Blind mate connector housing and assembly

A blind mate connector assembly comprises a first manifold and a second manifold removably coupled to the first manifold that defines a connector housing positionable between a primary electronics assembly and a secondary electronics assembly. A plurality of connector cavities are defined between the first and second manifolds. A plurality of right angle cable connectors, each situated within one of the plurality of connector cavities, extend partially through the connector housing to facilitate blind mate connection between the primary electronics assembly and the secondary electronics assembly. The connector housing comprises at least one mechanical float mechanism configured to facilitate movement of each right angle cable connector in multiple degrees of freedom. The connectors are replaceable by disassembling the first and second manifolds.

BACKGROUND

A particular electronic assembly may have a number of electrical connectors that electrically (and mechanically) couple to another electronic assembly or system. Often, area/space on or around these electronics assemblies is limited and valuable. Thus, low-profile electrical and mechanical connections between such assemblies is desired, such as with RF connectors. Moreover, as such connectors become damaged or need to be updated and replaced, it can be cumbersome, time consuming, and costly to replace such connectors. Finally, tolerance issues can cause misalignment between a pair of electronic assemblies, which can pose various problems when electrically and mechanically coupling the assemblies together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one example, there is disclosed herein a cable connector housing for blind mate connection of a right angle cable connector to an electronics assembly. The cable connector housing comprises a housing body and a connector cavity formed within the housing body and configured to receive and retain a right angle cable connector. A first opening is formed through the housing body and extends to the connector cavity and has a central axis and is sized to receive a blind mate connecting portion of the right angle cable connector. A second opening is formed through the housing body and extends to the connector cavity. The second opening has a central axis and is sized to receive a cable line connected to the right angle cable connector. The central axes of the first and second openings are oriented orthogonal to one another. In one aspect, the cable connector housing comprises a mechanical float mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the right angle cable connector relative to the connector cavity and the housing body in multiple degrees of freedom.

In another example there is disclosed herein a blind mate connector assembly comprising a first manifold comprising a plurality of first openings each having a central axis, and a second manifold removably coupled to the first manifold to define a connector housing positionable between a primary electronics assembly and a secondary electronics assembly. The second manifold comprises a plurality of second openings each having a central axis. A plurality of connector cavities defined by the first and second manifolds. A plurality of right angle cable connectors, each situated within one of the plurality of connector cavities, and the right angle cable connectors facilitate blind mate connection between the primary electronics assembly and the secondary electronics assembly. In one aspect, the connector housing comprises a mechanical float mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the right angle cable connector relative to the connector cavity and the housing body in multiple degrees of freedom.

In another example there is disclosed herein an electronics system comprising a primary electronics assembly and a secondary electronics assembly mechanically and electrically coupled to each other. A blind mate connector assembly coupled between the primary electronics assembly and the secondary electronics assembly comprises a housing removably attached to the primary electronics assembly. The housing has a plurality of connector cavities. A plurality of cables each comprises a cable connector and a cable line extending from the cable connector. Each cable line is electrically coupled to the primary electronics assembly, and each cable connector is removably positioned within one of the plurality of connector cavities and blind mate connected to the secondary electronics assembly. In one aspect, the housing comprises a mechanical float mechanism configured to facilitate movement of the right angle cable connector relative to the connector cavity and the housing body in multiple degrees of freedom.

FIGS. 1-5illustrate various views of an electronics system100according to one example. The electronics system100can comprise a blind mate connector assembly102positioned between a primary electronics assembly104and a secondary electronics assembly106to facilitate a blind mate (mechanical and electrical) connection between the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106.

In one example, the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106can each be a circuit card assembly (CCA) having a plurality of electrical and mechanical components supported on a substrate. The primary electronics assembly104can have a first electrical coupling108that blind mate interfaces with a second electrical coupling110on the secondary electronics assembly106. Such blind mate interface can be a power and control connection between blind mated CCAs, for instance. Advantageously, this connection can limit the amount of relative realignment required for another blind mate connection, such as for RF connections. In one aspect, a number of dielectric panels can be provided to mechanically couple (i.e., sandwich together) the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106together to form a low-profile electronics system. The panels can have fasteners that mechanically coupled the primary and secondary electronics104and106together via their substrates in a typical manner. When such panels and CCAs are sandwiched/attached together, for example, this can form a digital receiver module (DRM) used on Ku radio frequency systems (KRFS) as a part of an array back end unit (ABEU). As an example of this low-profile electronic assembly configuration,FIG. 4shows the primary electronics assembly104generally parallel to secondary electronics assembly106and attached together between upper and lower panels112and114, which can be attached to each other with fasteners116, as known in the art. Other fasteners (not shown) can couple respective panels112and114to the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106.

