Abstract:
A cable connector assembly ( 100 ) includes a housing ( 1 ), a PCB ( 2 ) received in the housing, a cable ( 7 ) electrically connecting with the PCB, a pulling member ( 32 ) moveable relative to the housing in a horizontal direction, a latch member ( 31 ) discrete from the pulling member and assembled to the housing for latch with a complementary connector, and a pull tape ( 33 ) discrete from the pulling member and assembled to the pulling member. The latch member includes an engaging portion ( 310 ) assembled to the housing, a connecting portion ( 312 ) extending from the engaging portion and capable of being actuated by the pulling member, and a latch portion ( 311 ) extending from at least one of the engaging portion and the connecting portion for latching with the complementary connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201521 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MECHANISM”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201461 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MECHANISM”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/268906 filed on Nov. 8, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MECHANISM”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/268902 filed on Nov. 8, 2005 and entitled “JUXTAPOSED CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/322692 filed on Dec. 30, 2005 and entitled “STACKED CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/213048 filed on Aug. 26, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH EMI GASKET”, all of which have the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. The disclosure of these related applications is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention is a CIP (continuation-in-part) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201521 filed on Aug. 11,2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to a cable connector assembly used for high-speed signal transmission.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     A committee called SFF is an ad hoc group formed to address storage industry needs in a prompt manner. When formed in 1990, the original goals were limited to define de facto mechanical envelopes within disk drives can be developed to fit compact computer and other small products. Specification SFF-8088 defines matable Compact Multilane Shielded connectors adopted for being used in laptop portable computer to connect small-size disk drives to a printed circuit board. The connectors comprise a cable connector assembly connecting with the small-size drive and a header mounted on the printed circuit board. The cable connector assembly defined in the specification comprises a pair of engagble metal housings together defining a receiving space therebetween, a PCB received in the receiving space, a cable comprising a plurality of conductors electrically connecting with the PCB, and a latching mechanism assembled to a top surface of the upper metal housing. The latching mechanism comprises an elongated T-shape latch member for latching with the header mentioned above and a pulling member cooperating with the latch member for actuating the latch member to separate from the header. The latch member is assembled to a rear portion of a base of the upper housing with latch portion exposed beyond a front portion of the base of the upper housing to locate above a tongue portion of the upper housing. However, such elongated latch member is hard to be actuated by the pulling member, otherwise the latch member must have enough thickness or made by high-quality material having enough rigidity to achieve the goal of latching reliably and unlatching easily.  
         [0006]     Hence, an improved cable connector assembly is provided in the present invention to address the problems mentioned above and meet the current trend.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly which latches with a complementary connector reliably and unlatches from the complementary connector easily.  
         [0008]     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing, a PCB received in the housing, a cable electrically connecting with the PCB, a pulling member moveable relative to the housing in a horizontal direction, a latch member discrete from the pulling member and assembled to the housing for latching with a complementary connector, and a pull tape assembled to at least one of the pulling member and the latch member. The latch member comprises an engaging portion assembled to the housing, a connecting portion extending from the engaging portion and a front latching portion extending from at least one of the engaging portion and the connecting portion.  
         [0009]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different aspect;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a latch member and a pulling member of the cable connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from a different aspect; and  
         [0015]      FIGS. 6-9  are cross-section views taken along lines  6 - 6  to  9 - 9  of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a cable connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  1 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  2  located in the housing  1 , a cable  7  with a cable holder  6  electrically connecting with the PCB  2 , a latch mechanism  3  assembled to the housing  1 , a metal shell  4  assembled to the housing  1  to partially cover the latch mechanism  3 .  
         [0018]     Please refer to  FIGS. 1-9 , the housing  1  of the present invention is made of metal material and comprises a base  11 , a cover  12  engagble with the base  11  and a receiving space  15  formed between the base and the cover  11 ,  12 . The metal housing  1  also comprises a rectangular base portion  13  and an elongated tongue portion  14  extending forwardly from the base portion  13 .  
