Abstract:
An electrical connector ( 1 ) includes a dielectric housing ( 2 ) including front and rear housing portions ( 20, 22 ) each defining a number of juxtaposed channels ( 202 ) therein and an intermediate housing portion ( 24 ) interconnecting the front housing portion with the rear housing portion. A number of elongate circuit boards ( 3 ) are side by side retained in the housing along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The circuit boards include front and rear mating edges ( 30, 32 ) respectively received in the channels of the front and the rear housing portions for mating with complementary components.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Relevant subject matter is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/612,114 filed on Jul. 1, 2003 and entitled “ELECTRIAL CONNECTOR”, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/278,520 filed on Oct. 22, 2002 and entitled “ELECTRICAL CABLE CONNECTOR”, 10/316,547 filed on Dec. 10, 2002 and entitled “CABLE ASSEMBY” and 10/317,830 filed on Dec. 11, 2002 and entitled “CABLE ASSEMBLY”, all of which are invented by the same inventor as this patent application and assigned to the same assignee with this application. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electrical connector for high speed signal transmission, and particularly to an electrical connector for simultaneously engaging with two complementary connectors respectively mounted on first and second circuit substrates to establish an electrical connection therebetween. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   With the development of communication and computer technology, high density electrical connectors are desired to construct a large number of signal transmitting paths between two electronic devices. Each of these electrical connectors provides a plurality of circuit boards to thereby achieve improved signal transmission of different electrical characteristics through the connector. Such high density electrical connectors are widely used in internal connecting systems of severs, routers and the like requiring high speed data processing and communication. 
   These connectors generally comprise two mating connector halves, i.e., a plug connector connecting with a first circuit substrate and a receptacle connector connecting with a second circuit substrate. An electrical connection is established between the first and the second circuit substrates through a direct engagement of the plug and the receptacle connectors. In some special circumstances where the connectors mounted on the first and the second circuit substrates are of the same type or the first and the second circuit substrates are required to have a larger distance therebetween, cable assemblies are then provided to achieve the electrical connection between the first and the second circuit substrates. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,364, issued to Miskin et al., discloses a cable assembly comprising a cable and an electrical connector terminated to one end of the cable. The connector includes an insulating housing formed by a pair of substantially identical housing halves and conductive terminals overmolded in a plurality of thin flat wafers to connect with a plurality of wires of the cable. The housing halves combines to define an interior cavity having a front opening and a rear opening. The wafers are closely juxtaposed in a parallel array and are positioned within the interior cavity of one of the housing halves such that the cable projects out of the rear opening of the cavity. The other housing half is then to completely enclose the cable and wafer subassembly. However, the cable and wafer subassembly are retained in the housing by securing the housing halves together through bolts and nuts, thereby complicating the assembly of the cable assembly. Furthermore, an engagement of the housing halves is easy to become loose due to vibration during the transportation and other matters, whereby the cable and the wafer subassembly cannot be stably retained in the housing. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,747 (the &#39;747 patent), issued to Paagman, discloses a cable assembly comprising a cable and an electrical connector terminated to one end of the cable. Referring to  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  and  5   a - 5   c  of the &#39;747 patent, the connector includes an insulating housing with a plurality of parallel slots defined therein and a plurality of modules received in the slots of the housing. Each module includes a circuit substrate, a receptacle carrier having a plurality of fork contacts at one end of the substrate and an insulation displacement contact (IDC) carrier at the other end of the substrate opposite the terminal carrier. The insulation displacement carrier has insulation displacement contacts connecting with conductors of corresponding cables. The modules are retained in the housing through an interference fit with the housing. 
   In order to electrically connect the first and the second circuit substrates, the cable assembly is required to have two connectors terminated to each end of the cable by connecting means as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, thereby complicating the manufacture of the cable assembly. As a result, the manufacturing cost is accordingly increased. 
   Hence, an improved electrical connector for electrically connecting a first circuit substrate to a second circuit substrate is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which can simultaneously engage with complementary connectors mounted on first and second circuit substrates to achieve an electrical connection therebetween. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a dielectric housing including front and rear housing portions each defining a plurality of juxtaposed channels therein and an intermediate housing portion interconnecting the front housing portion with the rear housing portion. A plurality of elongate circuit boards is side by side retained in the housing along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The circuit boards comprise front and rear mating edges respectively received in the channels of the front and the rear housing portions for mating with complementary components. 
   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 an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of a circuit board of the connector; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but taken from a different perspective; 
       FIG. 5  is a first cross-section view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a second cross-section view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a third cross-section view of the connector shown in FIG.  1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrical connector  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongate dielectric housing  2 , a plurality of elongate circuit boards  3  received in the dielectric housing  2  and a plurality of first and second fastening elements  4 , 5  retaining the circuit boards  3  in the housing  2 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the dielectric housing  2  comprises a front housing portion  20 , a rear housing portion  22  and an intermediate housing portion  24  interconnecting the front housing portion  20  with the rear housing portion  22 . The front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  are identical in structure and each are generally in a rectangular shape. The front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  have front and rear mating sections  21 ,  23  adjacent front and rear mating faces  200 ,  220  thereof, respectively. The front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  each define a plurality of juxtaposod channels  202  extending into the front and the rear mating sections  21 ,  23  along a front-to-back direction, and a plurality of notches  203  ( FIG. 5 ) communicating with the corresponding channels  202 . The front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  further define a plurality of recesses  204  in top and bottom faces, a plurality of cavities  2040  recessed inwardly from the corresponding recesses  204  and a plurality of apertures  205  extending through opposite side faces along a lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the channels  202 . A plurality of transversely aligned notches  207  extend from the mating section  200 ,  220  toward the intermediate housing portion  24  (FIGS.  2  and  6 ). 
