EMI gasket for an electrical connector assembly

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 a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage member includes a latch for cooperating with a latch element of the pluggable electrical component. An EMI gasket is mounted on the cage member such that the EMI gasket is electrically connected to the cage member. The EMI gasket is configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel. The EMI gasket includes a latch interface that engages the latch such that the latch interface is electrically connected to the latch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter described and/or illustrated herein relates generally to electrical connector assemblies, and more particularly, to electrical connector assemblies for pluggable electrical components.

Some known electrical connector assemblies include a metal cage having one or more ports that each receive a pluggable electrical component therein, such as, but not limited to, a small form factor pluggable (SFP) module. The pluggable components may plug into an electrical connector that is held within the cage and is electrically connected to a host circuit board. An end of the cage that includes the ports for the pluggable electrical components 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 that are either formed integrally from a wall thereof or are formed from another material and attached to the cage member. 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.

Each port of the cage typically includes a spring latch that cooperates with a latch element of the corresponding pluggable electrical component to latch the pluggable electrical component to the cage. However, when the cage is held within the panel, a gap exists between the spring latch and the panel. The gap may allow EMI emissions to leak therethrough during use of the electrical connector assembly.

There is a need for an electrical connector assembly for pluggable electrical components that reduces leakage of EMI emissions in connection with spring latch members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, 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 a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage member includes a latch for cooperating with a latch element of the pluggable electrical component. An EMI gasket is mounted on the cage member such that the EMI gasket is electrically connected to the cage member. The EMI gasket is configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel. The EMI gasket includes a latch interface that engages the latch such that the latch interface is electrically connected to the latch.

Optionally, the latch interface includes a spring. The latch interface may optionally include a pair of extensions that each engages the latch.

Optionally, the EMI gasket comprises an electrically conductive base that engages the cage member.

Optionally, the latch interface closes at least a portion of a gap between the latch and the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel.

In another embodiment, 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 a compartment for receiving a pluggable electrical component therein. The cage member includes a latch for cooperating with a latch element of the pluggable electrical component. An electrical connector is at least partially enclosed 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 on the cage member such that the EMI gasket is electrically connected to the cage member. The EMI gasket is configured to engage the panel when the cage member is mounted in the opening in the panel. The EMI gasket includes a latch interface that engages the latch such that the latch interface is electrically connected to the latch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector assembly10.FIG. 2is a perspective view of the electrical connector assembly10mounted in an opening12in a panel14and mounted on a circuit board16. The electrical connector assembly10includes a shielded cage member18having one or more electrical connectors20positioned therein. An EMI gasket22is mounted externally on an end portion24of the cage member18. As will be described in more detail below, the EMI gasket22engages a latch48of the cage member18to reduce EMI emissions that leak adjacent to the latch48.FIG. 1illustrates the electrical connector assembly10without the electrical connector20, whileFIG. 2illustrates the electrical connector10being held within the cage member18. The electrical connector assembly10is configured to be positioned on the circuit board16for electrically connecting one or more pluggable electrical components26(FIGS. 4,5, and8), such as, but not limited to, small form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules, to the circuit board16via the electrical connector(s)20. The end portion24of the cage member18is configured to be mounted, or received, within the opening12in the panel14that is adjacent the circuit board16. For example, the panel14may be a wall of a housing of a device (not shown), such as, but not limited to, a computer, that includes the circuit board16. In such an example, the electrical connector assembly10enables one or more pluggable electrical component(s)26located outside the housing to be electrically connected to the circuit board16contained within the housing.

The cage member18includes a body28extending from the end portion24to an opposite end portion29. In the exemplary embodiments, the cage member body28includes a generally rectangular cross section, for example taken along line1-1ofFIG. 1, 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 member18to function as described and/or illustrated herein. The cage member18includes an internal compartment38. The internal compartment38is configured to at least partially receive a pluggable electrical component26therein through an opening, or port,40at the cage member end portion24that communicates with the compartment38. The cage member body28also includes an opening42extending through the lower wall32. The opening42is adjacent the end portion29of the cage member body28for at least partially receiving an electrical connector20within the internal compartment38of the cage member18. The opening42within the lower wall32of the cage member body28enables electrical connection between the electrical connector20and the circuit board16.

