Patent Application
20140302706
The present application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 201310118559.X, filed on Apr. 8, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The subject matter herein relates generally to an electrical connector that has a guide element to facilitate mating with another electrical connector.
In some communication systems, an electrical connector is mounted along a leading edge of a circuit board to form a circuit board assembly. The electrical connector may be capable of transmitting electrical power, data signals, or both electrical power and data signals from and/or to the circuit board. The electrical connector includes a mating side that faces away from the leading edge and has electrical contacts arranged therealong. The electrical contacts engage corresponding electrical contacts during a mating operation.
During the mating operation, the circuit board assembly may be advanced in an insertion direction toward another electrical component. The electrical component that mates with the electrical connector may be, for example, an electrical connector of another circuit board assembly or of a backplane assembly. The mating side of the electrical connector faces in the insertion direction. Such circuit board assemblies typically include a guide mechanism that aligns the electrical connectors during the mating operation. For example, a guide post or pin of one electrical connector may extend in the insertion direction and may be inserted into a guide cavity of the other electrical connector.
Although the electrical connectors may operate suitably for transmitting electrical current, the electrical connectors described above may have certain limitations that render them unsuitable or undesirable for some applications. For instance, the arrangement of the electrical contacts and the guide mechanism(s) may limit the available space along the leading edge of the circuit board. More specifically, known electrical connectors include two guide cavities that are located at opposite sides of the electrical connector with the electrical contacts located directly between the guide cavities. The guide cavities and the electrical contacts are at a common height or level along the mating side. As such, space along the leading edge that may otherwise be occupied by additional electrical contacts is, instead, occupied by the guide cavities.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electrical connector that is capable of suitably aligning with another connector while permitting a greater number or density of electrical contacts than known electrical connectors.
In one embodiment, an electrical connector is provided that includes a connector housing positioned with respect to an engagement axis, a lateral axis, and an orientation axis that are mutually perpendicular with one another. The connector housing includes a mating side that faces in a mating direction along the engagement axis and is configured to engage an electrical component during a mating operation. The mating side extends along the lateral axis and the orientation axis. The connector housing also includes first and second end sides facing in opposite directions along the lateral axis. The connector housing also includes a top side facing in a direction along the orientation axis. The top side extends between the first and second end sides and is substantially planar from the first end side to the second end side. The electrical connector includes first and second mating regions. The first and second mating regions are defined by the first and second end sides, respectively. Each of the first and second mating regions includes electrical contacts and a guide feature that are disposed along the mating side and configured to engage the electrical component, wherein at least some of the electrical contacts and the guide feature are aligned with one another along the orientation axis.
In another embodiment, an electrical connector is provided that has a connector housing positioned with respect to an engagement axis, a lateral axis, and an orientation axis that are mutually perpendicular with one another. The connector housing includes a mating side that faces in a mating direction along the engagement axis and is configured to engage an electrical component during a mating operation. The mating side extends along the lateral axis and the orientation axis. The connector housing also includes first and second end sides facing in opposite directions along the lateral axis and a top side facing in a direction along the orientation axis. The top side extends between the first and second end sides. The connector housing also includes a mounting side that is opposite the top side. The electrical connector includes first and second mating regions. The first and second mating regions are defined by the first and second end sides, respectively. Each of the first and second mating regions includes electrical contacts and a guide feature that are disposed along the mating side and configured to engage the electrical component. At least some of the electrical contacts and the guide feature for each of the first and second mating regions are aligned with one another along the orientation axis. The electrical contacts of the first mating region form a first array, wherein (i) the first array is located between the first guide feature and the mounting side or (ii) the first guide feature is located between the first array and the mounting side.
Embodiments described herein may include electrical connectors having electrical contacts and at least one guide feature. The electrical contacts may be configured for transmitting data signals (hereinafter referred to as electrical contacts) or configured for transmitting electrical power (hereinafter referred to as power contacts). In some embodiments, the electrical connectors may be positioned along a leading edge of a circuit board and face in a direction that is parallel to a plane defined by the circuit board. Such electrical connectors may be referred to as right-angle receptacle assemblies or right-angle header assemblies. In other embodiments, the electrical connectors may face away from a board surface such that the electrical connector faces in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board. Such electrical connectors may be referred to as vertical receptacle assemblies or vertical header assemblies.
The electrical contacts and guide feature(s) may be arranged to permit a greater number or density of contacts than known electrical connectors. As used herein, a guide feature is a structure of the electrical connector that is designated to interact with a complementary structure of a mating connector (e.g., another electrical connector) to align the electrical connector and the mating connector so that the electrical contacts are suitably engaged. By way of example, the guide features may be a guide projection or a guide module. The guide module has a cavity that is sized and shaped to receive the guide projection. As used herein, the term “guide module” includes a cavity that receives the projection and also surfaces that define the cavity. During a mating operation, the guide projection may engage the surfaces that define the cavity.
Electrical connectors described herein may have more lateral space for positioning the electrical contacts or adding new contacts without increasing the width of the electrical connector. For instance, in some embodiments, the electrical connector has a mating side that faces in a mating direction along an engagement axis. The mating side is defined between to end sides of the electrical connector. The electrical contacts may be distributed along the mating side from one end side of the connector to the other end side. The guide features may be aligned with the electrical contacts along an orientation axis (or vertical axis) that is perpendicular to the engagement axis. As used herein, a guide feature and an electrical contact are aligned with each other along the orientation axis if a plane that extends parallel to the orientation and engagement axes intersects the electrical contact and at least a portion of the guide feature. In some embodiments, the guide features are located above at least some of the electrical contacts such that the electrical contacts are located between the guide features and the circuit board. In other embodiments, the guide features are located below at least some of the electrical contacts such that the guide features are located between the at least some electrical contacts and the circuit board. In particular embodiments, the electrical contacts aligned with the guide features are signal contacts.
Embodiments may have a planar or flat top side that extends over the guide features and electrical contacts unlike known electrical connectors. The planar top side may allow manufacturers to use a common tool for mounting the electrical connector to the circuit board. Optionally, embodiments may utilize a mounting projection that directly couples the electrical connector to the circuit board without the use of additional hardware (e.g., mounting screws).
The circuit board assembly 100 may be used in various applications. By way of example, the circuit board assembly 100 may be used in telecom and computer applications, routers, servers, supercomputers, and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. In one embodiment, the circuit board assembly 100 is part of a backplane system or assembly that includes a backplane circuit board (not shown) that extends orthogonal to the circuit board 102 during operation. In such embodiments, the circuit board assembly 100 may be described as a daughter card assembly. In another embodiment, the circuit board assembly 100 may be configured to mate with a complementary circuit board assembly (not shown) that has a mating connector. The circuit boards may be substantially edge-to-edge after the mating operation and have the connectors extending between the opposing edges. Thus, the two circuit boards may be electrically coupled to each other through the mated electrical connectors. In such embodiments, the electrical connectors may be described as board-to-board connectors.
In particular embodiments, the electrical connector 104 may be similar to connectors in the MINIPAK HD power connector product line or the MULTI-BEAM XL connector product line developed by TE Connectivity that are capable of transmitting electrical power and data. On the other hand, the electrical connector 106 may be exclusively dedicated or primarily dedicated to transmitting data. For example, the electrical connector 106 may be similar to connectors in the STRADA Whisper or Z-PACK TinMan product lines also developed by TE Connectivity. In some embodiments, the electrical connector 106 is capable of transmitting data signals at high speeds, such as 10 Gbps, 20 Gbps, or more.
The electrical connectors 104, 106 have respective mating sides 112, 113 that face in a mating direction M1 along the engagement axis 191. During a mating operation, the mating sides 112, 113 are oriented to face other electrical components (not shown), such as mating connectors mounted on a backplane or other circuit board, bus bar, or any combination of the two.
As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as “front”, “back”, “top,” “above,” “below,” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to distinguish one element or feature from another. Such terms are used with reference to the electrical connector 104 having an orientation as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the connector housing 114 may have dimensions that are measured along the axes 191-193. The dimensions include a first dimension D1 that is measured along the engagement axis 191, a second dimension D2 that is measured along the lateral axis 192, and a third dimension D3 that is measured along the orientation axis 193. The dimensions D1, D2, and D3 may be referred to, respectively, as a length of the connector housing 114, a width of the connector housing 114, and a height of the connector housing 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the width D2 is greater than the length D1 and the height D3. In other embodiments, either or both of the length D1 and height D3 may be greater than the width D2.
