Electrical connector assembly with high-density configuration

An electrical connector assembly (100), comprises: a housing (1) having a receiving room (11) therein communicated with an exterior along a longitudinal direction, and the housing comprising a first shield part (15) and second shield part (16) assembled with each other; two paralleled printed circuit boards (21, 22) received into the receiving room and positioned in the housing; a metallic holder (8) binding the first and second shield parts; and a latch mechanism assembled to an exterior surface of the housing and having a portion shielded by the metallic holder.

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

One aspect that has been relatively constant in recent communication development is a desire to increase performance. Similarly, there has been constant desire to make things more compact (e.g., to increase density). For I/O connectors using in data communication, these desires create somewhat of a problem. Using higher frequencies (which are helpful to increase data rates) requires good electrical separation between signal terminals in a connector (so as to minimize cross-talk, for example). Making the connector smaller (e.g., making the terminal arrangement more dense), however, brings the terminals closer together and tends to decrease the electrical separation, which may lead to signal degradation.

In addition to the desire at increasing performance, there is also a desire to improve manufacturing. For example, as signaling frequencies increase, the tolerance of the locations of terminals, as well as their physical characteristics, become more important. Therefore, improvements to a connector design that would facilitate manufacturing while still providing a dense, high-performance connector would be appreciated.

Additionally, there is a desire to increase the density of I/O plug-style connectors and this is difficult to do without increasing the width of the connectors. Increasing the width of the plug connectors leads to difficulty in fitting the plug into standard width routers and/or servers, and would require a user to purchase non-standard equipment to accommodate the wider plug converters. As with any connector, it is desirable to provide a reliable latching mechanism to latch the plug connector to an external housing to maintain the mated plug and receptacle connectors together modifying the size and/or configuration the connector housing may result in a poor support for a latching mechanism. Latching mechanisms need to be supported reliably on connector housings in order to effect multiple mating cycles. Accordingly, certain individuals would appreciate a higher density connector that does not have increased width dimensions and which has a reliable latching mechanism associated therewith.

As discussed above, an improved electrical connector overcoming the shortages of existing technology is needed.

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.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector assembly, comprises a housing having a receiving room therein communicated with an exterior along a longitudinal direction, and the housing comprising a first shield part and second shield part assembled with each other; two paralleled printed circuit boards received into the receiving room and positioned in the housing; a metallic holder binding the first and second shield parts; and a latch mechanism assembled to an exterior surface of the housing and having a portion shielded by the metallic holder.

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. 9 to 13, the electrical connector assembly100comprises a housing1having a receiving room11therein, two paralleled printed circuit boards (PCBs)2disposed in the receiving room11, a spacer3disposed between the two printed circuits boards2and positioned with the housing1, two cables4respectively electrically connected with a printed circuit board2and a spacer or strain relief5disposed in the housing1and spaced apart with the two cables4. 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.

