Connector system having a vibration dampening shell

A connector system is provided that includes electrical connectors, a substrate and a vibration dampening shell. The connectors each have first and second sides. The substrate has an upper surface with the connectors mounted thereon. The shell limits movement of the connectors with respect to one another and is coupled to the first sides of the connectors to limit the movement of the connectors toward and away from the upper substrate. The shell also is coupled to the second sides of the connectors to limit the movement of the connectors in directions transverse to the upper substrate surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter herein generally relates to connector systems and, more particularly, to backplane connector systems.

Backplane connector systems include a backplane circuit board and one or more daughter circuit boards. The backplane circuit board may be referred to as a motherboard. The daughter circuit boards include electrical connectors that mate with corresponding electrical connectors mounted on the backplane circuit board. The connectors of the daughter circuit boards and the backplane circuit board mate with one another to electrically connect the daughter circuit boards with the backplane circuit board. Electric power, data signals, and the like may then be communicated between the daughter circuit boards and the backplane circuit board.

Some known backplane connector systems that are used in aircraft include connector systems designed according to the VMEbus computer bus standard or according to one or more of the computer bus standards set by the VITA organization. The backplane connector systems designed according to one or more of these standards may include daughter board connectors each having several card modules. These card modules are received in corresponding slots in the backplane circuit board connectors to electrically couple the daughter circuit board with the backplane circuit board.

Known backplane connector systems may be used in environments that experience mechanical vibration and mechanical shocks. For example, backplane connector systems may be used in aircraft and other vehicles where the backplane circuit board and daughter circuit boards may experience significant vibrations. In another example, backplane connector systems may be used in environments where sudden or abrupt movements may impart, mechanical shock to the connectors. The vibrations and mechanical shocks experienced by the daughter circuit boards in the backplane connector systems may cause individual connectors mounted to the daughter circuit boards to be damaged. The vibrations or shocks may cause individual connectors to move with respect to other connectors mounted to a circuit board. For example, the vibrations or shocks may cause the daughter board connectors to move in one or more directions with respect to neighboring daughter board connectors. The vibrations or shocks of the daughter board connectors may damage the connectors or otherwise disrupt the electrical communication between the daughter circuit board and the backplane circuit board. The daughter board connectors may become decoupled from the daughter circuit board or the daughter board connectors may be mechanically damaged. In backplane connector systems designed according to one or more of the VITA organization standards, the card modules in the daughter board connectors may be damaged or may be electrically decoupled from the daughter board connectors.

A need exists for a connector system that protects connectors mounted to a circuit board from damage caused by mechanical vibrations or other mechanical shocks. Protecting the connectors from mechanical damage caused by vibrations or shocks may prolong the useful life of the connector systems and may improve the robustness and reliability of the connector systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a connector system is provided that includes electrical connectors, a substrate and a vibration dampening shell. The connectors each have first and second sides. The substrate has an upper surface with the connectors mounted thereon. The shell limits movement of the connectors with respect to one another and is coupled to the first sides of the connectors to limit the movement of the connectors toward and away from the upper substrate. The shell also is coupled to the second sides of the connectors to limit the movement of the connectors in directions transverse to the upper substrate surface.

