PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HEADER HAVING COAXIAL SOCKETS THEREIN AND MATABLE COAXIAL PLUG HOUSING

Abstract: A coaxial connector assembly in the form of a coaxial plug connector (11) and a coaxial socket connector (78), comprises, a first dielectric housing (11), mounting means (24, 26) for mounting the housing (11) to a printed circuit board (58), coaxial socket means (36) secured in a series of passageways (12) in the housing (11), each outer contact means (38) of each socket means (36) includes a releasable latch (50), the outer contact means (38) and the dielectric means (40) of each socket means (36) having aligned slots (72, 64), respectively, in their corresponding rear surfaces to receive a section of a corresponding inner contact (72), and a rear contact element (54) for connection to the printed circuit board (58) and constructed to be bent over a rear surface of the dielectric member (40), a dielectric second housing (78) having a series of passageways (80), coaxial plug means (80) secured in the passageways (80) and latching means (96, 96) for latching the first and second housings (11, 78) to each other.

Description: PR1 NTED CI RCU IT BOARD HEADER HAVING COAX IAL SOCKETS THEREI N AND MATAB LE COAX IAL PLUG HOUSI NG This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a printed circuit board header which is latchable with a matable housing , and the coaxial sockets in the header are electrically matable with respective coaxial plugs in the housing . U. S. Patent No. 4,008,941 discloses a printed circuit board header which comprises a housing having annular cavities therein arranged in a row. Two parallel passages in communication with each of the annular cavities open to the rear surface of the housing with one of the passages being located in the center of the cavity and the other of the passages being in alignment with the wall of the cavity . A center contact member is disposed in each of the center passages and includes a front contact section disposed in the cavity and a rear contact section that is bent at right angles for- disposition into a hole of the printed circuit board and electrical connection with a signal path thereon . A metal sleeve is disposed in engagement with the walls of each of the cavities and includes a rear contact member that extends through the other passage and is bent at right angles forward of the rear contact section of the center contact member for disposition in another hole of the printed circuit board and electrical connection with a ground path thereon , the rear contact sections and the rear contact members being in alignment. The housing thus serves as the dielectric spacer between the signal and ground contact members in the formation of the coaxial sockets which electrically mate with complementary coaxial plugs disposed in a matable housing that latches to the coaxial socket housing . In this construction , the front ends of the coaxial plugs are not protected and are susceptible to damage; the impedance is not properly matched because the housing serves as the dielectric between the signal and ground contacts; and , if a signai or ground contact is damaged , repair would be - time-consuming and difficult. According to the present invention , a printed circuit board header for a row of coaxial sockets comprises a dielectric housing having a series of passageways extending therethrough in which coaxial sockets are disposed . Each of the coaxial sockets include an outer contact member , a dielectric member disposed within the outer contact me.mber and a center contact member having a first contact section extending along a longitudinal bore of the dielectric member and a second contact section extending exteriorly of the dielectric member. A contact element of the outer contact member extends exteriorly thereof and also extends parallel with respect to the second contact section so that the second contact sections and the contact elements are matable with respective holes in a printed circuit board. The outer contact members and the respective passageways are provided with securing members securing the coaxial sockets therein . Securing sections are provided on the housing to secure the housing on a printed circuit board in one direction so that the coaxial sockets extend parallel to the printed circuit board or in another direction so that the coaxial sockets are normal to the printed circuit board . According to another feature of the present invention , the coaxial socket housing includes latching sections to which are latchably engaged flexible latching members of a coaxial plug housing matable with the coaxial socket housing so that coaxial plugs secured in the coaxial plug housing are electrically matable with respective coaxial sockets . The matable housings have polarized matable sections and projections extend outwardly from the front surface of the coaxial plug housing protecting forward sections of the coaxial plugs that extend outwardly from the front surface and the projections extend along top and bottom surfaces of the header housing thereby stabilizing the housings when they are mated together. A detailed description of the invention follows with reference numerals of the detailed description being shown in the drawings described as follows: Figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a coaxial socket printed circuit board header with a coaxial socket exploded therefrom and also exploded from a printed circuit board and a coaxial plug housing that is to be latchably mated with the header with a terminated coaxial plug exploded therefrom. Figure 2 is a perspective and exploded view of the elements of a coaxial socket. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coaxial socket header secured onto a printed circuit board with a coaxial socket electrically connected , respectively , to signal and ground paths thereon and coaxial plug housing matable with the header with a coaxial plug electrically connected to the coaxial socket and electrically terminated to a coaxial cable. Figure 4 is a perspective and exploded view of the header and housing, showing their mating and latching sections . Figures 1 , 3 and 4 show a coaxial socket printed circuit board header 10 which includes a housing 1 1 that is molded from a suitable dielectric material and includes a row of passageways 12 extending therethrough . Each of passageways 12 has a projecting front stop surface 14 , a projecting rear stop surface 16 , a recess 18 extending inwardly from the rear surface of housing 11 and slot 20 opposite recess 18 which also extends inwardly from the rear surface of housing 1 1 . A front section 22 of header 10 has sloping sides 23. Mounting sections 24 and 26 along with latching sections 28 extend outwardly from the sides of housing 11 . Mounting sections 24 and 26 on a corresponding side are disposed normal to one another while latching sections 28 are disposed parallel with respect to mounting sections 26 and have openings 30 extending therethrough . Recesses 32 are located in outer surfaces of sections 24 and 26 and holes 34 extend therethrough . Coaxial sockets 36 , as shown in Figures 1 through 3 , are latchably secured in respective passageways 12 of housing 11 . Each of coaxial sockets 36 comprises an outer or ground contact member 38 , a dielectric member 40 and a center or signal contact member 42. Outer contact member 38 is stamped and formed from a suitable metal having desirable spring and electrical characteristics and includes a front section 44 and a rear section 46 which are separated from one another by a step shoulder 48; the diameter of front section 44 is slightly less than the diameter of rear section 46. Latches 50 extend outwardly from front section 44 for engagement with front stop surface 14 in passageway 12 when coaxial socket 36 is positioned therein and shoulder 48 will engage and cooperate with rear stop surface 16 to limit movement of coaxial socket 36 within passageway 12 as shown in Figure 3. Coaxial socket 36 can be removed from passageway 12 by using a tubular section of a tool that slides in the passageway and along the exterior surface of section 44 thereby depressing latches 50 to free them from stop surface 14 enabling coaxial socket 36 to be slid along passageway 12 and removed therefrom . A rear contact element 52 extends outwardly from rear section 46 and terminates in a contact section 54 of partially circular configuration for frictional electrical engagement with a plated through hole 56 in printed circuit board 58 so that it can be flow-soldered thereto, plated through hole 56 being part of a ground plane on board 58. Contact sections 54 will snugly engage plated through holes 56 to hold header 1 0 on board 58 until it is secured thereon , and contact sections are soldered to plated through holes 56. An elongated embossment 60 is located in part of each rear contact element 52 and extends into rear section 46 of outer contact member 38 to strengthen rear contact element 52 and embossment 60 is disposed in recess 18 in passageway 12 as shown in Figure 3 when a corresponding coaxial socket 36 is secured in a passageway 12. Dielectric member 40 is molded from a suitable dielectric material having the desired dielectric characteristics and is of circular configuration for snug disposition within rear section 46 of outer contact member 38 as shown in Figure 3 with shoulder 48 serving as a stop limiting the movement of dielectric member 40 within section 46. A bore 62 extends through dielectric member 40 and is in communication with a slot 64 which extends inwardly from the bottom of dielectric member 40. As shown in Figure 3 , the rear surface of dielectric member 40 has an arcuate configuration shoulder at the upper part which then slopes slightly inwardly between projections 66 that extend outwardly from the rear surface of dielectric member 40. One leg 68 of center contact member 42 is snugly disposed within bore 62 of dielectric member 40 and a front part of leg 68 extends outwardly from a front surface of dielectric member 40 thereby forming a contact section that extends coaxial with respect to front section 44 of outer contact member 38. Another leg 70 of center contact member 42 is at a right angle with respect to leg 68 and is disposed in slot 64 and extends outwardly from dielectric member 40 and along slot 72 in rear section 46 of outer contact member 38 and along slot 20 in housing 1 1 for disposition in plated through hole 74 in printed circuit board 58 as shown in Figure 3. Slots 20 , 64 and 72 are in alignment. In assembly , dielectric member 40 with center contact member 42 frictionally disposed therein and with rear contact element 52 in its position as shown in Figure 2 is inserted into rear section 46 of outer contact member 38 whereafter rear contact element 52 is bent along the rear surface of dielectric member 40 in between projections 66 until rear contact element 52 is disposed substantially parallel with respect to leg 70 of center contact member 42 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 thereby forming coaxial socket 36. Coaxial sockets 36 are inserted into respective passageways 12 of header 10 whereby they are latched therein by latches 50 which are disposed in alignment with stop surfaces 14 and shoulders 48 are disposed adjacent stop surfaces 16 , embossments 60 are disposed in recesses 18 and legs 70 of center contact members 42 and rear contact elements 52 of outer contact * 5 members 38 are disposed within slots 20 of housing 11 . With rear contact elements 52 being disposed over the rear surface of dielectric members 40 , between projections 66, dielectric members 40 are stabilized within rear sections 46 of outer contact members 38. With rear contact elements 52 disposed in respective slots 20 10 of housing 11 , this stabilizes coaxial sockets 36 in position in passageways 12. The parts of housing 1 1 containing mounting sections 24, 26 and latching sections 28 project downwardly from the part of housing 11 containing passageways 12 and front section 22 so 15 that when header 10 is mounted on printed circuit board 58 with header 10 being disposed parallel to board 58 , mounting sections 24 engage the top surface of board 58 and are secured in " * position thereon via fasteners in the form of bolts , screws or rivets being disposed in holes 34 in recesses 32 which mate with 20 complimentary holes in- board 58. In this way , header 10 with coaxial sockets 36 latchably secured in passageways 12 thereof enables a number of coaxial sockets to have their center signal contact means 83 and outer shield contact means 85 contact members disposed in respective plated through holes in printed 25 circuit board 58 that are respectively connected to signal and ground paths thereon for flow-soldering connection thereto. Also a space formed by recessed portion 59 is provided between the section of header 10 containing passageways 12 and the top surface of board 58 to enable cleaning of the board in this area . 30 Alternatively , header 10 can be mounted on an upper surface of board 58 so that header 10 is disposed in a normal direction relative to board 58 and this is accomplished by rear contact elements 52 being maintained in their unbent position as shown in Figure 2 and legs 70 of center contact members 42 are 35 disposed parallel thereto instead of being at a right angle with respect to legs 68 , and they extend along and straight outwardly of bores 62 instead of being positioned in slots 64. Dielectric members 40 are snugly positioned in rear sections 46 of outer contact members 38 and legs 68 of center contact members 42 are snugly positioned in bores 62 of dielectric members 40 so that dielectric members 40 and center contact members 42 therein remain in position in outer contact members 38 when legs 70 and outer contact elements 54. are not configured with alternate right angles . In mounting header 10 on the board 58 in this manner , mounting sections 26 are disposed in engagement with the upper surface of board 58 and bolts , screws or rivets are disposed in holes 34 in recess 32 thereof in correspondence with holes in board 58 thereby securing header 10 in position thereon with legs 70 of center contact members 42 and contact sections 54 of rear contact elements 52 being disposed in respective holes 56 and 74 of printed circuit board 58 and subsequently flow soldered thereto A recess 76 is located in the rear surface of header 10 so that the part of header 10 containing passageways 12 is spaced from the upper surface of board 58 to enable the area between the upper surface of board 58 and header 10 to be cleaned as described above. A housing member 78 containing coaxial plugs 80 , one of which are shown and which are terminated to coaxial cables 82 is latchably matable with header 10 to electrically connect the center and outer contact members of coaxial plugs 80 with