Electrical connector having an improved conductor holding block and conductor shield

Abstract: An electrical connector provides for the termination of discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable. The connector includes a connector housing which supports a plurality of electrical contacts. The contacts include insulation displacing contact portions. The insulation displacing contact portions are arranged in longitudinally and vertically spaced rows within the connector housing. A conductor holding block is movably supported by the housing with respect to the insulation displacing contact portions. The conductor holding block includes contact slots which are longitudinally and vertically spaced for receipt of the insulation displacing contact portions. The holding block further includes vertically spaced rows of conductor receiving passages in communication with the contact slots for receipt of the conductors in a pair of conductor rows. The connector further includes a conductive shield positioned between the vertically spaced rows of terminated conductors so as to shield the terminations of one row of conductors from the conductors of the other row.

Description: Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to improvements in electrical data connectors. More particularly the present invention relates to a shielded compact data connector which permits the termination of plural conductors with reduced cross-talk between terminated conductors. Background Of The Invention In the field of data/communications technology, information in the form of electrical signals is being transmitted at ever increasing speeds. Along with the desire to transmit information at faster data rates, the industry has also seen the need to reduce the size of hardware employed so as to increase portability and ease of use. In order to keep pace with these improvements, interconnection technology, which includes electrical cables and electrical connectors designed to connect such hardware, has also undergone significant changes. Electrical connectors and cables are now available, which are much smaller in size and may include a higher density of conductive components. These compact data connectors permit the reliable termination of a greater number of electrical conductors within a smaller connector housing. Further, these compact data connectors are also capable of transmitting data at higher data rates. Examples of connectors are shown in the following documents:- DE-A-4203455 discloses an electrical connector comprising an elongate connector housing the housing having an interconnection end and an opposed cable termination end, a plurality of elongate electrical contacts supported by the housing, the contacts having interconnection portions adjacent the interconnection end of the housing, and insulation displacement contact portions adjacent the cable termination end, the insulation displacing contact portions being arranged in rows. Conductors are held in a block having contact slots for receipt of insulating displacement contact portions of the contacts and passages for the conductors, wherein engagement of the block with the housing effects a simultaneous insulation displacing connections of conductors with the rows of insulation displacing contact portions. US-A-5338220 discloses an electrical connector comprising a connector housing, the housing having two cable termination ends, a plurality of elongate electrical contacts supported by the housing, the contacts having an insulation displacement contact at each end and the contacts being arranged in rows. Conductors are held in two blocks, each block having contact slots for receipt of insulation displacement contact portions of the contacts, and passages for conductors, wherein engagement of the blocks with the housing effects a simultaneous insulation displacing connections of conductors with the rows of insulation displacing contact portions. Such continued improvements in connection technology are not without problems. By decreasing the size of electrical connectors and increasing their density, while still requiring the connectors to transmit data at higher rates, cross-talk between adjacent conductive components within the connector becomes a factor which must be addressed. Additionally, as these components are normally used in close proximity to other electronic components, the individual connector components must be shielded from external interferences such as electro-magnetic interferences (EMI) and radio-frequency interferences (RFI). These interferences can adversely affect the performance levels of the connectors especially at the higher data rates. Thus overall shielding of the connector as well as shielding of the conductive components within the connector becomes a challenge in advancing connector technology. An additional demand on connector technology is that the connector components must be field installable, that is, the cable is to be terminated by the end user at the location of use. Thus, the components must be easy to field assemble and must provide for accurate termination of a multiplicity of conductors. It can be appreciated that merely "downsizing" a connector will be insufficient to meet the current requirements of the industry. Smaller connectors must be designed to meet increased signal transmission requirements, by providing both internal and external shielding as well as providing for long term reliable mechanical and electrical performance. Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present intention to provide a shielded electrical connector for terminating discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector having a conductor shield which provides electrical shielding between conductors terminated by the connector. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector including a conductor holding block which supports plural conductors of a multiconductor cable adjacent insulation displacing contacts of the connector, such conductor holding block including a conductive shield for shielding one set of terminated conductors from an adjacent set of terminated conductors. According to the invention, there is provided an electrical connector comprising: an elongate connector housing having a connector interconnection end and an opposed cable termination end; a plurality of elongate electrical contacts supported by said housing, said contacts having interconnection portions adjacent said interconnection end of said housing and insulation displacing contact portions adjacent said cable termination end, said insulation displacing contact portions being arranged in transversely aligned, longitudinally offset and vertically spaced pair of contact rows within said housing, each said contact row including at least two said contacts; a conductor holding block, insertably movably supportable by said housing with respect of said housing with respect to said insulation displacing contact portions, said conductor holding block including contact slots which are arranged therein in transversely aligned, longitudinally offset and vertically spaced rows for receipt of said insulation displacement contact portions upon said insertable movement of said holding block, said conductor holding block further including transversely aligned vertically spaced conductor receiving passages in communication with said contact slots for receipt of said conductors, the conductors, the conductor receiving passages being generally aligned in a pair of vertically spaced rows, one row of passages being alignable with said insulation displacing contact portions of one of said contact rows, and a conductor shield positioned within said holding block between said rows of conductor receiving passages and overlying said insulation displacing contact portions of one of said contact rows; wherein said insertable movement of said conductor holding block effects simultaneous insulation displacing electrical connection of said conductors with said rows of insulation displacing contact portions. The invention further provides in combination : a multi-conductor electrical cable and an elongate electrical connector terminating said cable, said combination comprising: an elongate connector housing accommodating said conductors in a pair of vertically spaced conductor rows; a plurality of side by side electrical contacts arranged in a pair of transversely aligned, vertically spaced rows, said contacts having insulation displacing contact portions extending in a uniform direction with said insulation displacing contact portions of one row being longitudinally spaced from the insulation displacing portions of the other row, said insulation displacing contact portions terminating individually said conductors of said multi-conductor cable; and a conductive shield supported within said connector housing between said vertically spaced conductor rows and overlying one said row of insulation displacing contact portions, said conductive shield providing electrical shielding between said conductor rows adjacent the termination of said conductors to said one row of insulation displacing contact portions. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the compact data connector of the present invention and a shielded multi-conductor electrical cable positioned for termination therewith. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the termination subassembly of the connector of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the conductor holding block and contact shield of the connector of Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional showing of the conductor holding block assembled to the termination of subassembly shown in Figure 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1, a high-density compact electrical data connector 10 of the present invention is show. Data connector 10 is of the type used to terminate a multi-conductor electrical cable 12 which is designed for transmitting signals between electronic components. Cable 12 may include an outer insulative jacket 14, an inner conductive cable shield 16 and a plurality of individually insulated discrete electrical conductors 18 extending therethrough. In order to prepare cable 12 for termination with connector 10, and end portion of jacket 14 is cut away exposing a portion of cable shield 16 and an extent of conductors 18 of length suitable for termination. Connector 10 of the present invention is of a type similar to that shown and described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/153,687 (from which EP-A-0653804 claims priority) filed on November 17, 1993 and entitled, "ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING A CONDUCTOR HOLDING BLOCK", which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention. Connector 10 includes an outer housing 20, a termination subassembly 22, upper and lower rows of electrical contacts 24 and 26 and a conductor holding block 28. Each of the components of connector 