This application claims priority to prior Japanese patent application JP 2003-140864, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to a connector and, in particular, to a connector having an electromagnetic shielding function.
In recent years, an electronic apparatus such as a computer, a server, and an exchange is remarkably wide spread. Since the electronic apparatus of the type transmits a high-speed electronic signal, a connector used as an I/O port of the apparatus is desired to have an electromagnetic interference protection.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. H07-249886 discloses a shielding case for electromagnetically shielding various electronic components mounted on a circuit board. The shielding case covers the electronic components and is connected to the circuit board. As a consequence, the electromagnetic components are protected from electromagnetic interference. However, because the electronic components are entirely covered with the shielding case, the shielding case inevitably becomes large in outer dimension. This prevents reduction in size of the electronic apparatus.
Unlike ordinary electronic components, the connector can not entirely be covered with the shielding case. If the connector is entirely covered with the shielding case, the connector can not achieve electrical and mechanical connection with a mating object to be connected. Under the circumstances, it is desired for the connector to be enhanced in electromagnetic shielding function without being entirely covered with the shielding case.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a small-sized connector enhanced in electromagnetic shielding function without being entirely covered with a shielding case.
Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector to be mounted on a circuit board, the connector comprising a conductive contact having a contacting portion and a terminal portion, an insulator holding the contact, a conductive shell surrounding the contacting portion of the contact; and a conductive shielding cover held by the insulator and surrounding the terminal portion of the contact, the shielding cover being electrically connected to the shell and the circuit board.
Referring to
The receptacle connector 20 comprises a plurality of conductive receptacle contacts 22, an insulator 23 holding the receptacle contacts 22, a conductive shell or shell plate 24 fixed to a front portion of the insulator 23, a conductive shielding cover 25 held at a rear portion of the insulator 23, and a pair of fixed locking members 26 for obtaining mechanical engagement with the plug connector 21 in a first direction A1. The fixed locking members 26 are spaced from each other in a second direction A2 perpendicular to the first direction A1. Each of the shell plate 24 and the shielding cover 25 is formed by a metal plate.
On the other hand, the plug connector 21 comprises two conductive shells 27 and 28, an insulator (not shown) surrounded by the shells 27 and 28, and a plurality of conductive plug contacts (not shown) held by the insulator. The plug connector 21 is provided with a pair of movable locking members 31 formed at a front portion thereof in one-to-one correspondence to the fixed locking members 26 of the receptacle connector 20. The plug connector 21 has a rear portion from which a coaxial cable 32 connected to the plug contacts is led out.
When the plug connector 21 is butted to the receptacle connector 20 in the first direction A1, the plug and the receptacle connectors 21 and 20 are fitted to each other. As a consequence, the plug contacts are connected to the receptacle contacts 22, respectively. Further, hook portions 33 of the movable locking members 31 are engaged with engaging holes 34 of the fixed locking members 26 in the first direction A1, with the movement in the second direction A2. As a consequence, the plug connector 21 and the receptacle connector 20 are locked in a connected state.
Also referring to
Each of the receptacle contacts 22 has a contacting portion 22a disposed at a portion protruding on the front portion of the insulator 23, a terminal portion 22b protruding from a rear surface of the insulator 23, and a holding portion (not shown) extending between the contacting portion 22a and the terminal portion 22b and held by the insulator 23. The contacting portions 22a are arranged in two rows extending in the second direction A2. Each of the terminal portions 22b has a shape which will later become clear.
The insulator 23 has a pair of protruding portions 35 formed in the vicinity of opposite ends in the second direction A2 and protruding rearward. The terminal portions 22b are disposed between the protruding portions 35. Each of the protruding portions 35 is provided with a recessed portion 36. The recessed portions 36 communicate with a pair of slots 38 formed in a flange 37 of the shell plate 24, respectively. The shell plate 24 is provided with a pair of through holes 39 adjacent to the slots 38, respectively.