respective center and outer contact members of coaxial sockets 36 as shown in Figure 3. Housing member 78 is molded from a suitable material having desirable dielectric characteristics and it includes passageways 84 extending therethrough in which corresponding coaxial plugs 80 are latchably secured in position therein by latches 86 being directed towards stop surfaces 88 in passageways 84 and annular projections 90 being disposed adjacent stop surfaces 92 in passageways 84 as shown in Figure 3. Coaxial plugs 80 are of the type disclosed in U . S. Patent No. 3 ,235 ,834 are known from U . S. Patent 4,088 ,941 and further description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary . Front sections of coaxial plugs 80 are partly disposed in cavity 94 in the front section of housing member 78 which has a configuration complementary with front section 22 of housing 1 1 thereby polarizing the mating of housing member 78 with housing 11 so that coaxial plugs 80 can be electrically mated with respective coaxial sockets 36 when housing member 78 is latchably connected to header 10 via stiffly flexible integral latching members 96 that extend along respective sides of housing member 78. Latching members 96 include latching sections 98 at the front ends thereof which have sloped camming surfaces 100 that engage with openings 30 in latching sections 28 of header 10 to cam latch members 96 inwardly and latching surfaces 102 engage with the inner surfaces of latching sections 28 thereby latching housing member 78 to header 10. Inward pressure on latching members 96 free latching surfaces 102 from latching sections 28 thereby enabling housing members 78 to be unlatched and removed from header 10 thereby disconnecting coaxial plugs 80 'from coaxial sockets 36. Wall extensions 104 and 106 extend outwardly from a front surface of housing member 78 and extension 104 extends along a top surface of header 10 between header 10 and board 58 while extension 106 extends along a bottom surface of header 10 when housing member 78 is latchably mated with header 10 as shown in Fig ' ure 3. Extensions 104 and 106 protect the front sections of coaxial plugs 80 that extend in the front section of housing member 78 and stabilize the housing member 78 during matable engagement with header 10 and when latched thereto. If desired , the outer and inner surfaces including those of passageways 12 and 84 of header 10 and housing members 78 can be plated with a thin coating of metal 108 in accordance with conventional plating practices thereby shielding the connections between coaxial sockets 36 and respective coaxial plugs 80. As can be discerned a printed circuit board header having coaxial sockets is mounted on a printed circuit board with signal and ground contacts being connectable to signal and ground paths on the printed circuit board and with the coaxial sockets extending parallel to the board or normal thereto. A coaxial plug housing has coaxial plugs therein and is latchably mounted to the header with coaxial plugs thereof being electrically matable with respective coaxial sockets and extensions are provided by the coaxial plug housing at the front end thereof to protect front sections of the coaxial plugs and to stabilize matable engagement of the coaxial plug housing with the header.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A printed circuit board header, comprises, a dielectric housing (11) , mounting means (24, 26) for mounting the housing (11) to a printed circuit board (58), coaxial socket means (36) secured in a series of passageways (12) in the housing (11), each of the coaxial socket means (36) includes an outer contact means (38), dielectric means (40) in the outer contact means (38) and center contact means (42) in the dielectric means (40), and the circuit board header is further characterized in that; each outer contact means (36) includes a releasable latch (50) projecting outwardly of the coaxial socket means (36) and toward the housing (11) and restraining movement of the outer contact means (38), the latch (50) being releasable by depression away from the housing (11), the housing (11) and the outer contact means (38) .and the dielectric means (40) of each socket means (36) having aligned slots (20, 72, 64), respectively, in their corresponding rear surfaces to receive a section (70) of the corresponding contact means (42) bent at an angle to the remainder of the contact means (42), and each outer contact (38) having a rear contact element (52) projecting from the housing (11) for connection to the printed circuit board (58) and constructed to be bent over a rear surface of the dielectric member (40). 2. A printed circuit board header is recited in claim 1 wherein the housing (11) has an outer recessed portion (59) and the aligned slots (20, 72,.64) intersect the outer recessed portion (59). 3. A printed circuit board header as recited in claim 1 wherein a rear end of the housing (11) is recessed (76) and is intersected by the passageways (12). 