Electrical connector assembly with external metallic gasket

An electrical connector assembly (100) including: a housing (1) having an upper shield part (15) and a lower shield part (16) engaged with each other to form a rear body portion (12) and a front mating portion (13). Two printed circuit boards (2) are positioned in the housing. A spacer (3) is sandwiched between the two printed circuit boards. A metallic holder (8) surrounds the body portion of the housing. A metallic gasket (9) surrounds a rear section of the mating portion and located adjacent to the body portion. Each of the upper and lower shield parts has a first post positioning (154, 162) a corresponding one of the two printed circuit boards and a second post positioning (155, 163) the two printed circuit boards and the spacer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to connectors suitable for transmitting data, more specifically to input/output (I/O) connectors with high-density configuration and high data transmitting rate.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,937 issued to Reed et al. on Oct. 16, 2007 discloses a plug connector. The plug connector defines a body portion and a mating portion extending forwardly from a front face of the body portion and having a groove thereon. An elastomeric ring gasket is received into the groove of the mating portion and it encircles and sits thereon near the front face of body portion to provide a seal against EMI radiation when in use. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0130063 to Lang et al. published on May 27, 2010 also discloses a plug connector with an elastomeric ring gasket formed thereon to provide anti-EMI function, as well as internal circuit card support means. The plug connector defines a larger body portion and a smaller mating portion. The elastomeric ring gasket also encircles the smaller mating portion. The gasket is formed from a continuous band of elastomeric material that contains conductive matter so as to render it conductive in ways known in the art. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0256776 to Reed et al. published on Oct. 20, 2011 also relates to a similar type of connector, further disclosing a fastening clip for retaining two housing halves.