Although the cage member18is shown as including only one internal compartment38and only one port40for electrically connecting one pluggable electrical component26to the circuit board16, the cage member18may include any number of internal compartments38and ports40, arranged in any pattern, configuration, arrangement, and/or the like (such as, but not limited to, any number of rows and/or columns), for electrically connecting any number of pluggable electrical components26to the circuit board16.

The cage member18may have features that ground the cage member18to the circuit board16, the panel14, and/or another circuit board and/or panel. For example, the cage member body28may include a plurality of printed circuit board tines44, which may both mechanically hold and ground the cage member body28to the circuit board16. Additionally or alternatively, the cage member body28may include one or more resilient tongues46extending from the lower wall32to provide grounding of the cage member body28to the circuit board16. The cage member body28may optionally include kick-out springs183to facilitate removing the electrical connectors20from the body28.

The cage member18includes a latch48that cooperates with a latch element49(FIG. 4) of the pluggable electrical component26to latch the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. Optionally, the latch48also facilitates grounding the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. The latch48may have any suitable size, shape, structure, means, configuration, arrangement, and/or the like that enables the latch48to cooperate with the latch element49to latch the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. In the exemplary embodiments, the latch48is a spring latch that includes an extension50having an opening52therein that receives an extension53(FIG. 4) of the latch element49. When the extension50is engaged with the latch element49, the extension50is deflected and the natural bias of the extension50facilitates maintaining the extension53of the latch element49within the opening52. The opening52may have any suitable size and/or shape that enables the opening52to function as described and/or illustrated herein. Although the latch48is located on the lower wall32of the cage member18, the latch48may be located on any of the walls30,32,34, and/or36, and/or any internal divider walls (not shown) when the cage member18includes more than one compartment38for receiving more than one pluggable electrical component26. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiments the latch48is located adjacent the port40. However, the latch48may be located anywhere on the cage member body28that enables the latch48to function as described and/or illustrated herein.

FIG. 3is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the electrical connector20of the electrical connector assembly10. The electrical connector20includes a housing54having a lower face56for mating with the circuit board16(FIG. 2) and a mating face58for reception of a plug portion59(FIGS. 4 and 5) of the pluggable electrical component26(FIGS. 4,5, and8). The mating face58includes a terminal receptacle62that receives the plug portion59of the pluggable electrical component26therein. The terminal receptacle62includes one or more electrical contacts64that are electrically connected to corresponding electrical contacts66extending along the lower face56of the housing54, such as, but not limited to, using electrical contacts (not shown) and/or circuit board traces (not shown) held within the housing54. The electrical contacts64and66may each be any suitable type of electrical contact. The housing54optionally includes alignment posts68for aligning the electrical connector20within the cage member18(FIGS. 1,2, and8).

The electrical connector20can be positioned within the cage member18by inserting the connector20through the opening42(FIG. 1) within the cage member lower wall32such that the electrical contacts66extend through the opening42. When the cage member18is positioned on the circuit board16, the lower face56of the housing54engages the circuit board16such that the electrical contacts66extending along the lower face56of the housing54are electrically connected to the circuit board16. When the electrical connector20is in place within the cage member18, the terminal receptacle62is aligned for receipt of the plug portion59of the pluggable electrical component26.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the pluggable electrical component26.FIG. 5is another perspective view of the pluggable electrical component26. Although illustrated as a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module, the pluggable electrical component26may be any suitable type of pluggable electrical component. The pluggable electrical component26includes the plug portion59for reception into the terminal receptacle62(FIG. 3) of the electrical connector20(FIG. 3). In the exemplary embodiment, the plug portion59includes a circuit board72that is received within the terminal receptacle62such that electrical contacts74held on the circuit board72are electrically connected to the corresponding electrical contacts64(FIG. 3) of the terminal receptacle62. As such, the pluggable electrical component26can be electrically connected to the circuit board16(FIG. 2) via the electrical connector20held within the cage member18(FIGS. 1,2, and8). The electrical contacts74may each be any suitable type of electrical contact.

In the exemplary embodiment, the pluggable electrical component26is electrically connected to a cable75at an end portion76that is opposite the plug portion59. Alternatively, the pluggable electrical component26includes an interface (not shown) for electrically connection to another component, such as, but not limited to, a modular jack (not shown) and/or the like. The pluggable electrical component26may include grounding tabs80for grounding the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18.

