Patent Application
20110294313
The subject matter herein relates generally to a transceiver assembly, and more particularly, to a receptacle connector for use in a transceiver assembly.
Various types of fiber optic and copper based transceiver assemblies that permit communication between electronic host equipment and external devices are known. These transceiver assemblies typically include a module assembly that can be pluggably connected to a receptacle in the host equipment to provide flexibility in system configuration. The module assemblies are constructed according to various standards for size and compatibility, one standard being the Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) module standard. Conventional QSFP modules and receptacle assemblies perform satisfactorily carrying data signals at rates up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps). Another pluggable module standard, the XFP standard, calls for the transceiver module to also carry data signals at rates up to 10 Gbps.
The pluggable modules are plugged into a transceiver assembly that is mounted on a printed circuit (sometimes referred to as “circuit boards” or “printed circuit boards”) within the host equipment. The transceiver assembly includes an elongated guide frame, or cage, having a front that is open to an interior space, and a receptacle connector disposed at a rear of the cage within the interior space. Both the receptacle connector and the guide frame are electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit. When the pluggable module is plugged into the transceiver assembly, the pluggable module is electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit via the transceiver assembly.
Problems arise with mounting the receptacle connectors to the printed circuit. For example, the receptacle connector includes electrical contacts having mounting feet that are mounted on the printed circuit. The mounting feet engage electrical traces on the printed circuit to electrically connect the electrical contacts of the receptacle connector to the printed circuit. However, the mounting foot of one or more of the electrical contacts of the receptacle connector may generate an electrical stub when mounted on the corresponding electrical trace of the printed circuit. Specifically, electrical current flows through an electrical trace and into and through the corresponding electrical contact along a propagation path, which is the shortest path through the electrical trace and the corresponding electrical contact. An electrical stub is an open-ended conductive path that branches off from the propagation path. When mounted on the corresponding electrical trace, a segment (e.g., the free end) of a mounting foot may extend outside of the propagation path through the mounting foot and the corresponding electrical trace. The mounting foot may thereby generate an electrical stub, which may undesirably reduce data transmission rates through the electrical contact.
In one embodiment, a receptacle connector is provided for mounting on a printed circuit having a contact mounting area and an incoming trace that extends into the contact mounting area. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a slot configured to receive a mating connector therein. The receptacle connector also includes an upper contact and a lower contact held by the housing. The upper and lower contacts include mating segments, mounting feet, and intermediate segments that extend between the mating segments and the mounting feet. The mounting foot of the lower contact is configured to be mounted on the incoming trace of the printed circuit such that the mounting foot creates a conductive path between the incoming trace and the intermediate segment of the lower contact. The conductive path forms part of a propagation path of electrical current through the electrical trace and the lower contact.
In another embodiment, a transceiver assembly includes a receptacle guide frame configured to be mounted to a printed circuit having a contact mounting area and an incoming trace that extends into the contact mounting area in an incoming direction. The receptacle guide frame has a front being open to an interior space. The receptacle guide frame is configured to receive a pluggable module through the front. A receptacle connector is received within the interior space of the receptacle guide frame at a rear of the receptacle guide frame. The receptacle connector includes a housing comprising a slot configured to receive a mating connector therein, and an upper contact and a lower contact held by the housing. The upper and lower contacts include mating segments, mounting feet, and intermediate segments that extend between the mating segments and the mounting feet. The mounting foot of the lower contact is configured to be mounted on the incoming trace of the printed circuit such that the mounting foot extends outwardly from the intermediate segment of the lower contact in a foot direction that opposes the incoming direction of the incoming trace.
In another embodiment, a receptacle connector includes a housing extending from a front to a rear. The housing includes a slot that extends into the front and is configured to receive a mating connector therein. The receptacle connector also includes an upper contact and a lower contact held by the housing. The upper and lower contacts include mating segments, intermediate segments extending from the mating segments, and mounting feet that extend outwardly from the intermediate segments. The mounting feet of the upper and lower contacts are configured to be mounted to the printed circuit and extend outwardly from the intermediate segments in different directions from each other. The mounting foot of the lower contact extends outwardly from the intermediate segment of the lower contact in a direction toward the front of the housing.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the pluggable module 102 includes a housing 110 that forms a protective shell for a printed circuit 112 (
The pluggable module 102 is configured to be inserted into the receptacle assembly 104. In general, the pluggable module 102 and the receptacle assembly 104 may be used in any application requiring an interface between a host system and electrical or optical signals. The pluggable module 102 interfaces to the host system through the receptacle assembly 104 via a receptacle connector 120, which is located within a receptacle guide frame 122. The pluggable module 102 interfaces to an optical fiber or electrical cable (not shown) through a connector interface at the front end 118 of the pluggable module 102.
