Patent Publication Number: US-6210204-B1

Title: Electrical connector having barrier for preventing electrical sparks between adjacent terminals

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector having barrier for preventing sparks generated between adjacent terminals carrying high voltage. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Each computer is equipped with a power supply system which supplies power to a motherboard, and pertinent electrical devices, such as a floppy disk drive, hard disk drive and CD-ROM. Conventionally, the power supply system includes a plurality of harnesses interconnected between the motherboard, floppy disk drive, hard disk drive and CD-ROM and the power supply. Each harness includes a cable end connector. When the power supply is to be removed or changed, the connectors attached to the electrical devices shall be firstly disconnected, then the power supply can be removed. 
     In order to increase the efficiency of assembly, an enclosure of the computer is provided with a bay in which the power supply is seated. An end wall is provided with a connector coupled to a connector of the power supply system. By this arrangement, the power supply system can be conveniently inserted thereto or withdrawn therefrom. 
     In one of the application, a so called Distribution Power System (DPS) is right now under developing and equipped with a DPS connector which serves both signal and power transmission. Except the terminals for power supply, five pins are allocated for the field replacement unit information on the DPS power supply connector. One pin is used for the serial clock, while another pin is used for serial data. About three to five pins are used for address lines to indicate to the power supply&#39;s EEPROM which position the DPS power supply occupies in the power bay. In order to prevent electrical sparks happened between the power terminals and the signal terminals, measurements shall be introduced thereof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of this invention is to provide an electrical connector having a cover enclosing insulation displacement sections thereof. One terminal carrying high voltage is separated with the rest terminals by a barrier extending from the cover. 
     In order to achieve the objective set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing having mating and rear surfaces, and defining first passageways between the mating and rear surfaces. A plurality of first terminals is assembled to the first passageways from the rear face. Each terminal has an insulation displacement section extending beyond the rear face. At least a slot is defined in the rear face separating at least one terminal from the rest of the first terminals thereby preventing sparks generated from therebetween. A cover is assembled to the rear face enclosing the insulation displacement sections of the terminals. The cover includes a barrier received in the slot of the housing thereby eliminating sparks resulted when the one terminal carries high voltage. 
     These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a first cover attached to the connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the connector with first detached therefrom and a second cover attached thereto; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3 with conductive wires attached thereto; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective of a connector in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third cover attached to the connector of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to Figures, an electrical connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  10  having mating and rear surfaces  11 ,  12 . The rear face  12  of the housing  10  defines first and second tiers  12   a  and  12   b . First and second passageways  13 ,  14  are defined in the first and second tiers  12   a ,  12   b , respectively. The first and second tiers  12   a ,  12   b  is separated by a shoulder  10   a . Each of the first and second passageways  13 ,  14  is received with first and second terminals  15 ,  16  which are different in dimension. The first and second terminals  15 ,  16  each includes an insulation displacement section  15   a ,  16   a  which extend beyond the first and second tiers  12   a ,  12   b . Of course, the first and second terminals  15 ,  16  may also have other type of tails, such as right angle tails for surface mount. First and second separating walls  17 ,  18  extend longitudinally along the rear face  12  such that the passageways  13 ,  14  are divided into upper and lower rows. 
     A slot  19  is defined in the first tier  12   a  of the rear face  12  of the housing  10  thereby separating two passageways  13 ′ from the rest of the passageways  13 . The passageway  13 ′ in the upper row is distant from the slot  19  and is offset from the passageway  13 ′ of the lower row. The arrangement is to prevent electrical sparks therebetween and between the rest of the terminals  13 . 
     First and second covers  20 ,  30  are attached to the first and second tiers  12   a ,  12   b  respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the first cover  20  includes an elongate body portion  21  extending between opposite ends  20   a ,  20   b  thereof. Side walls  22  extend along the elongate body portion  21  and define a receiving space  20   c  therebetween. The side walls  22  each defines a plurality of cutouts  22   a  for extension of conductive wires  40 ,  41 . A plurality of biasing blocks  23  extend upward from the body portion  21  and each aligns with and is dimensioned to be adapted to be inserted into the U-shaped cross-sectional tip of a corresponding insulation displacement section  15   a  of the first terminal  15 . By this arrangement, the conductive wires  40 ,  41  terminated to the insulation displacement sections  15   a ,  16   a  can be urged by the biasing blocks  23  to be fixedly positioned as the biasing blocks  23  are inserted into tips of the insulation displacement sections  15   a ,  16   a . Retention arms  24  are formed on opposite ends  20   a ,  20   b . The first cover  20  further includes a barrier  25  extending from the body portion  21 . When the first cover  20  is assembled to the first tier  12   a  of the rear face  12  of the housing  10 , the retention arms  24  may securely attach the outer face of the housing  10 , while the barrier  25  extends into the slot  19  thereby further separating the terminal  13 ′ and the rest of the terminal  13 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the mating face  11  of the housing  10  defines an elongate slot  11   a  which is in communication with the first and second passageways  13 ,  14 . Contact portions  13   b ,  14   b  of the terminals  13 ,  14  extend into the elongate slot  11   a  for electrically connecting with an mating connector (not shown). The second cover  30  which is identical to the first cover  20  is attached to the second tier  12   b  of the rear face  12  of the housing  12 . The only difference of the first and second cover  20 ,  30  is the barrier  29  formed on the first cover  30 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector  1  with the conductive wires  40 ,  41  terminated thereto. The first and second covers  20 ,  30  are also assembled to the housing  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a connector  1 A in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. 
     The electrical connector assembly  1 A in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  110  having mating and rear surfaces  111 ,  112 . The rear face  112  of the housing  110  defines first and second tiers  112   a  and  112   b . First and second passageways  113 ,  114  are defined in the first and second tiers  112   a ,  112   b , respectively. The first and second tiers  112   a ,  112   b  is separated by a shoulder  110   a . Each of the first and second passageways  113 ,  114  is received with first and second terminals (not shown) which are different in dimension. First and second separating walls  117 ,  118  extend longitudinally along the rear face  112  such that the passageways  113 ,  114  are divided into upper and lower rows. A slot  119  is defined in the first tier  112   a  of the rear face  112  of the housing  110 . An individual barrier  129  is inserted therein thereby eliminating electrical sparks between the terminals. 
     A third cover  120  can be assembled to the first tier  112   a  of the rear face  112  of the housing  120  to enclose the terminals thereof. The third cover  120  includes an elongate body portion  121  extending between opposite ends  120   a ,  120   b  thereof. Side walls  122  extend along the elongate body portion  121  and define a receiving space  120   c  therebetween. The side walls  122  each defines a plurality of cutouts  122   a  for extension of conductive wires  40 ,  41  (as shown in FIG.  4 ). A plurality of biasing blocks  123  extend upward from the body portion  121  and each aligns with a corresponding insulation displacement section of the first terminal. By this arrangement, the conductive wires terminated to the insulation displacement sections can be fixedly positioned as the biasing block  123  is inserted into the tips of the insulation displacement section. Retention arms  124  are formed on opposite ends  120   a ,  120   b . When the third cover  120  is assembled to the first tier  112   a  of the rear face  112  of the housing  110 , the retention arms  124  may securely attach the outer face of the housing  110 . The cover  120  further defines a slot  122   b  in the side walls  122  for accommodating the individual barrier  129 . 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.