In another embodiment, another connector system is provided that includes a substrate and a vibration dampening shell. The substrate has electrical connectors mounted on an upper surface of the substrate. The shell limits movement of each connector with respect to the other connectors. The shell includes first and second shell bodies disposed transverse to one another. The first shell body is disposed approximately parallel to the upper substrate surface and is coupled to a first side of each of the connectors to limit the movement of each connector in opposing directions parallel to the upper substrate surface. The second shell body is coupled to a second side of each of the connectors to limit the movement of each connector in opposing directions transverse to the upper substrate surface. Optionally, the shell may include a third body mounted to a lower surface of the substrate that opposes the upper surface. The first and third shell bodies may be separated from one another by a loading opening through which the connectors mate with other electrical connectors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a connector system100according to one embodiment. The connector system100includes a backplane board102that couples with a daughter board104to permit communication of data signals and/or power signals between the backplane board102and the daughter board104. While the connector system100is described herein in terms of a backplane connector system, the disclosure provided herein applies to connector systems other than backplane connector systems. The backplane board102and the daughter board104are substrates that support electrical connectors and other peripheral components of the connector system. The backplane board102and daughter board104may be embodied in circuit boards, such as a printed circuit board, for example. The backplane board102may constitute a motherboard or, alternatively, the backplane board102may be a portion of a motherboard. Several backplane electrical connectors106are mounted on the backplane board102. The backplane connectors106are electrically joined with conductive pathways108in the backplane board102. The conductive pathways108may be conductive traces in a printed circuit board, for example. Several mating electrical connectors112are mounted on the daughter board104. The mating connectors112are mounted on an upper surface124of the daughter board104that opposes a lower surface126. The mating connectors112are electrically joined with conductive pathways114in the daughter board104. The conductive pathways114may be embodied in one or more conductive traces in a printed circuit board, for example.

The backplane board102and the daughter board104mate with one another to electrically couple the backplane connectors106with the mating connectors112. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating connectors112are MultiGig® electrical connectors each having several card modules116and the backplane connectors106include card module slots110that are shaped to receive the card modules116. For example, the card module slots110receive the card modules116when the mating connectors112and backplane connectors106mate with one another. The mating connectors112and backplane connectors106may communicate differential pair signals, power signals, RF signals, and the like, between the daughter board104and the backplane board102. In one embodiment, the mating connectors112include seven card modules116. Alternatively, the mating connectors112include sixteen card modules116. The number of card modules116in the various mating connectors112may be varied in the connector system100. For example, some of the mating connectors112may include seven card modules116while other mating connectors112may include sixteen card modules116. While the mating connectors112are shown as including the card modules116, alternatively the backplane connectors106include the card modules116and the mating connectors112include the slots110. The mating connectors112and backplane connectors106may electrically couple with one another using components other than the card modules116and slots110. For example, the mating connectors112may include contact pins (not shown) and the backplane connectors106may include pin receptacles (not shown) that are shaped to receive the contact pins.

Multiple alignment pins118are mounted to and orthogonally protrude from the backplane board102. Several pin receptacles120are mounted to the daughter board104. The alignment pins118are received in the pin receptacles120when the backplane board102and the daughter board104mate with one another. The alignment pins118mechanically align the backplane board102and daughter board104, and the backplane connectors106and the mating connectors112, with respect to one another. While the daughter board104and backplane board102are shown as mating with one another in an orthogonal relationship, alternatively the daughter board104and the backplane board102may mate with one another in a coplanar or parallel relationship. For example, the alignment pins118may be mounted to the backplane board102such that the alignment pins118extend in a direction parallel to the backplane board102. Loading the alignment pins118into the pin receptacles120then locates the backplane board102and the daughter board104in a coplanar or parallel Relationship. Alternatively, the pin receptacles120may be orthogonally mounted to the daughter board104such that loading the alignment pins118into the pin receptacles120provides the backplane board102and the daughter board104in a coplanar or parallel relationship.

A vibration dampening shell122is coupled to each of the mating connectors112to inhibit movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another. The shell122is coupled to the mating connectors112to stiffen the mating connectors112with respect to one another. Stiffening the mating connectors112provides additional mechanical support for the mating connectors112and may reduce mechanical damage caused to the mating connectors112by vibrations or mechanical shocks. The shell122may inhibit movement of the mating connectors112in a variety of directions with respect to the daughter board104. For example, the shell122may limit movement of the mating connectors112in opposite directions128,130toward and away from the daughter board104. The opposite directions128,130may be referred to as up and down directions with respect to the daughter board104. The shell122may limit movement of the mating connectors112in opposite lateral directions132,134that oppose one another and that are transverse to the opposite directions128,130. In one embodiment, the opposite directions128,130and the lateral directions132,134are orthogonal to one another. The shell122may limit movement of the mating connectors112in other directions that are transverse or otherwise angled with respect to the opposite directions128,130or lateral directions132,134.

