Abstract:
In order, to transmit differential signals between two printed boards, there is provided a printed board connector comprising an insulating connector housing and disk-shaped modules that contain electric contact elements and are arranged in the connector housing, wherein modules featuring signaling contacts and modules featuring shielding contacts are alternately arranged adjacent to one another. In this case, the shielding module is realized in such a way that signaling contact pairs arranged on top of one another are also at least regionally shielded relative to one another.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to a printed board connector for producing direct pluggable connections between printed boards, wherein said connector consists of an insulating connector housing and disk-shaped modules that contain electric contact elements and are arranged in the connector housing, and wherein modules featuring signaling contacts and modules featuring shielding contacts are alternately arranged adjacent to one another. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A printed board connector of this type is required for transmitting differential signal voltages from one printed board to another printed board by means of a large number of electric contacts, wherein contacts that are shielded in pairs are provided in order to ensure a low feedover between the line pairs. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,076 discloses a rectangular connector, in which at least partially angled shielding plates are positioned between a series of differential signaling contacts that are arranged in rows and columns. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention therefore is based on the objective of developing a printed board connector of the initially cited type in such a way that a two-pole signal conduction is respectively provided in order to transmit differential signals, wherein correspondingly designed shielding plates are provided between the signal-conducting line pairs for shielding purposes. 
   This objective is attained in that two respective signaling contacts that form a differential pair are at least regionally separated by a shielding contact arranged between the signaling pairs. 
   The printed board connector serves for connecting two printed boards that are arranged at a right angle to one another. However, it would also be possible to realize a “straight” 180° connection referred to the printed boards if the terminal contacts are designed accordingly. 
   In order to preserve the advantages of a differential data transmission on the path from the electronic components to the printed board or the backplane, respectively, correspondingly designed high-capacity connectors are required that not only ensure a sufficient signal density, but also a high signal integrity. 
   Differential signals, in principle, are largely immune to common-mode interferences because the logic information is transmitted in the form of the voltage difference between the respective line pairs. However, it needs to be ensured that the line pairs are shielded accordingly. In connectors designed for this purpose, this is achieved by means of integrated and specially constructed shielding plates. 
   The advantages attained with the invention can be seen, in particular, in that the inventive printed board connector makes it possible to shield a plurality of differential signaling pairs that are arranged in a row from interfering radiation by inserting modules that feature a shielding plate in the form of a disk between the signaling modules that are respectively arranged adjacent to one another in pairs and in which the signaling contacts are embedded. The modules are preferably realized in the form of signaling and shielding modules that can be inserted into the connector housing adjacent to one another in a certain pattern, wherein two adjacently arranged signaling modules are respectively separated by a shielding module. 
   According to one variation, this is achieved by inserting shielding modules in the form of disk-shaped plates into the connector housing. In another variation, the shielding modules are realized in the form of modules that are covered with an insulating material. 
   In this case, it is advantageous that an angled terminal end pointing from the shielding module to the printed board is respectively arranged between the two differential signaling contacts. 
   Two individual contacts that are arranged adjacent to one another in two modules respectively form a differential signaling pair. Another differential signaling pair is arranged opposite of this differential signaling pair. Consequently, two adjacently arranged strip conductors form a differential signaling pair and are separated by another strip conductor for shielding purposes on each side of the inserted printed board. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the figures and described in greater detail below. The figures show: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective representation with a section through the interior of a printed board connector; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective representation of the terminal side of the printed board connector; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective representation of the terminal side of a modified printed board connector; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective representation of a signaling module; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a horizontal projection of detached signaling contacts; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a horizontal projection of an insulating member; 
       FIG. 5   c  is a horizontal projection of the complete signaling module; 
       FIG. 5   d  is a top view of the narrow side of the signaling module; 
       FIG. 6   a  is a perspective representation of a shielding module; 
       FIG. 6   b  is a horizontal projection of the insulating member of the shielding module; 
       FIG. 6   c  is a horizontal projection of a variation of the shielding module; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective representation of two adjacently arranged signaling modules; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective representation of a signaling module situated adjacent to a shielding module; 
       FIG. 9  is a view of the bores in a printed board for the printed board connector, wherein the signaling and shielding modules are also schematically illustrated in this figure, and 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional representation of the arrangement of the strip conductors on a printed board. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective side view of a segment of a printed board connector  1  with a partially sectioned region. 
   The printed board connector consists of a connector housing  2  with an insertion slot  4  on the mating side for inserting a printed board between the disk-shaped modules  10 ,  20  illustrated in the sectioned region, wherein said modules are arranged in a certain sequence between the longitudinal sides  3  of the connector housing. 
   The plug contacts  12 ,  22  described further below are embedded in the disk-shaped modules  10 ,  20  and respectively arranged in the connector housing between chamber-forming walls  8 ′ such that they are prevented from being bent by the inserted printed board. 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective representation of a segment of the terminal side of the connector housing  2 , as well as the modules  10 ,  20  arranged therein in the form of a row. 
