Shielded connector with integral latching and ground structure

Abstract: An electrical connector (20; 120) comprising an insulative body (22; 122), an electrically conductive terminal (24; 124) received on the insulative body, and electrical shield member (28; 128) disposed in shielding relationship with respect to the terminal (24; 124), a latching structure integral with the shield member for receiving a latch associated with a mating connector (60) and a second latching structure integral with the shield member for engaging a bracket (242).

Description: This invention relates to an electrical connector of the kind referred to in the preamble portion of patent claim 1. Such an electrical connector is known from DE 296 02 268 U1. As signal speeds, in particular data transfer speeds, have increased, interconnection systems, such as those used for input/output terminals for data processing equipment have had to be designed to pass these higher speed signals within acceptable limits of signal degradation. These efforts have involved shielding and impedance control. Such efforts are typified with connectors, such as modular jacks, that have separate metal shields applied over the connector housing. In many instances, these shields are in two parts, one to cover the body of the connector and the other to be applied over the front face of the connector. Similar approaches have been taken for other connectors, such as the HSSDC connector marketed by AMP, Inc., which is designed to meet the ANSI X3T11 Fiber Channel committee standards. However, as signal speeds have increased, the difficulty of meeting impedance control and shielding requirements by the use of such wraparound shields has increased. An additional complication is that these interconnection systems require reliable contact with shielding structures on the mating plug connectors so that overall performance of the interconnection system is maintained. Another approach that has been taken is illustrated in recent designs of Universal Serial Bus connectors. Recent designs utilize a central insulative molded member to retain the contacts. The outer shell of this connector comprises a formed sheet metal shield that is wrapped about the molded member and forms the walls of the connector housing. One such connector has been marketed by Berg Electronics under the part number designation 87520. While the above described connectors have been able to achieve adequate performance in terms of minimizing signal degradation at high frequencies, the drive for ever higher signal frequency has necessitated the development of connectors with higher performance capabilities. High speed interconnection performance is assured according to the present invention by incorporating latching features directly into a metal shield of the board mounted receptacle connector. In a preferred embodiment, metal latch engagement surfaces are formed directly from bent portions of the metal shield. Shielding performance is enhanced by providing opposed laterally extending flanges on the shields. The flanges have interfitting structures arranged along an outer edge or distal so that the flanges of adjacent connectors can be interfit, thereby enhancing shielding integrity and minimizing space requirements. Contacts for establishing electrical connection between the shield of the receptacle conductor and the mating plug connector have a flexural axis extending generally in alignment with the insertion axis of the mating connector. These contacts are canted inwardly from the shield and can be additionally compliant toward and away from the flexural axis. In a preferred embodiment, these contacts are formed integrally with the sheet metal shield. DE 296 02 268 U1 discloses a shielded electrical connector having a latching structure to fix an electrically conductive terminal within a shield member. The shielded connector itself is not fixed with its shielding member to a bracket by a special latching structure, but only by abutment on the surface of the bracket which leads to a less safe shielding. WO 97/00544 discloses a shielded electrical connector constructed with an insulating housing. US 5 622 522 discloses a connector providing shielding, grounding and latching functions. US 5 067 914 relates to a multi-pole connector having a centering strip. US 5 496 195 is directed to a high performance shielded electrical connector. Encompassed within the invention is an electrical connector comprising an insulative body, an electrically conductive terminal received on the insulative body, and electrical shield member disposed in shielding relationship with respect to the terminal, a latching structure integral with the shield member for receiving a latch associated with a mating connector and a second latching structure integral with the shield member for engaging a bracket. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a connector representing a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the connector shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through 16-16 in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of an assembly comprising a plurality of connectors like the one shown in Fig. 1 which are mounted on a peripheral computer interface (PCI) bracket; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an end view of the assembly shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9a is a rear elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 1 in which the rear attachment bracket has not yet been fixed to the assembly; Fig. 9b is a rear elevational view of the assembly shown in Fig. 6 in which the rear attachment bracket has been fixed to the assembly. Figs. 1-5 illustrate a preferred receptacle connector 120. This receptacle comprises a molded plastic contact retaining body 122 having an integral rear wall 123. A plurality of conductive contact terminals 124 are retained on the retainer body 122. The body 122 is molded of a polymeric insulator material. A pair of upper guide members 123a (Fig. 1) extend forwardly from the wall 123. The tails 124a of the terminals 124 extend rearwardly from the body 122 and, as shown, can comprise surface mount tails. One or more pegs 126 may be integrally molded with the retaining body 122. The pegs 126 provide location and hold down functions when the connector is mounted on a printed circuit board. Surrounding the retaining body 122 is a shield 128 formed of suitable metallic sheet material. The shield 128 includes a top wall 130, opposed side walls 132a and 132b and a rear wall 134. Side walls 132a and 132b include through hole tails 133 adapted to be inserted and soldered or press fit into plated through holes of the circuit board on which the connector is mounted. Back wall 134 carries similar through hole tails 134c. Alternatively the shield tails can be configured for surface mounting. Rear wall 134 also includes tabs 134a and 134b that are wrapped over the rear portions of the side walls 132a and 132b. A latch 135 formed on body 122 holds rear wall 134 in position. The shield 128 also includes bottom wall portions 136a, 136b. The top wall 130, side walls 132a, 132b and bottom walls 136a, 136b define a generally rectangular opening or chamber 138 that is adapted to receive a mating plug connector (later described) adapted to be inserted into the receptacle 120 along the insertion axis A. The shield also includes a plurality of flanges that extend generally transverse to the direction of the insertion axis A. These include the top flange 140, a bottom flange formed of flange portions 156a, 156b and a pair of opposed side flanges 150a, 150b. A latch receiving slot 142 is formed in the top wall 130 and flange 140. A pair of latching shoulders are formed along opposed sides of the slot 142. The shoulders are preferably formed by bending to form in-turned tangs that have flat latching surfaces or shoulders that are generally perpendicular to the insertion axis A. This structure is adapted to cooperate with a latch arm mounted on a mating connector, as will be subsequently described. It is also designed to emulate sensory perceptions of such plugs latching into molded plastic housings. Each of the side flanges 150a, 150b is provided with interfitting sections along the distal edges of the flanges. The longitudinal axes of the fingers 152a are offset from the longitudinal axes of the fingers 152b so that, when similar receptacles 120a-120d are placed in side by side relationship, the fingers are interleaved. This improves shielding for the assembled row of connectors and allows closer side by side spacing of the connectors. The side flanges 150a, 150b, are, prior to mounting, disposed at a slight angle α with respect to a transverse plane normal to the insertion axis A. These flanges are adapted to be flexed rearwardly to approximately a right angle position when the flanges are pushed against the back side of an equipment panel (not shown), against which the receptacles 120a-120b are mounted. The shield 128 includes a plurality of contacts for assuring electrical connection between the receptacle 120 and a mating plug. These structures include the top contact members 146a and 146b, the side contact fingers 154a and 154b, and the terminal flanges 158a, 158b. The top contact members 146a, 146b are formed from the top wall 130 and are canted inwardly into the opening 138. The upper contact members 146a, 146b are disposed at an angle with respect to a plane normal to the top wall 130a. A plurality of forwardly extending contacts 154a, 154b are formed in the side walls 132a, 132b respectively. These contact fingers are positioned to engage side walls of the mating plug. Contact between the bottom walls 136a, 136b and the bottom surface of the plug is achieved through forwardly