Shielded electrical connector

#This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to shielded electrical connectors which are particularly useful for mounting on printed circuit boards and for interconnecting parallel printed circuit boards.

#Dramatic changes are occurring in the wireless, switching and networking industries which are creating a need to transmit information at an ever-increasing rate. For instance, Internet content is expected to be received by cell phones, notebook computers and the like without the need for wires and with considerable speed. In many applications, the challenge is to increase data rates between circuit boards and cables. As the speed and frequency of these devices increase, all of the components within a system must be capable of performing at those speeds. This, in turn, creates challenges with respect to “noise” and interference between the devices. Therefore, it is necessary to isolate or shield the signals from each other by placing an electrical shield between the signals. Heretofore, many electrical connectors have used terminal arrays which have signal terminals alternating with significantly sized shielding or ground terminals along the entire length of the terminal array. Of course, this approach significantly increases the sizes of the electrical connectors in high speed applications where miniaturization is a constant goal.

#Electrical connectors often are mounted on printed circuit boards where the “real estate” on the boards is a premium. A “mezzanine” connector assembly provides electrical interconnection between parallel circuit boards. Mezzanine boards are frequently used where more function is needed than will fit on the primary board. Mezzanine boards also facilitate system partitioning necessary to offer multiple options and expandability. The connector assembly must be capable of operating at the same high data rates as the primary and mezzanine boards. The signals in such arrangements or systems must be electrically shielded or isolated so that the connector assembly has very low cross-talk between the signal lines.

#The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a connector assembly, including a primary connector and a mating connector, incorporating the concepts of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector assembly looking at the bottom of the assembly as viewed in FIG. 1;

#Referring to the drawings in greater detail, FIGS. 1-9 show a first embodiment of a connector assembly incorporating the concepts of the invention, and FIGS. 10-21 show a second embodiment of a connector assembly also incorporating the concepts of the invention. Referring to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is incorporated in an electrical connector assembly, generally designated 12, which includes a first or primary connector, generally designated 14, and a second or mating connector, generally designated 16. The connector assembly is a “mezzanine” connector assembly in that it is provided for electrically interconnecting two parallel printed circuit boards. To that end, it can be seen that primary connector 14 includes a plurality of mounting posts 18 for insertion into appropriate mounting holes in a first printed circuit board (not shown) which may be a main or motherboard. Mating connector 16 includes a plurality of mounting posts 20 for insertion into a plurality of mounting holes in a second printed circuit board (not shown) which may be a smaller or daughterboard. Mounting posts 18 project from a housing 22 of primary connector 14 and mounting posts 20 project in an opposite direction from a housing 24 of mating connector 16. Therefore, connector assembly 12 is sandwiched between two parallel circuit boards when properly mounted. The circuit boards are not shown in the drawings in order to avoid unduly cluttering or complicating the depictions.

#Referring to FIGS. 3-6 in conjunction with FIG. 2, housing 22 of primary connector 14 is provided with a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities 26 for receiving a plurality of terminal modules, generally designated 28 and shown best in FIG. 3. The terminal modules are fabricated by first stamping a plurality of pairs of signal terminals 30 from conductive sheet metal material as seen in FIG. 4. The signal terminals are shown in FIG. 4 still attached to a carrier strip 32 by means of webs 34 of metal material. Carrier strip 32 carries the terminals through the processing stations for terminal modules 28. Eventually, the terminals (i.e., modules) will be severed along severing lines 36 (FIG. 4). The terminals have enlarged sections 38 to facilitate holding the terminals within their respective modules.

#After the signal terminals are stamped as shown in FIG. 4, dielectric blocks 40 of plastic material are overmolded about the terminals including enlarged sections 38 thereof. The modules then are severed from carrier strip 32 and appropriately inserted or mounted within terminal-receiving cavities 26 of housing 22 of primary connector 14. As best seen in FIG. 2, terminals 30 project from a terminating or board-mounting face 42 of housing 22 for surface connection, as by soldering, to appropriate circuit means or traces on the main printed circuit board.