The shell122includes an upper planar body136joined to a rear planar body138. The upper body136continuously extends across all of a top side208of the mating connectors112in the illustrated embodiment to interconnect the mating connectors112with one another. The rear body138continuously extends across all of a rear side206of the mating connectors112in the illustrated embodiment to interconnect the mating connectors112with one another. The bodies136,138are separated by a fold line140. The shell122may be formed from a common sheet of material by bending the sheet to create the bodies136,138and the fold line140. For example, the shell122may be created by stamping and forming a sheet of conductive material. Alternatively, the shell122may be formed by joining two separated bodies136,138together. For example, two separate bodies136,138created from a sheet of metal may be welded or otherwise joined together by an adhesive. The shell122includes a lower planar body400(shown inFIG. 4) that is mounted to the lower surface126of the daughter card104in one embodiment, as described below.

In one embodiment, the connector system100is a VITA46 or VMEbus standard connector system. The connector system100may be used in an environment subjected to mechanical vibration and shock. For example, the connector system100may be used in aircraft or other vehicles. As described above, the useful lives of connectors in environments experiencing relatively large vibrations and shock may be severely shortened. The shell122is provided to reduce the vibrations and mechanical shocks to the mating connectors112in the connector system100and therefore increase the useful life of the mating connectors112and the connector system100. The shell122acts as a stiffening element or body that reduces vibrations in the mating connectors112. For example, the shell122may interconnect several of the mating connectors112to limit movement of individual mating connectors112with respect to one another. Limiting the individual movements of the mating connectors112may reduce the vibrations and limit the mechanical shock to the mating connectors112, thus increasing the useful lives of the mating connectors112and connector system100.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of the daughter board104and mating connectors112with the shell122shown inFIG. 1removed. The mating connectors112include a housing200that holds the card modules116. The housing200may be formed from a dielectric material, such as a polymer. The housing200includes a mounting face202that is mounted to the daughter board104. The mounting face202includes the portion of the housing200that engages the daughter board104to mount the mating connector112to the daughter board104. The housing200includes a mating face204in which the card modules116are held for mating with the backplane connectors106(shown inFIG. 1). The card modules116are arranged in the mating face204such that the card modules116are received in the slots110(shown inFIG. 1) of the backplane connectors106, as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting face202and the mating face204are orthogonal to one another. Alternatively, the mounting face202and the mating face204may be parallel to one another or transverse with respect to one another at an angle other than ninety degrees.

The housing200includes the rear side206and the top side208. The rear side206extends between the mounting face202and the top side208. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear side206opposes the mating face204. The rear side206may be parallel to the mating face204or may be disposed at a transverse angle with respect to the mating face204. The top side208extends between the mating face204and the rear side206. In the illustrated embodiment, the top side208opposes the mounting face202. The top side208intersects the rear side206. The top side208may be parallel to the mounting face202or may be disposed at a transverse angle with respect, to the mounting face202. The housing200is formed as a cuboid, or a three-dimensional rectangular box, with the mounting face202, mating face204, rear side206and top side208orthogonal to one another. Other shapes of the housing200are possible and within the scope of the embodiments described herein. For example, the top side208and rear side206may not intersect one another. In another example, the mating face204and mounting face202may be parallel as opposed to transverse to one another.

The shell122(shown inFIG. 1) is coupled to each of the mating connectors112. The shell122may be joined to common surfaces of each of the mating connectors112. For example, each mating connector112may have a common, or similar, top side208. The shell122may be fixed to the common top sides208of the mating connectors112. The shell122may be fixed to the top sides208by directly engaging the shell122to the top sides208with no intervening structure or component disposed between the shell122and the top sides208. Each mating connector112includes a common, or similar rear side206in the illustrated embodiment. The shell122may be fixed to the common rear sides206of the mating connectors112. The shell122may be fixed to the rear sides206by directly engaging the shell122to the rear sides206with no intervening structure or component disposed between the shell122and the rear sides206.