extending the terminal flanges 158a, 158b. Thus it can be seen that electrical contact is established between the top, bottom and side walls of the receptacle 120 and the plug in a way similar to the first embodiment. The connector receptacle 120 also has a pair of parallel latches 136a and 136b which extend in a forward direction to engage a bracket as is explained hereafter. These latches have respectively forward terminal flanges 158a and 158b which overlap the engaging bracket. Referring to Figs. 6-9b the receptacle connectors 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are shown mounted on a PCI bracket 176. The PCI bracket has a major planar area 178 with a number of receptacle connector port openings 180, 182, 184 and 186. The major planar area also has a mounting aperture 188. The PCI bracket 176 also includes a perpendicular planar area 190 which has mounting features 192 and 194. Receptacle connectors 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d are fixed to the PCI bracket 176 by means of fasteners 196, 198, 206, 208 and 210 positioned in opposed relation adjacent its lateral sides. The receptacle connectors 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d are mounted over openings 180, 182, 184, 186. Receptacle connectors 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d are also connected to the PCI bracket 176 at its lower side by means of terminal flanges 158a to 158h. Referring particularly to Fig. 9a, it will be seen that fingers 152a and 152b bear against the PCI bracket. Fingers 152b interlock with fingers 152a of receptacle connector 120b. Fingers 152b of receptacle connector 120b interlock with fingers 152a of receptacle connector 120c. Fingers 152b of receptacle connector 120a interlock with fingers 152a of receptacle connectors 120d. Fingers 152b of receptacle connector 120d bear against the PCI bracket. Also bearing against the PCI bracket are upper flange 140 and lower flanges 156a and 156b of receptacle connector 120a. Similarly, connector 120b has an upper flange 140b and lower flanges 156c and 156d bearing against the PCI bracket and receptacle connector 120c has an upper flange 140c and lower flanges 156e and 156f bearing against the bracket. Receptacle connector 120d has an upper flange 140d and lower flanges 156g and 156h bearing against the PCI bracket. Referring particularly to Fig. 9b, an attachment bracket shown generally at 242 is superimposed over the upper flanges and the interlocking fingers of the receptacle connectors. This attachment bracket 242 has a horizontal member 244 and legs 246, 248, 250, 252 and 254. Above each of these legs there is a fastener receiving aperture 256, 258, 260, 262 and 264. These apertures receive respectively fasteners 196, 198, 206, 208 and 210.

Claims: An electrical connector comprising: (a) a contact retaining body (122) formed of an insulative material; (b) an electrically conductive terminal (124) retained on said contact retaining body (122); (c) an electrical shield member (128) disposed in shielding relationship with respect to the terminal, characterized in that said shield member (128) has at least one laterally extending first flange (150a), the first flange including an interfitting section for interfitting with a flange of an adjacent connector, and said shield member (128) also has a pair of parallel latches (136a, 136b) extending forward to engage an adjacent peripheral computer interface (PCI) bracket (176), the latches being provided with terminal flanges (158a, 158b). A connector as in claim 1, wherein the interfitting section comprises an edge of the first flange (150a) configured to interfit with a mating edge portion of the flange (150b) of the adjacent connector. An electrical connector as in claim 2, wherein the configured edge of the first flange (150a) includes two spaced projections (152a). An electrical connector as in claim 3, the shield member (128) further including a second flange (150b) located opposite the first flange (150a), the second flange (150b) having an interfitting section for interfitting with the flange of a connector adjacent the second flange (150b). The connector of claim 4, wherein the interfitting section of the second flange (150b) comprises an edge of the second flange configured to interfit with a mating edge portion of the flange (150a) of the adjacent connector. The connector of claim 5, wherein the configured edge of the second flange (150b) includes two spaced projections (152b), with longitudinal axes of the projections of the first flange (150a) being offset from longitudinal axes of the projections of the second flange (150b).

Inventors: CASEY DANIEL T, ORTEGA JOSE L, PETERS GEORGE I JR, CASEY, DANIEL T., ORTEGA, JOSE L., PETERS, GEORGE I. JR.
Applicants: FRAMATOME CONNECTORS INT, FCI
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H01R12
IPC codes: H01R12, H01R13