Electrical receptacle connector compatible with existing electrical plug and complementary plug

A low profile connector having a first mating slot and a second mating slot vertically stacked above and backwardly offseted from the first mating slot, and a complementary electrical plug. The electrical plug has a first mating card and a second mating card horizontally stacked above the first mating card forwardly offseted from the first mating card. The electrical connector is matable with an existing SFP or QSFP plug, and the first mating slot are used to receive a front card edge of the existing SFP or QSFP plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a high speed high density electrical receptacle connector and complementary plug, and particularly to the compatibility of the electrical receptacle with an existing electrical plug.

2. Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,382 discloses a single port electrical connector and a shielding receptacle (or cage) for a pluggable transceiver module. U.S. Pat. No. 7,070,446 discloses a tall electrical connector having stacked ports and a shielding cage. U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,133 discloses an electrical connector having stacked ports with low profile.

An improved high speed high density electrical connector is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve such a need, the present invention provides an electrical connector having a first mating slot and a second mating slot vertically stacked above and backwardly offseted from the first mating slot, each mating slot extending transversely and facing forwardly for respectively receiving a front card edge of a mating plug therein, the electrical connector comprising a plurality of first contacts transversely arrayed under the first mating slot, a plurality of second contacts transversely arrayed above the first mating slot, a plurality of third contacts transversely arrayed above the second contacts and under the second mating slot, and a plurality of fourth contacts transversely arrayed above the second mating slot. The second mating slot is backwardly offseted from the first mating slot so that a vertical distance between the third contacts and the second contacts could be decreased and a profile of the electrical connector could be lower.

The present invention also provides an electrical plug comprises a shielding case, a first mating card horizontally fastened in the shielding case, and a second mating card horizontally fastened in the shielding case and stacked above the first mating card, the first mating card having a front card edge equipped with an interface at a first place, the second mating card having a front card edge equipped with another interface at a second place forwardly offseted from the first place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-8, an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The electrical connector includes a subassembly100and a shielding cage300. The subassembly100has a first mating slot120and a second mating slot140vertically stacked above the first mating slot120. Each mating slot120,140extends transversely and faces forwardly for respectively receiving a front card edge of a mating plug600(shown inFIG. 9) therein. The electrical connector is matable with an existing QSFP plug (not shown) and the first mating slot120is mated with a front card edge of the existing QSFP plug. The second mating slot140is compatable with an interface of a front card edge of an existing QSFP plug.

The subassembly100of the connector comprises a unitary housing10and a plurality of contact modules20transversely stacked in the housing10. Each contact module20comprises an insulator and four different contacts21-24inserted-molded in the insulator. The four contacts21-24are shaped in right angle and arrayed in a vertical plane in such manner that a first contact21has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed under the first mating slot120, a second contact22has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed above the first mating slot120, a third contact23disposed above the second contact22and under the second mating slot140; and a fourth contact24has a horizontal contacting cantilever disposed above the second mating slot140.

The second mating slot140is backwardly offseted from the first mating slot120so that a vertical distance between the third contacts23and the second contacts24could be decreased and a profile of the connector subassembly100could be lower. The offset distance has one more advantage is to provide an access for receiving a part of existing QSFP plug (not shown).

The unitary housing10defines a cavity receiving the stacked contact modules20, and the first to fourth contacts21-24of each contact module20having foot extending downwardly out from the housing10and arrayed in a line from front to rear. The housing has a front protrusion with the first mating slot120defined therein and a rear step face above the front protrusion with the second mating slot140defined therein.

The metal cage300has a top wall31, a bottom wall34and a pair of side walls32,33jointly defining a passageway opening forwardly to receive the mating plug600. The metal cage300further has a rear vertical wall36jointly with the top wall31and the pair of side walls32,33defining a cavity. The cavity communicates a bottom open defined in the bottom wall34. The housing10is received in the cavity with the foot portions of the contacts21-24extending out through the bottom open, and the first and the second mating slots120,140communicating the passageway. It is understandable that the passageway has a same width and a same height as a passageway of a shielding cage of an existing QSFP connector.

In other embodiment of the present invention might be an electrical connector matable with an existing SFP plug, the electrical connector having a first mating slot are matable with the SFP plug and a second mating slot being compatible with a front card edge of the existing SFP plug.

The electrical plug comprises a shielding case72,74, a first mating card62and a second mating card64. The first mating card62and the second mating card64are horizontally fastened and vertically stacked in the shielding case72,74. The first mating card62has a front card edge equipped with an interface at a first place. The second mating card64has a front card edge equipped with another interface at a second place forwardly offseted from the first place. The shielding case72,74comprises a top cover74and a bottom cover72coupled to define a passageway receiving the first mating card62and the second mating card64. The bottom cover72has a bottom wall727and two side walls728,729upwardly extending from opposite side of the bottom wall727, jointedly defining a lower portion720of the passageway. The top cover74has a top wall747and two side walls748,749downwardly extending from opposite side of the top wall747, jointedly defining an upper portion of the passageway. Each of the side walls728,729of the bottom cover72defines a first step722upwardly supporting the first mating card62and a second step724upwardly supporting the second mating card64. Each of the side walls748,749of the top cover74defines two third steps742,743downwardly pressing the first mating card62and a fourth step744downwardly pressing the second mating card64. The shielding case72,74defines a guiding rib726vertically extending along the side walls728,729and innerwardly protruded. The first mating card62and the second mating card64each defines a guiding slot626,646engaging the guiding rib726. The second mating card64defines a pair reccesses643each receiving one of the third steps743.

The disclosure is illustrative only, changes may be made in detail, especially in matter of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention.