Abstract:
A high speed connector assembly includes two interengaging connector halves each held in respective first and second interengaging connector housings. Each of the connector halves includes a plurality of conductive contacts arranged in at least two linear arrangements and at least partially surrounded by a conductive grounding shield. The connector housings are cylindrical and engage each other in a circular fashion, while the connectors engage each other in a linear, axial fashion. The connector housings provide a sealed environment for the connectors.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     The Present Disclosure relates, generally, to high speed connectors, and, more particularly, to high speed connectors enclosed within sealed housings. 
     High speed connectors, such as SAS and HDMI connectors, are commonly employed in devices that utilize circuit boards for mounting the connectors and these devices are static devices in their operation; i.e., they are used in interior, stable environments with no exterior forces applied to them. It is desirable to incorporate these type connectors in dynamic environments, such as vehicles and aircraft, and as such, one must ensure that the connectors, when mated, are sealed from the environment and are protected from vibrations and other exterior forces that may cause the connectors to unmate and come apart. One connector specification, particularly for use in military applications, is the D38999 specification which requires connectors to be protected from environmental factors and of the quick connect/disconnect type. 
     Typical D38999 connectors utilize a plurality of conductive pins arranged in a pin field in one of the connector housing halves and pin receptacles in the other connector housing half. The pins may bend, and pin fields must be painstakingly designed to derive selected electrical characteristics for the connector, which adds to the overall connector cost. Additionally, the small size available for the pin field may lead to problems in designing a pin arrangement for proper high-speed operation. High speed connectors that conform to the SAS and HDMI specifications have desirable electrical characteristics due to their shielding structure, but have not been provided with an exterior structure that satisfies the requirements for military specification. Additionally, these flat style connectors need an enclosing ground structure available to their contacts for desirable coupling. A need therefore exists for a high-speed connector that suitably meets the standards of military specifications and in which the connector halves each utilize an internal shield for reliable grounding. 
     The Present Disclosure is therefore directed to a connector assembly particularly suitable for such applications and vibration resistant while further having quick connect/disconnect capabilities. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE 
     Accordingly, there is provided a shielded connector assembly that is suitable for dynamic environments and which holds the high speed connector portions in place for mating. 
     In accordance with one embodiment that utilizes HDMI style connectors, the connector assembly includes two interengaging male and female connector components. Each connector component includes a connector half with a plurality of conductive contacts, these contacts are arranged linearly in at least two rows. The connector halves respectively include opposing, interengaging male mating blade and female receptacle portions. Mating between the two connector halves of the connector components is effected by an axial, linear movement, as in pushing the male mating blade into the female receptacle. In order to provide shielding to enhance the high speed performance thereof, each connector half has a grounding shield associated therewith held within the associated connector component. The connector contacts and their surrounding grounding shields are mated together during the linear connection movement. 
     The connector halves and their grounding shields are supported within inner, insulative connector housings held within the connector components. These connector housing halves are applied to the connector halves from opposite ends and preferably are held together as an assembly within their associated connector components by one or more retaining rings, the construction of which permits the inner connector halves and their insulative housings to rotate within their connector components as integral units. The outer connector components may be conductive and include easy to mate threaded collars that allow linear engagement between the two connector halves whilst rotating the outer component. 
     The connector shells are preferably provided with exterior threads as one means of engagement, and one shell is larger than the other shell so that the two shells may be easily engaged in a telescoping fashion with one shell extending over the other shell. In this manner, the shells may be provided with O-rings or other type of environmental seals. In order to provide enhanced grounding for the high speed connector halves, at least one of the grounding shields associated with one of the two connector shells has a length that extends entirely through the connector housing insert. This length is further equal or greater than the longest length of the exterior threads on the two connector shells. This provides an internal grounding shield that traverses about one-half of the connector length. 