An electrical connector having improved internal circuit card or board supporting structure is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector assembly with high-density configuration and high data transmitting rate, and with anti-EMI function.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector assembly comprises: a housing having an upper shield part and a lower shield part engaged with each other to form a rear body portion and a front mating portion; two printed circuit boards positioned in the housing; a spacer sandwiched between the two printed circuit boards; a metallic holder surrounding the body portion of the housing; and a metallic gasket surrounding a rear section of the mating portion and located adjacent to the body portion, wherein each of the upper and lower shield parts has a first post positioning a corresponding one of the two printed circuit boards and a second post positioning the two printed circuit boards and the spacer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 4illustrate perspective views of an electrical connector assembly100made in accordance with the present invention. And in conjunction withFIGS. 7 to 8, the electrical connector assembly100comprises a housing1having a receiving room11therein, two paralleled printed circuit boards (PCBs)2positioned in the receiving room11, a spacer3disposed between the two printed circuits boards2and positioned with the housing1, two cables4respectively electrically connected with two printed circuit boards2and a strain relief5disposed in the housing1and spaced apart with the two cables4along a vertical direction. The electrical connector assembly100further comprises a latch mechanism assembled to a top surface of the housing1and a metallic holder8surrounding a portion of the housing1and the latch mechanism. The latch mechanism comprises a latching member6and a pulling member7interconnected with each other. The electrical connector assembly100further comprises a metallic gasket9surrounding a front portion of the housing1.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the housing1is made of metallic material and formed in a die-cast manner. The housing1defines a body portion12and a mating portion13extending forward from the body portion12for mating to a complementary connector (not shown). The body portion12has a cross section larger than that of mating portion13. The housing1defines a receiving room11extending rearward from a front surface to a rear surface thereof. The body portion12of the housing1defines a top surface121. The mating portion13of the housing1also defines a top surface131. The top surface121is disposed above the top surface131. The body portion12defines a receiving cavity14extending downwardly from the top surface121for a distance and located on a front end of the body portion12. The receiving cavity14has a bottom surface141located on a same level with the top face131. In addition, a pair of supporting posts143are formed on two inner side surfaces of the receiving cavity14for supporting a front end of the connecting section72of the pulling member7. The mating portion13of the housing1defines a recessed area132formed on an outer surface and located adjacent to a front surface of the body portion12for receiving the metallic gasket9.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the housing1comprises a first shield part15and a second shield part16assembled with each other along a vertical direction. The first shield part15and the second shield part16are mated with each other along a horizontal plane. The first shield part15defines a rectangular frame151formed at a front end thereof and defined as a mating port of the housing1. The first shield part15further defines a top wall (not labeled) extending rearwardly from the rectangular frame151and a pair of side walls (not labeled) extending downwardly from two sides of the top wall.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 4, the first shield part15defines a first receiving passage153extending along a front-to-rear direction and communicated with an exterior along a downward direction. Further, the first shield part15defines two first positioning posts154formed on an inner side surface thereof and another two first positioning posts154formed on another inner side surface thereof. Each of two first positioning posts154are spaced apart with each other along a front-to-rear direction. Each first positioning post154has a semi-circular cross section. The first positioning posts154are used for supporting the printed circuit board2along an up-to-down direction. In addition, two second positioning posts155are respectively formed on two inner side surface of the first shield part15. Each second positioning post155is disposed between the two first positioning posts154along a front-to-rear direction for limiting a movement of the printed circuit board2along a front to rear direction. Each second positioning post155also has a semi-circular cross section. And, the second positioning post155is longer than the first positioning post154along a vertical direction. The first shield part15defines a first depressed section156formed on an outer surface of a front portion of the first shield part15.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 4, the second shield part16is structured in a cover shape and defines a bottom wall (not labeled) and a pair of side walls (not labeled) extending upwardly from two sides of the bottom wall. The second shield part16defines a second receiving passage161formed therein and extending along a front-to-rear direction. The second shield part16also defines two first positioning posts162and a second positioning post163on an inner side surface of the second receiving passage161. The second shield part16defines another two first positioning posts162and a second positioning post163on another inner side surface of the second receiving passage161. Each second positioning post163is disposed between two first positioning posts162along a front-to-rear direction. The first positioning posts162are used for supporting the printed circuit board2along an up-to-down direction. The second positioning posts163are used for limiting a movement of the printed circuit board2along a front to rear direction. The second shield part16also defines a second depressed section164formed on an outer surface of a front portion of the second shield part16. The recessed area132formed on an outer surface of the mating portion13is composed by the first depressed section156and the second depressed section164. A pair of positioning sections165are formed in the second depressed section164to engage with two free ends of the metallic gasket9. In this embodiment, the pair of positioning sections165are designed to two pins. A plurality of ribs166are formed in the recessed area132for engaging with the metallic gasket9.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 6and in conjunction withFIG. 8, two printed circuit boards2are received into the receiving room11of the housing1. Each of the printed circuit board2defines a front mating section21and a rear terminating section22. The mating section21defines a plurality of conductive pads211formed on a top and bottom surfaces thereof. The terminating section22also defines a plurality of conductive pads (not shown) formed on a top and bottom surfaces thereof. And, each of the printed circuit board2defines two projections23extending outwardly from two sides thereof. Each projection23defines a cutout24cooperating with a second positioning post155,163. Thus, the two printed circuit boards2are respectively limited by the two second positioning posts155,163along a front-to-rear direction.