The housing200includes retention features that assist in securing the shell122(shown inFIG. 1) to the mating connectors112. For example, the top side208of the housing200may include several latch cavities210that extend into the housing200from the top side208. The latch cavities210are shaped to receive latching elements300(shown inFIG. 3) of the shell122to secure the shell122to the housing200. The housing200may include protrusions212that extend away from the top side208. The protrusions212are shaped to be loaded into corresponding through holes302(shown inFIG. 3) of the shell122to secure the shell122to the housing200. For example, the protrusions212may be pins that are shaped to be received in the through holes302. The housing200may include both the latch cavities210and the protrusions212, or may only include the latch cavities210or the protrusions212. Moreover, the number of latch cavities210, protrusions212or other retention features of the housing200may be varied from those shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 3is a rear perspective view of the shell122mounted to the mating connectors112(shown inFIG. 1). The shell122has a width dimension304between opposite outer ends306,308of the shell122. The width dimension304is measured in a direction parallel to the daughter board104and to the lateral directions132,134. The width dimension304may be the same or different for each of the bodies136,138of the shell122. The width dimension304may be great enough to interconnect all of the mating connectors112with the shell122. Alternatively, the shell122may not interconnect all of the mating connectors112. For example, the shell122may interconnect a subset of the mating connectors112mounted to the daughter board104.

The shell122includes latching elements300that extend downward from the upper body136of the shell122. The latching elements300include portions of the upper body136that engage the housings200(shown inFIG. 2) of the mating connectors112(shown inFIG. 1) to limit movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another and to the shell122. For example, the latching elements300may be formed from portions of the upper body136that are bent downward and received in the latch cavities210(shown inFIG. 2) of the housings200. The shell122includes the through holes302that extend through the upper body136. As described above, the through holes302may receive the protrusions212(shown inFIG. 2) of the mating connectors112to secure the shell122to the mating connectors112and limit movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another and to the shell122.

The shell122includes several fingers310that extend inward from the rear body138into the mating connectors112(shown inFIG. 1). Similar to the latching elements300, the fingers310include portions of the rear body138that are inserted into the housings200(shown inFIG. 2) of the mating connectors112. The fingers310may be formed from portions of the rear body138that are bent inward and received in finger cavities518(shown inFIG. 5) in the rear sides206(shown inFIG. 2) of the housings200. The fingers310are loaded into the finger cavities518to limit movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another and to the shell122.

While the shell122is illustrated inFIG. 3as including all of the latching elements300, the through holes302and the spring fingers310to secure the shell122to the mating connectors112(shown inFIG. 1), the shell122may include a different number of or none of one or more of the latching elements300, through holes302, and spring fingers310. For example, the shell122may include no through holes302. In one embodiment, another component to the connector system100shown inFIG. 1may be introduced to secure the shell122to the mating connectors112. By way of example only, an adhesive may be disposed between the mating connectors112and the shell122. For example, an adhesive may be provided on the top side208(shown inFIG. 2) and/or rear side206(shown inFIG. 2) of the housings200(shown inFIG. 2) of the mating connectors112prior to placing the shell122in contact with the adhesive and mating connectors112. The adhesive may bond the shell122to the mating connectors112to limit movement of the mating connectors112.

The shell122may be coupled to one or more of the pin receptacles120. For example, a fastener312may be placed through the shell122and secured to a pin receptacle120that is partially enclosed by the shell122to secure the shell122to the pin receptacle120. The fastener312may include a threaded screw that is coupled to the pin receptacle120by screwing the fastener312into a threaded bore in the pin receptacle120. The shell122may be electrically joined to a conductive pathway114(shown inFIG. 1) by the fastener312and pin receptacle120. For example, the pin receptacle120may include a conductive material and be electrically coupled to a ground reference of the daughter board104by a conductive pathway114. The fastener312may include a conductive material and provide an electrically conductive path from the shell122to the ground reference of the daughter board104through the pin receptacle120. Alternatively, the shell122may be connected to the ground reference of the daughter board104in another manner. For example, the shell122may be mounted to the daughter board104and coupled to the ground reference by a conductive pathway114.