     In another embodiment of a connector assembly in accordance with the principles of the Present Disclosure, which is particularly suitable for use with a SAS style connector pair, two connector halves are provided, one such connector half is a male plug connector that supports at least two mating blades and the other connector half is a female, receptacle connector that has two card receiving slots defined therein. Both connector halves have conductive outer shields, the plug connector half outer shield takes the form of a conductive housing that encloses a pair of circuit cards as its mating blades while the receptacle connector half takes the form of a hollow shielding cage that is attached to a circuit board. Both shields are encompassed by insulative housings that serve to position the connector halves and associated shields within their respective outer connector shells. The insulative housings are also preferably held in place within the connector shells by retaining rings so that the shells may be rotated for mating and un mating. The plug connector half projects at least slightly forwardly of the forward edge of the connector shell to define a lead-in projection for initial gross mating with the receptacle connector. The two shields engage each other and provide a shielded mating structure having a length greater than any one of the two shells. 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the Present Disclosure will be clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the Present Disclosure, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a connector assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the Present Disclosure, and utilizing SAS style connector halves, with the two connector components of the connector assembly mated together on opposite sides of a panel; 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , but with the assembly reversed to show the connector component mounted on the other side of the panel; 
         FIG. 2  is the same view as  FIG. 1 , but with the male connector component disengaged from the connector component secured to the panel; 
         FIG. 2A  is the same view as  FIG. 2 , but with the female connector component unscrewed from engagement with the panel; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the right half, or female connector component, of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of the left half, or male connector component, of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the inner housing and connector shell removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 3B  is the same view as  FIG. 3A , but with the rear boot applied to the connector half and the inner housing and shell exploded for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the two connector components of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 , aligned together for subsequent mating; 
         FIG. 4A  is the same view as  FIG. 4 , but with the connector housings section for clarity to illustrate the contact arrangement of the connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is the same view as  FIG. 4 , but with the two connector components mated together; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a connector assembly in accordance with the Present Disclosure that utilizes HDMI style connector halves; 
         FIG. 6A  is the same view as  FIG. 6 , but with the two connector components disengaged from each other; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the male connector component of the connector assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is the same view as  FIG. 7 , but taken from the opposite end thereof; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the female connector component of the connector assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the two connector components of the connector assembly of  FIG. 6  aligned together for subsequent mating; 
         FIG. 9A  is the same view as  FIG. 9 , but with the two connector components mated together; 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the male connector component of the connector assembly of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of the female connector component of the connector assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the Present Disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the Present Disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the Present Disclosure, and is not intended to limit the Present Disclosure to that as illustrated. 
     As such, references to a feature or aspect are intended to describe a feature or aspect of an example of the Present Disclosure, not to imply that every embodiment thereof must have the described feature or aspect. Furthermore, it should be noted that the description illustrates a number of features. While certain features have been combined together to illustrate potential system designs, those features may also be used in other combinations not expressly disclosed. Thus, the depicted combinations are not intended to be limiting, unless otherwise noted. 
     In the embodiments illustrated in the Figures, representations of directions such as up, down, left, right, front and rear, used for explaining the structure and movement of the various elements of the Present Disclosure, are not absolute, but relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the position of the elements changes, however, these representations are to be changed accordingly. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a connector assembly  20  constructed in accordance with the principles of the Present Disclosure as mounted to a panel  21 . The connector assembly  20  comprises matable first and second connector elements  22 ,  23  that may be attached respectively to first and second electrical cables  24 ,  25 , and which are used in applications through a panel  21 . Each such cable  24 ,  25  contains a plurality of electrical wires (not shown).  FIG. 1A  shows the rear end of the rightmost, or second, connector element  23  of the connector assembly  20 , and illustrates a structure where the second connector half  32  is mounted to a circuit board  36 , and the circuit board  36  has a plurality of wires  26  terminated thereto and extending therefrom, but which are not enclosed within any outer cable. 
     The second connector element  23  is the receptacle half of the connector assembly  20 , and includes a receptacle connector half  32  with a body having two horizontal circuit card-receiving slots  38  defined therein configured to receive a pair of corresponding circuit cards  71   a ,  71   b  that serve as mating blades of the opposing and mating male connector half  70 . The receptacle connector half  32  is mounted to a circuit board  36 , and tail portions  39   a  of the receptacle connector contacts  39  extend through holes, or vias, in the circuit board  36  to make contact with circuits thereon. Wires  26  are provided and are terminated to these circuits in order to connect the contacts  39  of the receptacle connector half  32  to other electronic components utilized in the overall system. In order to provide shielding to the receptacle connector half  32  and its associated male, or plug, connector half  70 , an elongated, conductive shielding cage  33  is utilized to enclose the receptacle connector half  32 . The shielding cage  33  has top, bottom, rear and side walls that are stamped and formed to form a rectangular enclosure with a hollow interior  34  and an opening  35  thereto disposed at the front end of the shielding cage  33 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , an attachment screw  46  is provided and extends through an opening in the circuit board  36  and into a retention nut  47  preferably captured within the insulative body portion of the receptacle connector half  32 . This screw  46  assists in holding both the receptacle connector half  32  and the shielding cage  33  in place on the circuit board  36 . 
     The shielding cage  33  provides a reference ground for the mated contacts of the connector assembly  20 , and also prevents the emission of EMI (electromagnetic interference) during high speed data transmission. In order to position the receptacle connector half  32  properly within a second connector shell  30 , an inner insulative housing  48  is provided. The inner housing  48  has two halves  49   a ,  49   b  mated together along a center line as shown, although other forms of engagement may be used. The inner housing  48  includes a plurality of channels, or slots  44 , 45 , that accommodate the attachment screw  46 , mounting tails of the shielding cage  33  and/or the receptacle connector half  32  that may project beyond the bottom surface of the circuit board  36 . Side slots  44   a  can also be utilized that engage the sides of the circuit board  36  and, preferably, the inner housing  48  has a forward stop surface  50 , or shoulder portion, that abuts the front end  51  of the circuit board  36  to fix the position of the circuit board  36  and attached receptacle connector half  32  within the second connector shell  30 . Crush ribs (not shown) may be provided arranged on the interior of the inner housing slots to firmly engage the shielding cage  33 . 
     The inner housing  48  is shown as having a stepped profile that defines a front part  53  and a rear part  54 , with an intervening rim  56  that abuts the inner surface of an opposing shoulder  58  of the second connector shell  60 . One or more retaining rings  59  are shown as engaging the forward part  53  of the inner housing  48  and fixing the inner housing forward part  53  within the second connector shell  60 . The outer part of the second connector shell  60  has a threaded body portion that terminates in a radial flange  62 , which may be placed into abutting contact with the panel  21  to which the connector assembly  20  is mounted. The flange  62  may support a flexible O-ring  64  or the like in a groove, or channel  63 , against the panel  21 . The second connector shell  60  is held in place upon the panel  20  by a threaded lock nut  65 . 
       FIGS. 3A-5  illustrate the first connector element  22  that houses the male connector half  70  of the connector assembly  20 . This male connector half  70  ( FIG. 3A ) includes a pair of vertically spaced-apart circuit cards  71   a ,  71   b  supported within a conductive connector housing  72  which has a generally rectangular forward part  76  and a larger, generally trapezoidal configuration rear part  77  that accommodates multi-wire cables  24 . The conductive connector housing  72  thereby serves as a grounding shield that encompasses the first connector half  70 . The forward part  76  of the male connector half  70  is hollow and preferably dimensioned to fit within the hollow interior  34  of the shielding cage  33  that houses the receptacle connector half  32 . An EMI gasket  74  in the form of a rectangular collar with a plurality of spaced-apart spring fingers  75  is disposed on the connector housing  72  in a location where the gasket fingers  75  will make contact with the interior walls of the shielding cage  33  when the first and second connector elements  22 ,  23  are mated together. A boot portion  80  of an inner housing  78  is provided to engage the rear part  77  of the connector housing  72 , and it may be molded onto and over the connector housing  72  or formed as a separate element pressed over the rear part  77  of the connector housing  72 . For this connector half, as well as the other two connector halves to follow, the inner housing is formed from two parts that are applied from opposite ends of the connector halves. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4 , an insulative, inner housing  78  is utilized to encompass the rear part  77  of the male connector half  70  up to the forward end of the boot portion  80 . This inner housing  78  extends forwardly to just rear of the ends of the EMI gasket spring fingers  75 . The forward part  82  of the inner housing  78  includes a circumferential channel, or rim  84 , that engages an inner shoulder  91  of a first connector shell  86 . Retaining rings (not shown) may be used to retain the inner housing  78  and male connector half  70  in place within the first connector shell  86  in a manner such that the inner housing  78  and connector half  70  rotate as a unit within the first connector shell  86 . Conversely, this rotational mounting permits the first and second connector shells  86 ,  60  to be rotated upon their inner connector halves  32 ,  70 . The first and second connector shells  86 ,  60  are advanced into mating engagement with each other by rotation of the first connector shell  86  upon the second connector shell  60 . In this embodiment, the forward mating end  94  of the male connector half  70  projects partially past the front edge  93  of the first connector shell  86  to permit alignment and lead-in to the receptacle connector half  32 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the length of the mated shields  33 ,  72  of the two connector halves  32 ,  70  has a length that is greater than the length of either of the first and second connector shells  86 ,  60 , and of the length of the first and second connector shells  86 ,  60 , when mated together. By providing matable conductive housings or shields  33 ,  70  enclosed within the first and second connector shells  86 ,  60 , the high data transmission speed of the SAS style connectors are achievable with minimal interfering crosstalk and noise. 
