Electrical connector assembly with EMI gasket

An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member configured for mounting in an opening in a panel. The cage member has at least one compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. An EMI gasket is mounted externally on the cage member. The EMI gasket includes a dielectric carrier holding a plurality of electrically conductive springs that are configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly, to electrical connector assemblies for pluggable electronic modules.

Some known electrical connector assemblies include a metal cage having a plurality of ports the each receive a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module therein. The pluggable modules may plug into an electrical connector that is held within the cage and is electronically connected to a host circuit board. An end of the cage that includes the ports for the pluggable modules is typically held within a panel of a housing that contains the host circuit board therein. For example, the housing may be a housing for a computer that includes the host circuit board. The end of the cage that is held within the panel typically includes a plurality of springs formed integrally from a wall thereof. The springs extend circumferentially about the end of the cage and exert a spring force on an interior surface of the panel opening that receives the cage end to securely hold the cage end within the panel opening. The springs also facilitate containing electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions by providing a plurality of contact points that ground the cage to the panel.

However, maintaining a predetermined structural integrity of the cage at the end held within the panel opening limits the number of springs that can be formed from the cage wall. Accordingly, maintaining the predetermined structural integrity may limit the number of contact points that facilitate the containment of EMI emissions. Specifically, if the cage wall is formed with too many springs, the structural integrity of the cage wall at the end held within the panel opening may fall below design limits, thereby leading to instability and possible deformation of the cage. Therefore, the springs must be spaced far enough apart along the circumference of the cage wall such that the structural integrity of the cage wall at the end held within the panel opening does not fall below design limits.

There is a need for an electrical connector assembly that includes a cage that facilitates minimizing EMI emissions while maintaining a predetermined structural integrity of the cage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connector assembly includes a cage member configured for mounting in an opening in a panel. The cage member has at least one compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. An EMI gasket is mounted externally on the cage member. The EMI gasket includes a dielectric carrier holding a plurality of electrically conductive springs that are configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel.

In another aspect, an electrical connector assembly is provided. The electrical connector assembly includes a cage member configured for mounting in an opening in a panel. The cage member has at least one compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. An electrical connector is at least partially held by the cage member. The electrical connector is configured to electrically connect to the pluggable electrical component when the pluggable electrical component is received within the compartment. An EMI gasket is mounted externally on the cage member. The EMI gasket includes a dielectric carrier holding a plurality of electrically conductive springs that are configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly10formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The assembly10includes a shielded cage member12having one or more electrical connectors14(FIGS. 6-8) positioned therein and an EMI gasket16mounted externally on an end portion18of the cage member12, as will be described in more detail below. The assembly10is configured to be positioned on a circuit board20for electrically connecting one or more pluggable electrical components22(FIGS. 9 and 10), such as, but not limited to, small form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules, to the circuit board20via the electrical connector(s)14. The end portion18of the cage member12is configured to be mounted, or received, within an opening24of a panel26that is adjacent the circuit board20. For example, the panel26may be a wall of a housing of a device (not shown), such as, but not limited to, a computer, that includes the circuit board20. In such an example, the electrical connector assembly10enables pluggable electrical component(s)22located outside the housing to be electrically connected to the circuit board20contained within the housing.

FIGS. 2 and 3are perspective views of the cage member12formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cage member12includes a body28extending from the end portion18to an opposite end portion29. In the exemplary embodiment, the cage member body28includes a generally rectangular cross section, for example taken along line2-2ofFIG. 2, and includes an upper wall30, a lower wall32, and side walls34and36. However, the cage member body28may include any suitable cross-sectional shape that enables the cage member12to function as described herein. The cage member12includes an internal chamber38that is subdivided into a plurality of internal compartments40, which are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the cage member12includes a center separator member42that divides the internal compartments40into two rows, and three divider walls46that divide the internal compartments40into four columns. The center separator member42includes an upper wall50, a lower wall52, and a front face portion54. As will be discussed in more detail below, each internal compartment40is configured to at least partially receive a pluggable electrical component22(FIGS. 9 and 10) therein through a corresponding opening, or port,56at the cage member end portion18that communicates with the corresponding compartment40. For each column of the internal compartments40, the cage member body28also includes an opening58extending through the lower wall32, and an opening60extending through the upper and lower walls50and52, respectively, of the center separator member42. The openings58and60are adjacent the end portion29of the cage member body28for at least partially receiving a corresponding electrical connector14(FIGS. 6-8) within the internal chamber38of the cage member12, as will be described in more detail below. As will also be described in more detail below, the openings58within the lower wall32of the cage member body28enable electrical connection between the electrical connectors14and the circuit board20(FIG. 1).