The upper body136of the shell122include a guidance edge314located on a side of the upper body136opposite the fold line140between the upper and rear bodies136,138. The guidance edge314includes a portion of the upper body136that protrudes past the mating faces204(shown inFIG. 2) of the mating connectors112(shown inFIG. 1). Alternatively, the guidance edge314may not protrude past, the mating faces204of the mating connectors112. The guidance edge314guides the mating connectors112and the backplane connectors106into a mating engagement. For example, the guidance edge314may receive the backplane connectors106and guide the backplane connectors106toward the mating faces204of the mating connectors112as the mating connectors112and the backplane connectors106are brought together to mate the connectors112,106with one another.

In one embodiment, the guidance edge314projects past the mating faces204to protect the mating connectors112from electrostatic discharge (“ESD”). The guidance edge314may project past the mating faces204of the mating connectors112so that a source of electrostatic energy that is external to the connector system100(shown inFIG. 1) contacts the guidance edge314prior to or instead of touching the mating connectors112or the card modules116(shown inFIG. 1) held in the mating connectors112. For example, an operator of the connector system100may be a source of electrostatic energy. The operator's fingers may touch the guidance edge314instead of the mating connectors112as the operator mates the backplane connectors106(shown inFIG. 1) with the mating connectors112. As described above, the shell122may be electrically coupled to the ground reference of the daughter board104. The operator's contact with the guidance edge314may discharge the electrostatic energy of the operator and electrically connect the electrostatic energy with the ground reference of the daughter board104.

FIG. 4is a perspective view of the lower surface126of the daughter board104and the lower body400of the shell122according to one embodiment. The lower body400includes a substantially planar body. The lower body400may be stamped and formed from a sheet of conductive material, such as a metal. The lower body400may be fixed to the daughter board104by one or more fasteners402. The fasteners402may be similar to the fastener312shown inFIG. 3and may mechanically affix the lower body400to the daughter board104and electrically couple the lower body400to the ground reference of the daughter board104via a conductive pathway114. In one embodiment, the lower body400is electrically connected with the upper body136and the rear body138(shown inFIG. 1) of the shell122. For example, one of the fasteners402may electrically couple the lower body400with a pin receptacle120that includes an electrically conductive material. The fastener312also may electrically couple the upper body136with the same pin receptacle120. The electrically conductive material in the pin receptacle120may provide an electrically conductive pathway between the fasteners402,312and the upper and lower bodies136,400of the shell122.

Similar to the upper body136, the lower body400may protrude past the mating faces204of the mating connectors112. The lower body400may protrude past the mating faces204to guide the backplane connectors106(shown inFIG. 1) and the mating connectors112into a mating relationship with one another, similar to the guidance edge314of the upper body136. For example, the distance between the upper body136and lower body400of the shell122may define the loading opening512through which the backplane connectors106(shown inFIG. 1) may be loaded to mate with the mating connectors112.

In one embodiment, the lower body400projects past the mating faces204to protect the mating connectors112from ESD, similar to the guidance edge314. The lower body400may project past the mating faces204so that a source of electrostatic energy external to the connector system100(shown inFIG. 1) contacts the lower body400prior to or instead of touching the mating connectors112or the card modules116(shown inFIG. 1), similar to as described above in connection with the guidance edge314.

FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of the shell122, mating connectors112and daughter board104taken along line5-5inFIG. 3. As shown inFIG. 5, the upper body136of the shell122extends along the top sides208of the mating connector housings200. The latching elements300extend from the upper body136downward into the latch cavities210in the housings200. In the illustrated embodiment, the latching elements300include a hook extension500that extends into and engages the housing200. The hook extension500includes a penetrating portion502and a securing portion504. The penetrating portion502extends away from the upper body136toward the daughter board104and into, the latch cavity210. The penetrating portion502may extend away from the upper body136in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the upper body136. Alternatively, the penetrating portion502may extend away from the upper body136in a different direction. The securing portion504is connected to the upper body136by the penetrating portion502. The securing portion504extends from the penetrating portion502in a direction that is transverse to the penetrating portion502. For example, the securing portion504may extend from the penetrating portion502in a direction that is transverse to the penetrating portion502. For example, the securing portion504may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the penetrating portion502or parallel to the upper body136. The penetrating portion502penetrates into the latch cavity210and positions the securing portion504in a location to secure the upper body136to the housing200. In an alternative embodiment, the latching element300does not include the hook extension500. For example, the latching element300may include an extension (not shown) similar to the penetrating portion502that penetrates into the latch cavity210but that is not connected to the securing portion504.