Accordingly, available space is limited between the primary and secondary electronic assemblies104and106. Thus, the blind mate connector assembly102can be positioned between the primary and secondary electronics assembly104and106to facilitate a blind mate connection between the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106.

In one example, the blind mate connector assembly102can comprise a first manifold120that is removably coupled to a second manifold122to collectively form a connector housing body, for instance. In one example shown inFIG. 1, a plurality of fasteners124(one labeled) are each positioned through respective apertures of the second manifold122, as shown, and attached to receiving threads of the first manifold120. These coupled first and second manifolds120and122can be removably attached to the first electronics assembly104using a pair of fasteners126(e.g., machine screws) disposed through apertures of the first electronics assembly104. The fasteners126can be attached to receiving threads on either end of the first manifold120. See also the partial cross sectional viewFIG. 4for the coupling interface between the first and second manifolds120and122. In this example, the first and second manifolds120and122are mated to each other and attached to the primary electronics assembly104.

A plurality of cables128, each comprising a cable line130and a cable connector132, can electrically couple the primary electronics assembly104to the secondary electronics assembly106. For example, as shown inFIG. 4, a particular cable line130(e.g., coaxial cable) can be mechanically and electrically coupled to a multi-contact device133, which can be a commercially available multi-contact RF module (or other backplane RF connector) attached to the primary electronics assembly104. Such multi-contact device133can removably receive connector ends (not shown) of the cable lines130, and therefore can electrically couple transmission of RF signals between the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106, for example. It is noted that, in one example, the plurality of cables128can be commercially available as right angle coaxial cables that have connectors, such as SMPM connectors, SMP connectors, or similar connectors. However, this is not intended to be limiting in any way. Thus, as shown inFIG. 4, a blind mate connecting portion134of each cable connector132(e.g., a right angle connector) can be mechanically and electrically coupled to a blind mate receiving portion136of the secondary electronics assembly106. This is discussed in more detail below.

In one example, at least one “mechanical float mechanism” can be provided by the configuration of the blind mate connector assembly102to facilitate movement of the cable connector132in multiple degrees of freedom relative to the first and second manifolds120and122(and consequently relative to the assemblies104and106). More specifically, and as illustrated inFIG. 4, when the first and second manifolds120and122are coupled together, a plurality of connector cavities137can be formed to retain each respective cable connector132. As shown, the perimeter walls of the connector cavity137(defined by recesses/cavities in each of the first and second manifolds120and122) can be formed to be spatially separated away from the cable connector132, meaning that the connector cavity137is sized larger than the cable connector132, such that it “loosely” retains the cable connector132to allow relative movement of the cable connector132within its particular connector cavity137. This is one example of a “mechanical float mechanism” that facilitates some movement of the cable connector132while the secondary electronics assembly106is being blind mate connected to the primary secondary electronics assembly104. This can account for tolerances that can cause misalignment between the primary and secondary electronic assemblies104and106when being blind mate coupled together. That is, each of the plurality of cable connectors132can be configured and permitted to move a certain degree within the respective connector cavity137so that each and every cable connector132(e.g., 8 total in this example) can be simultaneously blind mate connected to respective blind mate receiving portions136along the secondary electronics assembly106. Such blind mate interface (e.g., of134and136) is known in the art and will not be discussed in detail, but it will be appreciated that such interface can comprise a press-fit or friction-fit interface that can be achieved with between one and five pounds of force, for instance.

In another example of a “mechanical float mechanism”, the cable connector132can be allowed to move in the x and/or y directions relative to the first and second manifolds120and122. This can also account for misalignment between the primary and secondary assemblies104and106when being blind mate connected to each other. More specifically, the first manifold120can comprises a plurality of first openings138(e.g.,8shown onFIG. 1), each having a central axis A along the z axis, which is best shown inFIG. 4. Each first opening138can be sized larger than the blind mate receiving portion134of the cable connector132, such that the blind mate receiving portion134can be spatially separated from the edges defined by the first opening138so that the cable connector132can freely move about the first opening138. This is also illustrated by the top-down view ofFIG. 5, showing three blind mate connecting portions134loosely received by respective first openings138of the first manifold120. This configuration allows the cable connector132to move (axially and/or radially) about the first opening138when the blind mate receiving portion136(of the second electronic assembly106) locates and receives the blind mate connecting portion134during blind mate coupling. This can also account for misalignment between the primary and secondary assemblies104and106, which is typically caused by tolerance issues between coupled/fastened components of a low-profile electronics system, for instance. Each first opening138having these “oversized holes” also works in conjunction with the connector cavities137loosely receiving each cable connector132to allow multiple degrees of movement of the cable connectors132within their respective connector cavities137.