The connector housing 114 may have a plurality of contact cavities that open to the mating side 112. In other words, the contact cavities may be accessed through the mating side 112. For example, the connector housing 114 may include first and second contact cavities 126, 128 that are separated by an internal wall or divider 130. The internal wall 130 is located approximately halfway along the width D2, but may have different locations in other embodiments (e.g., ⅓ or ⅔ along the width D2). In alternative embodiments, the internal wall 130 may not be located between and separate the contact cavities 126, 128 and, instead, the connector housing 114 may include a single contact cavity that opens to the mating side 112.
Each of the contact cavities 126, 128 has a cavity opening 127, 129, respectively, at the mating side 112. Each of the contact cavities 126, 128 may include electrical contacts 132, 134 disposed therein. The electrical contacts 132 may be dimensioned for transmitting electrical power and, thus, may be referred to as power contacts. The electrical contacts 134 may be dimensioned for transmitting data signals and, thus, may be referred to as signal contacts. As such, the electrical contacts 132 may be sized and shaped to be larger than the electrical contacts 134. For example, the electrical contacts 132 may have a greater thickness than a thickness of the electrical contacts 134.
In some embodiments, the electrical contacts 132 may have different lengths and/or contours with respect to each other. For example, in
The connector housing 114 may also include first and second guide features 135, 137. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide features are guide modules having cavities that extend along the engagement axis 191 and, as such, will hereinafter be referred to as guide modules. The guide modules 135, 137 have cavities 136, 138, respectively, that are sized and shaped to receive and direct a complementary guide projection from, for example, the electrical connector 204 (shown in
The mating side 112 extends along the lateral axis 192 and the orientation axis 193 and faces in the mating direction M1 along the engagement axis 191. The mating side 112 is configured to engage an electrical component during the mating operation, such as the electrical connector 204 shown in
In
As shown, the electrical connector 104 may have a plurality of contact tails 152 that project from the interface portion 148 in a mounting direction M2 along the orientation axis 193. The contact tails 152 in
Optionally, the electrical contacts 132, 134 may be substantially planar. For instance, conductor paths 160 (shown in
As shown, the electrical contacts 132, 134 may be disposed in the contact cavities 126, 128 along designated lateral regions or portions of the connector housing 114. For example, the connector housing 114 may include first and second mating regions 140, 142 and a center region 144 that extends between the mating regions 140, 142 along the lateral axis 192. The mating regions 140, 142 may be defined by the end sides 122, 124, respectively. Although only one center region 144 is shown in
The mating regions 140, 142 include the end sides 122, 124, respectively, and extend a depth into the connector housing 114 from the corresponding end side. For example, each of the mating regions 140, 142 extends along the lateral axis 192 for a lateral distance. As shown in
In some embodiments, the top side 118 is substantially planar and extends from the end side 122 to the end side 124 (e.g., starting from the end side 122 and extending up to the end side 124). As used herein, a side is “substantially planar” if at least 75% of an area of the side is co-planar (e.g., lies or resides within a common plane) while the remaining portion of the area extends into the electrical connector (e.g., toward the central axis 194 (
The end sides 122, 124, the top side 118, and the mounting side 120 may define a perimeter of the mating side 112. In certain embodiments, the perimeter of the mating side 112 is rectangular as shown in
In particular embodiments, the electrical contacts 132 may be power contacts that are positioned only in the center region 144 of the mating side 112, and the electrical contacts 134 may be signal contacts that are positioned only in the mating regions 140, 142. In alternative embodiments, the mating regions 140, 142 and/or the center region 144 may include both types of contacts. In other alternative embodiments, the electrical connector 104 may include only signal contacts or only power contacts. The guide modules 135, 137 and the corresponding cavities 136, 138 are located in the mating regions 140, 142, respectively. In some embodiments, at least some of the electrical contacts 132 are located directly between the cavities 136, 138 such that a plane P3 extending parallel to the mounting side 120 may intersect each of the cavities 136, 138 and at least some of the electrical contacts 132.
In one or more embodiments, the cavity 136 and at least some of the electrical contacts 134 of the mating region 140 may be aligned with one another along the orientation axis 193. Likewise, in one or more embodiments, the cavity 138 and at least some of the electrical contacts 134 of the mating region 142 may be aligned with one another along the orientation axis 193. As used herein, a cavity of a guide module and an electrical contact are aligned with each other along the orientation axis 193 if a plane that extends parallel to the engagement and orientation axes 191, 193 intersects the electrical contact and at least a portion of the cavity.
