Abstract:
A cable connector assembly ( 100 ) includes an electrical connector ( 1 ) including an insulative housing ( 10 ), a number of conductive contacts ( 12 ) received in the insulative housing and a conductive shield ( 11 ) enclosing the insulative housing, a cable ( 5 ) including a number of lines ( 520, 522 ), a printed circuit board ( 4 ) electrically connecting the conductive contacts of the electrical connector with the lines of the cable, and a shielding member ( 2 ) electrically connecting with the electrical connector and secured with the printed circuit board and the cable. The shielding member forms a number of deflecting members ( 212 ) for securing to a panel ( 3 ) and a number of anti-stress members for preventing the deflecting members from excessive deformation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to a panel mount cable connector assembly.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     A panel mount cable connector assembly located in a chassis of a computer usually comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive contacts received in the housing, a cable electrically connecting with the conductive contacts. A front portion of the insulative housing is configured to engage with a panel of a chassis and is exposed beyond the panel for engaging with a complementary connector. U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,242 discloses such a panel mount cable connector assembly. However, when the cable connector assembly needs to transmit high speed signals, grounding becomes an important issue. U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,958 discloses a panel mount connector engaging with a panel through a capacitive coupling adapter and electrically connecting with a printed circuit board in a chassis. Thus, the panel mount connector is grounded to resist against electromagnetic interference and discharge. However, the structure of the capacitive coupling adapter is relatively complex and cost consuming. In addition, the structure of the panel mount connector is not suitable for a panel mount cable connector assembly.  
         [0005]     Hence, a cable connector assembly with improved grounding means is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly with better high speed signal transmitting effect.  
         [0007]     In order to achieve the object set forth, a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector comprising an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive contacts received in the insulative housing and a conductive shield attaching to the insulative housing, a cable comprising a plurality of lines, a printed circuit board electrically connecting the conductive contacts of the electrical connector with the lines of the cable, and a shielding member electrically connecting with the electrical connector and secured with the printed circuit board and the cable. The shielding member forms a plurality of deflecting members for securing to a panel and a plurality of anti-stress members for preventing the deflecting members from excessive deformation.  
         [0008]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , but taken from a different aspect. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a cable connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector  1 , a shielding member  2  surrounding the electrical connector  1 , a panel  3 , a printed circuit board  4 , a cable  5 , a band strip  6 , a pair of screw nuts  7 , a pair of screw bolts  8  and a pair of washers  9 .  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2  in conjunction with  FIGS. 7-8 , the electrical connector  1  comprises an insulative housing  10 , a plurality of conductive contacts  12  retained in the insulative housing  10 , and a conductive shield  11  enclosing the insulative housing  10 .  
         [0020]     Particularly referring to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , the insulative housing  10  comprises a rectangular body portion  106  and a tongue portion  104  extending forwardly from the body portion  106 . A plurality of passageways  102  extend rearwardly from a front surface of the tongue portion  104  for receiving the conductive contacts  12 .  
         [0021]     The conductive shield  11  comprises a first shield-half  110  and a second shield-half  112  engaging with the first shield-half  110 . The first shield-half  110  is configured as a substantially rectangular frame  1102  for engaging with a complementary connector. The second shield-half  112  comprises a main body  1120  enclosing the body portion  106  of the insulative housing  10 , a pair of curved retaining feet  1124  extending downwardly from opposite side walls of the main body  1120  and a rear part  1126  bending vertically from a top wall of the main body  1120  to enclose a rear face of the body portion  106 .  
         [0022]     Each conductive contact  12  comprises a contacting portion (not labeled) received in a corresponding passageway  102  of the tongue portion  104  and a tail portion  120  bending vertically from the contacting portion and exposed beyond a bottom surface of the insulative housing  10  for electrically connecting with the printed circuit board  4 .  