4. A printed circuit board header as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing (11) has the mounting means (24, 26) adjacent an outer recessed portion (59) of the housing and adjacent a recessed (76) rear end of the housing (11) for mounting the housing ( 1 1 ) with either the outer recessed portion (59) or the recessed (76) rear end facing the circuit board (58) . 5. A printed circuit board header as recited in claim 1 wherein the housing ( 1 1 ) has the mounting means (24, 26) adjacent the recessed (76) rear end of the housing (1 1 ) for mounting the housing ( 1 1 ) with either the recessed portion (59) or the recessed (76) rear end facing the circuit beard (58) , and openings (34) are provided in the mounting means (24, 26) , some of the openings (34) extend parallel to and some extend normal to the axes of the passageways ( 12) . 6. A printed circuit board header as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said rear contact element (52) has an elongated embossment (60) therein which extends along a portion of a rear section (52) . 7. A printed circuit board header as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a profiled section (22) extends outwardly from a front surface of said housing ( 1 1 ) for matable engagement with a complementary profiled cavity ( 94) of a complementary housing (78) . ' 8. A printed circuit board header as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said mounting means (24, 26) enables said header to be mounted on the printed circuit board (58) so that the header extends parallel with the board (58) or normal thereto. 9. A printed circuit board header as set forth in claim 1 wherein exterior and interior surfaces of said housing have a metal coating ( 108) . 10. A coaxial connector assembly in the form of a coaxial plug connector (78) and a coaxial socket connector ( 10) , comprising a first dielectric housing ( 1 1 ) having a series of passageways (12) , coaxial socket means (36) secured in the passageways ( 12) and including an assembly of outer contact means (38) , dielectric means (40) in the outer contact means (38 ) and center contact means (42) in the dielectric means (40) , the outer contact means (38) includes at its inner end first contact means (52) , the center contact means (42) includes at its inner end second contact means (68) , the first and the second contact means (52 , 68) extend outwardly from the first housing ( 11 ) for electrical connection to electrical paths on a circuit board (58) , mounting means (24, 26) on the first housing ( 11 ) for mounting the first housing (1 1 ) on the circuit board (58) , a dielectric second housing (78) having a series of passageways (84) , coaxial plug means (80) secured in the passageways (84) of the second housing and having signal contact means (83) and shield contact means (85) terminated , respectively, to a coaxial cable (82) , latching means (96) for latching the first and second housings (11 , 78) to each other with the center and outer contact means (38, 42) of the coaxial socket means (36) connected electrically to the signal and shield contact means (83 , 85) of respective coaxial plug means (80) , and further characterized in that; the second housing (78) has extensions (104, 106) extending outwardly from a front surface of the second housing (78) and along top and bottom surfaces , respectively , of the first housing ( 1 1 ) when the housings ( 11 , 78) are latchably mated together, and the latching means (96) includes a pair of latch members (96 , 96) laterally spaced from the extensions (104, 106) . 11 . A coaxial connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said mounting (24, 26) means enables said first housing (11 ) to be mounted on the printed circuit board (58) with said coaxial socket means (36) extending parallel to the board (58) whereby said first and second contact means (52 , 68) are at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axes of said coaxial socket means (36) . 12. A coaxial connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said mounting means (24, 26) enables said first housing ( 11 ) to be mounted on the printed circuit board (58) with said coaxial socket means (36) extending normal to the board (58) whereby said first and second contact means (52 , 68) extend in the same direction as said coaxial socket means (36) . 13. A coaxial connector assembly as set forth in claim 10 , wherein polarizing means includes a front profiled section (22) of said first housing (11) that mates with a profiled cavity (94) in said second housing (78). 14. A coaxial connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein inner and outer surfaces and said passageways have a metal coating (108).

Inventors: COHEN THOMAS SHACKNEY, FINAN DOUGLAS FRANKLIN, COHEN, THOMAS, SHACKNEY, FINAN, DOUGLAS, FRANKLIN
Applicants: AMP INC, AMP INCORPORATED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: H01R17
IPC codes: H01R13, H01R24