , and the hooks  130  at the port header  114  engage the port header  114  more tightly, which prevents the release of the cable  122 . 
         [0029]    Thus, the pull tab  120  of the connector  10  shown in  FIG. 1  allows the disconnection step to happen before the unlatching step. However, this is physically impossible and therefore results in disconnection issues, e.g., difficulty in releasing the connector from the port, damage to the connector, damage to the port, damage to the cable, etc. To overcome such disconnection issues, and specifically to prevent such damage, users of the connector  100  push the cable connector  100  towards the port header  114  and then pull back on the connector pull tab  120  before finally pulling the cable connector  100  away from the port header  114 . Nevertheless, this unintuitive method is a two handed dismount because of the forward push on the connector  100  and the rearward pull on the tab  120 . Moreover, this two-handed process allows the unlatching step to happen before the disconnection step. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates an operation of the connector  100  as known in the prior art for engaging a connector port. The connector  100  includes a housing  202  and hooks  103  for coupling the electrical connector  100  to a receptacle (not shown). The housing  202  has a generally box-shaped form that is defined by an interconnect face  232  at the front end  204 . The hooks  130  extend along the side walls  216  that define a cavity therein. A port header (not shown) extends at least partially within a cavity of the connector housing  202  at the front end  204 . The hooks  130  are connected to a latch (see  FIG. 1 ,  110 ). The hooks  130  are designed to provide the necessary retention to a port header. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates the connector  100  as known in the prior art in an unlocked position. In  FIG. 3 , the connector  100  is again shown having a housing  202  and hooks  130  for coupling the electrical connector  100  to a port header (not shown). The housing  202  has a generally box-shaped form that is defined by an interconnect face  332  at the front end  204 . The hooks  130  extend along the side walls  216  that define a cavity therein. In  FIG. 3 , the connector is in an unlocked state as provided by the hooks  130  being pulled away from the front end  204  of the housing  202 . However, the movement of the hooks  130  away from the front  204  of the housing  202  (see arrow  342 ) while the housing is being forced in the same direction results in the jamming of the hooks  130 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 4  shows a port header  414  for engaging a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the port header  414  includes a receptacle  460  for receiving the hooks of the connector. The port header  414  is configured for being received within the housing of the connector and the hooks engage the receptacle  460  of the port header  414 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a comparison drawing  500  illustrating differences between a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention  570  and a connector requiring the two-handed disconnect procedure  580 . In  FIG. 5 , the connector according to an embodiment of the present invention  570  includes a release mechanism  572  that redirects the first motion of the connector release to a pushing down motion instead of pulling away from the port header  514 . This separates the unlatching step from the cable disconnection step and prevents the disconnection step from preceding the unlatching step. 
         [0034]    The pull-back latch  510  of connector  580  is replaced by a rotatable latch  572  of connector  570  that requires a down motion. The rotatable latch  572  of connector  570  does not require the pull back tab  520 . The pull-back latch  510  of connector  580  is replaced with a rotating cam handle  574  with a cam out tip  576 . When pushing down on the rotating cam handle  574 , the hook latch is not jammed into the latch receptacle thereby allowing easy release of the connector  570 . With this method, it is not necessary to push the connector  570  towards the port header  514  while unlatching the connector  570 . Moreover, the rotatable latch  572  of connector  570  provides a dismount process that may be accomplished with a one-handed motion that is less error-prone. 
         [0035]      FIG. 6  is a side view of connector  670  showing additional detail of the rotatable latch  672  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , the connector  670  is shown mated with a port header  614 . The hooks  630  are locked into position to engage the receptacles (not shown) of the port header  614 . The rotatable latch  672  includes an actuator, such as a rotatable handle  674 , that is rotatably mounted in arms  676 . The rotatable handle  674  may be pushed down to cause the camming end  678  of the rotatable handle  674  to pull back on the hooks  630  instead through the push down motion applied to the rotatable handle  674 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the connector  600  according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 7 , the connector  600  includes a housing  702  and hooks  630  for coupling the electrical connector  600  to a receptacle (not shown). The housing  702  has a generally box-shaped form that is defined by an interconnect face  732  at the front end  704 . The hooks  630  extend along the side walls  716  that define a cavity therein. The housing  702  includes a cavity  734  at the front end  704  of the connector housing  702  for receiving a port header (not shown) or other reciprocal connector. A rotatable latch  672  redirects the first motion of the connector release to a pushing down motion instead of pulling away motion. This separates the unlatching step from the cable disconnection step and prevents the disconnection step from preceding the unlatching step. The rotatable latch  672  includes the rotating cam handle  674 . In  FIG. 7 , electrical connections  736  are configured for being received in a port header as the port header is received within the cavity  734  of housing  702 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  is a close-up drawing  800  of a camming handle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 8 , the rotatable handle  674  is configured with a central shaft  880  for providing rotating motion to the rotatable handle  874  when a downward force (in direction of arrow  844 ) is applied to the crossbar  882  of the rotatable handle  674 . The central shaft  880  mates with a shaft support structure in receiving arms (see  FIG. 6 ,  676 ). When the rotatable handle  674  is pushed down to cause the camming end  878  of the rotatable handle  674  to pull back on the hook release tips  630  to release the connector. 
         [0038]      FIG. 9A  provides a view of  FIG. 7  showing how arms  676  extend, as shown by the dotted lines, through the housing  702  to engage the hooks  630 . In  FIG. 9A , the hook  630  is not yet pulled back as the handle  674  is in an up position and the handle  674  is not yet pushed down to cause the camming end  678  to pull back on the arms  676  and the hook release tip  630 . A downward force  844  is applied to the rotatable handle  674  as a result of the rotatable handle  674  being pushed down to have the arm  676  pull back on the release tips  630  as shown by pull back force  742 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 9B  provides a view of  FIG. 7  showing of how the rotatable handle  674  is in a down position as a result of the downward force  740  shown in  FIG. 9B  that causes the arms  676  to apply the pull back force  742  on the hook  630  to release the connector and place in the unlocked position. 
         [0040]    Accordingly, a connector may be provided with a dismount latch configured to separate unlatching from cable separation according to embodiments of the present invention. The first motion of the connector release may be that of pushing down instead of pulling away from the connector bulkhead. This separates the unlatching step from the cable disconnection step and prevents the disconnection step from preceding the unlatching step. 
         [0041]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.