         [0023]     The shielding member  2  comprises an upper section  20 , a pair of opposite side sections  22  extending vertically from opposite sides of the upper section  20 , and a lower section  23  connecting with the pair of side sections  22 . A receiving space  24  is defined by the sections  20 ,  22 ,  23 . Each side section  22  forms a side latch  220  extending forwardly from a rear portion of the side section  22 . A U-shaped claw section  224  is formed at a front end of the side latch  220 . The U-shaped claw section  224  comprises a first and an opposite second sections  222 ,  228  and an intermediate section  226  connecting with the first and the second sections  222 ,  228 . The first and the second sections  222 ,  228  and the intermediate section  226  thus, together define a U-shaped panel-receiving space  2240 . A pair of panel-retaining portions  21  extend vertically from a front edge of each of the upper and the lower sections  20 ,  23 . Each panel-retaining portion  21  comprises a pair of anti-overstress members  210  and a deflecting member  212  located between the pair of anti-overstress members  210  and slightly bending rearwardly. The lower section  23  of the second conductive shield  2  is an enlarged flat piece and further defines a substantially rectangular opening  230  in a front portion thereof. A polarizing tab  236  ( FIG. 7 ) bends downwardly from a front edge of the opening  230 . A pair of first holes  232  and a pair of second holes  234  are respectively defined in the middle and a rear portion of the lower section  23 .  
         [0024]     The panel  3  comprises a main body  30  comprising a first face  300  and an opposite second face  302 . A rectangular aperture  31  is defined in a middle of the main body  30  and a cutout  32  is defined in the main body to communicate with the aperture  31 .  
         [0025]     The printed circuit board  4  is a rectangular board and forms a plurality of signal pads  42  adjacent to a rear edge thereof and a ground pad  44  located near the signal pads  42 . A pair of first ground vias  46  and a pair of second ground vias  48  are respectively defined in a rear portion and a front portion of the printed circuit board  4  and electrically connect with one another through a ground trace  43 . A plurality of signal vias  40  are defined in the middle of the printed circuit board  4  and respectively electrically with the signal pads  42  through a plurality of signal traces  41 . Each of the signal vias  40  and the ground vias  46 ,  48  is formed by a through-hole coated with conductive material.  
         [0026]     The cable  5  comprises a plurality of conductive conductors  52  and an insulating coating  50  enclosing the conductors  52 . The conductors  52  consist of a plurality of signal lines  520  and a ground line  522  corresponding to the signal and the ground pads  42 ,  44  of the printed circuit board  4 .  
         [0027]     In assembly, referring to  FIGS. 1-4  in conjunction with  FIGS. 7-8 , the conductive contacts  12  are respectively received in the passageways  102  of the insulative housing  10  with the tail portions  120  exposed beyond the bottom surface of the insulative housing  10 . The first and the second shield-halves  110 ,  112  of the conductive shield  11  are assembled to the insulative housing  10  and engage with each other. The rear part  1126  encloses the rear face of the body portion  106  of the insulative housing  10 . Then the assembled electrical connector  1  is mounted on the printed circuit board  4 . The retaining feet  1124  of the conductive shield  11  are received in the pair of second ground vias  48  of the printed circuit board  4  and electrically connect with the ground pad  44  through the first ground vias  46  and the ground trace  43 . The tail portions  120  of the conductive contacts  12  are respectively received in the signal vias  40  and electrically connect with the signal pads  42  through the signal trace  41 . The signal and the ground lines  520 ,  522  of the cable  5  are respectively soldered on the signal and the ground pads  42 ,  44  of the printed circuit board  4 . Thus, the cable  5  electrically connects with the electrical connector  200  through the printed circuit board  4 .  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 5-8 , the electrical connector  1 , the printed circuit board  4  and the cable  5  is together assembled to the shielding member  2 . The electrical connector  1  is received in the receiving space  24  of the shielding member  2  with the printed circuit board  4  located upon the rectangular opening  230 . The cable  5  is located on a rear portion of the lower section  23  of the shielding member  2  with the band strip  6  protruding through the pair of second holes  234  of the lower section  23  to tie the cable  5  on the shielding member  2 . The pair of screw nuts  7  and the pair of washers  9  are respectively located on an upper surface of the printed circuit board  4  and a lower surface of the shielding member  2  and align with the pair of first ground vias  46 . The pair of screw bolts  8  respectively protrude through the first ground vias  46  and screw with the pair of screw nuts  7 . Therefore, the shielding member  2  is tightly secured with the printed circuit board  4  and the cable  5 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-3 , the shielding member  2  together with the electrical connector  1 , the printed circuit board  4  and the cable  5  is pulled to be assembled to the panel  3  in a front-to-back direction. The polarizing tab  236  can prevent the electrical connector  1  from being mounted to the panel  3  in a wrong direction. Finally, the panel  3  is received in the U-shaped panel-receiving spaces  2240  of the shielding member  2  with the deflecting members  212  and the first sections  222  of the claw sections  224  abutting on the first face  300  of the panel  3 . The second sections  228  of the claw sections  224  abut on the second face  203  of the panel  3 .  
         [0030]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.