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 8, the spacer3is formed of insulative material and defines a top surface and a bottom surface. The spacer3defines a pair of ribs31respectively formed at two sides of the top surface and another pair of ribs31respectively formed at two sides of the bottom surface for supporting two printed circuit boards2. Two projections32are respectively formed at two sides of the spacer3. The spacer3further defines a pair of grooves33respectively formed on the two projections32extending along a vertical direction for cooperating with the two second positioning posts155,163. The spacer3further defines a grounding plate35integrative formed therein.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, each of the cable4has a plurality of conductors41electrically connected to the terminating section22of the printed circuit board2. And, a ring42is surrounded to an outer surface of the cable4.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 7, a strain relief5is made of metallic material and disposed in a rear section of the receiving room11of the housing1. The strain relief5has two recesses51respectively formed on a top and bottom surfaces thereof for receiving a portion of the two rings42. The strain relief5defines a pair of receiving holes52formed on a rear surface thereof for receiving a pair of engaging pieces53.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6, the latching member6is stamped and formed from a metallic plate and comprises a vertical retaining portion61, a connecting portion62extending forwardly from a bottom side of the retaining portion61and a latching portion63extending forwardly from the connecting portion62. A front portion of the latch6is defined as a latching portion63. The retaining portion61defines a plurality of sharp projections611formed at two sides thereof. The connecting portion62defines a rectangular hole621for a front end of the pulling member7passing through. The latching portion63defines a pair of barbs631formed at two sides thereof.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6, the pulling member7is made of insulative material and structured in a flat shape. The pulling member7defines a T-shape actuating section73, a rear operating section71and a connecting section72connecting the actuating section73and the rear operating section71. A tape74is connected to a rear end of the actuating section73of the pulling member7.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6, the metallic holder8defines a main portion81binding the first shield part15and the second shield part16together and a shielding portion82shielding a portion of the body portion12. The main portion81is structured in a rectangular frame shape and has a top wall811, a bottom wall812and a pair of side walls813connected with the top wall811and the bottom wall812. The shielding portion82extends forwardly and downwardly from the top wall811. Each side wall813defines a tab83extending inwardly from a rear edge thereof. And, the tab83is perpendicular to the side wall813and defines a through hole831in alignment with a receiving hole52of the strain relief5along a front-to-rear direction. The top wall811and the bottom wall812respectively has two spring tabs (not labeled) to hold the first shield part15and second shield part16along a vertical direction.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 7, two engaging pieces53are assembled to the strain relief5. In this embodiment, the engaging piece53is a screw. Two screws53are passed through the two through holes831and received into the receiving holes52to interlock the metallic holder8and the strain relief5. As the strain relief5is disposed in the housing1, so the metallic holder8is indirectly positioned with the housing1through the screws53.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 9 to 11, the metallic gasket9is made of metallic sheet and received into the recessed area156,164of the mating portion13of the housing1. The metallic gasket9is structured in a frame shape. The metallic gasket9defines a top wall91, a pair of vertical walls92respectively extending downwardly from two edges of the top wall91and a pair of lower sub-walls93extending inwardly from two ends of the pair of vertical walls92. A free end of each lower sub-wall93is defined as a connecting portion931engaged with a pin165of the housing1. The metallic gasket9is firmly fixed to the housing1due to a connection between the connecting portion931and the positioning sections165. The metallic sheet9defines a plurality of first fingers94and a plurality of second fingers95formed around the metallic sheet9and extending rearwardly and outwardly. The first and second fingers94,95are both inclined and elastic. A plurality of second fingers95are located on an inner side of a plurality of first fingers94. The metallic gasket9defines a plurality of rectangular holes96corresponding to a plurality of free ends of the first fingers94and a plurality of rectangular holes97corresponding to the plurality of second fingers95. The rib166is disposed in the rectangular hole97to limited a movement of the metallic gasket9along a front to rear direction. And, it should be noted that each of the first finger94is overlapped with a corresponding second finger95in a vertical direction.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 11, the assembling process of the electrical connector assembly100made in according to the present invention starts from soldering the conductors41of each cable4to the terminating section22of the printed circuit board2. Thus, two combinations of the cable4and the printed circuit board2are accomplished.

Then, turn over the first shield part15to make the first receiving passage153facing upward and assembling a combination of the cable4and the printed circuit board2into the first receiving passage153. The printed circuit board2is supported by the first positioning posts154along a vertical direction. The printed circuit board2is positioned with the first shield part15along a front-to-rear direction due to two cutouts24of the printed circuit board2cooperated with the pair of second positioning posts155of the first shield part15. And, a front end of the cable4is supported by a rear end of the first shield part15.

Then, assemble the strain relief5to a rear end of the first shield part15. And, the ring42is sandwiched by the rear end of the first shield part15and the strain relief5. Thus, the ring42is received into a room (not labeled) formed by the strain relief5and the first shield part15.