         [0019]     The base  11  comprises a first base section  11   a  and a first tongue section  11   b  extending forwardly from the first base section  11   a . The first base section  11   a  comprises a first flat portion  110 , a pair of first flanges  112  and a first rear wall  113  respectively extending upwardly from opposite side edges and rear edge of the first flat portion  110 . The front portions of the first flanges  112  are cut to present the first flanges  112  L-shaped. A first substantially semicircular opening  1130  is defined in the first rear wall  113  and a pair of first screw holes  1312  are defined in the first rear wall  113  and located at opposite sides of the first semicircular opening  1130 . The first tongue section  11   b  comprises a first panel  118  formed with a pair of ribs  114  located at opposite sides thereof. Each rib  114  forms a tip end  1140  extending beyond a front edge of the flat portion  118 . The first panel  118  also forms two pairs of first standoffs  115  spaced arranged thereon, and each first standoff  115  defines a first positioning hole  1150  therein. A pair of U-shape cutouts  117  extend rearward from the front edge of the first panel  118  and respectively locate adjacent to corresponding tip ends  1140 .  
         [0020]     The cover  12  comprises a second base section  12   a  and a second tongue section  12   b  extending forwardly from the second base section  12   a . The second base section  12   a  comprises a second flat portion  120 , a pair of second flanges  122  and a second rear wall  123  extending downwardly from opposite side edges and a rear edge of the second flat portion  120 . The rear portions of the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123  are cut to present the second flanges  122  L-shaped. A second substantially semicircular opening  1230  is defined in the second rear wall  123 . A pair of second screw holes  1232  are defined through the second rear wall  123  and locate at opposite sides of the second semicircular opening  1230 . A continuous protruding ridge  1220  integrally extends downwardly from inner edges of the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123 . The second flat portion  120  defines a first recess section  127  consisting of different-size first and second recesses  1270 ,  1272 , and a deeper and narrower second recess section  128  formed in a front portion of the second flat portion  120  to communicate with a front surface of the second flat portion  120 . A deeper slit  1280  is defined in the front portion of the second flat portion  120  and extends in a direction perpendicular to that of the second recess section  128  to communicate with the second recess section  128 . A transversely-extending bar  1282  is formed at a front end of the second recess section  128  with a pair of projections  1284  arranged thereon. The upper portions of the outer periphery of the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123  are partially cut to form recess. A pair of rims  129  are formed at the front portion of the first flat portion  12   a . In addition, the second panel  120  forms a plurality of steps  121  extending downwardly therefrom with different height. Another pair of second screw holes  1232  is recessed downwardly from the top surface of the second base section  12   a  a certain depth and locate at opposite sides of the second recess section  128 .  
         [0021]     The second tongue section  12   b  comprises a second panel  124  formed with a long keyway  1244  and a pair of side walls  125  extending downwardly from opposite sides of the second panel  124 . A pair of second channels  1250  are defined in corresponding side walls  125  opened toward outside for guiding the insertion of the cable connector assembly  100  and positioning the cable connector assembly  100  relative to a complementary connector (not shown). A pair of protrusions  126  extend rearward from a front surface of the second tongue section  12   b  and respectively locate below the side walls  125  to form a pair of gaps  1260  therebetween. The second panel  124  forms an enhancing portion (not labeled) on a bottom surface thereof for enhancing the strength thereof and three pairs of second standoffs  1240  are symmetrically arranged on the enhancing portion with two pairs of second standoffs  1240  formed with posts  1242  extending downwardly. The first and second standoffs  115 ,  1240  with the first and second positioning holes  1150 ,  1242  are served as first engaging means of the housing  1 . The first engaging means is not limited to the structures described above, it also can be protrusions protruding from the first and second tongue sections  11   b ,  12   b , or recesses recessed from the first and second tongue sections  11   b ,  12   b .  
         [0022]     The PCB  2  is formed with a plurality of first conductive pads  21  aligned at a front end thereof and a plurality of second conductive pads  22  aligned at an opposite rear end thereof with different amount from that of the first conductive pads  21 . The first and second conductive pads  21 ,  22  electrically connect with one another through inner traces disposed in the PCB  2 . Two pairs of holes  23  are symmetrically arranged on the PCB  2  adjacent to the first conductive pads  21 . The holes  23  are served as second engaging means of the PCB  2 . The second engaging means is also not limited to the structures described above, it can be standoffs with holes to receive the respective protrusions of the first engaging means of the housing  1 , or different-shape projections formed on opposite surfaces of the PCB to be received in the recesses of the first engaging means of the housing  1 .  
         [0023]     The latch mechanism  3  comprises a latch member  31  latching with the complementary connector, a pulling member  32  cooperating with the latch member  31  to actuate the latch member  31  to unlatch from the complementary connector, and an elective pull tape  33  assembled to the pulling member  32 .  
