Patent Publication Number: US-6666696-B1

Title: Electrical connector with improved grounding terminal arrangement

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/215,535, filed on Aug. 9, 2002 and entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNETOR WITH IMPROVED GROUNDING TERMINAL ARRANGEMENT”, U.S. Pat . No. 6,589,066, filed on Jul. 30, 2002 and entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAVING AN LATCHING MECHANISM”, U.S. Pat. Application with unknown Serial number and filed on Jul. 17, 2002, and entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY”, which are all assigned to the common assignee and which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and in particular to an electrical connector which provides adequate grounding protection for signal transmission. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With the development of communication and computer technology, high density electrical connectors with conductive elements in a matrix arrangement are desired to construct a large number of signal transmitting paths between two electronic devices. Such high density electrical connectors are widely used in internal connecting systems of severs, routers and the like devices requiring high speed data processing and communication. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,302 issued to Fujitsu Co. Ltd. and on Feb. 6, 2001 discloses a high density connector which includes a dielectric housing, a plurality of signal and grounding contacts alternately disposed in the dielectric housing. Each of the grounding contacts, shaped in a plate-like, is a single piece and has a contact beam inserted through the dielectric housing for engaging with a complementary connector. Such a grounding contact is simple in structure and in assembly, but the contact beam thereof is easily deformed or damaged during assembly, thereby adversely affecting the electrical connection with the complementary connector. Thus, effective grounding function of the grounding contacts cannot be ensured. 
     It is thus desirable to have an electrical connector which can more efficiently provide grounding function. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which can satisfy the grounding needs of application. 
     In order to achieve the objects set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottom housing, an upper housing and a terminal module. The upper housing and the bottom housing together define a space and a mating port positioned near the space. The terminal module has a base, a tongue extending in the mating port from the base in a mating direction, and a plurality of signal terminals and grounding buses therein. The grounding buses consist of first grounding terminals for engaging with a mating connector and second grounding terminals for shielding the signal terminals. 
     Furthermore, the tongue defines a plurality of through grooves and grooves arranged alternately to each other. The base defines a plurality of passageways communicating with the through grooves to receive the grounding buses, and passages communicating with the grooves to receive the signal terminals. The terminal module may comprise a circuit board for engaging with the first grounding terminals and signal terminals. 
    
    
     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 perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an explored view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal module of the connector; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal module taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is an explored view of the terminal module but circuit board being removed; and 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal module, showing a number of elements of FIG. 6 assembled together. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an electrical connector  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottom housing  3 , an upper housing  2 , and a terminal module  4  located between the upper and bottom housings  2  and  3 . The upper housing  2  defines a mating port  20  and a push bar  22  at opposite ends thereof. The bottom housing  3  defines an ejector mechanism  30  for retention of a complement connector (not shown), and an opening  32  for extension of a cable at rear portion thereof. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the terminal module  4  comprises a base  40 , a tongue  41  projecting forward from the base  40 , a pair of leading arms  42  extending from both sides of the base  40 , and an inner circuit board  43  disposed between the pair of leading arms  42  and adjacent to rear portion of the base  40 . The base  40 , forms a plurality of protrusions  40 , beyond an upper surface  405  thereof, and a pair of ribs  401  extending rearward therefrom. The ribs  401  further define a rear surface  402 . The tongue  41  defines a front surface  410  parallel to the rear surface  402 . A plurality of through grooves  414  are defines in the tongue  41 , and a plurality of grooves  416  are formed between every two adjacent through grooves  414  and at both side of the tongue  41 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4-6, each rib  401  forms a plurality of recesses  404 . The base  40  further defines a receiving cavity  403  between the pair of ribs  401  at rear portion thereof. A plurality of passageways  406  are formed through the base  40  and communicate with corresponding through grooves  414 , and a plurality of passages  408  are formed through the base  40  and communicate with corresponding grooves  416 . Specially, each recess  404  is aligned with corresponding passageways  406  in a vertical direction. Each passageway  406  has a smaller width at middle portion and has bigger width at both ends thereof. Furthermore, the tongue  41  defines a plurality of holes  412  to provide each through groove  414  an opening to the front surface  410 . The through grooves  414  and the passageways  406  together define a contact-receiving space for receiving grounding terminals, and the grooves  416  and passages  408  together define a contact-receiving space for receiving signal terminals. 
     Terminals are received in the terminal module  4  and include first grounding terminals  5 , second grounding terminals  6 , first signal terminals  7  and second signal terminals  8 . Referring to FIG. 6 please, each first grounding terminal includes a limb  50  and a pair of wings  52  extending from an end of the limb  50 , and the limb  50  defines a tip  500  at opposite end thereof. Each wing  52  defines an engaging portion  520 . Each second grounding terminal  6  includes a retention portion  60  for retaining the terminal  6  in the terminal module  4 , and a contact portion  62  for engaging the circuit board  43 . Each first signal terminal  7  includes a retention portion  70 , and a contact portion  72  and a curved portion  74  extending in opposite directions and from the retention portion  70 . The curved portion  74  further defines an engaging portion  740  for connecting the circuit board  43 . Each second signal terminal  8  includes a retention portion  80 , and a contact portion  82  and a curved portion  84  extending in opposite directions and from the retention portion  80 . The curved portion  84  further defines an engaging portion  840  for connecting the circuit board  43 . In addition, the length of the second grounding terminals  6  is equal to the length of the retention portion plus the contact portion of each first and second signal terminal  7  and  8 . Furthermore, in assembly, the contact portion of the second grounding terminals  6  and the first and second signal terminals  7  and  8  has flat shape and is arranged in a plane which is parallel to the upper surface  405  of the base  40 , while the limb  50  of the first grounding terminals  5  has also flat shape but being arranged in a plane which is perpendicular to the upper surface  405  of the base  40 . In order to improve impedance of the terminals, the contact portions must be plated a layer gold. Regarding to cost of plating, only ends of the contact portions are plated a layer gold here. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 7, in assembly, the second grounding terminals  6  are firstly inserted into the passageways  406  of the base  40  and further entirely in the through grooves  414  of the tongue  41  in pairs. The first and second signal terminals  7  and  8  are inserted into passages  408  of the base  40  and further in the grooves  416  of the tongue  41 . The flat contact portions  62 ,  72  and  82  are arranged in both side of the tongue  41  thereby providing enough surfaces for mating with the complement connector. Subsequently, the first grounding terminals  5  are inserted into the passageways  406  of the base  40  and further into the through grooves  414  until the tip  500  extends into corresponding hole  412  of the tongue  41 , wherein the limb  50  engages every adjacent pair of first grounding terminals  5  and the wings  52  are retained in the recesses  404  to prevent unnecessary deformation. Then the wings  52  of the second grounding terminals  5 , and the curved portions  74  and  84  of the first and second signal terminals  7  and  8  are disposed in the receiving cavity  403  of the base  40  and beyond the rear surface  402 . Thus, the circuit board  43  can be retained between the pair of leading arms  42 , and between the wings  52  and the curved portions  74  and  84  via interfering with the engaging portions  520 ,  740  and  840 . Finally, in insertion direction and perpendicular to the upper surface  405 , the wings  50  each has bigger surface relative to the curved portions  74  and  84  thereby providing better grounding protection for signal transmission. 
     Referring back to FIG. 1 and 2, the terminal module  4  is entirely received in a space defined by the upper and bottom housings  2  and  3 , wherein the tongue  41  extends in the mating port  20 . The ejector mechanism  30  provides a way to exit the complement connector. A cable (not shown) can extend through the opening  32  and further contact with the circuit board  3  of the terminal module  4 . 
     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.