Then, assemble the spacer3into the first receiving passage153of the first shield part15to make the two grooves33of the spacer3in alignment with the two second positioning posts155. The spacer3is located on the printed circuit board2.

Then, assemble another combination of the printed circuit board2and the cable4together to the first shield part15. The printed circuit board2is located on the spacer3. The mating section21of the printed circuit board2is received into the rectangular frame151of the first shield part15. The two cutouts24of the printed circuit board2are in alignment with two grooves33of the spacer3. The ring42of the cable is supported by the strain relief5.

Then, assemble the second shield part16to the first shield part15. Thus, the housing1is formed by the first shield part15and the second shield part16. At this time, the first positioning posts162attach to the printed circuit board2. And, the second positioning posts163are respectively passed through the two cutouts24of the printed circuit board2and two grooves33of the spacer3in turn. Thus, the printed circuit board2and the spacer3are positioned with the second shield part16along a front-to-rear direction. After, the second shield part16is assembled to the first shield part15, the two printed circuit boards2and the spacer3are all positioned in the housing1.

Then, assemble the metallic gasket9to the recessed area132of the housing1. Two connecting portions931of metallic gasket9are respectively connected to the two positioning sections165of the housing1. Thus, the metallic gasket9is firmly fixed to the housing1.

Then, assemble the latching member6to the pulling member7together through following steps. Firstly, the latching member6is disposed in front of pulling member7and arranged perpendicular to the pulling member7. Secondly, the actuating section73of the pulling member7is passed through the rectangular hole621of the latching member6and located below the latching member6. Thirdly, the latching member6is rotated 90 degree to make the latching member6and the pulling member6arranged in line. Thus, the latching member6is interconnected with the pulling member7. And, the latching member6is not easily discrete from the pulling member7due to the width of a free end of the actuating section73is wider than the rectangular hole621. The actuating section73will be moved along an upward and rearward direction when the pulling member7is exerted by a horizontal force.

Then, assemble the latching member6and the pulling member7together to an exterior surface of housing1. The connecting section72of the pulling member7is located on the top surface121of the body portion12of the housing1. A front end of the connecting section72of the pulling member7is supported by the pair of supporting posts143extended into the receiving cavity14. The operating section71of the pulling member7extends rearwardly beyond the rear surface of the housing1. In addition, the latching member6is received into the receiving cavity14. Thus, the actuating section73of the pulling member7is disposed between the latching member6and the bottom surface141of the receiving cavity14. The retaining portion61of the latching member6is engaged with the housing1. The connecting portion62of the latching member6is located above the bottom surface141. The latching portion63extends forwardly and is located above the top surface131of the mating portion13of the housing1. The latching portion63is cantilevered from the retaining portion61. The pair of barbs631of the latching member6pass through the corresponding outer fingers94of the metallic gasket9in a vertical direction. When a rearward pulling force is exerted on a rear end of the pulling member7or the tape74, the latching portion63of the latching member6will be raised up. When the rearward pulling force is released, the latching portion63of the latching member6will resume to an original state.

Finally, assemble a metallic holder8to the housing1. The main portion81of the metallic holder8binds the first part15, the second shield part16and a portion of the pulling member7together. The pulling member7can be moved along a front to rear direction relative to the housing1and limited by the metallic holder8along a vertical direction. The strain relief5is also limited in the housing1by the metallic holder8through the pair of screws53. The rear end of the latching member6and the front end of the pulling member7are shielded by the shielding portion82of the metallic holder8.

After the above assembling steps, the entire process of assembling of the electrical connector assembly100is finished. The metallic gasket9is firmly fixed to the housing1and will not be easily disengaged from the housing1. If the housing1defines two or more mating portions, two adjacent metallic gasket9assembled to the two mating portions are not easily separated from the two mating portions due to the tight spacing therebetween. Thus, the electrical connector assembly100will achieve better EMI suppressing effect.