Abstract:
An electrical adapter ( 500 ) for high-speed transmission includes a first connector part ( 1 ) defining a first mating port ( 100 ), a second connector part ( 2 ) defining a second mating port ( 200 ) different from the first mating port, a circuit substrate ( 20 ) having circuit traces thereon electrically connecting to the first and the second mating ports, and a reinforcing member assembled to the circuit substrate so as to provide mechanical constrain for mating/unmating of one of the first and the second connector parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical adapter, and more particularly to an electrical adapter used for high-density, high-speed transmission. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   It is well known that electrical adapters are used in systems for electrically connecting two or more connectors which are complied with different standards. In recent years, the high-density, high-speed backplane connectors are widely used in network, server and storage applications for high-speed data process. In some applications, an electrical adapter with high speed is needed to connect an external system with an internal system, which have different specifications. Generally, the electrical adapter of this kind comprises two backplane connectors of different types so as to mate with corresponding complementary connectors assembled on internal/external systems, respectively. A stamped cover is commonly provided for shielding purpose. The two backplane connectors are electrically connected with each other via cable or circuit board received in the cover. However, the electrical connection between the circuit board and the backplane connectors is easy to be damaged due to frequent mated/unmated of the electrical adapter. 
   Hence, an improved electrical adapter is highly desired to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical adapter having a reinforcing member for mechanically constraining mated/unmated of the electrical adapter. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical adapter in accordance with present invention comprises a first connector part defining a first mating port, a second connector part defining a second mating port different from the first mating port, a circuit substrate having circuit traces thereon electrically connecting to the first and the second mating ports, and a reinforcing member assembled to the circuit substrate so as to provide mechanical constrain for mating/unmating of one of the first and the second connector parts. 
   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 a partially exploded, perspective view of an electrical adapter in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a first connecting part connected with cable means shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  taken along line  6 — 6 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is an assembled, perspective view of the electrical adapter shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an electrical adapter  500  in accordance with the present invention comprises a first connecting part  1  defining a first mating port  100  ( FIG. 4 ), a second connecting part  2  defining a second mating port  200 , cable means  3  having a plurality of conductors (not shown) electrically connected to the first and the second connecting parts  1 ,  2 , and a shielding cover  4  enclosing the cable means  3 , and the first and the second connecting parts  1 ,  2  with the first and the second mating ports  100 ,  200  accessible to corresponding counter parts. Particularly, in present embodiment, the first mating port  100  is complied with ERmet ZD® standard, and the second mating port  200  is complied with InfiniBand® standard. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3–6 , the first connecting part  1  comprises a first connecting module  10 , a circuit substrate  20  having circuit traces (not shown) thereon electrically connecting to the first connecting module  10  and a die casting reinforcing member (not labeled) assembled to the circuit substrate  20 . The first connecting module  10  is formed of an insulative housing  101 , a plurality of terminals  102  disposed in the housing  101  with tail portions (not labeled) extending beyond the housing  101  so as to electrically solder to one end of the circuit substrate  20  in a through hole manner. Cable means  3  is electrically connected to another end of the circuit substrate  20 . A pair of first positioning holes  201  and a pair of second positioning holes  202  are defined in an area between the two ends of the circuit substrate  20 . Moreover, diameter of the first positioning hole  201  is larger than that of the second positioning hole  202 . 
   The reinforcing member is die cast in metallic material and is composed of a first half  301  and a second half  302  combinable with the first half  301 . In the present embodiment, the first half  301  and the second half  302  are combined with each other by a pair of screws  303  with the circuit substrate  20  sandwiched therebetween. The second half  302  has a width larger than that of the first half  301  and comprises a front portion  3020 , a rear portion  3021  has a width equal to that of the first half  301  and a depression  3025  defined between the front and the rear portions  3020 ,  3021 . The first half  301  and the rear portion  3021  respectively define a pair of screw holes  3012  corresponding to the pair of first positioning holes  201  for permitting the screws  303  passing therethrough. The rear portion  3021  forms a pair of positioning posts  3023  in alignment with the pair of second positioning holes  202 . The first half  301  defines a pair of receiving grooves  3013  for receiving the positing posts  3023  of the second half  302 . Both the first and the rear portions  301 ,  3021  comprise three fixing protrusions  3016  on outer surfaces thereof. Particularly referring to  FIG. 6 , soldering dots of the terminals  102  and the circuit substrate  20  are completely received in the depression  3025  of the second half  302  as well as not in contact with a bottom surface of the depression  3025 , thus, electrical connection of the first connecting module  10  and the circuit substrate  20  is well protected by the second half  302  of the reinforcing member without apprehension of short circuit. As the circuit substrate  20  is constrained by the first and the second halves  301 ,  302  assembled thereto, when the first connecting part  1  is mated/unmated with the complementary connector, the circuit substrate  20  is unlikely to be shifted by force exerted on the first connecting part during mating/unmating, that is, the connection between the circuit substrate  20  and the first connecting module  10  is more reliable relative to conventional backplane connector. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–6  and in conjunction with  FIGS. 7–8 , the cover  4  is formed of an upper cover  40  and a lower cover  41 . The upper cover  40  and the lower cover  41  are combined together to form a cavity (not labeled) receiving the first and the second connecting parts  1 ,  2  and the cable means  3  therein. In present embodiment, as the first connecting part  1  and the second connecting part  2  are of different types, which are complied with different standard, the second mating port  200  has a longitudinal dimension larger than that of the first mating port, the cover  4  is thus configured in L-shaped. Besides, the upper and the lower covers  40 ,  41  respectively define a plurality of locating holes  400  for engaging with corresponding fixing protrusions  3016  of the reinforcing member. 
   The invention is to provide an L-like configuration of the shielding cover enclose the connectors for mating with complementary connectors in an offset manner rather than a symmetrical manner under a condition that the longitudinal dimension of one connector is larger than that of the other one. Moreover, the cables are overlapped with one another to narrow the width of the shielding cover in the middle portion while spread around the joint portions with the corresponding connectors for connection. 
   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 illustrated 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.