The pluggable module 102 and the receptacle assembly 104 reduce EMI emission through one or more of several EMI reduction features, including the receptacle guide frame 122 and one or more gasket assemblies 124. The receptacle connector 120 is mounted on the host printed circuit 106 of the host equipment separate from the receptacle guide frame 122 and gasket assemblies 124. The receptacle connector 120 includes a slot that receives the edge 114 of the printed circuit 112 or a connector mounted to the printed board 112 that is carried by the pluggable module 102 when the pluggable module 102 is fully installed in the receptacle guide frame 122, thereby electrically connecting the pluggable module 102 to the host equipment.
The receptacle guide frame 122 accommodates an optional heat sink 150. The heat sink 150 is positioned to engage the pluggable module 102 when the pluggable module 102 is installed into the receptacle assembly 104. A clip 152 is mounted over the heat sink 150 and is secured to the receptacle guide frame 122. The clip 152 ensures that the heat sink 150 is loaded against the pluggable module 102 to facilitate thermal transfer from the pluggable module 102 to the heat sink 150.
The pluggable module 102 is illustrated in a latched position wherein removal from the receptacle guide frame 122 is prevented. An axial pull on the front end 118 of the pluggable module 102 in the direction of arrow A, when latched, is ineffective to remove the pluggable module 102. An ejector mechanism 180 is provided on the front end 118 of the pluggable module 102 for unlatching the pluggable module 102 for removal from the receptacle guide frame 122.
The contacts 320 of the receptacle connector 120 are held by the housing 302. The contacts 320 are loaded through the rear 306 of the housing 302. As will be described below, the contacts 320 include upper contacts 320a and lower contacts 320b (
The housing 302 includes a plurality of grooves 330 formed therein at the rear 306 of the housing 302. The grooves 330 receive corresponding contacts 320 therein and enable both the upper and lower contacts 320a and 320b, respectively, to be loaded into the housing through the rear 306. Alternatively, the upper contacts 320a and/or the lower contacts 320b are loaded through the front 304, the side 310, the side 312, the top 314, and/or the bottom 316 of the housing 302. The grooves 330 may facilitate holding the contacts 320 in position relative to one another (e.g. side-to-side position).
The mating segment 342 includes a mating interface 362. The upper contact 320a is configured to mate with a corresponding conductive termination 364 (
In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting foot 344 extends outwardly from the intermediate segment 342 in an opposite direction relative to the direction that the mating segment 340 extends from the intermediate segment 342, such that the mating segment 340 and the mounting foot 344 extend approximately parallel to each other. But, the mounting foot 344 may extend outwardly from the intermediate segment 342 in any direction, and at any angle, relative to the direction and angle that the mating segment 340 extends from the intermediate segment 342.
The mating segment 442 extends outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 to a free end 450. The mounting foot 444 extends outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 to a free end 452. Optionally, the mounting foot 444 extends outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 at a bend 456 such that the mounting foot 444 is angled relative to at least a portion of the intermediate segment 442. The bend 456 includes a radially inner edge 458 and a radially outer edge 460.
The mating segment 442 of the lower contact 320b includes a mating interface 462. The lower contact 320b is configured to mate with a corresponding conductive termination 464 (
In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting foot 444 extends outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 in the same direction relative to the direction that the mating segment 440 extends from the intermediate segment 442, such that the mating segment 440 and the mounting foot 444 extend approximately parallel to each other. But, the mounting foot 444 may extend outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 in any direction, and at any angle, relative to the direction and angle that the mating segment 440 extends from the intermediate segment 442.
A plurality of the lower contacts 320b are arranged in a lower row 504. The mating segment 440 of each of the lower contacts 320b extends from the intermediate segment 442 into a corresponding slot (not shown) formed in the housing 302 through the front 304. Each mating interface 462 of the lower contacts 320b is exposed within the connector slot 224 (best seen in
The mounting feet 344 of the upper contacts 320a are aligned with each other in a row 508 for mounting to the host circuit board 106 (
In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting feet 344 and 444 of the upper and lower contacts 320a and 320b, respectively, extend outwardly from the respective intermediate segments 342 and 442 in opposite directions from each other. Specifically, the mounting feet 344 of the upper contacts 320a extend outward from the intermediate segments 342 in a direction labeled with the arrow A, while the mounting feet 444 of the lower contacts 320b extend outward from the intermediate segments 442 in an opposite direction labeled with the arrow B. But, the mounting foot 344 of each lower contact 320b may extend outwardly from the intermediate segment 442 in any other direction (whether toward or away from) relative to the direction that the mounting foot 344 of any of the upper contacts 320b extends from the intermediate segment 342.
