Patent Grant
9553404
The subject matter herein relates generally to guide pins for connector assemblies.
Guide pins are used during mating of electrical connector assemblies. For example, in communication systems, such as network systems, servers, data centers, and the like, large printed circuit boards, known as backplanes, are used to interconnect midplanes, daughtercards, line cards and/or switch cards. The communication systems use high speed differential connectors mounted to the backplane and high speed differential connectors mounted to the line cards and switch cards to transmit signals therebetween. The guide pins are used to align the mating interfaces of the connector assemblies.
However, with some systems, the connector assemblies are held within enclosures, such as cable trays that hold the cables interconnecting the various connectors. The guide pins associated with such connector assemblies may be difficult to access with an installation tool for installing the guide pin in the connector assembly. For example, the sides of the guide pin may be blocked such that the installation tool is unable to access the guide pin from the side. The guide pins may only be accessible from the front. Installation of the guide pins in such situations is difficult.
A need remains for a guide pin that may be assembled and installed by a tool accessing the guide pin from the front of the guide pin.
In one embodiment, a guide pin for a connector assembly is provided that includes a guide pin body extending along a pin axis. The guide pin body has a stem extending between a root and a tip. The root has threads configured to be threadably coupled to a support frame of the connector assembly and the tip has a lead-in to guide the guide pin body into a mounting block. The stem has slots extending parallel to the pin axis from the tip to an intermediate position along the guide pin body remote from the tip. The slots are configured to receive ribs of a driver tool used to rotate the guide pin body to threadably couple the root to the support frame.
Optionally, the slots may have a bottom wall and side walls generally perpendicular to the bottom wall. The bottom wall may be co-planar with the corresponding flat side. The side walls may define bearing surfaces for the driver tool to rotate the guide pin. The side walls and bottom wall may be recessed below an outer surface of the guide pin body. The stem may be generally cylindrical having a stem diameter. The bottom walls may be separated by a distance less than the stem diameter. The flat sides may be separated by a distance less than the stem diameter.
Optionally, the slots may extend at least partially along the tip. The stem may include radiused portions aligned with the slots. The radiused portions may be configured to engage the mounting block. The slots may be chamfered to guide the ribs of the driver tool into the slots.
Optionally, the tip may be cone shaped and the stem may be cylindrical shaped with the flat sides and slots recessed into an outer surface of the stem. The slots may be open at a front of the guide pin body.
In another embodiment, a connector assembly is provided that includes a support frame having a cavity and a threaded bore. At least one connector is received in the cavity. A guide pin is coupled to the support frame. The guide pin has a guide pin body extending along a pin axis. The guide pin body has a stem extending between a root and a tip. The root has threads threadably coupled to the threaded bore of the support frame and the tip has a lead-in to guide the guide pin body into a mounting block. The stem has slots extending from the tip parallel to the pin axis. The slots are configured to receive ribs of a driver tool used to rotate the guide pin body to threadably couple the root to the threaded bore.
In a further embodiment, a cable backplane system is provided including a backplane having a plurality of openings therethrough. The backplane has mounting blocks proximate the openings. A cable rack is coupled to a rear of the backplane. The cable rack includes a tray having frame walls surrounding a raceway and cable connector assemblies supported by corresponding frame walls. Each cable connector assembly has a support frame defining a cavity. The support frame has spacers with threaded bores. Each cable connector assembly has at least one cable connector received in the cavity. Each cable connector has a plurality of cables extending therefrom into the raceway. Each cable connector is received in a corresponding opening in the backplane and held in position relative to the backplane by the support frame. A plurality of guide pins is coupled to corresponding spacers. Each guide pin has a guide pin body extending along a pin axis. The guide pin body has a stem extending between a root and a tip. The root has threads threadably coupled to the corresponding threaded bore. The tip has a lead-in to guide the guide pin body into the mounting block. The stem has slots extending from the tip parallel to the pin axis. The slots are configured to receive ribs of a driver tool used to rotate the guide pin body to threadably couple the root to the threaded bore.
The connector system 100 includes one or more connector assemblies 106 that are mounted to a panel 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the connector assemblies 106 are cable connector assemblies having a plurality of electrical cables 152 (shown in
Optionally, the panel 110 may be, or include, an enclosure that surrounds portions of the cable connector assemblies 106. The panel 110 may receive a portion of the mating connector assembly in the enclosure. The panel 110 supports the components of the connector assemblies 106. The panel 110 may include a chassis, a rack, a cabinet or other suitable structures for holding the components and for mating with the mating connector assemblies 108. The panel 110 may include structures for guiding, supporting and/or securing the mating connector assemblies 108 coupled to the connector assemblies 106.
In an exemplary embodiment, the panel 110 includes a cable rack 112 that supports and/or manages the cables 152 of the cable connector assemblies 106. The cable rack 112 includes one or more trays 114 that are held together and extend along different portions of the cable backplane system 100. The trays 114 may be box-shaped and define raceways for the cables 152. The cable rack 112 supports one or more connector assemblies 106.
The tray 114 includes a frame 130 surrounding a raceway through which the cables 152 (shown in
Each connector assembly 106 includes one or more connectors 116, which may be interconnected by cables or by a circuit board, within the connector system 100. When embodied as cable connectors 116, the cable connector assemblies 106 eliminate interconnections via traces of a circuit board, such as a backplane circuit board, and instead interconnect various cable connectors 116 with cables. The cable connector assemblies 106 may improve signal performance along the signal paths between various connectors of the cable backplane system 100 as compared to conventional backplanes. For example, the cable connector assemblies 106 support higher speeds, longer signal path lengths and lower cost per channel as compared to conventional backplanes. The connector assemblies 106 may provide shielding of signal lines for improved signal performance. The connector assemblies 106 may be packaged in a structure that allows accurate connector 116 location for mating with the corresponding mating connector assemblies 108. For example, the connector assemblies 106 include guide pins 118 that are used to locate the connectors and corresponding mating connector assemblies 108 during mating. The guide pins 118 are able to be installed and/or removed easily, even when the connectors 116 are installed in the panel 110 and access is restricted.
The mating connector assembly 108 includes a circuit board 120 and a plurality of mating connectors 122 mounted thereto. The mating connector assembly 108 includes mounting blocks 124 having openings 126 that receive the guide pins 118. The guide pins 118 guide mating of the mating connector assembly 108 and the connector assemblies 106.
The support frame 200 includes side walls 204 and spacers 206 between the side walls 204. The cavity 202 is defined between the side walls 204 and between the spacers 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the side walls 204 include slots 208 that receive lugs 210 extending from the housings of the cable connectors 116. The slots 208 may be oversized to allow a limited amount of floating movement of the cable connectors 116 relative to the support frame 200, such as to allow the cable connectors 116 a range of movement for aligning with the mating connectors of the mating connector assembly 108 (shown in
The guide pins 118 are coupled to each of the spacers 206 and extend forward from the spacers 206. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide pins 118 are removably coupled to the spacers 206, such as by a threaded connection therebetween. The spacers 206 include threaded bores 212 and the guide pins 118 are threadably coupled to the threaded bores 212. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide pins 118 are configured to be accessed by a driver tool from the front of the guide pins 118, as will be described in further detail below.
The stem 224 is cylindrical shaped and includes an outer surface 234. The stem 224 has at least two flat sides 236 formed in the outer surface 234 that are located remote from the tip 228. The flat sides 236 define surfaces that may be held by an installation tool, such as a wrench, that is used to hold the guide pin 118 and rotate the guide pin 118, such as to threadably drive the guide pin 118 into the threaded bore 212. The flat sides 236 are recessed into the stem 224 such that the flat sides 236 are contained within a stem diameter 238 of the outer surface 234 of the stem 224.
The stem 224 has slots 240 formed in the outer surface 234. The slots 240 extend parallel to the pin axis 222 from the tip 228 to the flat sides 236, which are remote from the tip 228. In alternative embodiments, the guide pin 118 may be provided without the flat sides 236. In such embodiments the slots 240 extend parallel to the pin axis 222 from the tip 228 to an intermediate position along the guide pin body 220 remote from the tip 228. The slots 240 are configured to receive ribs of a driver tool 260 (shown in
Each slot 240 has a bottom wall 242 and side walls 244 generally perpendicular to the bottom wall 242. The bottom wall 242 is co-planar with the corresponding flat side 236. The side walls 244 define bearing surfaces for the driver tool 260 to rotate the guide pin 118. The side walls 244 and bottom wall 242 are recessed below the outer surface 234 of the guide pin body 220.
Because the slots 240 and flat sides 236 are formed into the stem 224 and recessed below the outer surface 234, the guide pin 118, in the areas of the slots 240 and flat sides 236, is thinner. For example, the opposite bottom walls 242 and opposite flat sides 236 are separated by a distance less than the stem diameter 238. Additionally, even though the side walls 244 extend outward from the bottom wall 242, the outer portion of the guide pin body 220 is removed, thus making the guide pin 118 thinner in such areas. When the guide pin 118 is received in the mounting block 124, the thinner areas of the guide pin 118 may allow the guide pin to shift slightly within the mounting block 124, which may cause slight misalignment of the connector assembly 106 with respect to the mating connector assembly 108. As such, the guide pins 118 may be designed with radiused portions 246 of the stem 224 that are positioned rearward of the slots 240, such as behind the slots 240 and behind the flat sides 236. The radiused portions 246 extend along a length of the guide pin 118 between the flat sides 236 and the root 226. At the radiused portions 246, the guide pin 118 has the full stem diameter 238. The guide pin 118 is designed such that the guide pin 118 is loaded into the mounting block 124 until the radiused portions 246 are received in the mounting block 124. The radiused portions 246 engage the mounting block 124 when assembled to properly align the guide pins 118 within the mounting blocks 124. The mounting blocks 124 may be deep enough to accommodate the entire guide pins 118, including the radiused portions 246, to ensure that the guide pins 118 are properly positioned in the mounting blocks 124.