As discussed above, the pluggable electrical component26includes a latch element49that cooperates with the latch48(FIGS. 1,2, and8) of the cage member18to latch the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. Optionally, the latch element49also facilitates grounding the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. The latch element49may have any suitable size, shape, structure, means, configuration, arrangement, and/or the like that enables the latch element49to cooperate with the latch48to latch the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. In the exemplary embodiments, the latch element49includes an arm (not shown) that is movable between a latched and an unlatched position. The arm includes the extension53, which in the latched position is received within the opening52(FIGS. 1 and 2) of the latch48. The extension53may have any suitable size and/or shape that enables the extension53to function as described and/or illustrated herein. The latch element49may be located anywhere on the pluggable electrical component26that enables the latch element49to cooperate with the latch48. In addition or alternative to the extension53of the latch element49and the opening52of the latch48, the latch48may include an extension (not shown) that is received within an opening (not shown) of the latch element49.

FIG. 6is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the EMI gasket22. In the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1,2,6, and8, the EMI gasket22includes a body82having four sections82a,82b,82c, and82d. Each body section is configured to be mounted on the end portion24(FIGS. 1,2, and8) of the cage member18(FIGS. 1,2, and8) such that when the cage member18is held within the panel opening12(FIGS. 2 and 8), each section82a,82b,82c, and82dis engaged between the panel14(FIGS. 2 and 8) and a respective one of the walls30,32,34, and36(FIGS. 1 and 2) of the cage member18. When mounted on the cage member18, sections82a,82b,82c, and82dof the EMI gasket body82form an approximately rectangular shape to generally match the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the cage member body28. However, the body82may include any suitable shape that enables the EMI gasket22to function as described and/or illustrated herein, whether the body82includes a similar shape to the cage member body28.

As can be seen inFIG. 6, in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS. 1,2,6, and8, the section82bis separate and distinct from the sections82a,82c, and82d. As used herein, the term “separate and distinct” is intended to mean that the section82bis not initially mechanically connected to any of the other sections82a,82c, and82d, as shown inFIG. 6. However, when mounted on the cage member18as shown inFIGS. 1,2, and8, the separate and distinct section82bmay engage adjacent sections82cand/or82d. Moreover, once mounted on the cage member18as shown inFIGS. 1,2, and8, the separate and distinct section82bmay be connected to adjacent sections82cand/or82dusing any suitable method, structure, means, and/or the like, such as, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and/or the like. The sections82a,82b, and/or82cmay be integrally formed, or two or more of the sections82a,82c, and/or82dmay be separately formed and connected together before being mounted on the cage member18.

In alternative embodiments, any of the other sections82a,82c, and/or82dmay be separate and distinct from one or more adjacent sections82a,82b,82c, and/or82dbefore being mounted on the cage member18. Moreover, in alternative embodiments none of the sections82a,82b,82c, and82dare provided as separate and distinct from adjacent sections. For example,FIG. 7illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein an EMI gasket122includes a body182having four sections182a,182b,182c, and182dthat are initially connected together. The body182may be integrally formed from each of the sections182a,182b,182c, and182d, or each of the sections182a,182b,182c, and182dmay be separately formed and connected together before being mounted on the cage member18. In the exemplary embodiment, the EMI gasket body182is approximately rectangular to generally match the rectangular cross-sectional shape of the cage member body28. However, the body182may include any suitable shape that enables the EMI gasket122to function as described and/or illustrated herein, whether the body182includes a similar shape to the cage member body28.

Referring again toFIG. 6, each of the sections82a,82b,82c, and82d, may have any suitable configuration, arrangement, and/or the like, and/or may include any suitable structure, means, and/or the like that enable the EMI gasket22to function as described and/or illustrated herein. In the exemplary embodiments, each of the sections82a,82c, and82dincludes a plurality of individual electrically conductive springs84that extend from a common electrically conductive base86. Similarly, the section82bincludes a pair of the springs84that each extend from a corresponding base86. The springs84each include a body88extending from the base86to a free end portion90. The individual springs84may be integrally formed with the base86, or may be fabricated separately from the corresponding base86and thereafter connected thereto using any suitable method, structure, means, and/or the like, such as, but not limited to, welding, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and/or the like. The body88of each of the springs84is configured to engage a surface91(FIGS. 2 and 8) defining the panel opening12to electrically connect the springs84, and therefore the base86, to the panel14. Although each of the sections82cand82dincludes four springs84, the section82aincludes six springs84, and the second82bincludes two springs84, each of the sections82a,82b,82c, and82dmay include any number of springs84.

