Abstract:
A connector assembly includes a first connector ( 100 ) and a second connector ( 200 ). The first connector has a first dielectric housing ( 10 ) including a base ( 102 ) and a mating portion ( 16 ) extending from the base, a number of terminals ( 12, 13 ) received in the first housing, and a pair of shields ( 18, 19 ) juxtaposed against an outside surface of the mating portion with lower portions of the shields disposed in the base. The second connector has a second dielectric housing ( 20 ) including a second base ( 204 ) and a second mating portion ( 206 ) extending from the second base,a number of terminals ( 21, 22 ) received in the second housing, and a pair of shields ( 30,31 ). The second base and the second mating portion define a continuous slit ( 203 ) receiving the shields therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly to a shielded electrical connector for mounting on a printed circuit board. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An electrical connector electrically connected to a printed circuit board is often equipped with a metal shield for shielding electrical contacts mounted therein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,814 (the &#39;814 patent) discloses such kind of electrical connector assembly which generally includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. 
     As is described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 of the &#39;814 patent, the receptacle connector includes an elongated dielectric housing, two rows of terminals received in spaced arrays longitudinally of the dielectric housing and a one-piece conductive shield assembled on the housing. The housing includes a mating portion defined by a pair of long sidewalls which extend generally parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction of the housing and a pair of short end walls which extend generally parallel to each other along a lateral direction of the housing. The sidewalls and the end walls define an elongated plug-receiving slot therebetween. The metal shield has a plate portion juxtaposed against an inside surface of the long sidewalls and short end walls of the dielectric housing. 
     As is described in FIGS. 6-7, and 10 of the &#39;814 patent, the plug connector includes an elongated dielectric housing, two rows of terminals received in spaced arrays longitudinally of the dielectric housing and a one-piece conductive shield assembled on the housing. The housing includes opposite end portions extending longitudinally outwardly from a central mating portion thereof. The mating portion of the plug connector comprises a pair of parallel long walls traversed by a pair of parallel short walls to define a generally hollow, elongated opening. The metallic shield has an elongated plate portion substantially surrounding the mating portion of the housing of the plug connector. When the plug connector is mated with the receptacle connector, the plate portion of the shield of the receptacle connector and of the plug connector together define a closed loop, which encloses the terminals inside, to provide Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) protection. 
     However, each of the shields of the plug connector and of the receptacle connector is formed by drawing technology during the process of being stamped and molded. Using drawing technology, a designer must make more effort to design a die which is costly and the manufacture of the shield is still difficult. 
     Further, referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 10 of the &#39;814 patent, the plate portion of the shield assembled on the plug connector have a plurality of convex protrusions which provide a positive engagement with the plate portion of the metallic shield of the receptacle connector when the plug and receptacle connectors are mated. However, it is apparent that molding these protrusions during the process of drawing is hard and expensive, and the engagement effect enhanced by the protrusions is not worth its cost. 
     Hence, an improved shielded board mounted connector assembly is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A major object of the present invention is to provide an improved shielded board mounted connector having a shield which is cost efficient and simply manufactured. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shielded connector which mates with a complementary connector more reliably. 
     In order to achieve the objects set forth, a shielded electrical connector for mating with a complementary connector includes an elongated dielectric housing comprising a mating portion comprising a pair of sidewalls extending generally in a longitudinal direction thereof and a pair of end walls extending generally in a lateral direction thereof, a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing and each including a contact portion, and a pair of shields assembled on the mating portion and forming a continuous loop. 
     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 
     FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of a plug connector of a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the plug connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an assembled, perspective view of a receptacle connector of the connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of the receptacle connector of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the plug connector taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle connector taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 3, the feature of the invention are shown in a connector assembly which includes a receptacle connector  200  and a plug connector  100 . 
     Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the plug connector  100  for mounting to a surface of a printed circuit board (not shown) comprises an insulative housing  10 , a plurality of terminals  12 ,  13  received in the housing  10  and a pair of shields  18 ,  19  assembled on the housing  10 . 
     The housing  10  is elongated and includes a base  102  and a mating portion  16  extending upwardly from the base  102 . Opposite end portions  103  extend longitudinally outwardly from the base  102  with a pair of locating posts  14  projecting upwardly respectively therefrom for purpose described hereinafter. The mating portion  16  of the plug connector  100  comprises a pair of parallel long sidewalls  166  traversed by a pair of parallel short end walls  168  to define a generally hollow, elongated opening  164  therebetween. A plurality of terminal channels  160 ,  161  is formed on an inside surface of the sidewalls  166 . A plurality of spaced notches  162  extend downwardly from top surfaces of the sidewalls  166  and the end walls  168 . A plurality of slots  104 ,  105  is respectively formed adjacent to lower portions of the sidewalls  166  and the end walls  168 . 
     The terminals  12 ,  13  include a plurality of signal terminals  12  and a plurality of power terminals  13 . Each terminal  12 ,  13  includes a contact portion  121 ,  131  for engaging with a contact of a receptacle connector and an opposite tail portion  122 ,  132  for mounting to the printed circuit board. 
     The pair of metallic shields  18 ,  19  have the same structure as each other, and each of the shields  18 ,  19  has a flat body  182 . A pair of opposite wings  184  extends laterally from opposite end of the body  182 . A grounding tail  185  extends downwardly from a corresponding longitudinal end of each wing  184  for connecting the metallic shields  18 ,  19  of the plug connector  100  to appropriate ground circuit traces on the printed circuit board. A plurality of spaced latches  186  extend inwardly and downwardly from a top of the body  182  and the wings  184 . A plurality of spaced spring tabs  188  extends outwardly from the body  182 . 