As can be seen in
Each electrical trace 368 and 468 extends into the contact mounting area 600 in a corresponding incoming direction C and D, respectively. As can be seen in
Each mounting foot 444 of the lower contacts 320b is configured to be mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 468 without creating an electrical stub. In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting foot 444 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 468 in a direction E that opposes the incoming direction D of the electrical trace 468. As can be seen in
In the exemplary embodiment, the direction E in which the mounting foot 444 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 468 is opposite to the incoming direction D of the electrical trace 468, such that the directions D and E are approximately parallel to each other. But, the direction E in which the mounting foot 444 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 468 could be any direction relative to the direction D (whether opposing or not) that does not create an electrical stub. As used herein, two directions “oppose” each other if the directions generally face toward each other. For example, “opposing” directions include directions that are opposite, and thus parallel, as well as directions that generally face toward each other but extend at an oblique angle relative to each other. The direction E may be referred to herein as a “foot direction”.
Turning to the upper contacts 320a, the mounting interfaces 366 of the mounting feet 344 of the upper contacts 320a are each engaged with the corresponding electrical trace 368 of the host printed circuit 106. Each mounting foot 344 creates a conductive path 708 between the corresponding electrical trace 368 and the corresponding intermediate segment 342. A propagation path 710 of electrical current is defined through the electrical trace 368 and the upper contact 320a. The propagation path 710 is the shortest path through the electrical trace 368 and the upper contact 320a. For example, the propagation path 710 includes the shortest path of electrical current from the electrical trace 368 to the intermediate segment 342 of upper lower contact 320a.
Similar to the lower contacts 320b, each mounting foot 344 of the upper contacts 320a is configured to be mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 368 without creating an electrical stub. In the exemplary embodiment, the mounting foot 344 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 368 in a direction F that opposes the incoming direction C of the electrical trace 368. The radially inner edge 358 of the bend 356 of the upper contact 320a therefore faces the incoming direction C of the electrical trace 368. The conductive path 708 between the electrical trace 368 and the intermediate segment 342 through the mounting foot 344 forms a part of the propagation path 710. No electrical stub is created by mounting the mounting foot 344 on the electrical trace 368 because the conductive path 708 does not include an open-ended path that branches off from the propagation path 710. Rather, the conductive path 708 lies completely within the propagation path 710. In the exemplary embodiment, the direction F in which the mounting foot 344 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 368 is opposite to the incoming direction C of the electrical trace 368, such that the directions C and F are approximately parallel to each other. But, the direction F in which the mounting foot 344 is mounted on the corresponding electrical trace 368 could be any direction relative to the direction C (whether opposing or not) that does not create an electrical stub. The direction F may be referred to herein as a “foot direction”.
Each of the electrical traces 368 and 468 may be referred to herein as an “incoming trace”. As used herein, the term “incoming” as applied to the electrical traces 368 and 468 is meant to indicate a physical path of the electrical traces 368 and 468 into the contact mounting area 600 rather than a direction of electrical current flowing through the electrical traces 368 and 468. It should be understood that electrical current may flow from the contacts 320 toward the corresponding trace 368 or 468 and/or from the corresponding trace 368 or 468 to the contacts 320. Although eight are shown, the host printed circuit 106 may include any number of electrical traces 368 and 468 overall, including any number of the electrical traces 368 and any number of the electrical traces 468.
As used herein, the term “printed circuit” is intended to mean any electric circuit in which the conducting connections have been printed or otherwise deposited in predetermined patterns on an electrically insulating substrate. Substrates of the printed circuits 106 and 112 may each be a flexible substrate or a rigid substrate. The substrates may be fabricated from and/or include any material(s), such as, but not limited to, ceramic, epoxy-glass, polyimide (such as, but not limited to, Kapton® and/or the like), organic material, plastic, polymer, and/or the like. In some embodiments, one or both of the substrates is a rigid substrate fabricated from epoxy-glass, such that the corresponding printed circuit 106 and/or 112 is what is sometimes referred to as a “circuit board” or a “printed circuit board”.
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.