Although the cage member12is shown as including eight internal compartments arranged in two rows and four columns, the cage member12may include any number of internal compartments40, arranged in any number of rows and columns, for receiving any number of pluggable electrical components22.

The cage member12may have features that ground the cage member12to the circuit board20, the panel26, and/or another circuit board and/or panel. For example, the cage member body28may include a plurality of printed circuit board tines64and/or66, which may both mechanically hold and ground the cage member body28to the circuit board20. Additionally or alternatively, the cage member body28may include one or more resilient tongues68extending from the lower wall32to provide grounding of the cage member body28to the circuit board20. The upper and lower walls50and52, respectively, of the central separator member42may include grounding tabs70adjacent the front face portion54thereof for grounding a pluggable electrical component22that is received within the corresponding internal compartment40. The grounding tabs70may include latching openings72, as will be described in more detail below. The cage member body28may include kick-out springs74to facilitate removing the electrical connectors14from the body28.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the EMI gasket16formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The gasket16includes a spring carrier76and a plurality of spring assemblies78mounted on and held by the spring carrier76. In some embodiments, the spring carrier76is fabricated from a dielectric material, while in other embodiments the spring carrier76is fabricated from a an electrically conductive material. The spring carrier76includes a body80having a radially inner side82, and a radially outer side84opposite the inner side82. The body80may optionally include a flange86. Each spring assembly78includes a plurality of individual electrically conductive springs88. The spring assemblies78are held by the spring carrier76such that the individual springs88are positioned circumferentially about the gasket16, or more specifically about the body80of the spring carrier76. A spring portion90of each individual spring88extends along the outer side84of the body80for engaging a surface91(FIG. 1) defining the panel opening24(FIG. 1). The spring carrier body80is sized and shaped to be mounted externally on at least a portion of the end portion18(FIGS. 1-3) of the body28(FIGS. 2 and 3) of the cage member12(FIGS. 1-3). In the exemplary embodiment, the spring carrier body80is generally rectangular to generally match the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the cage member body28. Specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the spring carrier body80includes four legs92that are interconnected to form a rectangular shape. However, the spring carrier body80may include any suitable shape that enables the spring carrier76, as well as the gasket16overall, to function as described herein, whether the spring carrier body80includes a similar shape to the cage member body28.

The spring carrier76and the spring assemblies78may have any suitable configuration and/or arrangement, and/or may include any suitable structure and/or means, that enable the spring assemblies78, the spring carrier, and the gasket16to function as described herein. Moreover, the spring assemblies78may be held by the spring carrier76in any suitable manner, configuration, arrangement, and/or orientation, and/or using any suitable structure and/or means, that enable the spring carrier76, the spring assemblies78, and the gasket16to function as described herein. One example of the two preceding sentences is the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 5is a partially exploded perspective view of a portion of the gasket16. In the exemplary embodiment, each spring assembly78includes the plurality of individual springs88extending from a common base94. The individual springs88each include a body96extending from the base94to a free end portion98. The individual springs88may be integrally formed with the base94, or may be fabricated separately from the base94and thereafter connected thereto. The use of the term “assembly” herein includes a structure wherein each component of the structure is integrally formed, and a structure wherein some or all components of the structure are separately fabricated and thereafter connected to each other or other components of the structure.

The base94engages the cage member body28to provide an electrical connection between the individual springs88and the cage member12. The base94connects to an end portion100of the spring carrier body80where a surface102of the body80intersects a radially inner surface104of the radially inner side82of the body80. Specifically, the base94defines a channel106that overlaps the end portion100such that a wall108of the channel106engages the radially inner surface104of the spring carrier body80, and such that a wall110of the channel106engages the surface102of the body80. The base94may be secured to the end portion100in any suitable manner, configuration, and/or arrangement, and/or using any suitable structure and/or means, that enables the gasket16to function as described herein. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the channel wall110includes a plurality of openings112that each receives an extension114that extends outwardly from the surface102of the spring carrier body80. The channel wall110may include any number of openings112that each receives any number of extensions114. In addition or alternative to the openings112/extensions114, another example includes a snap-fit arrangement, wherein the channel106is provided with a size and/or shape such that the channel walls108and/or110are deformed and/or displaced when the channel106overlaps the end portion100of the spring carrier body80. In such a snap-fit arrangement, the channel106forms a spring portion of the spring assembly78that engages, or overlaps, the end portion100of the spring carrier body80. The channel106, or spring portion, holds the base94on the end portion100via the bias of the spring portion to return to its non-deformed and/or non-displaced size and/or shape.

