BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector assembly formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the connectors removed from the shell.
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view showing the signal connector compartment of the shell and the conductive member shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the signal connector compartment with a connector installed.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the shell and the second conductive member shown in FIG. 2 showing the dividing wall between the second and third compartments.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shell shown in FIG. 1 and the conductive member shown in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a connector assembly 100 formed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The assembly 100 includes a shell 102 within which one or more connectors are disposed. In the assembly 100, as illustrated, the shell 102 holds a pair of signal connectors 106, an open pin field module connector 108, and a power connector 110. While the invention will be described in terms of a connector assembly 100 shown, it is to be understood that the following description is for illustrative purposes only and is but one potential application of the inventive concepts herein. It is appreciated that the benefits and advantages of the invention may accrue equally to other types of connector assemblies including other connector combinations.
The shell 102 is fabricated from a conductive material and includes a base 120 and an outer wall 122. In an exemplary embodiment, the shell 102 is fabricated from a metallic material. An upper channel 126 and a lower channel 128 are formed in the outer wall 122. An additional channel 130 is provided in the upper surface of the base 120. The base 120 is provided with mounting holes 132 that may be used to mount the shell to a panel (not shown) or to a circuit board 176 (FIG. 2). The shell 102 includes guide pin receptacles 136 for receiving guide pins on a mating connector assembly (not shown). Clearance holes 138 are provided to accommodate screws on the mating connector assembly.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector assembly 100 with the connectors 106, 108, and 110 removed from the shell 102. The shell 102 is compartmentalized with a first compartment 140 receiving the signal connectors 106. A second compartment 142 receives the connector 108, and a third compartment 144 receives the power connector 110. An interior wall 150 separates the first and second compartments 140 and 142, respectively. A second interior wall 152 separates the second and third compartments 142 and 144, respectively. The shell 102 has an inner perimeter wall 156. Conductive members 160 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 2) are mounted on opposite sides of the inner perimeter wall 156 in the first compartment 140. A second conductive member 162 is mounted on the second interior wall 152.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell 102, as shown in FIG. 2 includes a shield 168 installed in the upper channel 126 on the outer wall 122 and a seal 170 installed in the lower channel 128. A seal 172 is installed in the channel 130 on the base 120. The shield 168 is fabricated from a conductive material and is provided for electromagnetic interference (EMI). The shield 168 includes a plurality of flexible fingers 174 that engage an inner surface on the shell of a mating connector assembly (not shown). The seals 170 and 172 are fabricated from a compressible material such as rubber or a number of other such materials that are well known in the art. The seal 170 provides environmental sealing between the shell 102 and a shell of the mating connector assembly.
In the illustrated embodiment, the connectors 106, 108, and 110 are mounted on a circuit board 176 that has mounting holes 177 for mounting the shell 102 to the circuit board 176. The circuit board 176 includes a ground plane, and the shell 102 is electrically connected to the ground plane. In one embodiment, the connectors 106 may carry high speed signals in differential pairs. The connectors 106 include housings 179 having conductive side surfaces 180 and an upper surface 182 that also has conductive areas. The conductive portions of the housing upper surface 182 do not extend into contact apertures 184. Similarly, the connector 108 includes a housing 185 having conductive side surfaces 186 and a conductive upper surface 188 that has conductive areas. And, as with the signal connectors 106, the conductive areas on the housing upper surface 188, the conductive portions of the upper surface 188 do not extend into contact apertures 190.
In alternative embodiments, the shell 102 may be mounted to a panel (not shown) and the connectors 106, 108, and 110 may be attached to cables. Moreover, the connectors 106, 108, and 110 may be disposed in separate shells. The seal 172 provides an environmental seal between the shell 102 and a panel (not shown) when the shell 102 is mounted to the panel.
FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary view of the shell 102 showing the signal connector compartment 140 and the conductive member 160. In the illustrated embodiment, the conductive member 160 is a substantially flat member with curved ends 200. The conductive member 160 includes one or more inwardly projecting flexible tabs 202 and at least one outwardly projecting retention tab 204. The shell 102 includes curved interior pockets 208 that are complementary in shape to the curved ends 200. When the conductive member 160 is installed in the shell 102, the curved ends 200 are received in the pockets 208. The curved ends 200 rest on ledges 210 formed in the shell 102. In alternative embodiments, other end configurations are contemplated. For instance, the conductive member 160 may have straight ends, in which case, the shell 102 would be provided with a slits sized to receive the straight ends. A cavity 214 is formed in the inner perimeter wall 156. The cavity 214 includes an upper ledge 216 that is engaged by the retention tab 204 to retain the conductive member 160 in the shell 102. A lower seal channel 220 is formed on a lower side 224 of the shell base 120.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the signal connector compartment with a connector 106 installed. A rail 228 extends along a side 230 of the connector housing 179. When the connectors 106 are installed in the shell 102, the rail 228 is received in a channel 232 along a lower portion of the inner wall 156 in the first compartment 140. The inward tabs 202 of the conductive member 160 engage one of the conductive side surfaces 180 of the connector housing 179. The conductive member 160 and the shell 102 cooperate to provide a conductive path to ground from the conductive side surfaces 180 of the connector housing 179. The conductive portions of the housing upper surface 182 are coextensive with the conductive side surfaces 180. The ground path from the conductive surfaces 180 and 182 minimizes the risk of arching reaching the connector contacts and thus facilitates the prevention of damage to the connectors 106 and other electrical components on the circuit board 176 (FIG. 2) from an electrostatic discharge (ESD) near the connectors 106.
In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive side surfaces 180 and the conductive portions of the upper surface 182 of the housing 179 comprise a conductive ink applied to the outer surfaces of the connectors 106. Suitable inks include Highly Conductive Silver Inks PI-2200 and PI-2600, both of which are commercially available from Dow Corning Corporation. Alternatively, the conductive side surfaces 180 and the conductive portions of the upper surface 182 may comprise other conductive materials such as a conductive tape.
In some embodiments, the conductive member 160 may be attached to or integrally formed with the connector housings 179 and may take such forms as, for example, flexible members or bumps that engage the shell 102. In such embodiments, the conductive members would also include conductive outer surfaces as described above.
FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary view of the shell 102 and the second conductive member 162. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the shell 102 and the conductive member 162. The conductive member 162 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a conductive member. The conductive member 162 is a generally U-shaped member that includes a back wall 240 and one or more flexible tabs 244. The back wall 240 is formed with an inwardly projecting tab 246. The compartment wall 152 includes a first side 250, a second side 252 and a cutout 254. When installed in the shell 102, the conductive member 162 is positioned in the cutout 250 and straddles the compartment wall 152. That is, the back wall 240 of the conductive member 162 lies on the second side 252 of the compartment wall 152 while the flexible tabs 244 lie along the first side 250 of the compartment wall 152 (see FIG. 2). The compartment wall 152 includes a cavity 260 and a ledge 262 formed in the second side 252. When installed in the shell 102, the tab 246 engages the ledge 262 to retain the conductive member 162 in the shell 102, and the flexible fingers project slightly into the second compartment 142.
When the connector 108 (FIG. 2) is installed in the shell 102, the flexible tabs 244 of the conductive member 162 engage one of the conductive side surfaces 186 of the connector housing 185. The conductive member 162 and the shell 102 cooperate to provide a conductive path to ground from the conductive side surfaces 186 of the connector housing 185. As with the connector 106, the conductive portions of the housing upper surface 188 of the connector 108 are coextensive with the conductive side surfaces 186. The ground path from the conductive surfaces 186 and 188 minimizes the risk of arching reaching the connector contacts and thus facilitates the prevention of damage to the connector 108 and other electrical components on the circuit board 176 (FIG. 2) from an electrostatic discharge (ESD) near the connector 108. The conductive surfaces 186 and 188 of the connector housing 185 may comprise a conductive ink or conductive tape as previously described. As shown in FIG. 5, a seal 270 is provided in the channel 220 on the underside 224 of the shell base 120. The seal 270 provides an environmental seal between the shell 102 and the circuit board 176 when the shell 102 is mounted on the circuit board 102.
The embodiments herein described provide a connector assembly with enhanced electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection at a reasonable cost. The connectors are provided with conductive outer surfaces and are disposed within a conductive shell that is electrically connected to ground. Flexible conductive members are positioned between the connectors and the shell so a path to ground is provided from the conductive outer connector surfaces. With the ESD protection provided, the connector assembly is suitable for use in line replaceable units or line replaceable connector systems.
While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
Patent Application
20080057758