In an exemplary embodiment, the front cavity 262 is generally cylindrical; however the driver tool 260 includes ribs 266 extending into the cavity. The ribs 266 are configured to be received in the slots 240 (shown in
The cable backplane system 300 includes a chassis 310 that supports the components of the cable backplane system 300. The chassis 310 may include a rack, a cabinet or other suitable structures for holding the components of the cable backplane system 300. The chassis 310 may include structures for guiding, supporting and/or securing the mating connector assemblies 302, 304 coupled to the cable backplane system 300. For example, the guide pins 118 may be used for guiding, supporting and/or securing the cable connector assemblies 306 to the mating connector assemblies 302, 304. For example, the guide pins 118 may be received in openings in mounting blocks on the mating connector assemblies 302, 304.
The cable backplane system 300 includes a cable rack 312 (shown in
The cable backplane system 300 includes a backplane 320. The backplane 320 is coupled to and supported by the chassis 310. The trays 314 and cable connectors 316 are coupled to the backplane 320. The backplane 320 may be a circuit board and may be manufactured from typical circuit board material, such as FR-4 material. Electrical components, such as power supplies, fans, connectors, and the like may be attached to the backplane 320. Such electrical components may be electrically connected to traces or circuits of the backplane 320. The cable connectors 316 are not electrically connected to the backplane 320, as is typical of conventional backplanes, but rather the cable connectors 316 are interconnected by cables extending between the cable connectors 316. The backplane 320 may be manufactured from other materials in alternative embodiments, such as another dielectric material or a metal material, such as a metal sheet, such as when no electrical routing on the backplane 320 is required.
The backplane 320 and cable rack 312, with the cable connector assemblies 306, are coupled together to form the cable backplane system 300. The cable connectors 316 extend through openings 326 in the backplane 320 and are presented at a front 328 of the backplane 320 for mating with the mating connector assemblies 302, 304. In an exemplary embodiment, the cable connectors 316 are held in precise locations for mating with the line cards 302 and/or switch cards 304. In an exemplary embodiment, the guide pins 118 are used to align and position the cable connectors 316 with respect to the backplane 320 and/or the mating connector assemblies 302, 304. In an exemplary embodiment, because of the high density of the trays 314 and the limited access to the trays 314, the guide pins 118 and the areas surrounding the guide pins 118 may be inaccessible by a driver tool used to install the guide pins 118 to the cable connector assemblies 306. As such, a conventional wrench cannot be used to clamp from the sides of the guide pins 118 to install the guide pins 118 in the cable connector assemblies 306.
In an exemplary embodiment, the cable rack 312 is flexible to allow the cable connectors 316 to align with and pass through the openings 326. Optionally, portions of the trays 314 and/or the cable connectors 316 may pass through the openings 326. The trays 314 may float relative to each other and with respect to the backplane 320 to properly align the cable connectors 316 with the corresponding openings 326. The guide pins 118 are used for positioning the cable connector assembly 306 relative to the backplane 320 and/or the mating connector assemblies 302, 304. Once the trays 314 are coupled to the backplane 320, the backplane 320 may be used to hold the cable connectors 316 in precise locations for mating with the mating connector assemblies 302, 304. For example, the openings 326 may be used to control the final position of the cable connectors 316 for mating. In an exemplary embodiment, the cable connectors 316 float relative to one another and relative to the guide pins 118 to allow precise positioning of the cable connectors 316 relative to the backplane 320 for mating with the mating connector assemblies 302, 304.
In an exemplary embodiment, the backplane 320 holds a plurality of mounting blocks 342 (shown in
The spacers 420 hold the frame walls 400 at a predetermined distance from each other to define the cavity 404. The spacers 420 may be used to hold positions of the cable connectors 316. The guide pins 118 are coupled to the spacers 420. The guide pins 118 may be threadably coupled to the spacers 420 in a similar manner as described above. The spacers 420 include threaded bores 422 that receive the threaded portions of the guide pins 118. The threaded bores 422 define threaded bores of the support frame 402 that are used to hold the guide pins 118.
In an exemplary embodiment, the frame walls 400 are one or more sheet metal pieces that are stamped, formed and may be coupled together using fasteners or other connecting means. The sheet metal may be sufficiently thin to allow the frame walls 400 to have some flexibility for moving, twisting or otherwise manipulating the trays 314 into position relative to the backplane 320 (shown in
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.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20150380867 A1 | Dec 2015 | US |
