Patent Abstract:
A shroud for a rectangular PCB-mounted electronic connector fashioned from a single piece of metal surrounds the connector on three sides of the connector by way of three walls. The fourth side of the connector is also partially covered via flanges extending from the end walls of the shroud. The walls and flanges of the shroud extend higher than the connector, thus defining a channel that aligns a mating structure for the connector when the mating structure is being plugged into the connector.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the operating speed of many electronic devices entering the gigahertz range, smaller physical distances and geometries in electronic product design have become necessary to limit deleterious transmission line effects, such as electronic signal reflections and oscillations. One of several design areas affected by these advances in operating speed is interconnection methodology. In response to these advances, electronic connectors utilized on printed circuit boards (PCBs) have had to become smaller while simultaneously containing more signal conductors, or “pins.” 
     Such small board-mounted connectors, being generally rectangular in shape, typically create problems for the people responsible for plugging a corresponding mating structure, such as the head of a cable assembly, into the connector. The pins of the connector are often so small and so closely positioned next to each other that even a minute misalignment of the connector and its mating structure during the plugging process may cause some of the proper connections to not be made. In some cases, this misalignment may actually cause permanent damage to the pins of the connector or mating structure. One example of such a connector is the Samtec ASP-65067-01, which is a 100-pin rectangular connector that is less than two inches long. 
     To remedy the alignment problem, some mechanical designers have developed shrouds that are soldered to a PCB and essentially encircle the board connector. The shroud then properly aligns the mating structure with the connector during the plugging process. However, such shrouds are generally made of plastic, thus making the shrouds somewhat expensive to manufacture, and require a significant amount of board space around the connector. Also, some specialized connectors actually contain an integrated shroud, but most are rather expensive when compared to unshrouded connectors. 
     As a result, many electronics manufacturers would probably appreciate an inexpensive shroud requiring a minimum of PCB space that aids in aligning an unshrouded rectangular connector with its mating structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Specific embodiments according to the present invention, to be described herein, entail a metallic connector shroud for a rectangular electronic connector. The connector is essentially a housing fashioned from a single piece of metal that forms three walls that surround three sides of the connector, as well as a pair of flanges that cover a portion of the fourth side of the connector. The top of the walls and flanges of the housing extend higher than the sides of the connector, thus defining a channel which helps to align a mating structure, such as the head of a cable assembly, with the connector during the plugging process. The housing also has at least one leg extending from the bottom of at least one wall that projects through a corresponding hole in the printed circuit board upon which the connector is mounted. The at least one leg would then normally be soldered to the board to provide structural stability. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector shroud according to an embodiment of the invention, along with an associated PCB-mounted rectangular connector and mating head of a cable assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A connector shroud  100  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.  1 . In this case, shroud  100  is used in conjunction with an electronic connector  170  mounted on a printed circuit board  180  that connects with a corresponding mating area  191  of a head  190  of a cable assembly  195 . According to one embodiment, shroud  100  is fashioned from a single flat piece of metal, which may be, but is not limited to, nickel-plated stainless steel. Also, in some embodiments, the thickness of the metal is approximately 0.010 inches, although many other thicknesses are useful as well, depending on the particular connector application. Fashioning shroud  100  from a single flat piece of metal allows a rather simple manufacturing process, and also reduces the amount of space on circuit board  180  required by shroud  100 . The nickel in this particular embodiment allows shroud  100  be soldered to printed circuit board  180 , as is discussed below. 
     The metal forms a first wall  110 , a second wall  115 , and a third wall  120 , with each wall juxtaposed with an external side of connector  170 . Adjoining first wall  110  and second wall  120  are flanges  130  and  135 , respectively, which are juxtaposed with the remaining external side of connector  170 . Walls  110 ,  115  and  120 , as well as flanges  130  and  135 , extend higher than the external sides of connector  170  so that a channel  160  is formed which properly aligns head  190  of cable assembly  195  with connector  170  when head  190  is being plugged into connector  170 . With proper alignment, the probability of damaging the conductors (not shown) of either head  190  or connector  170  is substantially eliminated. Additionally, the use of flanges  130  and  135 , as opposed to a fourth wall, would normally allow direct visibility of the connection between head  190  and connector  170 . In alternate embodiments, flanges  130  and  135  could extend farther along the remaining external side of connector  170 , possibly even touching each other, which would lend more rigidity to shroud  100  at the expense of the direct visibility of the connection between head  190  and connector  170 . 
     Flanges  130  and  135  may also provide a keying function, as shown in FIG.  1 . In this instance, a raised portion  192  of head  190  corresponds to the open area between flanges  130  and  135 , allowing head  190  to enter channel  160  defined by shroud  100 . Conversely, if head  190  is rotated  180  degrees about the axis defined by channel  160 , raised portion  192  will prevent head  190  from being inserted into channel  160  because of interference with second wall  115 . Hence, head  190  is effectively forced into its correct orientation with channel  160  by the keying action of flanges  130  and  135 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 1, legs  140  snap into holes  185  on printed circuit board  180  that are positioned along one or more of the external sides of connector  170 . Legs  140  are then soldered into circuit board  180  to stabilize shroud  100  so that it will not move while head  190  is being plugged into connector  170 . The soldering also aids in stabilizing the head/connector assembly, guarding against the possibility of head  190  becoming unplugged inadvertently. Additionally, soldering shroud  190  to printed circuit board  180  in some circumstances would allow printed circuit board  180  to be oriented other than in a horizontal fashion while maintaining the head/connector connection. Alternately, fewer legs  140  may be utilized than what is shown in FIG.  1 . Even one leg  140  on one of the three walls  110 ,  115 , or  120  may be employed, depending on the particular application in which shroud  100  is used. 
     Alternately, the spacing or positioning of legs  140  adjoining one wall may be different from that of legs  140  along another wall. In FIG. 1, for example, legs  140  of first wall  110  are more closely positioned to each other than are legs  140  of second wall  120 . Such positioning essentially aligns legs  140  with holes  185  of circuit board  180  so that shroud  100  may be installed in only one orientation. When this leg and hole configuration is used in conjunction with the keying provided by flanges  130  and  135 , head  190  and connector  170  must be oriented properly with respect to each other before a connection between the two can be made. 
     The embodiment of FIG. 1 also shows guide ramps  150  adjoining the tops of first wall  110  and third wall  120 . Guide ramps  150  aid the user when attempting to slide head  190  into channel  160 . Other embodiments may employ a similar guide ramp adjoining the top of second wall  115 , while others may use various combinations of guide ramps  150 , or no guide ramps at all. 
     As also indicated in FIG. 1, one or more detents  155  in one or more of walls  110 ,  115 , and  120  may be used in some embodiments to mate with corresponding grooves  193  of head  190  when the connection between head  190  and connector  170  has been made. Detents  155  would thus provide a force that tends to strengthen the mechanical connection between head  190  and connector  170 . Detents  155  could be utilized in any or all of walls  110 ,  115 , and  120 , depending on the physical characteristics of head  190 . Alternately, detents  155  may not be utilized at all in some embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7