As described above, the latching element300extends into the latching cavity210to secure the mating connector112to the shell122. The latching elements300secure multiple mating connectors112to the shell122in order to limit the movement or displacement of the individual mating connectors112with respect to one another. For example, the latching elements300may restrict movement of the mating connectors112in the lateral directions132,134(shown inFIG. 1). The latching elements300also may restrict movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another in one or more of the transverse directions514,516. The transverse directions514,516are orthogonal to the lateral directions132,134and the opposite directions128,130in one embodiment.

The rear body138of the shell122extends along the rear sides206of the mating connector housings200. The fingers310extend from the rear body138in a direction transverse to the rear body138and into the finger cavities518of the housings200. For example, the fingers310may extend from the rear body138in a substantially perpendicular direction with respect to the rear body138. In the illustrated embodiment, the fingers310include a substantially planar body520that extends into the finger cavity518and engages the housing200. Alternatively, the fingers310may include a securing portion similar to the securing portion504of the latching elements300. For example, the fingers310may include a hook to secure the rear body138to the housings200.

As described above, the finger310extends into the finger cavity518to secure the mating connector112to the shell122. The fingers310secure multiple mating connectors112to the shell122in order to limit the movement or displacement of the individual mating connectors112with respect to one another. For example, the fingers310may restrict movement of the mating connectors112in the opposite directions128,130, or in directions toward and away from the daughter board104. The fingers310also may restrict movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another in one or more of the transverse directions514,516and lateral directions132,134(shown inFIG. 1).

The guidance edge314of the upper body136may be bent away from the plane of the upper body136. For example, a bend510between the guidance edge314and the remainder of the upper body136may displace the guidance edge314farther away from the upper surface124of the daughter board104than the remainder of the upper body136. The bend510locally increases the size of the loading opening512proximate to the guidance edge314. In one embodiment, a first dimension506between the guidance edge314and the upper surface124of the daughter board104may be greater than a second dimension508between the portion of the upper body136that does not include the guidance edge314and the upper surface124. The dimensions506,508are measured in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface124. The displacement of the guidance edge314farther from the daughter board104than the remainder of the upper body136provides a larger loading opening512in which to mate the backplane connectors106(shown inFIG. 1) and the mating connectors112. For example, the backplane connectors106are loaded through the loading opening512to mate with the mating connectors112. Increasing the size of the loading opening512by bending the guidance edge314away from the daughter board104provides increased mechanical tolerance in the mating of the backplane connectors106and the mating connectors112.

As described above, additional components may be added to the connector system100shown inFIG. 1to limit the movement of the mating connectors112with respect to one another. For example, adhesive may be applied to between the housing200and the shell122to bond the mating connectors112and shell122together. In another example, a Vibration dampening component (not shown) may be provided between the mating connectors112and/or between the mating connectors112and the shell122. The vibration dampening component may include a rubber or foam sheet or body placed between the mating connectors112and/or between the mating connectors112and the shell122. The vibration dampening component may absorb relatively small movements of individual mating connectors112to limit the impact of the vibration of one mating connector112on the other mating connectors112.

The connector system100described herein may extend the useful life of the mating connectors112by reducing the vibrations and mechanical shocks experienced by the mating connectors112. The connector system100reduces the vibrations and shocks experienced by the mating connectors112by interconnecting the mating connectors112with the vibration dampening shell122. The shell122acts as a stiffening element in the system100that inhibits or limits individual movements of the mating connectors112.