10 are further described hereinbelow. Outer housing 20 is generally an elongate rectangular member formed of two mating parts including a base 30 and cover 32. Outer housing 20 is a generally formed of a suitably insulated plastic such as polyester. Base 30 may include upwardly extending arms 34 which engage protrusions 36 on cover 32 to provide snap-fit engagement of cover 32 on base 30. Housing 20 includes an interconnection end 38 which is designed for mating electrical interconnection with a mating electrical connector. Such mating connection may be generally of the hermaphroditic type, i.e., the mating connector may be of similar construction to that of connector 10. Housing 20 further includes an opposed cable receiving end 40 which accommodates electrical cable 12. As housing 20 is preferably formed of an electrically insulative plastic, in order to assist in shielding connector 10 from external electrical interferences such as RFI and EMI, both base 30 and cover 32 may be internally and/or externally electrolessly plated with a metallic plating such as nickel and/or copper. The process of metallically plating a plastic member may be accomplished in any manner which is well-known in the plating art. Referring additionally to Figure 2, termination subassembly 22 is shown. Termination subassembly 22 includes a contact support member 42 which supports electrical contacts 24 and 26 and further includes an outer conductive shield 44. Contact support member 42 is generally an elongate molded plastic member typically formed of polyester having a rear contact accommodating end 46, a central main body 48, and forwardly extending upper and lower support platforms 50 and 52. Contact support member 42 includes a row of side-by-side upper channels 54 extending from rear contact accommodating end 46 through central main body 48 and along upper support platform 50. Similarly, a row of side-by-side lower channels 56 extend from rear contact accommodating end 46 through central main body 48 and along lower support platform 52. Upper and lower electrical contacts 24 and 26, which are supported by contact support member 42, are typically stamped and formed metallic members formed of beryllium copper or other suitably conductive metal. Lower contacts 26 include a generally elongate base portion 26a, an upstanding insulation displacing contact (IDC) portion 26b and a reversely directed cantilevered spring portion 26c which extends back over base portion 26a. The cantilevered spring portion 26c is constructed so as to be deflectable for movement toward and away from base portion 26a upon interconnection with contacts of a mating connector. Upper contacts 24 are of construction similar to that of lower contacts 26. Each contact includes an elongate base portion 24a, an upwardly extending insulation displacement contact (IDC) portion 24b and a reversely directed cantilevered spring portion 24c. In the present illustrative embodiment, contacts 24 and 26 are positioned in support member 42 in two transversely aligned, vertically spaced rows. Each row includes four contacts having base portions 24a and 26a supported by upper and lower support platforms 50 and 52, respectively. The opposed IDC portions 24b and 26b are supported above one another adjacent rear contact accommodating end 46 of contact support member 42. The base portion 24b of lower contacts 24 are longer than the base portion 26b of contact 26 so that the IDC portions of each row of contacts 24 and 26 are longitudinally offset as well as being transversely aligned and vertically spaced apart. Rear contact accommodating end 46 is formed in a step-wise configuration to accommodate support longitudinally staggered IDC portions 24b and 26b. As shown in Figure 2, contacts 24 and 26 are accommodated within upper and lower channels 54 and 56, respectively. In order to shield selected adjacent pairs of contacts 24 and 26 from electrical cross-talk, contact support member 42 is insertable within outer conductive shield 44. Outer conductive shield 44 may be formed of die-cast zinc and includes a pair of upper and lower shield platforms 58 and 60 which underlie respectively support platforms 50 and 52. Shield platforms 58 and 60 provide electrical shielding between the vertically spaced rows of contacts 24 and 26. Outer conductive shield 44 further includes a vertical shield wall 62 which extends centrally between side-by-side pairs of contacts 24 and 26. In this manner, side-by-side pairs of contacts 24 and 26 are shielded from adjacent lateral pairs of contacts reducing cross-talk therebetween. Outer conductive shield 44 includes an outer shell portion 64 surrounding shield platforms 58 and 60. When assembled in connector 20, shell portion 64 engages the metallic plating of base 30 and cover 32 to provide ground path continuity therebetween. Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, extending insulated conductors 18 of cable 12 are positioned for insulation displacing electrical connection with IDC portions 24b and 26b of contacts 24 and 26. In order to accurately align conductors 18 with the insulation displacing portions, the present invention provides conductor holding block 28 which is insertably accommodated by termination subassembly 22. Referring additionally to Figures 3 and 4, holding block 28 is generally a rectangular member formed of a suitably insulated plastic such as polycarbonate, having a shape which is mateable with contact accommodating end 46 of contact support member 42. Holding block 28 includes a generally step-like configuration defining a smaller forward portion 66 and a larger rearward portion 68. Holding block 28 includes a first row of contact slots 70 extending upwardly through forward portion 66 and a second row of contact slots 72 extending upwardly through rearward portion 68. Contact slots 70 and 72 are designed for insertable accommodation of insulation displacing portions 24b and 26d respectively of contacts 24 and 26 upon attachment of holding block 28 to contact support member 42. Conductor holding block 28 further includes an upper row of conductor passages 74 and an aligned lower row of conductor passages 76. Passages 74 and 76 extend generally horizontally from a rear face 28a of holding block 28. Upper passages 74 are designed for communication with slots 70 of holding block 28 while lever passages 76 are designed for communication with slots 72 thereof. As slots 70 and 72 receive the IDC portions therein, passages 74 and 76 provide for individual conductor positioning adjacent the respective IDC portions. In order to accommodate IDC portions 24b and 26b supported by contact support member 42, slots 70 and 72 of holding block 28 are vertically spaced and longitudinally offset in a manner similar to that of the IDC portions. Passages 74 and 76 are transversely aligned and vertically spaced in order to dispose conductors 18 inserted therein over the IDC portions 24b, 26b for termination therewith. However, as conductors 18 are supported in stacked fashion in two aligned vertically spaced rows, conductors 18 extending through upper passages 74 are positioned directly above conductors 18 extending through passages 76. This arrangement may result in an increase in cross-talk between the terminated conductors, as IDC portions 26b lie directly below the conductors 18 extending from IDC portions 24b. In order to reduce cross-talk between such stacked conductors, which is especially prevalent at the termination thereof to IDC portions 24b and 26b, the present invention provides a conductive cross-talk shield 80. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, cross-talk shield 80 is an elongate generally planar member formed of suitably conductive metal. Shield 80 is supported within holding block 28 in a horizontal channel 82 which is generally parallel to, and located between, rows of passages 74 and 76. A longitudinal stiffing rib 83 positioned along the length of shield 80 provides structural stability. As shown in Figure 4, when positioned in channel 82, shield 80 overlies the upper extents of IDC portions 26b of lower contacts 26. In order to captively retain shield 80 within channel 82, shield 80 includes extending protrusions 84 which are frictionally received within channels 82. Shield 80 further includes a centrally-located notch 86 which is alignable with a vertical groove 88 in conductor holding block 28. Groove 88 is positioned between side-by-side pairs of passageways 74 and 76 and permits accommodation therein of vertical shield wall 62 upon assembly of contact support member 42 to outer conductive shield 44. In order to establish electrical ground-path continuity between outer conductive shield 44 and cross-talk shield 80, shield 80 includes a pair of inwardly facing curved surfaces 90 adjacent notch 86. Curved surfaces 90 permit frictional accommodation of vertical shield wall 62 within notch 86, so as to establish mechanical and electrical engagement therebetween. As cross-talk shield 80 spans row 26d of IDC portions 26b, effective electrical shielding is provided between the conductors 18 terminated by IDC portions 26b and the upper row of conductors 18 extending thereover. In combination with outer conductive shield 44 which is placed in electrical continuity therewith, cross-talk shield 80 provides effective shielding between pairs of upper and lower contacts 24 and 26 terminated to conductors 18. While in the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, shield 80 is carried by holding block 28 for movement therewith, shield 80 may be supported at other locations within housing 20. For example, shield 80 may be supported between the depending sidewalls 32a of cover 32 (Fig. 1) for positioning adjacent the IDC portions upon attachment of cover 32 to base 30. Referring again to Figure 1, the termination of cable 12 with connector 10 of the present invention may be described. Conductors 18 are supported within passages 74 and 76 of holding block 28. Holding block 28 supporting all eight conductors 18 is inserted over contact accommodating end 46 of termination subassembly 22. All eight conductors are mass-terminated in unison with the IDC portions of contacts 24 and 26. Such termination is achieved at the longitudinally offset and vertically spaced positions of IDC portions 24b and 26b. An appropriate tool may be used to force holding block 28 over the IDC portions. Such movement also causes shield 80 to overlie IDC portions 26b of contacts 26, shielding the terminations of conductors 18 thereto from the conductors extending thereover. Also shield 80 is moved into electrical engagement with wall 62 establishing ground continuity with outer conductive shield 44. Termination subassembly 22 now terminated to conductors 18 of cable 12 is inserted between base 30 and cover 32 of housing 20. Appropriate strain relief hardware 90 may be employed to secure cable 12 to housing 20. Such hardware also may be used to electrically common the metallic shield 16 of cable 12 to the metallic plating of housing 20 and/or conductive shield 44 in a manner which is well-known in the art. The snap-fitting of cover 32 onto base 30 completes the termination of cable 12 and allows connector 10 to be interconnected with a mating electrical connector. Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims: An electrical connector (10) comprising: an elongate connector housing (20) having a connector interconnection end (38) and an opposed cable termination end (40); a plurality of elongate electrical contacts (24,26) supported by said housing (20), said contacts having interconnection portions (24c,26c) adjacent said interconnection end (38) of said housing and insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b) adjacent said cable termination end (40), said insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b) being arranged in transversely aligned, longitudinally offset and vertically spaced pair of contact rows within said housing, each said contact row including at least two said contacts (24,26); a conductor holding block (28), insertably movably supportable by said housing (20) with respect of said housing with respect to said insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b), said conductor holding block (28) including contact slots (70,72) which are arranged therein in transversely aligned, longitudinally offset and vertically spaced rows for receipt of said insulation displacement contact portions (24b,26b) upon said insertable movement of said holding block (28), said conductor holding block (28) further including transversely aligned vertically spaced conductor receiving passages (74,76) in communication with said contact slots (70,72) for receipt of said conductors (18), the conductor receiving passages (74,76) being generally aligned in a pair of vertically spaced rows, one row of passages being alignable with said insulation displacing contact portions of one of said contact rows, and a conductive shield (80) positioned within said holding block (28) between said rows of conductor receiving passages and overlying said insulation displacing contact portions (26b) of one of said contact rows; wherein said insertable movement of said conductor holding block (28) effects simultaneous insulation displacing electrical connection of said conductors (18) with said rows of insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b). An electrical connector of claim 6 wherein said conductive shield (80) spans said rows of conductor receiving passages (74,76) of said conductor holding block (28). A connector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising an electrically conductive housing shield (44) having a vertical shield wall (62) positioned between insulation displacement contact portions of one said row of contacts, said vertical shield wall (62) being mechanically and electrically engageable with the conductor shield (80) upon insertable movement of the conductor holding block. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the conductor shield (80) is retentively secured within the conductor holding block (28). A connector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the vertical shield wall (62) is retentively secured by the conductor shield (80). In combination : a multi-conductor (18) electrical cable (12) and an elongate electrical connector (10) terminating said cable (12), said combination comprising: an elongate connector housing (20) accommodating said conductors (18) in a pair of vertically spaced conductor rows; a plurality of side by side electrical contacts (24,26) arranged in a pair of transversely aligned, vertically spaced rows, said contacts (24,26) having insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b) extending in a uniform direction with said insulation displacing contact portions (24b) of one row being longitudinally spaced from the insulation displacing portions (26b) of the other row, said insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b) terminating individually said conductors (18) of said multi-conductor cable (12); and a conductive shield (80) supported within said connector housing (20) between said vertically spaced conductor rows and overlying one said row of insulation displacing contact portions (26b), said conductive shield (80) providing electrical shielding between said conductor rows adjacent the termination of said conductors (18) to said one row of insulation displacing contact portions (26b). A combination of claim 6 further including: a conductor holding block (28) having passages (74,76) therein which individually support said conductors (18), said passages (74, 76) being arranged in two transversely aligned and vertically spaced rows, said conductor holding block (28) further including slots (70,72) accommodating therein said insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b), said conductor holding block (28) being insertably supported by said housing (20) for placing said conductors (18) in insulation displacing electrical connection with said insulation displacing contact portions (24b,26b). A combination of claim 7 wherein said conductive shield (80) is supported by said conductor holding block (28).

Inventors: LORD RANDAL B, WELLINSKY WAYNE T, LORD, RANDAL B., WELLINSKY, WAYNE T.
Applicants: THOMAS & BETTS CORP, THOMAS & BETTS CORPORATION (A TENNESSEE CORPORATION)
Application year: 1996
Main classification: H01R4
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R13, H01R12