High speed interface converter module

A Giga-Bit Interface Converter for interconnecting data signals between a first transmission medium and a second transmission medium, the Giga-Bit Interface Converter comprising:

• a conductive housing at least a portion of which includes an electrically conductive surface, and having a first end and a second end;
• a ribbon style connector at the first end of the conductive housing;
• a flexible shielded cable extending from the second end of the conductive housing, the flexible shielded cable including a metal shield electrically connected to the conductive housing;
• a transceiver connector attached at a remote end of the flexible shielded cable, and wherein the transceiver connector has a physical shape which is different than a physical shape of the ribbon style connector;
• a printed circuit board mounted within the conductive housing and having mounted thereon electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry includes means for converting data signals from said first transmission medium to said second transmission medium and from said second transmission medium to said first transmission medium;
• first and second apertures formed in the first end of the conductive housing located on each side of the ribbon style connector;
• and
• first and second guide tabs integrally formed with and extending from a first end of the printed circuit board, the first guide tab being arranged to protrude through the first aperture, the second guide tab being arranged to protrude through the second aperture, each of the first and second guide tabs having a conductive material adhered to at least one side thereof and electrically connected to a circuit ground plane formed on the printed circuit board, and wherein
• the electronic circuitry includes a transmit portion and a receive portion.

An adapter module for converting data signals between a first transmission medium and a second medium, the adapter module comprising:

• a metallic housing having a first end and a second end;
• a first connector at the first end of the metallic housing;
• a flexible cable extending from the second end of the metallic housing;
• a metallic shield surrounding the flexible cable and electrically connected to the metallic housing;
• a media connector attached to a remote end of the flexible cable, and wherein the media connector has a physical shape which is different than a physical shape of the first connector;
• a printed circuit board mounted within the metallic housing and having mounted thereon electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry includes means for converting data signals from said first transmission medium to said second transmission medium and from said second transmission medium to said first transmission medium;
• first and second apertures formed in the first end of the metallic housing located on each side of the first electrical connector;
• and
• first and second guide tabs integrally formed with and extending from a first end of the printed circuit board, the first guide tab being arranged to protrude through the first aperture, the second guide tab being arranged to protrude through the second aperture, each of the first and second guide tabs having a conductive material adhered to at least one side thereof and electrically connected to a circuit ground plane formed on the printed circuit board, and wherein
• the electronic circuitry includes a transmit portion and a receive portion, and
• whereby the metallic shield acts to electromagnetically seal the second end of the metallic housing, thereby preventing high frequency electro-magnetic emissions from escaping from the second end of the metallic housing.

A Giga-Bit Interface Converter module for interconnecting data signals between a first transmission medium and a second transmission medium, the Giga-Bit Interface Converter module comprising:

• a die cast metal housing including a base member and a cover, the die cast metal housing having a first end and a second end;
• a metal D-shell connector shroud integrally cast with the base member;
• a printed circuit board having a first end and a second end corresponding the first and second ends of the die cast metal housing, mounted within the base member, a portion of the first end of the printed circuit board extending into the metal D-shell connector shroud and having a plurality of contact fingers adhered thereto, thereby forming a contact support member within the metal D-shell connector shroud, the printed circuit board having mounted thereon electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry including means for converting data signals from said first transmission medium to said second transmission medium and from said second transmission medium to said first transmission medium;
• first and second apertures formed in the first end of the base member located on each side of the metal D-shell connector shroud;
• first and second guide tabs integrally formed with and extending from the first end of the printed circuit board, the first guide tab being arranged to protrude through the first aperture, the second guide tab being arranged to protrude through the second aperture, the first guide tab arranged on one side of the contact support member and the second guide tab arranged on another side of the contact support member, each of the first and second glide tabs having a conductive material adhered to at least one side thereof and electrically connected to a circuit ground plane formed on the printed circuit board;
• a flexible cable having a metallic shield electrically connected to the die cast metal housing, the flexible cable including a plurality of individual conductors electrically connected to the printed circuit board, the flexible cable extending from the second end of the die cast metal housing, the flexible cable having another end remote from the die cast metal housing;
• and
• a second connector attached to the remote end of the flexible cable, the second connector having a physical shape that is different than a physical shape of the metal D-shell connector shroud, and wherein
• the cover being secured to the base member to enclose and electromagnetically seal the die cast metal housing, and wherein
• the electronic circuitry includes a transmit portion and a receive portion.