   In this case, two respective signaling modules  10  containing signaling contacts  11  and a shielding module  20  with a flat shielding plate  21  (seen in  FIG. 6   c ) embedded therein are continuously arranged adjacent to one another. This figure also shows a region in the connector housing  2 , in which the modules  10 ,  20  are removed so as to illustrate integral webs  5  that protrude into the housing interior from the two opposite longitudinal sides  3 . Two signaling modules  10  are respectively inserted into the horizontal intermediate space  6  formed by the two webs  5 . The shielding modules  20  are inserted into the vertical clear space  7  between the webs  5 . In addition, a mounting post  9  is provided for holding the housing on a corresponding printed board in a mechanically stable fashion. 
     FIG. 3  shows a variation of the connector housing  2 , in which insertion slots  8  are provided in both longitudinal sides  3  instead of the webs  5 . In this case, the shielding modules  20 ′ to be inserted into these insertion slots are merely realized in the form of a flat shielding plate  21  without a covering insulating member. 
   In other respects, the arrangement of the signaling modules and the shielding modules is identical to that shown in  FIG. 2 . In this figure, the post is replaced with a bore  9 ′ that serves for accommodating a not-shown external mounting means. 
     FIG. 4  shows a perspective representation of a signaling module  10 . The disk-shaped module consisting of a non-conductive insulating member  14  surrounds two electric signaling contacts  11  that are embedded independently of one another in this case, wherein these electric signaling contacts feature two springable plug contacts  12  that point toward one another, as well as two terminal ends  13  that are realized in the form of press-in contacts in this case. 
   In addition, the module contains a slot  18  on the side of the terminal ends  13  that is approximately arranged centrally referred to the insulating member, wherein the angled terminal end  23  of the adjacent shielding module  20  protrudes into said slot when the connector is assembled. 
     FIGS. 5   a–d  show a variation of the signaling module  10  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     FIG. 5   a  shows the two signaling contacts  11  with the plug contacts  12  and the terminal ends  13  that are realized in the form of soldering contacts in this case. In addition, a double bend  19  is provided such that the stretched shape of the signaling contacts is preserved. 
     FIG. 5   b  shows a variation of the insulating member  14 , in which a button  16  and a recess  17  are respectively arranged alternately on the two peripheral surfaces of the insulating member in order to center the insulating members relative to one another. 
     FIG. 5   c  shows a complete signaling module. 
     FIG. 5   d  shows a top view of the arrangement of the signaling contacts  11  within the insulating member  14  that is illustrated with broken lines in this case, wherein this figure also shows that a bend  19  is provided—still within the insulating member—near the outlet region on the terminal end  13  such that the signaling contact  11  extends asymmetrically referred to a central position on the mating side and flush with the outer periphery  15  of the insulating member  14  at the terminal end. 
     FIG. 6  shows two variations of the shielding module  20  in the form of a perspective representation. 
     FIG. 6   a  shows the disk-shaped module  20  consisting of a non-conductive insulating member  24 , in which a flat, electrically conductive shielding contact  21  is arranged. 
   The mating side features two springable plug contacts  22  that point toward one another while the terminal end  23  is bent out of the shielding contact  21  at a right angle. 
     FIG. 6   b  shows an insulating member  24 , in which a recess  28  for the angled terminal end  23  is provided. This figure also shows the segment-shaped press-on zones  26  that are respectively molded onto the opposing sides in pairs and ensure a secure retention in the connector housing  2 .  FIG. 6   c  shows a variation of the shielding module  20 , in which the insulating cover of the insulating member  24  is omitted and the press-on zones  26  are directly molded onto the flat shielding contact  21 . 
   In this variation, the shielding module is inserted into corresponding slots  8  in the longitudinal sides  3  of the connector housing. 
   modules  10  according to  FIG. 4 , one of which is turned about its plug-in axis by 180°. 
   If the modules are arranged tightly adjacent to one another, the plug contacts  12  are embedded symmetrically referred to the insulating member  14  and arranged adjacent to one another in a uniformly spaced-apart fashion. 
   The plug contacts  12  are also arranged at a uniform height in order to contact the strip conductors on the printed board. 
   The terminal ends  13 , however, are arranged at different heights because they respectively protrude from the insulating member in the first and in the third quarter of the insulating member height and are respectively offset in height by one quarter in the position with the 180° turn shown. Consequently, the terminal ends do not directly contact one another despite the directly adjacent arrangement on the peripheral surfaces  15 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a signaling module  10  and a shielding module  20  that are arranged adjacent to one another. 
   This figure shows how the angled terminal end  23  is inserted into the slot  18  between the two terminal ends  13 . In this respect, it should be noted that the angled terminal end  13  of the shielding module extends into the slot  18  of the next two adjacent signaling modules  10  and thusly exerts a shielding effect upon the two differential electric signals to both sides. 
   Due to the above-described contact arrangement, it is possible to offset the arrangement of the bores B (0.2 mm) on a printed board L by the material thickness of the terminal ends  13  only such that a favorable routing of the strip conductors on the printed board is achieved as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
   This figure shows a view of the contours of the modules  10 ,  20  with the terminal ends  13  for the signaling contacts S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4  and  23  for the ground connection G of the shielding contact, namely through a quasi-transparent printed board L with the bores B. 
     FIG. 10  shows a significantly enlarged representation of the arrangement of the signaling strip conductors S and the shielding strip conductors G (ground connection) on a printed board L. In this case, the strip conductors S 1  and S 2  as well as the strip conductors S 3  and S 4  respectively form a differential conductor pair above and underneath the printed board. A shielding strip conductor G is respectively arranged adjacent thereto and followed by another pair of signal conductors.