   The intermediate housing portion  24  comprises a split body having a first half  240  and a second half  242 . Each half  240 ,  242  includes a top panel  2430 , a bottom panel  2431  and a side panel  2432  formed between the top paneL  2430  and the bottom panel  2431 . A plurality of latches  2434  extends forwardly and rearwardly from front and rear edges of the top and the bottom panels  2430 ,  2431 . Each latch  2434  has a projection  2434   a  formed at a free end thereof. The first and the second halves  240 ,  242  define a plurality of bores  2435  in the top and the bottom panels  2430 ,  2431  penetrating through the side panels  2432 . The first half  240  and the second half  242  have a plurality of dowel pins  2436  and corresponding holes  2437  for joining the first half  240  and the second half  242  together. It should be noted that any other suitable connecting means may be employed to connect the first and the second halves  240 ,  242 . This split design of the intermediate portion  24  helps to facilitate connecting the front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22 . It can be understood that the intermediate housing portion  24  can also be made as a one-piece configuration. 
   Each one of the circuit boards  3  is identical in structure and an exemplary one thereof being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The circuit board  3  includes a dielectric substrate made of conventional circuit board substrate material, such as FR4, a plurality of conductive signal traces (not labeled) on one side of the substrate for providing electrical paths through the connector  1  and a plurality of grounding traces (not labeled) on both sides of the substrate for grounding purpose. The circuit board  3  comprises opposite front and rear mating edges  30 ,  32  respectively received in the channels  202  of the front and the rear mating sections  21 ,  23  of the housing  2 . The circuit board  3  defines a plurality of through holes  33  transversely aligned with the corresponding apertures  205  and notches  207  of the front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22 . The circuit board  3  is formed with a plurality of protrusions  34  on top and bottom edges thereof. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5-7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , the circuit boards  3  are moved toward the front mating face  200  of the front housing portion  20  until the circuit boards  3  arrive at a position in which the protrusions  34  adjacent the front mating edges  30  abut against front ends of the notches  203  of the front housing portion  20 . The front mating edges  30  of the circuit boards  3  are received in the channels  202  of the front housing portion  20 . The first fastening elements  4  are inserted through the apertures  205  and the notches  207  of the front housing portion  20  and the through holes  33  adjacent the front edges  30  of the circuit boards  3 . The first fastening elements  4  are further fastened to the front housing portion  20  for keeping the circuit boards  3  in the front housing portion  20 . 
   The first and the second halves  240 ,  242  of the intermediate housing portion  24  are first assembled toward each other in the lateral direction by an interferential engagement between the dowel pins  2436  and the corresponding holes  2437 , and then are successively commonly attached to the front housing portion  20  in the front-to-back direction with the projections  2434   a  of the latches  2434  mechanically engaging the cavities  2040  of the recesses  204  of the front housing portion  20  (FIG.  7 ). The second fastening elements  5  are inserted through the bores  2435  of the intermediate housing portion  24  to restrain movement of the circuit boards  3  in a vertical direction. 
   The rear mating edges  32  of the circuit boards  3  are exposed outside the front housing portion  20  and the intermediate housing portion  24  and are moved toward the rear mating face  220  of the rear housing portion  22  until the protrusions  34  adjacent the rear mating edges  32  abut against rear ends of the notches  203  of the rear housing portion  22 . The rear mating edges  32  of the circuit boards  3  are received in the channels  202  of the rear housing portion  22 . The projections  2434   a  of the latches  2434  mechanically engage the cavities  2040  of the recesses  204  of the rear housing portion  22  (FIG.  7 ). The first fastening elements  4  are inserted through the apertures  205  and notches  207  of the rear housing portion  22  and the through holes  33  adjacent the rear mating edges  32  of the circuit boards  3 . The first fastening elements  4  are further fastened to the rear housing portion  22  for keeping the circuit boards  3  in the rear housing portion  22 . 
   It is noted that the circuit board  3  has a larger length with the front and the rear mating edges  30 ,  32  respectively received in the front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  for simultaneously mating with two complementary connectors respectively mounted on first and second circuit substrates (not shown) to thereby establish an electrical connection therebetween. It can be understood that since the front and the rear housing portions  20 ,  22  are identical in structure and the circuit boards  3  have the front and the rear mating edges  30 ,  32  directly mating with the complementary connectors, whereby the manufacturing cost of the connector  1  is decreased. It is also noted that the dielectric housing  2  can be made as a one-piece configuration. 
   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.