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 housing1has a top surface defined as a first surface121, the mating portion13of the housing1has a top surface defined as a second surface131. The first surface121is disposed above the second surface131. And, the first surface121defines an inclined surface1211toward to the second surface131. The body portion12defines a receiving cavity14extending downwardly from the inclined surface1211for a distance. The receiving cavity14has a bottom surface141located on a same level with the second face131. And, the bottom surface141is defined as a third surface. A prominence142is formed in a front edge of the receiving cavity14. Thus, the second surface131is separated to the third surface131along a front to rear direction. And, the prominence142further defines a pair of protrusions142formed on a top surface thereof. In addition, a pair of supporting portions143are formed on two inner side surfaces of the receiving cavity14for supporting a front curving portion72of the pulling member7. Each supporting portions143has a front arc top surface and a rear inclined top surface. A slit144is formed in back of the receiving cavity14and communicated with the receiving cavity14.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 9 to 10, the housing1comprises a box-shape first shield part15and a second shield part16assembled with each other. The first shield part15defines a rectangular frame151formed at a front end thereof and defined as a mating port of the housing1. The first shield part15defines a passageway155communicated with an exterior along a front to rear direction. The first shield part15further defines an opening152formed at a bottom end thereof to make the passageway155communicated with an exterior along a vertical direction. The opening152of the first shield part15will be shielded when the second shield part16is assembled to the first shield part15. The first shield part15defines two first positioning posts153formed on an inner side surface thereof and another two first positioning posts153formed on another inner side surface thereof. Each two first positioning posts153are spaced apart with each other along a front-to-rear direction. Each first positioning post153has a semi-circular cross section. The first positioning posts153are used for supporting the printed circuit board2along an up-to-down direction. In addition, two second positioning posts154are respectively formed on two inner side surface of the first shield part15. Each second positioning post154is disposed between the two first positioning posts154along a front-to-rear direction and used for limiting a movement of the printed circuit board2along a front to rear direction. Each second positioning post154also has a semi-circular cross section. And, the second positioning post154is longer than the first positioning post153along an up-to down-direction.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 9 to 10, two printed circuits2includes a first PCB21and a second PCB22respectively located on an upper side and a lower side of the receiving room11of the insulative housing1and a second PCB2. The first PCB21defines a first mating section211formed at a front end thereof and a first terminating section212formed at a rear end thereof. The second PCB22defines a second mating section221formed at a front end thereof and a second terminating section222formed at a rear end thereof. The first PCB21further defines a pair of first semi-circular cutouts213formed at two sides thereof. The second PCB22further defines a pair of second semi-circular cutouts223formed at two sides thereof. The first and second cutouts213,223are used for cooperating with the two second positioning post154of the first shield part15. A plurality of front conductive contacts (not figured) are formed on the first and second mating sections211,221. A plurality of rear conductive contacts (not figured) are formed on the first and second terminating sections212,222.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 11 and 13, a spacer3is formed of insulative material and defines an upper surface31and a lower surface32. The spacer3defines a pair of ribs311respectively formed at two sides of the upper surface31and another pair of ribs312respectively formed at two sides of the lower surface32for supporting the first and second PCBs21,22. The spacer3further defines a pair of grooves33respectively formed on two sides thereof and extending along a vertical direction for cooperating with the corresponding second positioning posts154. The spacer3further defines a grounding plate35integrative formed therein. Thus, the grounding plate35is firmly positioned in the spacer3. The spacer3has a slot34for receiving the grounding plate35. The first and second PCBs21,22are separated by the spacer3along an up-to-down direction.

Referring toFIGS. 3,9,10and14, two cables4comprises a first cable41and a second cable42. The first cable41has a plurality of first conductors411therein electrically connected to a first terminating section212of the first PCB21. The second cable42has a plurality of second conductors421electrically connected to a second terminating section222of the second PCB22. A first ring412is disposed at a front end of the first cable41and surrounding a portion of the first cable41. A second ring422is disposed at a front end of the second cable42and surrounding a portion of second cable42.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 12 and 14, a strain relief5is made of metallic material and disposed into the housing1. The strain relief5has two recesses51respectively formed on a top and bottom surfaces thereof for receiving a portion of the first and second rings412,422. The strain relief5defines a pair of receiving holes52formed on a rear surface thereof. The pair of receiving holes52are located at two sides of the rear surface.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 9 to 11, 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 hole621and a pair of quadrate holes622disposed at two sides of the rectangular hole621. The latching portion63defines a pair of barbs631formed at two sides thereof.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 11, the pulling member7is made of insulative material and structured in a flat shape. The pulling member7defines a horizontal section71and a curving section72extending forwardly and downwardly from the horizontal section71. The pulling member7defines an actuating section73formed at a front free end thereof and a connecting section74connecting the actuating section73to the curving section72. The actuating section73is generally perpendicular to the connecting section74. The actuating section73is generally in a shape of cylinder extending along a transversal direction. The pulling member7has a slit711formed a rear end thereof. A tape9is passed through the slit711and connected to the pulling member7.