Each of the fixed locking members 26 has such a size that the locking member 26 can be inserted from the recessed portion 36 into the slot 38. Each of the fixed locking members 26 is provided with a mounting member 41 integrally formed. The mounting member 41 has a front surface provided with a screw hole 42 formed at a position corresponding to the through hole 39 of the shell plate 24. The mounting member 41 has a leg portion 43 protruding downward.
The screw holes 42 of the mounting members 41 are positioned at the through holes 39 of the shell plate 24, respectively. By the use of screw members (not shown), the mounting members 41 are fixed to the shell plate 24. Thus, the mounting members 41, the fixed locking members 26, and the shell plate 24 are securely fixed to the insulator 23.
As shown in
The shielding cover 25 is further provided with a first spring portion 51 formed at a front end of the main plate portion 46 and engaged with the insulator 23 in the first direction A1, and a pair of second spring portions 52 formed at opposite side edges of the main plate portion 46 and engaged with the insulator 23 in the second direction A2. The first spring portion 51 is folded or bent to have a U-shaped section and has a plurality of first leaf springs 51 a greater in height and a plurality of second leaf springs 51b smaller in height. Each of the second spring portions 52 has a deformed portion 52a gently curved.
Referring to
The receptacle connector 20 is mounted on an upper surface 56a of a circuit board 56 mounted on an electronic apparatus (not shown). When the receptacle connector 20 is mounted on the circuit board 56, each of the terminal portions 22b of the contacts passes through a through hole formed in the circuit board 56, protrudes on a lower surface 56b of the circuit board 56, and is electrically connected to an electric circuit formed on the circuit board 56. Simultaneously, each of the leg portions 43 of the mounting members 41 is press-fitted into a fitting hole formed in the circuit board 56 and mechanically fixed.
On the upper surface 56a of the circuit board 56, a plurality of conductive ground contacts 57 are disposed at a position corresponding to a rear surface of the receptacle connector 20. Each of the ground contacts 57 used herein is of a socket type and is connected to a ground pattern formed on the circuit board 56. As will later become clear, the shielding cover 25 is removably attached to the insulator 23. When the shielding cover 25 is attached to the insulator 23, the rear plate portion 47 of the shielding cover 25 is inserted into and contacted with the ground contacts 57 to achieve ground connection.
Further referring to
As clearly shown in
As clearly shown in
As described above, in the state where the first spring portion 51 is press-fitted into the recessed portion 59 and the second spring portions 52 are press-contacted with the specific surfaces 41a, respectively, the shielding cover 25 is attached to the insulator 23. Thus, the shielding cover 25 is removably attached to the insulator 23.
When the shielding cover 25 is attached to the insulator 23, the shielding cover 25 and the insulator 23 define a space 62 in cooperation. The terminal portions 22b of the contacts 22 protrude from the insulator 23 into the space 62. The shell plate 24 is fixed by a plurality of screw members 63.
Referring to
The shielding cover 25 illustrated in
As illustrated in
Referring to
The receptacle connector 20′ has a pair of hexagonal nuts 68 as fixed locking members for achieving mechanical engagement with the plug connector 21′ in the first direction A1, and a pair of screw blocks 69 as mounting members incorporated into the insulator 23. Each of the hexagonal nuts 68 has a male screw portion 68a screwed into a screw hole 69a of the screw block 69 through the through hole 39. As a consequence, the hexagonal nuts 68, the screw blocks 69, and the shell plate 24 are securely fixed to the insulator 23. The receptacle connector 20′ is attached to the circuit board 56 as illustrated in
The plug connector 21′ has a pair of screw rods 71 corresponding to the hexagonal nuts 68, respectively. Each screw rod 71 has a tab 71a.
The receptacle connector 20′ and the plug connector 21′ are fitted to each other and electrically connected to each other. Thereafter, the tab 71a of each screw rod 71 is rotated. Then, a front end of each screw rod 71 is screwed into a screw hole 68b of each hexagonal nut 68. As a consequence, the receptacle connector 20′ and the plug connector 21′ are locked in a connected state.
While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be readily possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners without departing from the scope set forth in the appended claims.
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2003-140864 | May 2003 | JP | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040235348 A1 | Nov 2004 | US |