         [0024]     Particularly referring to  FIG. 3 , the latch member  31  is made of metal material and is a cantilever-type member. The latch member  31  comprises an N-shape engaging portion  310  located in a vertical surface, a flat latching portion  311  located in a horizontal surface perpendicular to the vertical surface and an inclined connecting portion  312  connecting the engaging portion  310  with the latching portion  311  to provide spring force to the latch member  31 . The engaging portion  310  comprises a transverse bar section  3101  and a pair of side sections  3102  extending downwardly from opposite sides of the bar section  3101 . Each side section  3102  is formed with barbs  3104  on outmost edge thereof. The flat latching portion  311  defines a pair of rectangular holes  3110  at a rear portion thereof adjacent to the connecting portion  312  and a pair of latches  3112  bending downwardly from opposite sides of the front edge thereof. The connecting portion  312  connects with middle portion of the bar section  3101  and extends upwardly from a lower edge of the bar section  3101 . The connecting portion  312  also defines a hole therein for adjusting spring force of the latch member  31  through changing size and shape of the hole. Each of the side section  3102  and the latching portion  310  is formed with a rib  313  stamped therewith for respectively enhancing the engagement with the housing  1  and the complementary connector.  
         [0025]     The pulling member  32  is made by insulative material and comprises a front cooperating portion  321 , an elongated intermediate portion  323  extending rearward form the cooperating portion  321  and formed with an interference portion  322 , and an operating portion  324  formed at a rear end of the intermediate portion  323 . The interference portion  322  comprises a pair of stop sections  3212  formed at opposite sides of the intermediate portion  323  and located adjacent to the cooperating portion  321  and a pair of elastic sections  3210  formed at middle portion of the intermediate portion  323 . Each elastic section  3210  comprises a transverse block section  3224  and a V-shape claw section  3226  extending rearward from the block section  3224 . The cooperating portion  321  comprises a vertical section  3210  connecting the cooperating portion  321  with the intermediate portion  323  and a body section  3212  extending forwardly from a lower edge of the vertical section  3210 . The body section  3212  forms a pair of upwardly extending ribs  3214  with tip end formed with enlarged protrusions  3216 . A slanted surface  3218  downwardly and rearward extends from a front surface of the body section  3212 . The operating portion  324  is enlarged from the intermediate portion  323  and thus, forms a pair of slanted edges  3240  for facilitating handle. The operating portion  324  also defines a rectangular slot  3242  in a main portion thereof to cooperate with the pull tape  33 .  
         [0026]     The pull tape  33  is a piece of belt with opposite ends sticked to each other to form a loop portion  330  and a rear pull portion  332 . The pull tape  33  firstly protrudes through the slot  3242  of the operating portion  324  of the pulling member  32  and then sticks the opposite ends together.  
         [0027]     The conductive shell  4  comprises a body portion  40  formed with a plurality of bars  400  on a top surface for increasing friction and a pair of lateral walls  42  extending downwardly from opposite sides of the body portion  40 . Two pairs of holes  402  are respectively formed at front portion and rear portion of the body portion  40 . A downwardly-extending first tab  404  is formed at a front edge of the body portion  40 . A pair of second tabs  405  are formed with the body portion  40  extending downwardly from a rear edge of the body portion  40 .  
         [0028]     In assembly, conductors  70  of the cable  7  are respectively soldered to the second conductive pads  22  of the PCB  2 . Then an insulator  9  is molded with the rear end of the PCB  2  and the front ends of the conductors  70 . The upper portion of the insulator  9  is stepped to form more than one steps and is received in the receiving space  17  ( FIG. 9 ) formed by the first base section  11   a  and the second base section  12   a . The PCB  2  with the cable  7  is located on the first standoffs  115  of the base  11  with the holes  23  aligned with the first positioning holes  1150  and the cable  7  is located in the first semicircular opening  1130  of the base  11 . The cable connector assembly  100  of the present invention may have a cable holder  6  grasping a metal braiding area exposed outside of the cable  7  to provide strain relief to the cable  7 . The cover  12  is assembled to the base  11  and the PCB  2  with the posts  1242  protruding through the holes  23  and the first positioning holes  1150  to position the PCB  2  in the receiving space  15  of the housing  1 . The PCB  2  is sandwiched between the base  1  and the cover  12  by the first and second engaging means engaging with each other. The protruding ridge  1220  of the cover  12  is received in a middle of the first flanges  112  and the first rear wall  113  of the base  11  and the pair of tip ends  1140  received in the gaps  1260 , thus, the base  11  and the cover  12  are also securely assembled together. The first and second screw holes  1132 ,  1232  combine into a screw receiving space (not labeled).  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIGS. 5-9 , the latch mechanism  3  is assembled to the second base section  12   a  of the cover  12  along a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction. The pulling member  32  is firstly pressed to the cover  12 . The cooperating portion  321  of the pulling member  32  is received in the second recess section  128  of the cover  12 , and the intermediate portion  323  with the interference portion  322  are received in the first recess section  127 . The stop sections  3222  and the elastic sections  3220  are respectively sliderably received in the different-size first and second recesses  1270 ,  1272  with the block section  3224  and claw section  3226  respectively abutting against opposite edges of the large-size second recesses  1272 . The latch member  31  is assembled to the cover  12  along the vertical direction and the engaging portion  310  is interferentially received in the slit  1280  by the barbs  3104  of the side sections  3102 . The inclined connecting portion  312  is located on the slanted surface  3218  of the body section  3212  of the cooperating portion  321 . The bar section  3101  of the latch member  31  are located on the ribs  3214  with the enlarged protrusions  3216  located in front of the bar section  3101 . The projections  1284  of the cover  12  are respectively received in the rectangular holes  3110  and the latches  3112  exposed above the second tongue section  12   b .  