In another example of a mechanical float mechanism, the cable line130(e.g., a coaxial cable line) can be allowed to move relative to the first and second manifolds120and122to account for misalignment (e.g., radial) between the primary and secondary electronics assemblies104and106when blind mate coupled to each other. More specifically, the first manifold120can comprise a plurality of recesses140formed along a lower edge of the first manifold120and that can be in fluid or volumetric communication with the respective connector cavity137(seeFIGS. 1, 2, and 4). Similarly, the second manifold122can comprise a plurality of recesses142formed along an upper edge of the second manifold122at locations corresponding to the recesses140of the first manifold120. Collectively, each recess140and each (corresponding) recess142can form a second opening144through which a particular cable line30can pass or extend. SeeFIG. 4specifically for an example arrangement of the cable line30extending loosely through the second opening144. Thus, the mechanical float mechanism in this example can be defined by the second opening144being sized larger than the cable line130so that the second opening144loosely retains a portion of the cable line130. This can facilitate movement of the cable line130about the second opening144to account for misalignment between the primary and secondary assemblies104and106because, as they are mated to each other, the cable connectors132may move within their respective cavity137, which can cause the cable lines130to move. If the cable lines30were tightly received (e.g., pinched) between the first and second manifolds120and122, damage to the cable connectors132would likely occur during repeated coupling of the assemblies104and106to and from each other.

As can be appreciated onFIG. 4, the central axis A of the first opening138can be transverse (e.g., in some examples orthogonal or perpendicular) to a central axis B of the second opening144. Such configuration assists to properly retain and appropriately position the cable128between the first and second manifolds120and122so that the blind mate connecting portions134can extend through respective first openings138as the cable lines130extend through respective second openings144.

In yet another example of a mechanical float mechanism, a spring146(or other biasing device) can be situated within the connector cavity137and configured to bias each cable connector132in a z direction (as shown in the drawings) along the respective central axis A of the first opening138toward the secondary electronics assembly106. In one aspect, the spring146can be one or more compliant dielectric/EMI strips, or the spring can be individual leaf springs or compression springs or O-rings positioned below each of the cable connectors132. In one example shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 4, each spring146(being illustrated as a pair of compliant strips) can each be retained within and along a respective groove148formed in the second manifold122. The grooves148can interconnect the plurality of cavities137, as shown inFIG. 3. The grooves148can be formed laterally along a length of the second manifold122in a manner that positions a portion of each spring146directly below a corresponding cable connector132, and along the central axis A of each first opening138(seeFIG. 4).

Accordingly, when the blind mate receiving portion136of the second electronics assembly106is caused to move vertically downward (e.g., in the z direction) toward the blind mate connecting portion134, the spring146can be slightly compressed, which causes an upward biasing force (in the z direction) to assist with completing the blind mate (friction-fit) interface between the blind mate receiving portion136and the blind mate connecting portion134. Thus, all of the cable connectors132can be simultaneously blind mated to respective blind mate receiving portions136of the secondary electronics assembly106. The spring146can also allow for some amount of rotational movement of the cable connector132so that it may freely move in the x and/or y directions (laterally and/or radially) about the first opening138until the cable connector132is blind mated into its respective blind mate receiving portion136.

As can be appreciated from the example configuration shown inFIG. 1, if one or more cables128are damaged or otherwise need replaced/upgraded, the first and second manifolds120and122can be removed from the primary electronics assembly104by removing fasteners126(after the secondary electronics assembly106is detached from the primary electronics assembly104). Once the first and second manifolds120and122are collectively removed, the second manifold122can be detached from the first manifold120by removing fasteners124, which then exposes the cable connectors132of the cables128. Then, one or more cables128can be removed and replaced, and then the first and second manifolds120and122can be reattached to each other and then reattached to the primary electronics assembly104.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the first manifold120can have downwardly formed protrusions115on either end that are biased to the first electronics assembly104when attached thereto. This configuration positions the second manifold122above and away from the first electronics assembly104to avoid any unwanted electrical contact to the primary electronics assembly104with the fasteners124and/or cable lines130. The first and second manifolds120and122can be comprised of a rigid dielectric material, such as polymer or plastic.

As disclosed herein, various embodiments and examples may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another.