As shown in
As shown in
By locating the guide modules 135, 137 and the corresponding cavities 136, 138 in the mating regions 140, 142, respectively, and above or below the respective electrical contacts 134, the electrical connector 104 may utilize less lateral space than other known connectors. As such, a total number and/or density of electrical contacts may be increased while still providing an effective means of aligning the electrical connector 104 with the electrical connector 204 (
Optionally, the connector housing 114 may include one or more mounting projections 174. The mounting projection 174 may be integrally formed with the connector housing 114. For instance, the mounting projection 174 and the other features of the connector housing 114 may be formed from a common mold such that a continuous piece of material is produced. In other embodiments, the mounting projection 174 is fastened to the mounting side 120.
The mounting projection 174 may be located between the contact tails 152 and the mating side 112. More specifically, the conductor paths 160 of the body portions 172 of the electrical contacts 134 may extend through the connector housing 114 such that the electrical contacts 134 clear the mounting projection 174 and the contact tails 152 project from the mounting side 120 at locations that are closer to the back side 116 than the mounting projection 174. More specifically, the contact tails 152 are located between the mounting projection 174 and the back side 116.
As shown, the cavity 136 extends completely through the connector housing 114 from the mating side 112 to the back side 116. The mounting projection 174 is also located in the mating region 140. In particular embodiments, a common volume of space (e.g., the mating region 140) may include the cavity 136, the entire array 162 (
As such, the electrical connector 204 may have a similar but complementary arrangement of electrical contacts, cavities, structural features, and the like with respect to the electrical connector 104. For example, the electrical connector 204 may have a connector housing 214 that includes opposite mating and back sides 212, 216, opposite top and mounting sides 218, 220, and opposite end sides 222, 224. The mating side 212 extends along a lateral axis 292 and may face in a mating direction M3 along the engagement axis 291 during the mating operation. The mounting side 220 faces in a mounting direction M4 along an orientation axis 293 and is configured to be mounted to a circuit board (not shown). Optionally, the mounting side 220 may include a mounting projection 274 that is configured to be received by a hole or bore (not shown) of the circuit board. The mounting projection 274 may be shaped similarly to the mounting projection 174 (
Similar to the connector housing 114 (
The electrical connector 204 may also include first and second guide features 236, 238. In
In some embodiments, the electrical contacts 234 and the electrical contacts 232 have similar spatial relationships relative to each other and to the guide projections 236, 238 as the electrical contacts 134 and the electrical contacts 132 have relative to each other and to the cavities 136, 138. For example, the mating region 240 may include an entire array 262 of the electrical contacts 234, the guide projection 236, and one of the mounting projections 274. The mating region 242 may also include an entire array (not shown) of the electrical contacts 234, one of the guide projections 236, and one of the mounting projections 274.
The center region 244 may include a slot 230 that is sized and shaped to receive the interior wall 130 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the mating regions 340, 342 have guide features 335, 337, respectively. The guide features 335, 337 include cavities 336, 338, respectively. At least some of the electrical contacts 334 may be aligned with the corresponding cavity. For example, the cavity 336 and the electrical contacts 334 of the first mating region 340 are aligned with one another along an orientation axis 393. More specifically, a contact plane P6 that extends parallel to the orientation axis 393 may extend through at least a plurality of the electrical contacts 334 and intersect the cavity 336. The cavity 336 is located between the electrical contacts 334 of the first mating region 340 and the mounting side 320.
With respect to
In the illustrated embodiment, the mating regions 440, 442 have guide features 435, 437, respectively, that include guide projections 436, 438, respectively. At least some of the electrical contacts 434 may be aligned with the corresponding guide projection. For example, the guide projection 436 and the electrical contacts 434 of the first mating region 440 are aligned with one another along an orientation axis 493. More specifically, a contact plane P7 that extends parallel to the orientation axis 493 may extend through at least a plurality of the electrical contacts 434 and intersect the guide projection 436. The guide projection 436 is located between the electrical contacts 434 of the first mating region 440 and the mounting side 420.
As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional elements not having that property.
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10118559.X | Apr 2013 | CN | national |