         [0030]     When the complementary connector mates with the cable connector assembly  100  of the present invention, contacts of the complementary connector may electrically connect with the first conductive pads  21  of the PCB  2  with corresponding structure thereof latches with the latches  3112  of the latch member  31 . When the cable connector assembly  100  disengages from the complementary connector, a rearward pulling force exerts to the operating portion  324  of the pulling member  31  or the pull section  332  of the pull tape  33 , according to the space left for the operator to operate, to actuate the pulling member  32  rearward move with the elastic sections  3220  and the stop sections  3222  sliding in the second and first recesses  1272 ,  1270  until the enlarged protrusions  3216  abut against the bar section  3101  of the latch member  31 . The body section  3212  also rearward moves with the slanted surface  3218  sliding along a bottom periphery of the inclined connecting portion  312 , thus actuating the connecting portion  312  to pivot upwardly relative to the bar section  3101  of the engaging portion  310  and the latch section  311  with the latches  3112  to upwardly move to unlatch from the complementary connector. After the rearward pulling force is removed, restore force of the elastic sections  3220  actuates the pulling member  32  to move forwardly to its original position, and thus, the latch member  31  also reverts to its original position. That is to say, when the space left for the operator is large enough, the operator may pull the pulling member  32  or the pull tape  33  to drive the latch member  31  to unlatch from the complementary connector; when the space left for the operator is small, the operator may pull the pull tape  33  to separate the cable connector assembly  100  from the complementary connector.  
         [0031]     The conductive shell  4  is finally assembled to the second base section  12   a  of the cover  12  with the lateral walls  42  and the second tabs  405  respectively received in the recess formed by the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123 . A front edge of the conductive shell abuts against the rims  129  and the first tab  404  is received in the second recess section  128  of the cover  12 . The first tab  404  also presses on the latch member  31  to provide extra return force to the latch member  31  when disengaging the cable connector assembly  100  from the complementary connector. A pair of first screws  80  are screwed through the holes  402  of the shell  4 , the second screw holes  1232  of the cover  12  and the first screw holes  1132  of the base  11  to retain the shell  4  with the base  11  and the cover  12 , and a pair of second screws  82  are screwed through the holes  402  in front end of the shell and the pair of second screw holes  1232  of the cover  12  located at opposite sides of the second recess section  128  to enhancing the engagement between the conductive shell  4  and the cover  12 .  
         [0032]     The cable connector assembly  100  of the present invention may have an EMI gasket  5  assembled to the metal housing  1  for reducing the Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) in the signal transmission. The gasket  5  is a rectangular frame and stamped from a metal sheet. The gasket  5  comprises a continuous periphery wall  50  consisting of a pair of opposite longitudinal edges  501  and a pair of side edges  502  respectively connecting with the longitudinal edges  501 . The gasket  5  also defines a space  51  circumscribed by the periphery wall  50 . The gasket  5  is assembled to the front surface of he base portion  13  of the housing  1  with the tongue portion  14  protruding through the space  51 . The upper longitudinal edge  501  of the gasket  5  is partially cut to form a recess  53  substantially equal to the width of the latching portion  310  to permit the latching portion  310  locating above the tongue portion  14 .  
         [0033]     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.