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 6and in conjunction withFIGS. 11 and 12, the metallic holder8defines a main portion81binding the first shield part15and the second shield part16and a shielding portion82extending forwardly from the main portion81. The main portion81has a top wall811, a bottom wall812and a pair of side walls813connected with the top wall811and the bottom wall812. A receiving space814is formed by the top wall811, the bottom wall812and the pair of side walls813. The shielding portion82extends forwardly and downwardly from the top wall811. Each side wall813defines a tab815extending into the receiving space814from a rear edge thereof. And, the tab815is perpendicular to the side wall813and defines a through hole8151corresponding to a receiving hole52of the strain relief5. Two screws83are passed through the two through holes8151and received into the receiving holes53to lock the metallic holder8and the strain relief5. As the strain relief5disposed in the housing1, so the metallic holder8is indirectly positioned with the housing1through the screws83.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 14, the assembling process of the electrical connector assembly100made in according to the present invention starts from soldering the first and second conductors411,421of the first and second cables41,42respectively to the first and second terminating sections212,222of the first and second PCBs21,22.

After the first cable41is assembled to the first PCB21, then turning over the first shield part15to make the opening152facing upward and assembling the first PCB21and the first cable41together to the passageway155of the first shield part15. The first PCB21is supported by the first positioning posts153formed in the passageway155of the shield part15along a vertical direction. The first PCB21is positioned with the shield part15along a front-to-rear direction due to two first cutouts213of the first PCB21cooperated with the pair of second positioning posts154of the shield part15. And, a front end of the first cable41is supported by a rear end of the shield part15.

After the first cable41and the first PCB21are assembled to the first shield part15, then assembling the strain relief5to a rear end of the passageway155of first shield part15. And, the first ring412has a half portion received into a corresponding structure of the first shield part15. The first ring42has another half portion received into a recess51of the strain relief5.

After the strain relief5is assembled to the first shield part15, then assembling the spacer3to the first shield part15. The spacer3is positioned with the first shield part15and located on the first PCB21. The pair of second positioning posts154of the first shield part15pass through the corresponding two grooves33of the spacer3along an up-to-down direction to limit a movement of the spacer3along a front to rear direction.

After the spacer3is assembled to the first shield part15, then assembling the second PCB22and the second cable42together to the first shield part15and located on the spacer3. The second PCB22is positioned with the first shield part15along a front-to-rear direction due to two second cutouts223of the second PCB22cooperated with the pair of second positioning posts154of the shield part15. And, a front end of the second cable42is supported by the strain relief5. The second ring422of the second cable42has a half portion located in another recess51of the strain relief5.

After the second PCB22and the second cable42are assembled to the first shield part15, then assembling the second shield part16to the first shield part15. Thus, the opening152of the first shield part15is shielded by second shield part16along an up-to-down direction. And, the first and second PCBs21,22are received into the receiving room11of the housing1. The first and second PCBs21,22are also supported by the second shield part16along a up-to-down direction.

After the second shield part16is assembled to the first shield part15, then assembling 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 member6is 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 member6in line. Thus, the latching member6is interconnected with the pulling member7. And, the latching6is not easily discrete from the pulling member7due to the width of the actuating section73is wider than that of the rectangular hole621.

Then, assembling the latching member6and the pulling member7together to an exterior surface of housing1. The horizontal section71of the pulling member7is located on the first surface121of the body portion12of the housing1. The curving section72of the pulling member7is supported by the pair of supporting portions143formed in the receiving cavity14. The rear end of 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 third surface141of the receiving cavity14. Two sides of the retaining portion61of the latching member6are disposed into the slit144to make the latching member6engaged with the housing1. The connecting portion62of the latching member6is located above the third surface141. The latching portion63extends forwardly and is located above the second surface131of the mating portion13of the housing1. The latching portion63is cantilevered from the retaining portion61. A tape9is passed through the slit711and connected to the pulling member7. When a rearward pulling force is exerted on a rear end of the pulling member7or the tape9, 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, assembling 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 screws83. The rear end of the latching member6and the front end of the pulling member7is 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 electrical connector assembly1has a new mating surface to meet higher and higher data transmitting rate. In addition, the electrical connector assembly1has a narrow profile and high-density configuration. Thus, the complementary connector (not shown) for mating with the electrical connector assembly100will also occupy little space to meet a miniaturization of an internal room of the communication device. On another aspect, a reliable latch mechanism is provided to an exterior surface of the housing. And, an easily and conveniently operating manner between the latching member6and the pulling member7is achieved.