The body80of the spring carrier76includes a plurality of slots116for receiving the individual spring bodies96when the base94is connected to the spring carrier body80. In the exemplary embodiment, each slot116receives one individual spring88therein, however one or more slots116may alternatively each receive two or more individual springs88therein. The spring carrier body80may include any number of slots116for receiving any number of individual springs88. The individual spring bodies96extend within the slots116such that the free end portions98engage an end portion118of the spring carrier body80that is opposite the end portion100. A portion of each of the slots116extends completely through the spring carrier body80such that when the individual springs88are received within the slots116, the radially outer side84of the spring carrier body80includes the spring portions90of the individual springs88extending along the side84, and such that the radially inner side82of the spring carrier body80includes other portions of the individual springs88(e.g., at least a portion of the free end portions98and the channel wall108). Although the individual spring bodies96are described and illustrated in the exemplary embodiment as having a length extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the legs92of the spring carrier body80, the spring carrier body80and/or the spring assemblies78may be configured such that the individual spring bodies96extend in any other direction relative to the length of the legs92when the spring assemblies78are held by the spring carrier76, such as a direction generally parallel or generally oblique relative to the length of the legs92.

Although each spring assembly78is described and illustrated herein in the exemplary embodiment as including a plurality of individual springs88, each spring assembly78, and/or the gasket16overall, may include any number of individual springs, including only one individual spring. Similarly, although the spring carrier76is described and illustrated herein in the exemplary embodiment as including four spring assemblies78(one for each leg92of the spring carrier body80), the spring carrier76may hold any number of spring assemblies78, including only one spring assembly78. For example, one or more legs92of the spring carrier body80may not hold a spring assembly78, one or more legs92of the spring carrier body80may hold more than one spring assembly78, and/or a plurality of the legs92of the spring carrier body80may hold a common spring assembly78(e.g., two or more of the legs92are connected to a common base94as described and illustrated with respect toFIG. 5). Moreover, although at least a majority of the circumference of the spring carrier76is described and illustrated herein in the exemplary embodiment as including individual springs88positioned thereabout, some portions of the circumference of the spring carrier76may alternatively not include springs88positioned thereabout. For example, one or more legs92of the spring carrier body80may not hold a spring assembly78(as described above), and/or one or more legs92of the spring carrier body80may hold one or more spring assemblies78along only a portion of a length of the leg92. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, one or more spring assemblies78may be formed integrally with the spring carrier body80.

Referring now toFIG. 1, when the spring carrier body80is received on the cage member end portion18, the spring carrier body80, and thus the gasket16, surrounds at least a portion of the cage member end portion18. Although shown as generally completely surrounding the cage member end portion18in the exemplary embodiment, the gasket16may alternatively surround only a portion of the cage member end portion18. The gasket16may be held on the end portion18using any suitable structure and/or means, such as, but not limited to, adhesive (not shown), frictional engagement, one or more latching mechanisms (not shown), and/or one or more extensions (on the cage member body28, the spring carrier76, and/or one or more of the spring assemblies78) (not shown) received within one or more openings (within the cage member body28, the spring carrier76, and/or one or more of the spring assemblies78) (not shown).

When the cage member end portion18is received within the panel opening24, the spring portion90of each individual spring88engages the surface91defining the panel opening24. If included, the gasket flange86may limit how much of the cage member end portion18extends through the panel opening24. The engagement between the spring portions90and the panel opening surface91facilitates containing electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions by providing a plurality of contact points that ground the cage member12to the panel26. The engagement between the spring portions90and the panel opening surface91also facilitates securely holding the cage member end portion18within the panel opening24. Specifically, as the cage member end portion18is received within the panel opening24, the panel opening surface91displaces and/or deforms the spring portions90generally radially inwardly against their bias, which exerts a spring force on the panel opening surface91to securely hold the cage member end portion19within the panel opening24. The spring assemblies78may be held within the spring carrier76such that the spring portions90are non-deformed and/or non-displaced from their natural size and/or shape when the cage member end portion18is not received within the panel opening24. In such an embodiment, the panel opening surface91displaces and/or deforms the spring portions90from their natural size and/or shape as the cage member end portion18is received within the panel opening24. In such an embodiment, a size, shape, and/or material of the spring portions90may be selected to provide a predetermined spring force.