       FIGS. 6-11  illustrate another embodiment of a high speed connector assembly  100  in accordance with the principles of the Present Disclosure. This embodiment is particularly suitable for use with HDMI-style connector halves. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the connector assembly  100  includes first and second connector shells  144 ,  112  that have threaded bodies and internal bores, with the body and bore of one of the two connector shells  144  being larger than the other connector shell  112  so that the one connector shell  144  may telescopically engage the other connector shell  112 . Both connector shells  144 ,  112  are threaded so that once the connector shells are aligned with each other, the second, outer connector shell  144  can be rotated upon the first, inner connector shell  112  so that the outer shell advances its inner components, namely the first (male) connector half  130 , forwardly into mating engagement with the opposing second (female) connector half  104 . 
     The second connector shell  112  houses a female, or receptacle, connector half  104 . As shown in the exploded view of  FIGS. 7-8 , the receptacle connector half  104  includes a grounding shield  105  that substantially encloses the second connector half  104 , and further includes an extension  105   a  configured to receive a like extension  133  of the first connector half  130 . The grounding shield  105  is held within a rear boot portion  108  that covers the termination area of the cable wires and the receptacle connector contact tail portions. A cylindrical insulative inner housing  107 , which includes the boot portion  108 , encloses the balance of the receptacle connector half  104  and its grounding shield  105 . Similar to the first embodiment, the inner housing  107  has a circumferential rim  111  that abuts an inner shoulder  120  disposed within the interior of the second connector shell  112 . In the annular channel  124 , disposed between the inner housing  107  and the second connector shell  112 , sits a deformable ring  122  that provides a seal to the connector assembly  100  when the front edge  145  of the first connector shell  144  is brought into contact with it. A retaining ring  109  is provided to hold the inner housing front part  110  and boot portion  108  in place within the second connector shell  112 , and is disposed along a rear face of the boot portion  108 . This retention permits the inner housing  107 , receptacle connector half  104  and grounding shield  105  to be rotated as a unit within the second connector shell  112 , and further permits mating of the two connector shells  112 ,  144 , in the manner described above. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8-9A , the first (male) connector half  130  is housed within its own associated grounding shield  132  and extension  133  and is terminated to wires of a cable  134 . The first connector half  130  is also enclosed within a two-part inner housing  136  that comprises a rear boot portion  137  and a front portion  138 , both of which are cylindrical in configuration. The front portion  138  includes a mating projection  142  that engages a mating notch  121  in the inner housing front part  110 . The boot portion  137  has circumferential rim  134  upon which the rear end of the front portion  138  rests. A retaining ring  143  is provided that bears against the boot portion  137  to hold the inner housing  136  in place within the first connector shell  144  so that an inner housing rim  140  abuts against an inner shoulder  152  thereof. In the space between the first connector shell  144  and its outer threaded collar  150 , there is a retention assembly that includes a spacer ring  146  and retainer  147  that holds the first connector shell  144  to the outer collar  150  so that the first connector shell  144  and its inner components can rotate relative to the outer collar  150 . A wave spring  149  is further disposed in this space and the spring  149  urges the first connector shell  144  into contact with the flexible seal ring  122  of the second connector shell  112  to provide an environmental seal. The grounding shields  105 ,  107  of this embodiment each preferably have individual lengths that do not extend past the front edges of their respective connector shells, and when mated together, have a combined length longer than the length of any one of the two connector shells. 
     In this manner, high speed operation of these connectors may be achieved at minimal cost as only one ground is provided for each plurality of contacts for each respective male and female connector half, rather than providing individual grounds for each single contact as would be the case if conductive pins were used for the contacts. The connector inner housings are non-conductive and thus the connector shells may be either formed from or plated with a conductive material to provide the connector assemblies of the Present Disclosure with an outer, exterior ground that matches that of the cables to which it connects. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the Present Disclosure is shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the foregoing Description and the appended Claims.