When mounted on the cage member18, the base86of each of the sections82a,82b,82c, and82dengages the respective wall30,32,34, and36of the cage member body28to provide an electrical connection between the base86and the cage member18. Each base86of each section82a,82b,82c, and82dmay be mounted on the cage member18using any suitable configuration, arrangement, method, structure, means, and/or the like, such as, but not limited to, adhesive, frictional and/or stictional engagement (for example between the base86and the cage member body28) and/or between the springs84and the panel14), welding, one or more latching mechanisms, mechanical fasteners, and/or the like.

The section82bof the EMI gasket body82includes a latch interface92that engages the latch48(FIGS. 1,2, and8) of the cage member18when the section82bis mounted on the bottom wall32of the cage member18. The latch interface92may have any suitable configuration, arrangement, and/or the like, and/or may include any suitable structure, means, and/or the like that enables the latch interface92to function as described and/or illustrated herein. In the exemplary embodiments, the latch interface92is an electrically conductive spring having a base94that extends from the corresponding bases86. The nature of the spring of the latch interface92may facilitate accommodating movement of the latch extension50during latching and unlatching of the pluggable electrical component26to the cage member18. A pair of extensions96each extend from the base94to a free end portion98. When the section82bis mounted on the bottom wall32of the cage member18, the extensions96extend toward the latch48and the free end portions98each engage the extension50of the latch48such that the latch interface92, and therefore the EMI gasket body82, is electrically connected to the latch48, and therefore the cage member body28. Although the latch interface92includes two extensions96, the latch interface92may include any number of the extensions96.

Referring now toFIG. 8, when the EMI gasket22is mounted on the cage member end portion24, the body82surrounds at least a portion of the cage member end portion24. Although shown as generally completely surrounding the cage member end portion24in the exemplary embodiments, the EMI gasket22may alternatively surround only a portion of the cage member end portion24. When the cage member end portion24is mounted in the panel opening12, each of the springs84of the EMI gasket22engages the surface91defining the panel opening12, thereby electrically connecting the EMI gasket22to the panel14. The electrical connection between the springs84and the surface91of the panel opening12facilitates containing electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions by providing a plurality of contact points that ground the cage member18to the panel14. The engagement between the springs84and the surface91of the panel opening12also facilitates securely holding the cage member end portion24within the panel opening12. Specifically, as the cage member end portion24is received within the panel opening12, the surface91of the panel opening12deflects and/or deforms the springs84generally radially inwardly against their bias, which exerts a spring force on the surface91of the panel opening12to securely hold the cage member end portion24within the panel opening12. A size, shape, material, and/or the like of the springs84may be selected to provide a predetermined spring force.

When the EMI gasket22is mounted on the cage member18, the extensions96of the latch interface92engage the extension50of the latch48such that latch interface92is electrically connected to the latch48. Via the electrical connection between the latch interface92and the springs84of the section82b, the electrical connection between the latch interface92and the latch48electrically connects the cage member18to the panel14at a location adjacent the latch48. Portions of the latch interface92may also engage the surface91of the panel opening12to electrically connect the cage member18to the panel14adjacent the latch48. However, as can be seen inFIG. 2, when the cage member18is mounted in the panel opening12, a gap100would exist between the latch48and the surface91defining the panel opening12if the section82bdid not include the latch interface92. The gap100may allow EMI emissions to leak therethrough during use of the electrical connector assembly10. As can also be seen inFIG. 8, the latch interface92closes at least a portion of the gap100. The electrical connection between the latch interface92and the latch48and/or the at least partial closure of the gap100by the latch interface92facilitates containing at least some electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions that would otherwise leak through the gap100.

The embodiments described and illustrated herein provide an electrical connector assembly for pluggable electrical components that reduces leakage of EMI emissions in connection with spring latch members.

While the subject matter described and/or illustrated herein has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the subject matter described and/or illustrated herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.