Alternatively, the spring assemblies78may be held within the spring carrier76such that the spring portions90are initially deformed and/or displaced from their natural size and/or shape when the cage member end portion18is not received within the panel opening24. For example, the spring portions90may be deformed and/or displaced such that they have an increased curvature from their natural size and/or shape. In such an embodiment, as the cage member end portion18is received within the panel opening24, the panel opening surface91displaces and/or deforms the spring portions90generally radially inwardly against the bias of their initially deformed and/or displaced size and/or shape. In such an embodiment, in addition or alternative to a size, shape, and/or material of the spring portions90, a length of the slots116may be selected to provide the spring portions90with an initial deformation and/or displacement that provides a predetermined spring force.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of an electrical connector14formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical connector14includes a housing120having a lower face122for mating with the circuit board20(FIG. 1) and a mating face124for reception of a plug portion126(FIGS. 9 and 10) of the pluggable electrical component22. Specifically, the mating face124includes an upper extension receptacle128and a lower extension receptacle130that each extend outwardly from a recessed surface132extending therebetween. The upper and lower extension receptacles128and130, respectively, each include a terminal receptacle134that receives the plug portion126of the corresponding pluggable electrical component22therein. The terminal receptacles134each include one or more electrical contacts136that are electrically connected to corresponding electrical contacts138extending along the lower face122of the housing120, such as, but not limited to, using electrical contacts (not shown) and/or circuit board traces (not shown) held within the housing120. The electrical contacts136and138may each be any suitable type of electrical contact. The housing120may include alignment posts140and latching members142for aligning the electrical connector14within the cage member12(FIGS.1-3) and latching the electrical connector14in place within the cage member12, respectively.

The electrical connector14can be positioned within the cage member12by inserting the connector14through the openings58and60(FIGS. 2 and 3) within the lower wall32, the lower wall52of the center separator member42, and the upper wall50of the center separator member42, respectively, to the position shown inFIGS. 7 and 8. In such a position, the lower face122of the housing120extends adjacent the opening58within the lower wall32of the cage member12such that the electrical contacts138extend through the opening58. When the cage member12is positioned on the circuit board20, the lower face122of the housing120engages the circuit board20such that the electrical contacts138extending along the lower face122of the housing120are electrically connected to the circuit board20. Each of the electrical connectors14is shown latched to the cage member12, whereby the latches142are latched to either a side wall34or36or a divider wall46. When the electrical connectors14are latched in place within the cage member12, the terminal receptacles134are aligned with the corresponding internal compartment openings56for receipt of the plug portion126of the corresponding pluggable electrical component22.

FIG. 9is a perspective view of a pluggable electrical component22formed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 10is another perspective view of the pluggable electrical component22. Although illustrated as a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module, any suitable type of pluggable electrical component may be used with embodiments of the invention. The pluggable electrical component22includes the plug portion126for reception into the corresponding terminal receptacle134(FIG. 6) of the corresponding electrical connector14(FIGS. 6-8). In the exemplary embodiment, the plug portion126includes a circuit board146that is received within the corresponding terminal receptacle134such that electrical contacts148held on the circuit board146are electrically connected to the corresponding electrical contacts136of the corresponding terminal receptacle134. As such, the pluggable electrical component22can be electrically connected to the circuit board20(FIG. 1) via the corresponding electrical connector14held within the cage member12(FIGS. 1-3). The electrical contacts148may each be any suitable type of electrical contact.

The pluggable electrical component22also includes an electrical interconnection to an interface (not shown) at an end portion150that is opposite the plug portion126, such as, but not limited to, a copper interface in the way of a modular jack (not shown), or to a fiber optic connector (not shown) for further interfacing. The pluggable electrical component22may include grounding tabs152and/or154for grounding the pluggable electrical component22to the cage member12. A raised embossment156may also be provided for cooperation with the latching openings72(FIGS. 2 and 3) of the cage member12to facilitate latching the pluggable electrical component22in place within the cage member12.

The embodiments described and illustrated herein provide an electrical connector assembly that includes a cage member that facilitates minimizing EMI emissions while maintaining a structural integrity that is within design limits.

Exemplary embodiments are described and/or illustrated herein in detail. The embodiments are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components and/or steps of each embodiment may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. Each component, and/or each step of one embodiment, can also be used in combination with other components and/or steps of other embodiments. When introducing elements/components/etc. described and/or illustrated herein, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, “said”, and “at least one” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the element(s)/component(s)/etc. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional element(s)/component(s)/etc. other than the listed element(s)/component(s)/etc.