     In assembly, the terminals  12 ,  13  are inserted into the housing  10  in a down-to-up direction. The signal terminals  12  and the power terminals  13  are respectively received in the corresponding terminal channels  160 ,  161  with the tail portion  122 ,  132  thereof extending beyond a lower portion of the housing  10 . The pair of shields  18 ,  19  are assembled onto the housing  10  in an up-to-down direction. The flat body  182  of each shield  18 ,  19  is attached to the outside surface of the sidewall  166  with a lower portion thereof being received in the slot  104  (FIG. 5) of the sidewall  166 . The wings  184  are attached on the outside surface of the end walls  168  with a lower portion thereof being received in the slots  105  of the end walls  168 . The grounding tail  185  extends downwardly through an access (not shown) defined in the base  102  beyond the housing  10 . The latches  186  engage with the notches  162  of the housing  10 , respectively. 
     The wings  184  of the two shields  18 ,  19  join to each other to form a closed loop enclosing the outside of the mating portion  16  with the opening  164  uncovered. Therefore, the shields  18 ,  19  can provide good anti-EMI protection to the contact portions  121 ,  131  of the terminals  12 ,  13  located therebetween. 
     Please refer to FIGS. 3-4 and  6 , the receptacle connector  200  comprises an insulative housing  20 , a plurality of terminals  21 ,  22  received in the housing  20  and a pair of shields  30 ,  31  assembled to the housing  20 . 
     The housing  20  is elongated and includes a base  204  and a mating portion  206  extending upwardly from the base  204 . The mating portion  206  comprises a pair of long sidewalls  208  which extends generally parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction of the housing  20  and a pair of short end walls  206  which extend generally parallel to each other along a lateral direction of the housing  20 . The sidewalls  208  and the end walls  202  define an elongated plug-receiving receptacle  26  therebetween. 
     The mating portion  206  also includes a tongue  28  extending upwardly from the base  204  and located in a center of the receptacle  26 , and a plurality of terminal channels  280 ,  281  formed on opposite surfaces of the tongue  28 . The sidewalls  208  and the end walls  202  together define a continuous slit  203  downwardly from a top thereof. The sidewalls  208  define a plurality of grooves  207  in an inside surface thereof communicating with the slit  203  at the top of the sidewalls  208 . 
     A pair of spaced trenches  205  extends downwardly from the top of opposite outside surfaces of the sidewalls  208 , respectively. Each trench  205  communicates with the slit  203  in the sidewalls  208  longitudinally. A split  209  extends downwardly through the housing  20  from a lower end of each trench  205 . A receiving room  24  is formed in each longitudinal end of the housing  20  for receiving a corresponding post  14  of the plug connector  100 . 
     The terminals  21 ,  22  include a plurality of signal terminals  21  and a plurality of power terminals  22 . Each terminal  21 ,  22  includes a contact portion  211 ,  221  for engaging with contacts of a complementary connector and an opposite tail portion  212 ,  222  for mounting to a printed circuit board. 
     The pair of metallic shields  30 ,  31  have the same structure as each other, and each of the shields  30 ,  31  has a flat body  302  and a plurality of spaced engage portions  306  extending downwardly from a lower portion of the body  302 . 
     A pair of opposite wings  304  extends laterally from the body  182 . A pair of spaced connect portions  307  extends longitudinally outwardly from the body  302 . A grounding tail  308  extends downwardly from a lower portion of the connecting portion  307 , and the tail  308  extends downwardly beyond the housing  20  for connecting the metallic shields  30 ,  31  of the receptacle connector  100  to appropriate ground circuit traces on the printed circuit board. 
     In assembly, the terminals  21 ,  22  are inserted into the housing  20  in a down-to-up direction. The signal terminals  21  and power terminals  22  are respectively received in the terminal channels  280 ,  281  with the tail portions  212 ,  222  thereof extending beyond a lower portion of the housing  20 . The pair of shields  30 ,  31  are assembled to the housing  20  in an up-to-down direction. The body  302  with the engage portions  306  of each shield  30 ,  31  is respectively received in the continuous slit  203  of the sidewall  208 , and each engage portion  306  is received in a corresponding groove  207 . The wings  304  are received in the slit  203  of the end wall  202 . The connect portions  307  are respectively received in the trenches  205  with each tail  308  being received in a corresponding split  209 . 
     The wings  304  of the shields  30 ,  31  join to each other to form a closed loop enclosing the plug-receiving receptacle  26  with the opening uncovered. Therefore, the shields  30 ,  31  can provide good anti-EMI protection to the contact portion  211 ,  221  of the terminals  21 ,  22  located therebetween. 
     When the plug connector  100  mates with the receptacle connector  200 , the mating portion  16  of the plug connector  100  is received in the plug-receiving receptacle  26  of the receptacle connector  200 , and the tongue  28  of the receptacle connector  200  is received in the opening  164  of the plug connector  100 . The contact portions  121 ,  131  of the terminals  12 ,  13  of the plug connector  100  respectively engage with the contact portions  211 ,  221  of the terminals  21 ,  22  of the receptacle connector  200 . The locating posts  14  of the plug connector  100  are respectively received in the receiving rooms  24  of the receptacle connector  200 . The spring tabs  188  of the plug connector  100  abut against the engage portions  306  of the receptacle connector  200  to form an electrical connection between the shields  18 ,  19  of the plug connector  100  and the shields  30 ,  31  of the receptacle connector  200 . 
     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 fill extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.